back to school for the gainesville sun, july 27, 2014

Registration 101: What parents need to knowBy Stacy FournierCorrespondent

For students new to Alachua County, including incoming kindergarteners, and those who have moved or will be

moving to a new school zone during the summer, registration is a crucial part of preparing for the fi rst day of school.

Rather than waiting until Aug. 18 — Alachua County’s fi rst day of the 2014-2015 school year — school offi cials are encouraging parents to beat the rush and register students during the summer. The registration process, which only takes a few minutes if prepared, can be completed Mondays through Thursdays at a student’s zoned school.

“It’s much more convenient for parents to register well before school starts,” said Jackie Johnson, public information offi cer for the Alachua County School Board. “They avoid the long lines and long waits that occur just before school starts, and they have time to take care of any requirements they haven’t yet fulfi lled.”

When parents wait until the last minute or even after the fi rst day of school to register, schools struggle to prepare classes and plan for any special services that may be needed, Johnson added. Registering during the summer helps schools and students avoid any uncertainty that could disrupt the classroom on the fi rst day of school.

Here is a list of the most commonly asked questions regarding registering a child for school. For more information, visit www.sbac.edu.AT WHAT AGE DO I REGISTER MY CHILD FOR KINDERGARTEN?

A child must be 5 years old by Sept. 1 to enter kindergarten.WHICH SCHOOL IS MY CHILD ZONED FOR?

To determine the name and address of the school your child is zoned for, contact the School Board of Alachua County Zoning Offi ce at 955-7700 or visit www.sbac.edu.WHEN SHOULD I REGISTER MY CHILD?

You can enroll your child by visiting his or her zoned school during regular hours or making an appointment. For a complete list of Alachua County schools and centers, visit www.sbac.edu.WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TRANSFERING MY CHILD TO A NEW SCHOOL?

Documents such as withdrawal forms, standardized test scores and recent report cards will help the school place your child appropriately. If you don’t have these items, provide the school with the name and address of your child’s previous school so that the necessary information can be obtained.WHAT DOCUMENTS DO I NEED TO BRING?

Two proofs of residence: ■

Examples include a rental or lease agreement, utility bill, deed, sales agreement or property tax bill.

Health records: All kindergar- ■

teners must have an offi cial physical showing a physician’s review of all systems within the year before school starts. A Department of Health Form 680 (immunization record) also is required.

Proof of name and age: A ■

certifi ed copy of a birth certifi -cate or an acceptable substitute is required to enter kindergarten. Acceptable substitutes include a baptismal certifi cate showing date of birth and place of baptism

(accompanied by a parent’s sworn affi davit), an insurance policy which has been in force at least two years, a Bible record of your child’s birth (accompanied by a parent’s sworn affi davit), a passport or certifi cate of arrival in the United States showing the child’s age, a school record (at least four years prior and showing date of birth) or a parent’s sworn affi davit accom-panied by a certifi cate of exami-nation.

School records: Items such as ■

withdrawal forms, standardized test scores and recent report cards help the school place your child appropriately.

Social Security Card: A copy ■

will be made and kept with your child’s folder for identifi cation purposes.

ERICA BROUGH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/2013 FILE

Second-grader Mofan “Joshua” Xue stores his backpack in a cubby on the fi rst day back to school last year at J.J. Finley Elementary School in Gainesville.

All kindergarteners must have an offi cial physical showing a physician’s review of all systems within the year before school starts.

COVER ART: Illustration by Rob Mack/StaffCONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Erin Jester and Stacey FournierEDITOR: Lillian Guevara-CastroCOPY EDITOR: Sharon Sullivan

INDEX

Registration information, ■

Meet your teacher dates, ■

Page 3Stop the Violence/Back to ■

School Rally, Page 3Bus schedule, Page 4 ■

School lunch prices, Page 4 ■

Test-taking tips, Page 5 ■

School calendar, Page 7 ■

Who to call, Page 8 ■

School Board, Page 8 ■

Tax holiday, Page 8 ■

Contacts for all North Cen- ■

tral Florida schools, Page 9Graduation tracks, Page 10 ■

Contacts for public schools, ■

Page 12Contacts for magnet schools, ■

Page 12Contacts for charter schools, ■

Page 13Contacts for private schools, ■

Page 13Study abroad, Page 14 ■

After-school snacks, Page 15 ■

How to get kids organized, ■

Page 16Cool notebook ideas, Page ■

17FluMist, Page 18 ■

Getting your child ready for ■

kindergarten, Page 19

2 | SUNDAY , JULY 27 , 2014 BACK TO SCHOOL THE GAINESVILLE SUN | www.gainesville.com

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www.gainesville.com | THE GAINESVILLE SUN BACK TO SCHOOL SUNDAY , JULY 27 , 2014 | 3

Meet Your Teacher and/or TeamELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Alachua Elementary: Aug. 15, 1-2 p.m. ■

Archer Elementary: Aug. 15, 12:30-1:30 p.m. ■

Chiles Elementary: Aug. 15, noon-1 p.m. ■

Duval Elementary: Aug. 15, noon-1 p.m. ■

Finley Elementary: Aug. 15, 1-2 p.m. ■

Foster Elementary: Aug. 15, noon-2 p.m. ■

Glen Springs Elementary: Aug. 15, noon-1 ■

p.m.Hidden Oak Elementary: Aug 14, noon-1:30 ■

p.m. (K); Aug. 15, noon-1:30 p.m. (grades 1-5)High Springs Community: Aug. 15, noon-2 ■

p.m. Idylwild Elementary: Aug. 15, noon-1 p.m. ■

Irby Elementary: Aug. 15, noon-1 p.m. ■

Lake Forest Elementary: Aug. 15, 1:30-2:30 ■

p.m.Littlewood Elementary: Aug. 15, 1-2 p.m. ■

Meadowbrook Elementary: Aug. 15, noon-1 ■

p.m.Metcalfe Elementary: Aug. 15, noon.-1 p.m. ■

Newberry Elementary: Aug. 15, 1:30-2:30 ■

p.m.Norton Elementary: Aug. 15, noon-1:30 p.m. ■

Rawlings Elementary: Aug. 14, 1-3 p.m. ■

Shell Elementary: Aug. 15, noon-1 p.m. ■

Talbot Elementary: Aug. 15, noon-1 p.m. ■

Terwilliger Elementary: Aug. 15, noon-1 p.m. ■

Waldo Community: Aug. 15, noon-1 p.m. ■

Wiles Elementary: Aug. 15, noon-1 p.m. ■

Williams Elementary: Aug. 15, 1-2 p.m. ■

MIDDLE SCHOOLSBishop Middle: Aug. 14, 1-2:30 p.m. ■

Fort Clarke Middle: Aug. 14, 1-2 p.m. ■

Kanapaha Middle: Aug. 14, 1-2 p.m. ■

Lincoln Middle: Aug. 14, 10-11 a.m. ■

Mebane Middle: Aug. 15, 11 a.m.-noon ■

Oak View Middle: Aug. 14, 1-2 p.m. ■

CAAT Magnet Program: Aug. 12, 5 p.m. ■

(eighth grade); 5:30 p.m. (seventh grade); 6 p.m. (sixth grade) Westwood Middle: Aug. 14, 2-4 p.m.

HIGH SCHOOLSBuchholz High: Aug. 14, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (fresh- ■

man and new students)Eastside High: Aug. 15, 8 a.m.-noon; class ■

schedules can be picked up from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on the following dates: Aug. 11 (nineth grade), Aug. 14 (10th grade), Aug. 13 (11th grade) and Aug. 12 (12th grade).

