the N O R T H I D A H O R.A.P. family Relatives As Parents SEPTEMBER 2012 NEWSLETTER z G L E N D A W E AV E R 2 0 8 - 7 6 9 - 7 0 9 6 Grandparents Day z SEPTEMBER 9, 2012 Contents Grandparents Day Successful in School Successful in School Con’t Health Screening Mad Hatter’s Tea CHIP Health Ins. JBF Sale R.A.P. Meeting Free Health Seminars Support Groups nnn Grandparents Day September 9, 2012 1 2 3 4 4 5 5 5 6 7 Grandparents Day is a day set aside exclusively for your grandfather and grandmother, who have played a very influential role in your family. It is a family get-together time, when every member of your family is present to extend his/her token of love and gratitude for the senior most members. Grandparents Day is an opportunity for grandparents to spend some exclusive time with their children and grandchildren. It is a time to bond and strengthen existing relations that are almost forgotten in today's busy life schedules, thus, giving us a golden opportunity to shower our love and affection towards our cherished relations and relationships. It is also known as National Grandparents Day and is celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day, which falls in the month of September. This means that in 2012, Grandparents Day will be celebrated on September 9. National Grandparents Day was an initiative of Marian McQuade, a homemaker in Fayette County, West Virginia. She started a campaign in 1973 to dedicate a special day for grandparents. She wanted people to honor grandparents and promote intergenerational appreciation and activities. She was supported by her husband Joe McQuade and many others to make this campaign a statewide hit. Due to their strenuous efforts, dedication, and determination, Governor Arch Moore of West Virginia declared the first Grandparents Day in 1973. In 1978, the then President Jimmy Carter proclaimed National Grandparents Day as a national observance in United States. Today, the National Grandparents Day Council employs representatives from every US state and organizes contests, like essay, poetry, web design, songwriting, art, and photos, to spread awareness amongst children towards honoring their grandparents. Since its declaration in 1973, National Grandparents Day is celebrated annually with immense enthusiasm by people of all backgrounds. They invite their acquaintances and celebrate the day in a way that makes their grandparents happy and entertained. There are several ways to convey Happy Grandparents Day to your grandparents. Kids indulge in making handmade gifts and crafts, presenting songs and speeches, and gifting cards to their grandparents, as part of their love and affection towards them. We especially want to thank the grandparents that have stepped up to the plate to raise their grandchildren. They have given up their retirements, plus time and have saved the tax payers a lot of money. HAPPY GRANDPARENTS DAY! How Parents Can Help Their Kids Be Successful In School 1. GET A PLAN AND STICK TO IT. Set a specific “quiet time” every day for homework or general reading. Involve your child in setting the rules for this. Ask your child to come up with 3 rules — for example: ■ Collect all needed materials before starting. ■ No talking or fooling around during this time. ■ Complete all work before stopping. Write the rules on paper and post them in your house. Children are more likely to follow rules that they helped create. Elementary school students should have 20-30 minutes a day set aside for this purpose. Junior and senior high school students need at least 30-45 minutes for daily study time. Some schools expect students to spend at least 15 minutes per subject each day on homework. Check with the teachers to see how much homework to expect for your child. Homework, even if routine, should not be viewed as optional, any more than is an assignment or project at your place of work. 2. BE A CHEERLEADER. Some children do poorly in school because they see themselves as unworthy. For a child to feel good about learning, he must first feel good about himself. Encourage your child by praising him for his efforts. Express interest in his school work. 3. MAKE NO EXCUSES. Avoid giving your child a reason for making excuses. Even if you think your child will feel better if you do so, never say this sort of thing: "Some people just don't have a head for math." Your child may think that you think she isn't able to handle a task. Success in a future job will require your child do the best she can. You will not help your child by encouraging her to make excuses whenever it is convenient. 