Education Guide PDF

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2 BucksLocalNews.com EDUCATION GUIDE March 3, 2011

In light of the country’s economicdownturn, few topics are as prevalent as stress. In

the course of the last year, many families have suf-

fered the loss of their income, and many more have

even lost their homes.

The reality of a recession always illustrates the prob-

lem of stress. But for the nation’s students, stress is

a reality that, unlike economic woes, is more perma-

nent than it is temporary. Handling stress is a large

part of being successful in the classroom, particular-

ly as students advance through high school and into

higher education. But handling stress is different

for everyone, and there are myriad healthy ways in

which students can cope with stress.

• Combine regular exercise with a healthy diet. Studies

abound as to the mental benefits of exercise.

Exercise not only improves a person’s physical

health, but also has a positive impact on mood,

oftentimes making it easier to cope with stress.

Part of that is because exercise relieves

muscle tension, which can build up greatly in

individuals suffering from significant stress. In addi-

tion, the negative effects of stress can be weight

gain and other damaging physical effects, makingexercise especially important for those

under constant stress.

While a healthy diet can be difficult for the

nation’s college students, that doesn’t mean it isn’t

important. Recognizing that, many of the nation’s

universities have increased their efforts to provide

students with healthier fare at dining halls or other

campus eateries. Students should take advantage of

this whenever and wherever possible. Eating well

can also help reduce stress, as a balanced diet will

provide both the energy and nutrients necessary to

handle a full load.• Learn to take a breather. Adults often take breaks

when going through the daily grind, and students

should make note and follow suit. Studying for too

long without taking a break can be counterpro-

ductive, as concentration will begin to wane after

too long, making it increasingly difficult to soak

in studies. Schedule breaks into each study ses-

sion, whether it’s to go for a walk, jog or simply

fit in a healthy meal. But don’t allow break time to

become too big a distraction.

• Determine the root cause of the stress. Work is typically the root cause of adult stress, and school is often

the cause for students. Many students s tretch them-

selves too thin, hoping to gain as much as they

can from their high school or college experience

and therefore filling their schedules. But students

who feel as though they’re being pulled in too

many directions should drop an activity or two.

For instance, playing a varsity sport while holding

down a part-time job and having a full courseload

is simply doing too much. If a class is getting to

be too much to handle, students should consult a

teacher and explain the situation.

• Don’t be afraid to speak about stress. Many students

find it healthy and rejuvenating to simply speak

about their levels of stress. This helps to get things

off their chest, and it also inadvertently gives them

time away from studies. Be it sharing experiences

with stress among fellow students or simply talk-

ing to Mom and Dad, students should speak about

stress in an effort to combat its ill effects.

Handling The Stress Of Being A Student

Regardless of where a personmight be, distractions abound in this highly techno-logical age. Adults at the office can get distractedby the Internet, instant messaging, text messageson their cell phones, and a host of other thingsthat weren’t around as recently as 10 years ago.

While adults might be capable of juggling these

distractions and still meeting the demands of their

commitments and responsibilities, children are

likely less capable. In fact, distractions such as

social networking Web sites, instant messaging andcell phones can make study time exceedingly dif-

ficult. However, there are steps parents can take to

ensure their children can focus without distraction

on their schoolwork.

• Have a household study hour. Parents of two or more

children might find a daily household study hour

an effective means to minimizing distraction. Let

children sit together as they study or do their

homework, even if they’re in different grades.

During this household study hour, parents should

refrain from watching television or doing any-

thing else that could distract kids from their stud-ies. Use the time kids are studying to prepare din-

ner, read a book or magazine, clean up around

the house, or walk the dog. But avoid doing

anything that kids might find more fun than their

homework.

• Make it a daily commitment. Kids don’t necessarily

have homework or a test to study for every day.

However, on days when kids don’t take any

work or studies home from school, spend at least

a little time going over current lessons. Making

a daily commitment will help reinforce lessons

already learned and will also help establish aknown routine wherein kids expect to do some

schoolwork every day. Substantial time does not

need to be set aside on “off days,” but enough

time to make it more than a passing exercise.

• Schedule study time after snack time. Children won’t

be able to concentrate fully if their stomach is

growling. So before kids sit down to crack the

books after getting home from school, sit with

them and have a snack. This can be a time for

them to unwind and a healthy snack will give

them the energy they need to study hard and

get their work done.