Gainesville High: Aug. 14, 9 a.m.-noon (fresh- ■

man)Hawthorne Middle/High: Aug. 15, 1-2 p.m. ■

Professional Academies Magnet at Loften ■

High: Aug. 14, 9-11 a.m. (freshman)Newberry High: Aug. 14, 7 p.m. (freshman ■

and new students) Santa Fe High: Aug. 15, 9 a.m. (freshman and new students)

CENTERSA. Quinn Jones Center: Aug. 15, 11 a.m.-noon ■

Horizon Center: Aug. 13, 8:30-11 a.m. ■

Sidney Lanier Center: TBA ■

By Stacy FournierCorrespondent

The annual Stop the Violence/Back to School Rally will help students and parents kick off the school year on a positive note from 10

a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 9.The event, hosted by People Against

Violence Enterprises (PAVE), takes place at the Santa Fe College Gymnasium where families will have access to important information about preventing violence in their neighborhoods, homes and school.

The theme for 2014 is “Turn Down For What? Peace!,” and the keynote speaker for the event will be Bishop Ron Gibson, who appears on the Oxygen TV show “Preachers of L.A.”

Alachua County Public Schools is partnering with PAVE to host the district’s Back to School Fair in conjunc-tion with the rally. District staff will be

available to distribute calendars, school supply lists and other important back-to-school information.

Other local agencies also will attend the event, including the Alachua County Health Department, which will be administering free immunizations.

In addition to the entertainment, guest speakers and snacks at the event, Meridian Behavioral Healthcare Inc. will give backpacks fi lled with school supplies to the fi rst 1,500 children to attend the fair.

The Leadership Gainesville Alumni Association (LGAA) will provide backpacks, supplies and clothing to eligible students who have graduated from the local Head Start program.

DOUG FINGER/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/2013 FILE

Luisa Geary takes her children Izabel Geary, 7, and Cyris Geary, 10, to meet their teacher, Carly Sewell, at Stephen Foster Elementary School last August.

BRAD MCCLENNY/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/2013 FILE

Volunteers hand out backpacks to 1,500 kids during last year’s Stop the Violence/Back to School Rally hosted by the community group People Against Violence Enterprises, at the Santa Fe College Gymnasium in Gainesville.

Kick off the new school year with the Stop the Violence/Back to School Rally

The rally will be from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 9, at the Santa Fe College Gymnasium.


Bus SchedulesComplete bus schedule

information will be posted Tuesday, Aug. 12, on the Alachua County School Board’s website, www.sbac.edu. To receive the latest bus schedule changes or if your bus is more than 20 minutes late, contact the Transportation Department at 955-7602, ext. 1700, and enter the number assigned to your school.

A. Quinn Jones Center: ■

5651Alachua Elementary: ■

5653Anchor Center: 5649 ■

Archer Community: ■

5654Bishop Middle: 5655 ■

Buchholz High: 5656 ■

Chiles Elementary: 5691 ■

Duval Elementary: 5657 ■

Eastside High: 5658 ■

Finley Elementary: 5659 ■

Fort Clarke Middle: ■

5660Foster Elementary: 5661 ■

Gainesville High: 5662 ■

Glen Springs Elemen- ■

tary: 5663Hawthorne High: 5664 ■

Hidden Oak Elemen- ■

tary: 5665High Springs Elemen- ■

tary: 5666Horizon: 5650 ■

Idylwild Elementary: ■

5667Irby Elementary: 5668 ■

Kanapaha Middle: 5669 ■

Lake Forest Elementary: ■

5670Lincoln Middle: 5671 ■

Littlewood Elementary: ■

5672Loften High: 5673 ■

Meadowbrook Elemen- ■

tary: 5680

Mebane Middle: 5674 ■

Metcalfe Elementary: ■

5675Newberry Elementary: ■

5676Newberry High: 5677 ■

Norton Elementary: ■

5678Oak View Middle: 5679 ■

Rawlings Elementary: ■

5681Santa Fe High: 5682 ■

Shell Elementary: 5683 ■

Spring Hill Middle: 5684 ■

Sidney Lanier Center: ■

5652Talbot Elementary: 5685 ■

Terwilliger Elementary: ■

5686Waldo Community: ■

5687Westwood Middle: 5688 ■

Wiles Elementary: 5689 ■

Williams Elementary: ■

5690

ISTOCKPHOTO.COM


School Meal PricesFor information regarding school meals and prices, contact Food Services at 955-7539.Elementary: Student lunches are $2.15. Reduced-price lunches are 40 cents.Middle and High: Student lunches are $2.40. Reduced-price lunches are 40 cents.Breakfast: Student breakfasts are $1. Reduced-price breakfasts are 30 cents.Menus and reduced-price meal applications are available online at www.acpsfood.com.

OPEN HOUSECameron’sDancenter

Performances by the Danscompany -Classes begin Sept 2nd

Ballet, Jazz, Tap, (modern and contemporary),all male classes, Zumbatonic

Tuesday August 19th

4:00-6:30PMat 5003 B NW 34th Street, Gainesville

Wednesday August 20th

4:00-6:30PMat our Haile location

5211SW 91st Ter # A, Gainesville371-0761

Taking Fall Registration!

Face PaintingNail PaintingRefreshmentsMeet the TeachersExplore the Studios

The 2014-15 school year will be another transitional year for Florida schools

and students. This is the year that districts are required to make a full switch to the new Florida Standards, which are based on the Common Core. Some FCAT tests will still be given, mainly for elementary and middle school science and high school students who need to retake it to graduate. But most students will be taking new Florida Standards Assessments (FSA), which is still being developed.

Middle and high school students also will still be taking end of course exams (EOCs), some based on the previous Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS), others based on the new standards. The EOC testing schedule is based on the subject and when the student takes the course.

The testing periods may be narrowed later as the state provides districts with more information about the new tests.— Source: Alachua Coun-

ty School Board

Testing datesFSA/FCATMARCH 2-13: FSA English Language Arts—Writing Component (Grades 4* and 5-11)MARCH 31-APRIL 3: FSA English Language Arts* and Math* (Grades 3 and 4)APRIL 13-MAY 8: FSA English Language Arts (Grades 5-11), FSA Math (Grades 5-8), and FCAT 2.0 Science* (Grades 5 and 8)

*Indicates a paper-based test. All others are comput-er-based only, with some exceptions for eligible students with disabilities.

END OF COURSE (EOC) EXAMS DEC. 1-19: NGSS Biology 1, Civics, U.S. HistoryAPRIL 20-MAY 15: FSA End of Course Exams in Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry APRIL 20-MAY 22: NGSS Biology 1, Civics, U.S. HistoryJULY 13-24: NGSS Biology 1, Civics, U.S. History

Testing tips for success

Attendance is essential. ■

Your child needs to be in school regularly to master the state’s standardized tests.

Report cards should be ■

monitored closely, as they are a strong predictor of how well your child is mastering the standards.

Parent/teacher confer- ■

ences can be arranged if your child’s progress is not satisfactory.

Avoid taking family ■

vacations in the weeks before or during state testing, as they can lower your child’s score.

During testing days, ■

plan ahead and ensure your child has time to eat a healthy breakfast and is not rushed.

Encourage your child to ■

do his or her best on the test, and speak positively about it. Let your child know that there may be hard questions on the test, but not to be discouraged.

Review your child’s ■

results carefully, and discuss any concerns you have with your child’s teacher.

What’s new with standardized tests in 2014?Standardized testing changes, dates and other tips for success

CORRESPONDENT/2011 FILE

Language arts teacher Suzanne White, teaches prefi xes and suffi xes during FCAT Saturday school at Sweetwater Branch Academy in Gainesville.