4. LIGHT A FIRE. Be enthusiastic! It can be contagious. Don't give the message that homework is a boring chore. Children who do well enjoy learning. If your child does not seem motivated to do well in school, make a list of treats -- such as staying up late, pizza, or overnight stays with friends-- when homework is done really well. 5. MAKE LEARNING "REAL." The best learning is hands-on. Show how school work skills are needed and used in day-to-day life. For example, a child who helps make a meal learns fractions, telling time, reading and multi--step problem solving. Show your child what is under the hood when you work on the car. Ask for "help" when you balance the checkbook or write "thank you" notes and letters. Have your child jot down notes, reminders and shopping lists. 6. FIGHT THE FRUSTRATION. Listen carefully when your child talks about having difficulty with his homework. Encourage him to break down problems into small steps. How Parents Can Help Their Kids Be Successful In School (Con’t) 7. SET THE RIGHT MOOD. Make your home is a place where it is easy for your child to learn. Keep books, magazines, catalogs and writing materials at easy reach. Make sure that your child has a place to study. This could be in the child’s room, in the kitchen, or in another place where the lighting is good, and it’s quiet. Be near enough to answer questions that your child has. If your child does homework somewhere else (such as at his after school program or at a day care provider’s home), be sure to discuss with them where and how the homework gets done. Ask them to provide a quiet, well-lighted space where homework gets completed. Once your child is home, go over his homework to make sure it is complete. Answer any questions he has about his work. The example you set will make more of an impression than your words. The more interested you are in his homework, the more your child sees you learning, the more excited he will be about learning. Make sure your child sees you reading. Limit the amount and kind of TV you watch. Limit your child's TV viewing to no more than 10 hours per week. Suggest programs that have useful tieins to schoolwork, such as shows about history, computers or animal life. Discuss these shows with your child. Help him see the connection to his school work. 8. DON’T PINCH HIT Your child must learn to "face the music" for poor or incomplete work. While you should be actively involved with your child's homework, don't carry the whole load. Don't do the long division, write the essay or do the science project for your child. If you are getting overly-involved in homework because of a concern that it is too difficult for your child, call or visit the child's teacher and share your concern. 9. ENCOURAGE INDEPENDENT GROWTH. Eventually a child must take charge of her own learning. This means that it is important for you to "let go" when your child pursues hobbies and starts reading for her own enjoyment. One way to encourage independent growth is to maintain the daily "quiet time" even during vacations and weekends. Introducing your child to hobbies, even something as simple as reading the baseball box scores in the sports section of your newspaper, is a good way to make non-homework learning fun. 10. USE THE SCHOOL. Get to know your child's teachers and what they expect. Compare your goals for your child to those of the teachers. Make sure that your child knows of your interest in his school. This will send the message that what he is doing is important. IMPORTANT NOTE: If the steps described here don't help your child, see if he suffers from a physical or behavior problem or learning disability. Talk with a medical doctor or other qualified professional for expert advice. The Lions Health Screening Unit The 62-foot-long, medically-equipped Lions Health Screening Unit (LHSU) travels throughout Washington and Northern Idaho to give free health screenings at schools, fairs, and other public events. Checking for glaucoma, diabetes, high blood pressure, and sight and hearing loss is key to interventions in potentially lifethreatening health problems. This year, the Lions Health Screening Unit will provide free screening for an estimated 30,000 patients, the vast majority of whom will be children. The Foundation's annual cost to operate the Lions Health Screening Unit is more than $170,000.. The RAP/GAP Mascot is the turtle. The turtle, like us and our children, has a hard shell to protect it from getting hurt, but the inside is soft, vulnerable and loveable. We must learn to stick our heads out of our shell and take a chance. North Idaho Health Screening Schedule September 17th Twin Lakes Elementary 5326 W. Rice Rd. Rathdrum, ID. 83858 School 8:00 am to 4:00 pm September 18th Betty Kiefer Elementary 13898 N. Schooner