• Make the study area comfortable. Kids will be dis-

tracted by an uncomfortable seat or a room

that’s too hot or too cold. While it’s common

for kids to study at the desk in their bedroom,

such an arrangement might prove too distract-

ing, as many of today’s kids have bedrooms that

resemble an electronics store showroom. A study

area that’s not within earshot of a television

should have comfortable chairs (no studying on

the couch), a pleasant temperature (room tem-

perature should suffice) and plenty of fresh air so kids don’t grow tired or congested as they do

their work.

Creating Study HabitsFor Kids At Home



March 3, 2011 BucksLocalNews.ComEDUCATION GUIDE 3

“Americanconsumers are paying high

prices for low-quality food, and so are our public

schools,” says Jane Hersey, director of the non-profit

Feingold Association of the US.

Hersey is one of many thousands of parents who use

the low-additive Feingold diet to resolve their child’s

ADHD symptoms (www.ADHDdiet.org).

“We learned how to shop smarter and find the foods

our families love,” she maintains. “You don’t have to

give up the convenience of processed foods, just buy

the brand that is free of additives like food dyes.”

The Feingold Association researches food and com-piles books listing thousands of acceptable brands,

including mixes, frozen foods, snacks, and even des-

serts and candies.

Many schools in the United States serve an astonish-

ing stew of synthetic chemicals (most of them made

from petroleum) that have been shown to trigger

behavior, learning and health problems. Not only are

these factory foods overpriced, but they are respon-

sible for many of the troubling symptoms that are so

expensive for schools to address. Back in 1979-1983,

when the New York City school system removed

additives like food dyes and artificial flavors, they

found that test scores of all the students rose from

the 39th to the 55th percentile on the California

Achievement Test.

What’s more, the number of children who were 2 or

more years behind grade level plummeted from over

12 percent to less than 5 percent. This translates to a

huge saving in the cost of remedial services.

Schools can continue to use processed foods if they

want, but simply switch to those versions that don’t

have the Red 40, Yellow 5 and other petrochemicals.

They don’t need to buy meat dishes that are loaded

with high fructose corn syrup and MSG. In fact, the

low-cost government commodity foods are a bet-

ter alternative for any

school, and a few items

made from scratch can

save even more money.

The Feingold Associationapplauds all of the initia-

tives that are being

taken to bring healthy foods to schools, and offers

options that can be adopted by any school. But

while many find the issue to be complicated, Hersey

maintains that it really is quite simple.

“If you turn the clock back to the 1950s schoolchildren were not plagued with ADHD, bi-polar

disorders, diabetes, chronic asthma, depression, vio-

lent behaviors, chronic ear infections, and all of the

developmental problems we are seeing today. While

there may be many contributing factors, one that

stands out is the drastic change in the food children

eat today. And one of the simplest and most effective

solutions is to feed children food ... real food. If our

school cafeterias today looked more like the school

cafeterias of a generation or two ago, then our class-

rooms today would be far different as well.

Princeton Latin Academy Presents An

Original Theatrical Opera

Better School Food, Better Students

Each year Princeton Latin

Academy, a small independent private

school rooted in a classical liberal arts

education tucked beyond the trees on

Route 518 in Hopewell, performs an

original theatrical work-- an opera.

The School’s rich curriculum

of literature, art, music, history,

philosophy and language culminatesin the production of an opera. Students

work with the headmaster and music

teacher transforming a canonical piece

of literature into an opera. Through this

experience, children learn to be part of

something greater than themselves.

This year’s opera, the 23rd for

Princeton Latin Academy, is a

presentation of W.E.B. Du Bois’ The

Quest of the Silver Fleece. Francesco

Perrulli, headmaster and founder of the

academy, explained his literary choice

saying, “February was Black History

Month. What better way to understand

than through a novel? Facts do not tell

the story and Du Bois firmly believed

in education, being himself well

educated.” Through this experience,

students of Princeton Latin Academy

are studying African American history

through the eyes of one of the most

esteemed African American scholars of

the nineteenth century.Christiana Wittenborn, a 7th year

parent of the school, said of watching

her two children transform through

the operas, “unlike a copyrighted

production, written by people they

have no association with, the children

feel much more connected to the story

because they know it was written by

their peers.”

One of the most impressive and

important aspects of the opera is the

writing workshop in which the twosenior classes compose the lyrics for

the performance. Helen Wittenborn, a

6th grader at Princeton Latin Academy,

said of her experience writing the

music, “It’s not just about coming up

with the right word, but the right word

with the right number of syllables,

with the right emphasis, where the

[linguistic] emphasis fits with emphasis

of the music.”