Report cards should be monitored closely, as they are a strong predictor of how well your child is mastering the standards.


Alachua County Public Schools 2014-2015 CalendarAugustMonday, Aug. 11-Friday, Aug. 15: Pre-Planning Monday, Aug. 18: First day for students

SeptemberMonday, Sept. 1: Holiday — Labor Day Tuesday, Sept. 23: Send interim reports home

OctoberFriday, Oct. 17: Holiday — UF Homecoming Tuesday, Oct. 21: End of fi rst nine weeks Friday, Oct. 24: Pupil holiday/teacher workday

NovemberTuesday, Nov. 4: Send report cards home Tuesday, Nov. 11: Holiday — Veterans Day* Monday, Nov. 24-Wednesday, Nov. 26: Pupil/teacher holiday Thursday, Nov. 27-Friday, Nov. 28: Thanksgiving holidays

DecemberFriday, Dec. 5: Send interim reports home Monday, Dec. 22-Friday, Jan. 2: Winter Holidays

JanuaryMonday, Jan. 5: Classes resume Thursday, Jan. 15: End of fi rst semester Friday, Jan. 16: Pupil holiday/teacher workdayMonday, Jan. 19: Holiday — MLK DayTuesday, Jan. 20: Begin second semester Thursday, Jan. 29: Send report cards home

FebruaryMonday, Feb. 16: Holiday — Presidents’ Day Wednesday, Feb. 25: Send interim reports home

MarchMonday, March 23-Friday, March 27: Spring holidayTuesday, March 31: End of third nine weeks

April*Monday, April 6: Pupil holiday/teacher workday Thursday, April 9: Send report cards home

MayThursday, May 7: Send interim reports home Monday, May 25: Holiday — Memorial Day

JuneThursday, June 4: Last day for students Friday, June 5: Post-planning for teachers Monday, June 8: Post-planning for teachers

*These days MAY be used to make up days cancelled due to hurricanes or other emergencies. For the 2014-2015 calendar, they will be used in the following order: Nov. 24, Nov. 25, April 6


Who to call for…Adult Education/GED:

Charley Wise, 955-7035Adult/Career/Technol-

ogy Education: Dave Edwards, 955-7600Alachua County Public

Schools Foundations: Judy Boles, 955-7003Board Agenda Informa-

tion: Rose Ramos, 955-7880Curriculum, Elementary:

Diana Lagotic, 955-7444Curriculum, Secondary:

Donna Jones, 955-7444Directory Assistance:

955-7300Early Childhood Educa-

tion: Doris Imler, 955-7628Exceptional Student

Education: Kathy Black, 955-7671, ext. 222Extended Day Enrich-

ment Program: Angel Londrie, 955-7766Facilities, Maintenance,

Planning and Construc-tion: Shane Andrew, 955-7400, ext. 1401Finance: Sonja Barnes,

955-7557Food and Nutrition:

Maria Eunice, 955-7537Guidance: Jennifer Taylor,

955-7671, ext. 264Head Start/Preschool

Education/Voluntary Pre-K: Ann Crowell, 955-6875Health Services: Pat

Hughes, 955-7671, ext. 233Home School: Terri Bain,

955-7575Human Resources: 955-

7727Job Vacancies and Em-

ployment Opportunities: www.sbac.eduMaintenance: Tom Cow-

art, 955-7400, ext. 1413Personnel: Beverly Finley,

955-7714Planning/Construction:

Vickie McGrath, 955-7700, ext. 1423Public Information

Offi ce: Jackie Johnson, 955-7545Research, Evaluation

and Testing: Steven Stark, 955-7681Student Records: 955-

7740Student Services: Kathy

Black, 955-7671, ext. 222Title 1 (Compensatory

Education): Diana Lagotic, 955-7444Transportation: 955-

7602, ext. 0Volunteer Program: Liz

Stark, 955-6760Zoning and Attendance:

Martha Dean, 955-7696Deputy Superintendent:

Hershel Lyons, 955-7880Asst. Superintendent,

Planning and Budgeting:Scott Ward, 955-7559

Alachua County School BoardDISTRICT 1

April M. Griffi n ■

620 E. University Ave., Gainesville, 32601 (333-

3113)Email: griffi [email protected]

DISTRICT 2Eileen F. Roy ■


7305)Email: [email protected]

DISTRICT 3Gunnar F. Paulson, Ed.D. ■



DISTRICT 4Leanetta McNealy, Ph. D. ■


9472)Email: [email protected].

edu

DISTRICT 5Carol Oyenarte620 E. University Ave., Gainesville, 32601 (262-

2750)

Email: [email protected]

SUPERINTENDENTDr. Owen A. Roberts, Ph.D. ■



To email all board members: [email protected]

Babies to First Grade...The Academy provides an atmosphere of love,respect, and acceptance in which each childcan develop socially, emotionally, physically,

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Creating a generation that loves the Lord and walks with integrity.

For more information contact:Dr. Suzana Sargent, Director

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• Ages 8 weeks to 6 years

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Save on school supplies during sales tax holiday

ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

Staff report

The sales tax holiday for back-to-school shopping will be Aug. 1-3 this year.

The sales tax exemption covers:Computers and related accessories ■

for $750 or less per itemShoes, clothes and accessories of ■

$100 or lessSchool supplies that cost $15 or less ■

For more information, goto dor.myfl orida.com/dor/tips/pdf/tip14a01-04_full_list.pdf.


Griffi n

Roberts

Roy

Paulson McNealy

Oyenarte

North Central Florida schoolsBRADFORD COUNTY

Phone: ■ 904-966-6800First day of class: ■ Monday,

Aug. 18Important dates: ■ Winter

Break is Dec. 22-Jan. 2, followed by a student holiday on Jan. 5, with classes resuming on Jan. 6; Spring Break is March 9-13; Last day of school is June 4

Website: ■ www.bradford-schools.org

Schools: ■ Bradford High School, Bradford Intervention Center, Bradford Middle School, Bradford — Union Technical Center, Bradford Virtual School, Brooker Elementary School, Hampton Elementary School, Lawtey Community School, Rainbow Center, Southside Elementary School, Starke Elementary School

COLUMBIA COUNTYPhone: ■ 386-755-8000First day of class: ■ Monday,


Break is Dec. 22-Jan. 2, followed by a student holiday on Jan. 5, with classes resuming on Jan. 6; Spring Break is March 30-April 3; Last day of school is May 29

Website: ■ www.columbia.k12.fl .us

Schools: ■ Adult Education, Challenge Learning Center, Chrysalis Center, Columbia City Elementary School, Columbia High School, Eastside Elemen-tary School, Five Points Elemen-tary School, Fort White Elemen-tary School, Fort White Middle School, Fort White High School, Lake City Middle School, Melrose Park Elementary School, Niblack Elementary School, Pinemount Elementary School, Richardson Middle School, Summers Elementary School, Westside Elementary School, Shining Star Academy of the Arts, Belmont Academy Charter School

DIXIE COUNTYPhone: ■ 498-6131First day of class: ■ Monday,


Break is Dec. 22-Jan. 2, followed by student holidays on Jan 5-6,

with classes resuming on Jan. 7; Spring Break is March 23-27; Last day of school is June 4

Website: ■ www.dixie.k12.fl .usSchools: ■ Anderson Elemen-

tary School, Dixie County High School, Dixie County Adult Cen-ter, Old Town Elementary School, Ruth Rains Middle School

