Smart Schools
Parent volunteers bring together students to help other students
Looking for a great idea for parent volunteers to help out at a high school?
Here’s one from Fremont High School in Northern California that provides tutoring for students.
Parent volunteer Julie Darwish helped start the Students for Success Club at the high school in the city of Sunnyvale that brings together student volunteers from the National [...]
Book exchanges: A great way to get free books into kids’ hands
Smart parents know smart kids need to be strong readers. We also know we’re trying to save money where we can.
Here’s a great (environmentally friendly) idea for getting books into the hands of our kids for no money: Organize a book exchange.
Parent Randi Hock organizes an annual book exchange at Solana Vista Elementary School, [...]
The value of Physical Education goes way beyond fitness
As school districts search for budget cuts, physical education and athletics are likely targets because they don’t impact academics, right? Think again.
Stewart Trost, an associate professor in Oregon State University’s Department of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, said research shows that:
Children who are physically active and fit tend to perform better in the classroom.
Sacrificing physical education [...]
California’s Distinguished Schools for 2009 are announced
Congratulations to the 261 California middle and high schools selected as 2009 California Distinguished Schools, an annual award that recognizes some of the state’s most exemplary public schools.
The awards announced by state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell went to 136 middle school and 125 high schools from Alameda to Yuba counties. (Awards alternate between [...]
Students show greater interest in studying the Great Depression
Teachers around the country are reporting an increased interest in studying the Great Depression. We can hardly wonder why.
A recent article in Education Week says students are paying close attention as their teachers compare and contrast the causes of our economic crisis with that of the Depression. And they are also learning about [...]
Healthy ideas for fun classroom parties
Here’s a great idea for class parties that had me slapping my forehead. Why hadn’t I ever thought of this? It’s so obvious!
Serve the healthy snacks first and save the sweets for later.
“It’s just like at home. Do we serve dessert first? Or dessert with the rest of the meal? No,” said Deirdre Kleske, who [...]
Five Smart Reasons Why Parents should volunteer at School
Help Wanted: PTA volunteers for next year
Signs like that are sprouting up like spring flowers at schools all around the country. Email blasts are hitting mailboxes, phone calls are going out and some of you may even be approached as you walk across campus. This is the time of year for PTAs, PTOs, PTSAs, foundations [...]
Best Seller List: Parent groups buy books for school libraries
As schools trim their budgets here and there to make ends meet, the selection of books available in their libraries is getting thinner.
Some parent groups are helping to replenish library stacks by sponsoring fund raisers specifically for books. Here are two ideas that might work for your school.
The Birthday Book Club at Miramar Ranch Elementary [...]
Tip of the Week: Weigh in on possible budget cuts before it’s too late
The budget ax is about to fall in school districts around the country. The question is not if or when, it’s what. What’s going to be cut? Smart parents are paying attention to make sure their school district doesn’t cut a program that’s vital to their child’s education.
I feel for school board members. I really [...]
Great ideas to increase your school’s earnings from eScrip
Many school fundraising groups make money from eScrip, but few do as well as the Adolfo Camarillo High School Athletic Boosters.
Just take a look at these numbers: The booster club in California’s Ventura County brought in a whopping $61,000 last year. That’s not a misprint. $61,000. The school has 2,500 students, but it has about 3,500 people enrolled in eScrip. Now that’s what I call impressive.
With school budgets being slashed and parent groups scrambling to help their schools during these difficult economic times, free money is a very good thing. Enrolling in eScrip costs nothing. Parents can register grocery rewards