While the opera, presented by the

children of Princeton Latin Academy,

is undeniably unique, there is nothing

like experiencing the piece firsthand.

If you are interested in attending this

year’s opera, The Quest of the Silver

Fleece, you may either receive tickets

online at:

http://www.princetonlatinacademy.

com/operareservations.htm, or by

calling the school directly at (609)-

924-2206. The performances will take

place March 16th

, 17th, and 18th

at 1:00 pm.




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High school students, particularly high school

seniors, anxiously anticipate their next step after high school. Withthe freedom and excitement of college just around the corner, it’s

no wonder high school seniors often catch a case of “senioritis” as

the school year carries on.

With university acceptance letters already in hand, many seniors

might be able to relax somewhat and enjoy their waning days of

high school with friends. High school juniors, however, can use

their third year of high school to set themselves apart from their

classmates as well as the competition at other schools. Taking the

following tips to heart will not only help kids gain entry into the

school of their choice, but possibly help them gain some financial

assistance as well.• Consult a guidance counselor.

While smaller high schools might feel more like a tight-knit

community in which everyone knows one another, larger high

schools can make it difficult for students to connect to the fac-

ulty at their disposal. This is especially challenging for a student/

guidance counselor relationship. High school students might

not have needed their guidance counselor much during their

first two years of high school, but a guidance counselor should

be sought out once junior year begins. Guidance counselors can

help students choose the right courses as well as give advice on

which standardized tests certain colleges require for admission.Guidance counselors might also be able to steer kids toward

colleges the students might be interested in, helping to get the

ballrolling on that process.

• Study for standardized tests.Too many high school juniors feel the SAT or ACT exams are

something to be worried about after junior year. While it can bea good approach to take these exams very early in the senior

year of high school, students should begin studying for standard-

ized tests no later than junior year of high school. The local

bookstore sells exam preparation books and a student’s own

school might even provide preparatory classes. The more famil-

iar a student gets with the format of the SAT or ACT exams the

more comfortable that student is likely to be when it comes time

to take the actual test.

High school juniors hoping to gain early admission to their uni-

versity of choice should consult their guidance counselor as to

when the best time is to take the standardized tests that schoolrequires. Early admissions decisions typically come in late fall, so

students who have not taken standardized tests in time might

not qualify for admission if those test scores are not accessible

by the early application deadline.

• Visit schools. High school students often have no idea what

to expect from the college experience. With that in mind, it can

be very difficult to choose potential schools. High school juniors

can remove some of the mystery by visiting schools throughout

their third year of high school. On-campus visits and open-house

events provide a glimpse of what college life is like at different

schools and can begin to give high school students ideas as to

what they may or may not like about certain schools. For high

school students who cannot make a campus visit, visit the schools’

Web sites and fill out requests for information. When doing so, list

College Prep Tips for High School Juniors




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potential areas of study that might be of interest and request addi-

tional information about those courses.

• Research different loans, grants and scholarship oppor-

tunities.

High school juniors might be surprised to learn the number of scholarship, loan and grant opportunities available to them.

Oftentimes, locally based scholarships and grants have very specific

requirements. High school juniors should research such require-

ments to ensure they have a chance at earning scholarships and

grants that could help reduce the increasingly costly burden of

attending a college or university.

Traditional Textbooks

May Be Replacedby E-Readers

E-readers are palm-sized electronic devices that can

offer newspapers, magazines and books as digital content. While

they can be convenient for the recreational reader, e-books may

be a boon to students as well.

The e-reader market exploded when Amazon introduced its

Kindle and Kindle 2. Sony, Barnes & Noble and other companies

have also introduced their own e-reader devices. While the main-

stay of e-reader revenue is generated from downloaded fiction

and nonfiction books, e-book reader companies are realizing

the benefits of offering digital versions of textbooks as well. Amazon

has already contracted with three textbook companies to offer digital

editions. This could mark the move from cumbersome textbooks to

compact information.

Many professors already instruct their students to go online for information, to read blogs or download digital content from Web

sites capable of staying current in today’s increasingly fast news cycle.

Soon they may be instructing them to purchase the latest editions of

textbooks delivered right to an e-reader device.