GILCHRIST COUNTYPhone: ■ 463-3200First day of class: ■ Monday,



Website: ■ www.gilchrist-schools.org

Schools: ■ Bell Elementary School, Bell Middle/High School, Trenton Elementary School, Trenton Middle/High

School

LAFAYETTE COUNTYPhone: ■ 386-294-1351First day of class: ■ Monday,



Website: ■ Lafayette.schooldesk.net

Schools: ■ Lafayette Elemen-tary School, Lafayette High School

LEVY COUNTYPhone: ■ 486-5231First day of class: ■ Monday,


Break is Dec. 22-Jan. 2, followed by a student holiday on Jan. 5, with classes resuming on Jan. 6; Spring Break (tentative) is April

6-10; Last day of school is June 5Website: ■ www.levy.k12.fl .usSchools: ■ Bronson Elementary

School, Bronson Middle/High School, Hilltop School, Cedar Key School, Chiefl and Elemen-tary School, Chiefl and Middle School, Chiefl and High School, Joyce Bullock Elementary School, My District Virtual School, Nature Coast Middle School, Williston Elementary School, Williston Middle School, Williston High School, Whisper-ing Winds Charter School, Yankeetown School, Adult High School (CFCC)

SUWANNEE COUNTYPhone: ■ 386-647-4600First day of class: ■ Tuesday,


Break is Dec. 22-Jan. 2, with classes resuming on Jan. 5; Spring Break is March 30-April 3; Last day of school is June 5

Website: ■ www.suwannee.k12.fl .us

Schools: ■ Branford Elemen-tary School, Branford High School, Suwannee Primary School, Suwannee Elementary School, Suwannee Intermediate School, Suwannee Middle School, Suwannee High School, Suwannee-Hamilton Technical Center

UNION COUNTYPhone: ■ 386-496-2045First day of class: ■ Thursday,


Break is Dec. 22-Jan. 2, with classes resuming on Jan. 5; Spring Break is March 9-13; Last day of school is June 5

Website: ■ www.union.k12.fl .usSchools: ■ Lake Butler Elemen-

tary School, Lake Butler Middle School, Union County High School, Union Juvenile Residen-tial Facility

ERICA BROUGH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

An Alachua County school bus passes thousands of wildfl owers growing along the median of State Road 26 at the entrance to the town of Newberry.


Choosing a path to graduationBy Erin JesterStaff writer

Florida public school students have more agency than ever when it comes to choosing their path in high school.

In contrast with the more rigorous graduation requirements put in place in 2010, a bill signed by Gov. Rick Scott last year sought to alleviate

pressure on high school students by allow-ing them to choose a graduation track: merit, standard or scholar.

The law went into effect last year, but Alachua County Public Schools assistant superintendent for curriculum Karen Clarke said students didn’t have the option to pick up a merit or scholar designation if they weren’t already on that path.

This year, she said, “It’s pretty much new for the masses because they can plan to do all that.”

Previously, students were required to pass end-of-course assessments in English, social studies, algebra I and biology to be able to graduate.

Under the new law, students must still pass assessments in English, math, science and social studies, but the level of study is determined by the diploma the student wish-es to earn.

Students can still earn a standard diploma by taking algebra I and biology and passing the requisite exams, along with across-the-board requirements for all graduation tracks, such as four credits of English and eight elective credits.

Getting the scholar designation is more diffi cult.

In addition to the requirements for a standard diploma, students seeking a scholar diploma must pass the algebra I and biology I end-of-course exams (as opposed to merely taking them) plus the U.S. history end-of-course exam; earn one credit each for algebra II plus one other advanced math, chemistry or physics class and one other high-level science class; an Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or dual enrollment class and two credits of the same world language.

For a merit diploma, on top of standard requirements the student must earn an

industry certifi cation, which often requires passing multiple career technical classes.

Clarke said it’s not necessarily diffi cult for a student to switch tracks, although it’s less a matter of switching and more an issue of planning ahead.

“You want to make sure you’re on the right path so you have the correct background to take those [higher-level or technical] courses,” she said.

Just as it gets harder to switch your major after a certain point in college, Clarke said, it would be hard — but not impossible — for a student to pick up a merit or scholar designation without taking some of the required courses early in high school.

Clarke noted that scholar and merit designations don’t appear on the physical diploma, just a student’s transcript.

She said she wasn’t sure how colleges and universities would consider the designa-tions, especially since they’re so new.

She suspects they would look favorably on scholar diplomas because much of the work

required is college-level and is required for graduation from a four-year institution, such as the world language requirement.

University of Florida spokesman Steve Orlando said when admissions personnel review a transcript, they look at what courses a student is taking, the rigor of the courses, how well the student is doing in those courses and whether that person has challenged himself or herself.

“One is not necessarily better than the other,” Orlando said of the merit versus scholar designations. “We look at the whole picture.”

Of course, many students will have already been accepted to college by the time their diploma designations are fi nalized.

Ahead of the coming school year, Alachua County Public Schools has been expanding its career technical offerings in the technol-ogy industry.

“We are defi nitely adding more technology classes to the middle schools,” said Nancy Iafrate, a teacher specialist in the district’s

Career and Technical Education Depart-ment.

Howard Bishop, Kanapaha and Oak View middle schools all had IT certifi cation programs as of this year, where students could earn the Microsoft Offi ce Specialist certifi cation, covering Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint.

This year, Iafrate said the certifi cation programs will expand to Fort Clarke, Lincoln and Westwood middle schools.

Industry certifi cations earned in middle school count toward the merit diploma, she said, which could make it easier for students to pick up more certifi cations or even earn both the merit and scholar distinctions.

Right now, she said, the district doesn’t

have the funding to add whole new pro-grams, but the department is working on expanding.

For example, Clarke said Eastside High School will have three new courses in Web development and programming in the fall.

Currently, Alachua County schools offer 18 industry certifi cations in all, from Quickbooks, an accounting program, to design programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Dreamweaver to EMT and biotechni-cian assistant certifi cations.

At the end of the 2013-14 school year, there were 3,682 high-schoolers and 2,422 middle-schoolers enrolled in at least one career and technical course.

Students in the Professional Academies

Magnet at Loften High, an entirely career tech-focused magnet program, typically end up with multiple certifi cations that allow them to go straight into the fi eld out of high school.

Enrollment in the associated classes allows students a free opportunity to take the certifi cation exams, which could cost hundreds of dollars.

And for each student that earns a certifi ca-tion, the school earns money to put back into that career tech program.

For information on Alachua County Public School programs offering industry certifi ca-tions, visit the district website at www.sbac.edu, select “Departments,” then “Career and Technical Education.”

DOUG FINGER/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/FILE

Students in the Loften High School Academy of Fire Emergency Medical Services participate in a training exercise at the school in March. Students in the Professional Academies Magnet at Loften High typically end up with multiple certifi cations that allow them to go straight into the fi eld out of high school.

High school students can choose a merit, standard or scholar graduation track, thanks to a new law.

MATT STAMEY/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/FILE

ABOVE: Sam Long works on an image in Adobe Photoshop during an information technology class at Howard Bishop Middle School in Gainesville.RIGHT: Howard Bishop teacher Lewis Rhodes answers a student’s question during an information technology class. Students can take industry certifi cation exams in several IT programs, including Microsoft Word, Excel and Adobe Photoshop.

10 | BACK TO SCHOOL SUNDAY , JULY 27 , 2014 BACK TO SCHOOL | 11

PUBLIC SCHOOL CONTACTS

Main School Board: ■ 955-7300; District Site: www.sbac.edu

(All area codes are 352 unless otherwise noted.)