Rathdrum, ID 83858 School 8:00 am to 4:00 pm September 19th John Brown Elementary 15574 N. Washington St. Rathdrum, ID. 83858 School 8:00 am to 4:00 pm September 20th Garwood Elementary 17056 N. Ramsey Rd. Rathdrum, ID. 83858 School 8:00 am to 4:00 pm September 21st Spirit Lake Elementary 32605 N. 5th St. Spirit Lake, ID. 83869 Save the Date For the Mad Hatter’s Tea The Mad Hatter’s Tea is a fundraiser for Relatives As Parents. This year it will be held at the St. Pius Catholic Church, located at 625 Haycraft Ave., Coeur d’Alene, on Saturday October 27, 2012 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. The money we raise goes to children being raised by relatives to provide camps, guardianships, equipment needed for sport activities, and anything else that is deemed a necessity. All ages are invited! Bring your daughters, nieces, granddaughters, mothers, grandmothers or the lady next door. This is a fun event! Mark your calendar. More information to follow in the October newsletter. Those of you that would like to sponsor a table can call Glenda Weaver at 208-769-7096 JBF North Idaho Fall/Winter Children's Consignment Sale October 20-21, 2012 Kootenai County Fairgrounds 4056 N. Government Way Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Thursday, October 18 2:00 pm-4:00 pm 300+ Item Consignor Drop Off 4:00 pm-8:00 pm Consignor Drop Off Friday, October 19 8:00 am-9:00 am Express Drop Off 9:00 am-2:00 pm Consignor Drop Off Exclusive Pre-Sale Event: 4:30 pm ~ 6+ hr./Breakdown Volunteers 5:00 pm ~ Volunteers (no guests) 6:00 pm ~ Consignors (+1 guest) 7:00 pm ~ First Time Parents (+1 guest) Exclusive Pre-Sale Event is open to Volunteers, Consignors and First Time Parents only. Sign up online! Saturday, October 20 9:00 am-5:00 pm OPEN TO THE PUBLIC $3 admission, children free 6:30 pm-8:30 pm Half Off Pre-Sale PARTY! Open to Volunteers (+ 2 guests) and Consignors (+2 guests). Sunday, October 21 Coeur d’Alene Relatives As Parents Meeting September 13, 2012 will be the Coeur d’Alene Relatives As Parents meeting at noon at the Jewett House. A light lunch and child care will be provided. We will be planning what topics we want for speakers this year and our tea fund raiser. Come join us at the lake! Address of the Jewett House and contacts are on page 7. 9:00 am-5:00 pm OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Half Price Day! Free Admission Many items will be Half Off tag price! [email protected] 208-699-0447 Website Links: August 28th at the Coeur d’Alene Inn On the last Tuesday of each month, The Medicine Man pharmacies host these free seminars which address the areas of concern for Diabetics and for people dealing with Heart Health issues. Where: Coeur d'Alene Inn West 506 Appleway When: Tuesday, August 28th (Look at our "new" times under each seminar) Seating is Limited so please call 762-9355 to reserve your seat Relatives As Parents Support Groups in North Idaho The CdA RAP Support Group meets the second Thursday of the month at: Jewett House 1501 E. Lakeshore Drive Coeur d’Alene, ID (A light lunch and child care is provided at no cost) Noon – 2 o’clock Glenda Weaver 208-769-7096 Margo Peebles 208-667-0320 _____________________________________________________________ The Post Falls RAP Support Group meets the first and third Fridays of the month from 10 to 11:30 am at: Head Start/Across from the library 106 West 9th Street Post Falls, ID Robbie Eaton 208-773-6164 Linda Stolley 208-712-3152 ____________________________________________________________________ The Bonners Ferry RAP Support Group meets the second Friday of the month from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at:No Regular Meetings during the months of July, August & September! See you in October! University of Idaho Extension Office 6447 Kootenai Street (Bring a finger food to share) Bonners Ferry, Idaho Dena Riffle 208-267-8166 Vickie Spencer 208-267-7003 ____________________________________________________________ *Food Stamps, Iccp Child Care, and general questions call: 1-877-456-1233 * Medicaid Questions call: 1-866-326-2485 * Child Support Questions call: 1-800-356-9868 ________________________________________________________ Need help? Dial 2-1-1 Do you need help or want to volunteer, but don’t know where to start? _____________________________________________________ Get Connected. Get Answers. Dial 2-1-1 0r 1-800-926-2588 8:00 am - 6:00 pm MST Monday - Friday www.idahocareline.org _____________________________________________________________________________ the N O R T H I D A H O R.A.P. family RAP family Glenda Weaver 3202 Wedgewood Lopp Coeur d’Alene, ID. 83815 Any Name 4321 First Street Anytown, State ZIP