There are several advantages to having textbook material available

for e-readers. The first, and most obvious, is the weight issue. The

average college student takes 5 classes per semester. That can equal

5 or more textbooks to purchase, each weighing several pounds. A

student has the potential to be carrying 50 pounds on his or her back

at any given time, and that can lead to injury. In comparison, most

e-readers weigh just a few ounces and can hold a thousand books or

more, depending on file size. A student can carry all of the required

textbooks right in a back pocket.

The next advantage is cost. While e-readers require an up-front cost

of roughly $300, some textbooks can cost as much. Although the cost

of textbook material delivered to an e-reader is still unknown, and

likely based on the individual publisher, it may be more affordable

than on-campus book store prices. Also, should a traditional textbook

be lost, a student has to repurchase it.

Many e-readers feature back-up ability, where a previously

purchased book can be retrieved free from a database or

storage device.

Convenience is another factor for e-books. Students simply browse

wirelessly for their desired reading and download it in mere minutes.

This is certainly more time-efficient than waiting on long lines at the

campus bookstore or waiting for books to be delivered through the

mail from online sources.

E-readers have the potential to be successful for school use, but

they need to have the support of professors behind them. For a

device like e-readers to garner broad acceptance, institutions may

need to make the devices part of the school’s requirements. This

is similar to many schools requiring all students own a laptop.

Students who are unable to afford an e-reader may be subsidized for

the device or be able to use student loans to pay for them.

E-readers can be advantageous in the classroom and students can

also use them for their own personal purposes.




Teaching kids to use the Internetproperly at an early age will help them per-form better at school and later in life whenthey enter the workforce.

It’s all about training them to use such tools assearch engines, social networking sites, e-mailand blogs more effectively, while staying safein the process.

“There are many new technologies that canhelp kids learn to make better use of their time online while protecting them from dan-gerous content,” says John Rodkin, GeneralManager of Search at InfoSpace, a developer of Internet metasearch products. “InfoSpace.com, for example, combines results from other top search engines and offers custom filteringto block inappropriate online content fromsearch results.”

There are several things to teach kids togive them a solid foundation when using theInternet:

Teaching Kids To UseThe Internet And Social

Networks Safely

• Basic Safety: Always monitor children’s computer usage. Be aware of sites they visit and theamount of time spent there. Consider usingsoftware programs that restrict access to vio-

lent, pornographic and other inappropriateWeb sites.

• Safe Surfing, E-mailing and Chatting: Just as youwouldn’t let your children hang out in inap-propriate places until late at night, so shouldyou teach kids only to visit safe Web sites of which you approve. The same goes for e-mailand chat rooms. When teaching kids not totalk to strangers, extend this idea to e-mail andonline chatting. Make sure they understand

people aren’t always who they claim to beonline and never to meet anybody in personwho they first met online.

• Posting and Tweeting Carefully: Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites can be greatways for kids to socialize with friends online,but they first need to be taught basic rules.Instruct them not to share personal informa-tion since what they post or tweet aboutbecomes public information.

• Searching Smarter: Kids should learn to use asearch engine, as it will help in everythingfrom researching schoolwork to finding a job.Train them to make smarter use of their timeto find what they need faster. Take them to

search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo! andAsk to see how they work. Then show themthey don’t need to choose one over the other and they can find results from all of them

at once by using a metasearch site such asInfoSpace.com which delivers results fromall the leading search engines. It also deliversreal-time search results from Twitter, so they can learn what people are saying about topicsthey’re researching. Users can choose to filter search results or block Twitter results fromappearing in searches on InfoSpace.com if they have concerns about content.

• Getting Trusted Results: Just because you’ve taught

your child to properly use the Web, doesn’tmean all that information is trustworthy. Whenkids begin doing research for school assign-ments, teach them to evaluate the credibility of sites. Coach them to check each site’s sourceand question it: Did a trusted organization or company publish it? Is the author or blogger really a reputable expert?“Mastering the Internet and using social net-working sites safely are skills that will help kidsthroughout their school years and careers,”

emphasizes Rodkin. “It doesn’t have to be achallenging and dangerous place if you teach them to follow the rules.”

Plagiarism Won’t Make The Grade

Students, be they in high school or college,

often face tough deadlines. Increasingly busy schedules

has led many students to use questionable resourceswhen hurrying to fi nish assignments. The Internet offers

a wealth of content, much of which is diffi cult to cite or

verify. Unfortunately, this information often proves too

tempting for students to ignore. While plagiarism has

long been an issue in the nation’s schools, the Internet

has made it even more prevalent.

The word “plagiarism” is a derivative of a Latin word for

kidnapping. More than 60 percent of students have ad-

mitted to plagiarism, according to a study from Rutgers

University.