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLSAlachua (3-5): 386-462-

1841; 13800 NW 152nd Place, Alachua; Eva CopelandArcher (pre-K-5): 495-

2111; 14533 SW 170th St., Archer; Cory TomlinsonChiles, Lawton (pre-K-5):

333-2825; 2525 Schoolhouse Road, Gainesville; Judy BlackDuval, Charles (K-5): 955-

6703; 2106 NE Eighth Ave., Gainesville; Lawson BrownFinley, J.J. (K-5): 955-

6705; 1912 NW Fifth Ave., Gainesville; Kathleen ValdesFoster, Stephen (K-5):

955-6706; 3800 NW Sixth St., Gainesville; James KuhnGlen Springs (K-5): 955-

6708; 2826 NW 31st Ave., Gainesville; Nannette DellHidden Oak (pre-K-5):

333-2801; 2100 Fort Clarke Blvd., Gainesville; Ron KnowlesHigh Springs Community

(K-8): 386-454-1958; 1015 N. Main St., High Springs; Jeffrey MeansIdylwild (K-5): 955-6709;

4601 SW 20th Terrace, Gainesville; Daniel FergusonIrby, W.W. (pre-K-2):

386-462-5002; 13505 NW 140th St., Alachua; Valdenora FortnerLake Forest (pre-K-5):

955-6710; 4401 SE Fourth Ave., Gainesville; Lacy ReddLittlewood (pre-K-5):

955-6712; 812 NW 34th St., Gainesville; Jen HomardMeadowbrook (K-5): 333-

2828; 11525 NW 39th Ave., Gainesville; Brad BurklewMetcalfe, W.A. (pre-K-5):

955-6713; 1250 NE 18th Ave, Gainesville; Pat PhillipsNewberry (pre-K-4): 472-

1100; 25705 SW 15th Ave.,

Newberry; Beth PearlmanNorton, C.W. (K-5): 955-

6765; 2200 NW 45th Ave., Gainesville; Kim NealRawlings, M.K. (pre-K-5):

955-6715; 3500 NE 15th St., Gainesville; Daniel BurneyShell, Chester (K-5): 481-

1901; 21633 SE 65th Ave., Hawthorne; Libby HartwellTalbot, William S. (pre-

K-5): 955-6716; 5701 NW 43rd St., Gainesville; Lina BurklewTerwilliger, Myra (pre-

K-5): 955-6717; 301 NW 62nd St., Gainesville; Lynn McNeilWaldo Community

(pre-K-5): 468-1451; 14450 NE 148th Ave., Waldo; Holly BurtonWiles, Kimball (K-5):

955-6955; 4601 SW 75th St., Gainesville; Dr. Barbara BuysWilliams, Joseph (K-5):

955-6719; 1245 SE Seventh Ave., Gainesville; Karla Hutchinson

MIDDLE SCHOOLS (ALL 6-8 UNLESS NOTED)Bishop, Howard W.:

955-6701; 1901 NE Ninth St., Gainesville; Mike GambleFort Clarke: 333-2800;

9301 NW 23rd Ave., Gainesville; Donna KidwellHawthorne (6-12): 481-

1900; 21403 SE 69th Ave., Hawthorne; Libby HartwellHigh Springs Community

(K-8): 386-454-1958; 1015 N Main St., High Springs; Jeffrey MeansKanapaha: 955-6960; 5005

SW 75th St., Gainesville; Jen-nifer WiseLincoln, Abraham:

955-6711; 1001 SE 12th St., Gainesville; Don LewisMebane, A.L.: 386-462-

1648; 16401 NW 140th St., Alachua; Manda BessnerOak View: 472-1102; 1203

SW 250th St., Newberry; Katherine MunnWestwood: 955-6718;

3215 NW 15th Ave.,

Gainesville; James TenBieg

HIGH SCHOOLS (ALL 9-12 UNLESS NOTED)Buchholz, F.W.: 955-

6702; 5510 NW 27th Ave., Gainesville; Vicente PerezEastside: 955- 6704; 1201

SE 43rd St., Gainesville; Jeff CharbonnetGainesville: 955-

6707; 1900 NW 13th St., Gainesville; David ShelnuttHawthorne (6-12): 481-

1900; 21403 SE 69th Ave., Hawthorne; Libby HartwellLoften (pre-K/6-12): 955-

6839; 3000 E. University Ave., Gainesville: Bill McElroyNewberry: 472-1101; 400

SW 258th St., Newberry; Kevin PurvisSanta Fe: 386-462-1125;

16213 NW U.S. 441, Alachua; Dr. Beth LeClear

CENTERSA. Quinn Jones: 955-6840;

1108 NW Seventh Ave., Gainesville; Sue KellerCamp Crystal Lake:

1-855-651-2267; 6724 Camp Crystal Road, Starke; Scott BurtonFearnside Family Ser-

vices: 955-6875; 3600 NE 15th St., Gainesville; Ann CrowellHorizon Center: 955-

7250; 2802 NE Eighth Ave., Gainesville; Veita Jackson-CarterPrairie View Academy:

955-6714; 1700 SE 35th Ave., Gainesville; Ann CrowellRegional Detention Cen-

ter: 955-7895; 3440 NE 39th Ave., Gainesville; Madelyn VallerySidney Lanier: 955-

6841; 312 NW 16th Ave., Gainesville; Royce G. Kam-manTraffi c Safety Center:

955-6959; 3501 NE 12th St., Gainesville; Joe Racioppi

Alachua County magnet programsAlachua County has a variety

of career academies with different specialties. A career and technical education forum is held each year in January so parents and students can learn about the opportunities that are available.Individual programs also hold

their own open houses early in the calendar year. Parents and students receive information about these programs during eighth grade.A complete list of contact

names and numbers for each program is available on the district’s website at www.sbac.edu.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLSFine Arts: Duval ElementaryGifted: Williams ElementaryGifted and Talented:

Archer Community

Math, Science and Technology: Stephen Foster Elementary

MIDDLE SCHOOLSAcademy of Technology

and Gifted Studies: Howard Bishop Middle SchoolLyceum Program: Lincoln

Middle SchoolThe Center for Advanced

Academies and Technol-ogy: Oak View Middle School

HIGH SCHOOLSAcademy of Agriscience:

Santa Fe High SchoolAcademy of Automotive

Technology: Professional Academies Magnet at LoftenAcademy of Criminal Jus-

tice: Newberry High SchoolAcademy of Design and

Technology: Professional Academies Magnet at LoftenAcademy of Early Child-

hood Education: Profes-sional Academies Magnet at

LoftenAcademy of Entrepre-

neurship: Buchholz High School Academy of Finance:

Buchholz High School Academy of Fire and

Emergency Medical Ser-vices: Professional Academies Magnet at LoftenAcademy of Health

Professions: Gainesville High SchoolCambridge Advanced

International: Gainesville High SchoolInstitute of Biotechnol-

ogy: Santa Fe High SchoolInstitute of Culinary Arts:

Eastside High SchoolInternational Baccalaure-

ate: Eastside High SchoolSFC School of Construc-

tion: part-time dual enroll-ment at Santa Fe College

SUBMITTED

There are a variety of magnet schools, like the Lyceum Program at Lincoln Middle School, in Alachua County. Each focuses on diff erent specialties.


