Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Parent Education - January

This is an exerpt from Reaching Teens in their Natural Habitat by Danny Holland.

VOICES OF INFLUENCE
Increased Time = Increased Strength (pgs 27-28)
Whatever you look at most will gain strength and eventually be the strongest attraction in your life. Let me give you an example. I used to have a fascination with Jeeps. I loved looking at Jeeps, checking out the modifications Jeep owners made, and even studying the Jeep concept vehicles. I would dream of taking my new Jeep Rubicon top down, wife and kids strapped in, onto the beach and giving its thirty-three-inch B.F. Goodrich Mud Terrain tires a workout as waves crashed around us. You get the picture. The more I dreamed about having a Jeep, the more often Jeeps caught my eye. I noticed every Jeep that passed me even when I was driving on the interstate at seventy-five miles per hour. By allowing Jeeps to repeatedly capture my attention, I unintentionally trained my eye to notice them.
And what captures our attention is not as important as what keeps it. So study and be an expert in whatever keeps your child's attention. It might be something educational and positive. It might even give you a clue as to what your child's purpose is in life. It might be a musical instrument, sport, or civic or church activity. And once you find that captivating item or activity, go out of your way to feed that source of attention.
While I was growing up, my father was the news director of a popular radio station, but he was laid off when the ownership changed. I was a teenager at the time, and suddenly I became interested in playing the bass guitar. I had a cheap one, but I quickly outgrew it. After nearly twenty months, my father had not found a job. But even though money was tight, he made a huge investment in my future by buying me an eighteen-hundred-dollar instrument and a thousand dollars worth of accessories for Christmas. I understand something today that I didn't know then: my father saw my attention and energy being drawn toward something positive, and he fed that source of attention. Even though some might see his purchase as a poor financial decision for a man in his position, he saw my interest as the opportunity of a lifetime. It's been said that the opportunity of a lifetime must be seized during the lifetime of the opportunity, and that is never truer than when it comes to our kids and their interests.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Upcoming Trips and Events

CHAPERONES NEEDED
Tuesday, January 13, we will be accepting registrations at the office for the 6th and 7th grade class trips as well as the new 8th grade trip to the City Museum in St. Louis.

6TH GRADE - CREATION MUSEUM
-The cost for the students this year is $70. We will only be taking one coach so chaperones will need to drive or carpool. The cost for chaperones is $30 plus your driving expenses. There is no limit to the number of chaperones.

7TH GRADE - APPALACHIA MISSION TRIP
-The cost for the students this year is $140. We will only be taking one coach so chaperones will need to drive or carpool. The cost for chaperones is $70 plus your driving expenses. There is no limit to the number of chaperones.

CITY MUSEUM - 8TH GRADE END OF YEAR TRIP
-There is 8 spots available for chaperones on this trip. This is a day trip leaving bright and early in the morning and returning around 8pm on May 20. The cost is $32. Registration will also start Tuesday, January 13. Chaperone registration for this trip is first come first serve.

HOLIDAY WORLD TICKETS FOR MAY 20
-If you plan on attending Holiday World on May 20 with your 7th grader, you may purchase a ticket through the school at a discounted rate. The student price for the trip is $25, including the ticket and travel. The adult price is $20 as you must drive yourself to the venue. Tickets must be paid for when you order them at the office. The last day to order tickets is Friday, February 6.