Plagiarism in the age of technology isn’t always black and white. Students might fi nd it diffi cult to determine

what is right and wrong regarding using material found

online. However, plagiarism is illegal, and in some

schools it can result in a failing grade or even suspen-

sion or expulsion. A student with a history of plagiarism

might also fi nd they have credibility issues down the

road.

Most published works are protected under The Copy-

right Act. Exceptions to the rule include compilations

of readily available information, works published by

the government, facts that are commonly known andnot the result of original research, and material in the

public domain. Although not all material is copyrighted,

students should always cite any materials of which they

are uncertain.

The easiest way to avoid plagiarism is to use unique

ideas when constructing reports and assignments. When

using facts or phrases from research material, properly

citing sources is the best way to credit the original au-

thor. Paraphrasing important points is acceptable so long

as the original points are cited as resources.

When working on assignments, students must remem-

ber that borrowing too many words or ideas from other

individuals -- even if properly cited -- is typically not

the way to a good grade. Professors want students to

understand the material and present that knowledge in a

succinct, intelligent way.




Answering Questions About Continuing Education

The Grey Nun AcademyAdvantage

Adults go back to school for a variety of rea-

sons. They may have personal accomplishment goals or

their motivation could be purely fi nancial. Unemploy-

ment has recently led many individuals back to the

classroom.

Many colleges and universities report that re-entry or

adult students are the new majority on campus. Adults

ages 25 to 69 are increasingly enrolling in courses

around the country.

Going back to school is a serious undertaking. Not only

is it an investment of time, but it is also an investment of

money. For those thinking about going back to school,

consider these questions.

1. Is now the right time? Those going back to school

because they think it might provide better job pros-

pects or yield higher salaries could be mistaken. Many

employers are cutting continuing-education grants

and scaling back on hires with advanced degrees.

That’s because companies are feeling the heat of the

recession as well. Advanced degrees generally meanhaving to pay an employee a higher salary, something

many companies are not in a position to do right

now. Therefore, an advanced degree might prove a

hindrance in today’s job market and not become the

fi nancial windfall some students expect. If this is the

case, delaying an advanced degree for a few years

may be a more fi nancially sound idea.

2. What are your goals? Individuals need to examine

their long- and short-term goals regarding education.

Goals should include whether time is available to

complete the degree. Some degrees can take monthsor years to fi nish, depending on how many credits a

person already has. Is the goal to receive a completely

different degree and begin a new career? If so, adults

should put it down on paper so they have a defi nite

goal in sight.

3. Are the finances available? Attending school is no

small undertaking. Whether a public, private or online

school, tuition can cost several thousand dollars per

year. Tests taken to be accepted to school can cost

money, and books will be needed for coursework. If

money is tight right now, continuing school may notbe the best option, especially if high-interest loans

are the only viable means to continuing education.

However, if the fi nances are there and school won’t

detract from other bills, then school might be the right

choice.

4. What is the right school? Those who have a full-

time job can look into a school that offers evening

or weekend classes. Many schools now offer online

courses that allow individuals to take classes re-

motely. There is a growing interest in schools that

specifi cally specialize in online degrees. Such schoolsenable students to take classes on their own time and

complete assignments in a manner that’s less time-

specifi c. Continuing students who may not have a

spouse or children can move around to the school of

choice. Once again, fi nances fi gure to play a major

role when deciding on a school.

5. Is a college degree really necessary? For many,

continuing education doesn’t mean heading to a col-

lege campus. It can involve taking certifi cate

programs and vocational training.

GreyNun Academy, a 2009 nationally

recognized Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, is a

private, Catholic co-educational elementary school

serving students of all denominations from Pre-

kindergarten through Grade 8.

Located in Yardley, Pennsylvania, Grey Nun

Academy is a community committed to the intel-

lectual, emotional, social and spiritual growth of our

students.

While honoring the individual needs of every child,we deliver strong academics in a nurturing environ-

ment, resulting in unsurpassed preparation for high

school and beyond.

We encourage you to catch the welcoming spirit and

sense of community which are hallmarks of Grey

Nun Academy by visiting our Open House sched-

uled for Tuesday, April 12th from 9-11 a.m.

Experience our children; meet our inspirational

teachers; talk with committed parents. Addition-

ally, we invite you to explore our website at www.

gnaedu.org, gaining a glimpse of who we are and thevalue of a GNA education.

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