Charter schoolsAlachua Learning Center

Inc.: 386-418-2080; 11100 State Road 235, Alachua; Grades: K-8; Contact: Jaya Kaseder (K-5) or Tom Allin (6-8)Boulware Springs Charter

School: 215-2175; 1303 NE 23rd Ave., Gainesville; Grades: K-5; Contact: Megan Lane or Kay AbbittCaring and Sharing

Learning School Inc.: 372-1004; 1951 SE Fourth St., Gainesville; Grades: VPK-6; Contact: Curtis PetersonThe Einstein School:

335-4321; 5910 SW Archer

Road, Gainesville; Grades: 2-8; Contact: Christine AurelioExpressions Learning Arts

Academy Inc.: 373-5223; 5408 SW 13th St., Gainesville; Grades: K-5; Contact: Cheryl ValantisFlorida SIA Tech: 333-

7952; 7022 NW 10th Place, Gainesville; Grades: 9-12; Contact: Christal BlueGenesis Preparatory

School: 379-1188; 207 NW 23rd Ave., Gainesville; Grades: K-3; Contact: Charmaine HenryHealthy Learning Acad-

emy: 372-2279; 13505 W Newberry Road, Jonesville; Grades: K-5; Contact: Anni Egan

Micanopy Area Co-operative School Inc.: 466-0990; 802 NW Seminary St., Micanopy; Grades: VPK-5; Contact: Brenda MaynardMicanopy Middle School

Inc.: 466-1090; 708 NW Oke-humkee St., Micanopy; Grades: 6-9; Contact: Bobby Johnson MYcroSchool Gainesville:

379-2902; 2209 NW 13th St., Gainesville; Contact: Randy StarlingOne Room School House

Project Inc.: 376-4014; 4180 NE 15th St., Gainesville; Grades: VPK-8; Contact: Brett Beckett (elementary) or Kathy Rodriguez-Tsin (middle)

Private and independent schools in GainesvilleQueen of Peace Catholic

Academy: 332-8808; 10900 SW 24th Ave., Gainesville; Grades: pre-K4-8; Principal: Sister Nancy Elder; First day: Wednesday, Aug. 13P.K. Yonge Develop-

mental Research School: 392-1554; 1080 SW 11th St., Gainesville; Grades: K-12; Director: Dr. Lynda Hayes; Principal: Dr. Catherine Atria; First day: Monday, Aug. 18 The Rock School: 331-

7625; 9818 SW 24th Ave., Gainesville; Grades: infants-12; Principal: Jim McKenzie; First day: Thursday, Aug. 14Cornerstone Academy:

378-9337; 3401 NW 34th St., Gainesville; Grades: pre-K4-12; Interim Headmaster: Doug Lawson; Grammar Principal: Erin Cook; Secondary Principal: Diana Parfait; First day: Tues-day, Aug. 12St. Francis Catholic High

School: 376-6545; 4100 NW 115th Terrace, Gainesville; Grades 9-12; Principal: Ernest D. Herrington Jr.; First day: Wednesday, Aug. 13

St. Patrick Interparish School: 376-9878; 550 NE 16th Ave., Gainesville; Grades: pre-K3-8; Principal: Frank Mackritis; First day: Wednes-day, Aug. 13Oak Hall School (Lower):

332-1452; 7715 SW 14th Ave., Gainesville; Grades: pre-K-5; Headmaster; Richard Gehman; First day: Wednesday, Aug. 20Oak Hall School (Middle/

Upper): 332-3609; 8009 SW 14th Ave., Gainesville; Grades 6-12; Headmaster: Richard Gehman; First day: Wednesday, Aug. 20Gainesville Country Day:

332-7783; 6801 SW 24th Ave., Gainesville; Grades: 2 ½-year-olds-5; Directors: Nancye Childers and Kelly Childers; First day: Wednesday, Aug. 20Brentwood School:

373-3222; 1111 NW 55th St., Gainesville: Grades: 2-year-olds-5; Director: Robert Schackow; First day: Monday, Aug. 18Jordan Glen School and

Summer Camp: 495-2728; 12425 SW 154th St., Archer; Grades: pre-K-8; Director: Jeff Davis; First day: Wednesday, Aug. 20Trilogy School: 332-

8802; 8700 NW 23rd Ave., Gainesville; Grades: 1-12;

Director: Quinn Wiggins; First day: Thursday, Aug. 21Millhopper Montessori

School: 375-6773; 8505 NW 39th Ave., Gainesville; Grades: 2-year-olds to 8; Head of

School: Christina Miller; First day: Monday, Aug. 11 (2-year-olds to K) and Monday, Aug. 18 (grades 1-8)Passage Christian

Academy: 336-8983; 5121

E. University Ave., Gainesville; Grades: K-12; Principal: Dr. Fred W. Ball; First day: Monday, Aug. 18Newberry Christian Com-

munity School: 363-6322;

1520 NW 34th St., Gainesville; Grades: 3 years old-12; Princi-pal: James Schrader; First day: Monday, Aug. 18

DOUG FINGER/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Boulware Springs Charter School just opened this month.


Children ages 2-4 in the beginners class of the Millhopper Montessori School parade through the school during the Annual Little House Gator Parade.


Transportation:We offer area transportation from anyof the elementary or middle schoolswhere 5 or more children enroll.

Field Trips:Horseback RidingFishingRoller SkatingBowlingRock Walls

Speciality Camps:These classes includebut are not limited to:Art, MusicCheer, Color GuardGymnastics, DanceFlag Football, SoccerYoga, ZumbaSwimming

Homework Help:Every day the kids areoffered “homeworktime” when counselorssupervise and help withany questions the kidsmay have.

Our Philosophy:The YMCA strives to build strongkids, strong families, and strongcommunities. Staff will worktowards this by leading yourchildren in un-filled activitiescentered on character development.Our core values are Respect,Responsibility, Caring, and Honesty.While at the YMCA, your childrenwill be guided through a varietyof adventures that will encouragegrowth not only as an individual,but also as an integral part of yourfamily and our community.

North Central Florida YMCAKindergarten-8th Grade

(352) 374-9622 | www.ncfymca.org5201 NW 34th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32605

Kids studying abroad now are never out of touchBy Beth J. HarpazAP Travel Editor

A generation ago, students on semes-ters abroad were practically incom-

municado, aside from airmailed letters and one or two calls home. These days, from the minute the plane lands, kids studying overseas are connected with home via Skype, Facebook and messaging apps like Viber and What-sApp.

Has technology altered the semester abroad by making it impossible to immerse yourself in another culture? Or does staying in touch simply increase comfort levels, easing both homesickness and parental worries?

Jane Tabachnick of Montclair, New Jersey, remembers airmailing letters to her parents when she studied in Paris for nine months at age 21, long before the cellphone era.

“I knew they were worried and that they’d be waiting by the mailbox,” she said. “It seemed like an eternity between letters.”

It was different when Tabachnick’s 21-year-old daughter lived in Russia and Paris as part of her studies at Rutgers Univer-sity. They often conversed by Skype or GoogleChat.

“My daughter is very mature and level-headed and I’m not a big worrier, but I’m a parent, and she’s across the world, and it was just so easy to be in touch,” Tabachnick said.

Robbin Watson was forced to give up screen time with the home crowd when her laptop was

damaged during a semester in Italy six years ago, when she was 19.

“I was devastated at fi rst, wondering to myself, ‘How will I know what’s going on at home? How will I Skype my friends?’” she recalled.

But as time went on, her experience in Rome “drastically changed. I began to go out more, no longer running home from class to hop online. I no longer thought about what was going on at college, and soon, I began to not even care.”

Looking back, she’s grateful that her laptop was damaged. Her advice for semester abroad: “Get rid of your smartphone. The whole point of studying abroad is to immerse yourself in the culture, the people, the language. Once you have Skype, Facebook and constant calls from parents, I think it really takes away from the experience and becomes a huge distraction.”

Staying in touch is important to Daniele Weiss, 19, a New York University student who spent the spring semester in Florence and is now in Israel for the summer.

“My mom needs to hear from me every night before I go to sleep,” she said.

From Italy, six hours

ahead of her parents, she’d call in the morning before her dad went to work and then text throughout the day. She said most of her fellow American students also “stayed in contact with everybody from home. It was very comfort-able and so easy. It’s not like I felt like I was missing out on the immersion. But I wanted to share things with my mom.”

Jason Fischbach, 24, studied in Sydney, Australia, during his senior year at Babson College in 2010-2011, and stayed in touch with family through Facebook and Skype, though he tried to limit it: “I was able to keep myself from getting homesick, without really watering down the experience.”

But, he added that others did fall into the “traps” of too much screen time: “People would get back from class and hop on Skype/Facebook with family and signifi cant others. People would skip social outings or classes to reach back out to people at home. Evenings would be spent on social media.”

Annmarie Whelan, a spokeswoman for Forum Education Abroad, which develops standards for education abroad pro-grams, acknowledges that students miss out if they spend too much time online with folks back home.

On the positive side, she added, some students gain confi dence dealing with unfamiliar situations if they can process the experience with someone they know.

Has technology altered the semester abroad by making it impossible to immerse yourself in another culture?


www.stpatrickschoolgnv.orgFor more information or

to schedule a tour,please call (352) 376-9878

Enriching students lives from 3years old to 8th grade.

Dynamic and challenging mathand science programs.

Highly competitive sportsprograms that include soccer,volleyball, basketball and more.

Scholarships includeMcKay,Stop for Students and VPK.

Faith based classrooms fora safe, comfortable learningenvironment.

After school program withhomework assistance.

Technologically advancedlessons.

Culturally diverse campus.

Truly a home away from home.

TheGenerationsofTomorrow

St. PatrickInterparish SchoolReligion | Respect | Responsibility

Make a healthy aft er-school snack that eats like a treatBy Alison LadmanThe Associated Press

The words hungry kids heading home from school hate most? “Have a piece

of fruit.” Afterschool snacks are

one of the toughest terrains for parents to navigate. The kids want a treat, but parents — mind-ful that dinner is just around the corner — want to keep it healthy. So we decided to come up with a healthy, fi lling snack that kids would still consider a treat.

These chocolate and granola covered frozen bananas are a healthy snack that eat like a frozen pop with a hit of chocolate. If your kids aren’t into granola, you could substitute chopped nuts, crushed whole-grain pretzels or even raisins or dried cranberries.

FROZEN CHOCOLATE GRANOLA BANANAS

Start to fi nish: 20 minutes, plus freezing

Servings: 4 1 cup (6 ounces) semi-

sweet chocolate bits 2 tablespoons orange

juice 2 bananas 1 cup granola Line a small pan with

waxed paper. Bring a small saucepan

of water (about 1 inch) to a simmer. In a small bowl,

combine the chocolate bits and orange juice. Place the bowl over the pan of simmering water. Stir continuously until melted and smooth.

Peel the bananas, then cut each banana in half crosswise. Insert a fork into one end of each piece. Dip each banana into the chocolate mixture, using a spoon to scoop the chocolate over the banana to make sure it is com-

pletely covered. Roll the coated banana in the granola, then place the forked and coated banan-as on the prepared pan. Freeze. Nutrition information per

serving: 350 calories; 130 calories from fat (37 percent of total calories); 14 g fat (8 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 59 g carbohy-drate; 6 g fi ber; 33 g sugar; 5 g protein; 10 mg sodium

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Parents will consider them a healthy, fi lling snack, but kids will consider Frozen Chocolate Granola Bananas a treat.


Experts help kids become more organizedBy Katherine RothThe Associated Press

Success in school of-ten depends on how well a student man-ages to organize

everything from demand-ing schoolwork to a dizzy-ing array of after-school activities to technological distractions. That’s a lot to ask of a child, or even of busy parents.

For those with dispos-able income, a new breed of experts is stepping in to help: professional organiz-ers for kids.

“Nine years ago, when I started Order Out of Chaos, I had to explain to people what a professional organizer was. Now, it’s not what’s an organizer, but who’s your organiz-er?” said Leslie Josel of Mamaroneck, New York, who offers to help kids manage everything from elementary school to dorm life.

“As parents, we walk into the house and say, ‘Go get your soccer cleats,’ ‘Go get your dance things,’ ‘Do your homework,’ ” Josel said. But organization is like a muscle, she said, “and if you’re the one spewing all those instruc-tions out, the only one working out that brain muscle is you. You’re ending up nagging instead of training.”

Ask children before they head out the door what they think they will need for the day. “After a while, it becomes as much of a habit as brushing teeth or putting on a seat belt,” Josel said.

And come up with systems for paper and time management at home and at school. “If it takes your child more than two steps to do something, they’re not going to do it,”

she said. Many of the hundreds of

professional organizers nationwide are mothers or former teachers who have helped children deal with “executive dysfunction,” the technical term for the

problem. Some earn certifi cation from groups such as the New Jersey-based National Associa-tion of Professional Organizers or the St. Louis-based Institute for Challenging Disorganiza-

tion. Often, professional

organizers are hired to help kids with special needs. But they are increasingly invited to speak at parent-teacher associations and commu-nity groups to offer general tips.

“Academic tutors help with science or math ... but the study skills part of the picture has been a no man’s land,” said Kathy Jenkins, who runs the Richmond, Virginia-based company The Organizing Tutor.

Some tips from her and other experts:

Managingtheir stuff

At home, each student in the household should have a “launching pad” and portable storage system. A

launching pad can be a bench or box by the front door or bedroom door that holds everything that goes in and out of the house: library books, backpacks, cellphone, soccer cleats.

“For this population, the more time they spend looking for something, the less remaining stamina they have to do what they need to be doing,” Josel said.

The portable storage station should be a clear box with everything needed to get homework done.

“It’s essential to have one box per student, not one per household,” Josel said. “An elementary student

might have glue and colored pencils, while a middle schooler might need a Spanish dictionary and a calculator.”

Boxes should be labeled — but not by parents — with the child’s name and a list of contents. “Have your child fi ll the box and label it. It’s part of the ownership process,” Josel said.

Boxes should be portable because although some students work happily at the same desk each evening, for others, “it really helps if you change workplaces not only every day, but for every study subject,” Josel said.

Study tools Although organizing

systems vary with the individual’s learning style, some frequent recommen-dations for students are:

Use a planner that ■

includes after-school activities as well as homework assignments.

Use reinforced binder ■

paper, Jenkins says, so papers don’t fall out or get crumpled because one hole is ripped.

Vertical, clear-plastic ■

student envelopes can hold a textbook, notebook and papers so that nothing is forgotten. They’re easily pulled out of backpacks or lockers, can be color-cod-ed, and are easy to carry between classes.

A binder with attached ■

accordion fi le can be used for all subjects or for each subject. They come in various colors and have room to fi le papers in a hurry, so they don’t get lost.

For time management, ■

organizers often recom-mend a timer and a vibrating watch.

PHOTOS BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

This undated photo provided by Order Out of Chaos shows the launching pad area. Everyone should have a designated “launching pad,” professional organizers say, where everything that goes in and out of the house is kept.

Once students get to middle school, where they’re expected to juggle several diff erent classes along with various after-school activities, it helps to use an academic planner that keeps track of afternoon and evening events as well as long-term assignments.

Organizers say many students have diffi culty visualizing time. This Time Timer Plus, which comes in a variety of sizes, helps give a visual sense of time. It also can be used to help students play “beat the clock” with themselves to help get work done.

A launching pad can be a bench or box by the front door or bedroom door that holds everything that goes in and out of the house.


Add zing to notebooks, store-bought or DIY

By Kim CookThe Associated Press

When it’s time to start stocking the school backpack, it’s easy to just grab a stack of

plain, boring notebooks. But since kids have to tote

these things to and fro every day, why not trade the standard-issue ones for something snazzy and personalized?

There are plenty of eye-catch-ing options to buy or to make yourself.

At Zazzle and Cafepress, you can upload favorite images and decorate custom journals and notebooks with different fonts and colors. There also are fun backgrounds like chevrons, animal prints, sports themes and nature motifs that can be jazzed up with monograms or catchphrases. (www.zazzle.com; www.cafepress.com)

Frecklebox offers cute, 50-page, wide-ruled spirals printed with owls, hearts, fl ames, robots, camoufl age, fl owers and other kid-centric patterns for grades 2-8. They can be personalized with names or initials in a variety of styles. (www.frecklebox.com)

My Paper Monkey’s got some fun designs, including sporty cartoon dinosaurs for the younger set, and star, splatter and checkerboard designs for older kids. Names can be ordered in cool fonts that resemble graffi ti, industrial

stamps or pretty, Parisienne-style script. (www.mypaper-monkey.com )

Add your name to a chalk-board image of inspiring words on a notebook at Tinyprints, or choose from designs like

patchwork, meadow or feathers. (www.tinyprints.com)

If your kids are crafty, consider making a notebook or journal from scratch using recycled paper. Magazines, scrapbook paper and maps make good

cover art, and can be cut into geometric shapes or left intact; apply to chipboard or card-board, add blank or lined paper, and secure. Online tutorials suggest binding them with staples, duct tape, brads, book rings, wire, elastic or stitchery. (www.babbledabbledo.com)

Yarn and ribbon make pretty patterns on a plain book. Create stripes of color, or make a bunch of little bows or loops as embel-lishment. You can affi x bandan-as or cloth napkins in zingy

designs. Glue on buttons, sequins or shells.

Or give a composition book about three coats of chalkboard paint and add a bulldog clip to hold some chalk so you can carry an always-ready art space.

Find some craft pipe cleaners and create a colorful, textured notebook cover. Or add a rainbow of rubber bands to a notebook cover to hold clips and pencils.

Is there some material or felt lying around the house? Cover a book with soft velvet and add a stamped design of leaves for a luxe little book you’ll love to get to work in. Or if you like to sew, cut out a felt cover and embroi-der it closed around the edges; add a pocket for an eraser or pen. (www.spoonful.com)

Got a favorite cereal, cookie or other food that comes in a box? Cut it up and grab the Mod Podge adhesive to make fun notebook covers that will remind kids that home, and snack time, await at the end of the school day. (www.mypaper-pony.blogspot.com)

Kids can trade their standard notebooks for something snazzy and more personalized.

PHOTOS BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

This photo provided by Frecklebox.com shows personalized notebooks and book markers. Geometrics and graphic prints put a preppy spin on notebooks that can be personalized with kids’ names or initials.

Frecklebox’s personalized notebooks for school children include fun dinosaur and animal print patterns.

Monogrammable notebooks for back-to-school come in a variety of cool designs including geometrics and animal prints. Kids also can design their own by uploading photo collages and adding type.

If your kids are crafty, consider making a notebook or journal from scratch using recycled paper.


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IntroducingKindermusik™Music Movement Classes

for younger children

The free Alachua County Schools FluMist immunization program, which is supported by the Univer-sity of Florida College of Medicine

and the Alachua County Health Depart-ment, will be available to children again this school year.

Parent are encouraged to protect their children from the fl u by signing up their pre-K through 12th-grade student for FluMist, a safe, gentle and highly effective nasal spray. Studies show that immunizing children can help prevent fl u in families and the community.

Information and consent forms will be sent home with students during the fi rst two weeks of school. Parents should return the forms to their child’s school by Sept. 24.

The vaccine will be administered at local schools in October and November.

Children with chronic health conditions, such as asthma, should get a fl u shot from their health care provider.

For more information, call the Health Department at 334-7950.

Be prepared for fl u season with free FluMist program


Glen Springs Elementary School student Logan Bryant receives a dose of FluMist.


1:30 & 7:00 pmPhillips Center

Presents

danscompanyofgainesville.orgTicketmaster

SpringConcert

The WizMarch 8, 2015

A Holiday Traditionsince 1981.

Some homework before the start of kindergartenBy Allison KleinSpecial to The Washington Post

Is your child ready for kindergarten? It’s the fi rst rung on the academic ladder, and

sometimes parents won-der whether their chil-dren are primed for the academics or the social interactions in a kinder-garten classroom. At this stage, the two are woven so closely together, said Jack McCarthy, managing director of AppleTree In-stitute for Education. “It’s like saying, ‘What’s more important, hydrogen or oxygen?’ ” McCarthy said.

We talked to a few educators and experts in the fi eld about areas parents can work on to help prepare kids. We picked eight of them to share with you. Some may surprise you.CITIZENSHIP: Teachers want students to be aware of their community and be willing to be a part of it. They want children to understand they are an important part of a larger group. Give your kids simple jobs around the house that help the household. Explain why it is an important job. Examples include making their bed, clearing their dishes from the table and cleaning up toys.EMPATHY: Understanding others’ feelings is an important part of forming and sustaining friend-ships. Kids who are aware of others’ emotions are able to play more fl uidly. Talk to your children about their own emotions and help them identify them. Also talk about others’ emotions.SCIENCE: Have conversa-tions with kids about vegetables, herbs, fruits and grains. Explain which foods are more healthful

than others and why. Take a trip to the grocery store to explore various foods. If you are able, plant a food you can grow and enjoy together.

MATH: A kindergartener should have a basic understanding of num-bers. When you walk up stairs, count with him. When you give him

crackers or berries, count with him. Add a few, take a few away, and count with him.BOOKS: Reading is a sensitive topic in kinder-garten. You can help your children by making sure they love books (read to them!) — and that they understand books. They should know what an author and an illustrator are, they should under-stand the dedication page and they should know that they read from the left to the right and the top to the bottom. They also should have phonological awareness of letters and rhyming words.FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS: Your children should be able to follow two-step directions such as “take off your shoes, and come sit at the table.” In school, they will be asked to complete many tasks on their own and regulate their emo-tions. Be sure they are able to take their shoes and coats on and off, and zip their backpacks without help. They also need to

know how to take turns with friends.FINE MOTOR SKILLS: Teachers say some kids’ fi ne motor skills aren’t as strong because they spend so much time with screens. Some kids learn their letters and numbers from a computer or tablet and are not given as many opportunities to write and draw. Give your children crayons and paper often. Let them write letters, draw sunsets, make self-portraits and some-

times just scribble.GROSS MOTOR SKILLS: Give them plenty of unstruc-tured outdoor play. Let them run and jump and imagine and create outside. When kids are able to run and play on their own they get to know their own bodies and limitations, practice balance and gain strength. Oh, and when they exercise a lot, they sleep much better — something both kids and parents will appreciate.

ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

Before your child starts kindergarten, you can make sure they love to read and that they understand books.

ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

It is good to have conversations with kids about vegetables, and it is great if you are able to plant a food you can grow and enjoy together.

Give your children crayons and paper often. Let them write letters, draw sunsets, make self-portraits and sometimes just scribble.


back to school for the gainesville sun, july 27, 2014

Documents

day of school

zoned school

school year school offi

new school zone

childs previous school

alachua county school

birth certifi cate

alachua countys fi