The Saint Sebastian Christian Soldier Award

Presented to Roma Post for Christian Strength

Saint Sebastian was a soldier who guarded the Roman Emperor during a time when Christians were persecuted. Saint Sebastian was a Christian too, but kept his religion a secret. He helped his emperor’s prisoners with food, money, and visitations to the prisons. When Saint Sebastian was found out, he was tied to a tree and shot full of arrows, but he didn’t die. He lived to beg the emperor to be kind to Christians. He was then martyred for his deep and lively faith.

The Saint Sebastian “Christian Soldier Award” is presented to Roma in recognition of his budding Christian strength. No matter the difficulty, Roma finds a way to overcome the immediate difficulties of any day, and he triumphs repeatedly because of the steadfast quality of his determined nature.

Strength is a quality unknown to some, frightful to others, and inexplicable to many more. To a Christian, it is an indispensable tool awarded as a true gift by God. Congratulations.

I got this news release from Motorola and almost deleted it, but looked at it anyway. It’s an amazing thing. You must click
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One of the nice things about the GS is that all the teachers are such good friends. This holiday, Molly and Stacey and Rachel are all getting together to go rafting in the rapids in Gatlinburg. They have been planning this trip for weeks.

Edith had family in from all over the country for the first few days, and they all got to celebrate #4’s [grandchild] birthday and plan her son’s wedding in Australia this Christmas. He’s marrying a nice young lady who is a New York clothes designer.

Edith and I did our usual Mass and breakfast and then to the school to feed the animals and clean up the place, but there wasn’t a four hour stretch when we didn’t talk to one another.

Edith paints and I write fiction in our spare time. I’m finishing my fifth novel, and Edith is trying to paint the front cover of the book in oils. Edith reads the way I write – any five extra minutes out there, and I’m inventing the next scene, and she’s grabbing some book and pouring through it.

But all in all, it’s been a much needed and much enjoyed vacation. It’s hard to take a vacation away from school. The building needs a lot of daily work, and the animals just can’t be neglected, so someone has to go in every day and do those chores.

We’ll be glad to get back, however, and start classes. Children are our business.

I can make prints of all sizes. even quality images at poster size
the usual sizes are:
5×7 = $8
8×10 = $14
11×14 = $30

Thanks,
Jordan Barclay

I’m as non political as people come. I’m an old believer in “Raise ’em right and you need fewer laws.” I suppose that comes from being brought up in California in the early fifties when it was leave me alone, and I’ll leave you alone – Western idea based on lots of land and a cowboy’s sense of independence. Edith’s got the same idea.

But lately I’ve heard a lot about the Family Leave Act from my daughter, Katy, who says it’s an important thing for parents in need of time away from work. She says it’s abused like most things, but parents should know about it.

Recently, a dearly loved parent from the GS told me she was denied promotion because she had had a necessary surgery. If she had been on FMLA, she could not have been denied based on absence. She would have been protected under the law. She didn’t know if she had been put on FMLA. Usually when someone goes on disability, they also go on FMLA. Check it out. And check out the laws regarding FMLA on the link posted under Government Links.

Here’s an article I recieved as a news release. Don’t know if I believe it, but I’m posting it anyway:

On Its 12th Anniversary,
Family & Medical Leave Act Is At Risk

DOL Changes and Next Supreme Court Justice
May Mean Fewer Americans Have Access to FMLA Protections

Washington, DC – “The Family & Medical Leave Act was a godsend,” according to one Atlanta-based mother who used the law to care for her teenage daughter, who was fighting a losing battle against cancer.

Since its enactment 12 years ago Friday, (August 5, 1993) more than 50 million working Americans have used the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to take job-protected leave to care for their loved ones or to recover from their own serious illnesses. As a result, fewer people have had to choose between their job and their family.

“The FMLA has been one of the most successful and popular laws in our nation’s history,” said Debra L. Ness, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “It has meant that fewer people have had to make impossible choices when illness struck or babies were born. The FMLA has been good policy for employers and employees.”

However, the FMLA is under serious threat. Opponents of the law are pressuring the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to drastically scale back the scope of FMLA protections. The DOL is considering changes that could deny job-protected leave to nearly half those who currently benefit from the law. These proposals would deny many working Americans the benefits of job-protected leave by changing the definition of a serious illness and restricting the use of intermittent leave.

“Changes such as forcing employees to take unpaid leave in half-day increments would be devastating to America’s working families and would greatly diminish the impact of the law,” Ness noted. “Our leaders talk a lot about family values but, in truth, our workplace policies are badly out of sync with the realities of people’s lives – and families suffer as a result. The FMLA is one of the few laws that supports families.”

At the same time, the Senate decision on whether to confirm Judge John Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court could have a dramatic impact on workers’ rights. Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that state employees could hold their state employers accountable for violating the FMLA. The next Justice could swing the Court’s opinion and deprive five million workers and their families of this important protection.

“Although the Family & Medical Leave Act was a tremendous step forward, millions of Americans cannot take the unpaid leave it provides because they can’t afford to miss a paycheck,” Ness said. “As we celebrate the 12th anniversary of this essential law, the Administration and Congress should be looking for ways to expand it so many more Americans can take the leave they need. We should be working together to improve the programs and policies that help America’s hard-working families, not scale back the few protections we currently have.”

# # #

The National Partnership for Women & Families is a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy group dedicated to promoting fairness in the workplace, quality health care and policies that help women and men create a balance between work and family responsibilities. The National Partnership conceived, drafted and championed the FMLA during the almost-decade-long fight to make it law.

This math funny was floating around school for a few days. I thought some of you would enjoy it.

Subject: Evolution of Math
Last week I purchased a burger at Burger King for $1.58.

The counter girl took my $2, and I was digging for my change when I pulled 8 cents from my pocket and gave it to her. She stood there, holding the nickel and 3 pennies, while looking at the screen on her register. I sensed her discomfort and tried to tell her to just give me two quarters, but she hailed the manager for help. While he tried to explain the transaction to her, she stood there and cried.

Why do I tell you this? Because of the evolution in teaching math since the 1950s:

Teaching Math In 1950: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit?

Teaching Math In 1960 : A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit?

Teaching Math In 1970: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit?

Teaching Math In 1980: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20.

Teaching Math In 1990: A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers.)

Teaching Math In 2005: Un hachero vende una carretada de madera para $100. El costo de la produccion es $80

I love this and I hate it.

I loved taking my children to the grocery store. We always played games. It is such a learning experience. I remember sending my children on exploring expeditions. I even bought a cart and had them shop. I remember one climbed into the cart while the other pushed!

It was the store where we met friends and familiar people. The kids learned to ask questions and made grown up decisions about meals.

I never remember leaving the store without a treat for my children no matter how close to dinner it was. My kids were all hyper and they could eat a giant chocolate bar on the way to the table and still eat a whole plate of food.

Never once do I remember my children acting out. I remember that we had one rule: You can’t run in the store because an older person might become the non-desired target of your all too quick affections, and if he or she falls, they might break a hip and die, so don’t run. I never saw kids walk so fast.

Although I like what Ms. Kinch has to say, I regret it has to be that way for some parents.
For Melissa Kinch, going to the grocery store with her kids can be a hassle.

“It got a little hairy,” Kinch said.

And she’s not alone. Every day moms and dads struggle to keep their kids under control while they shop up and down the aisles.

“It was mommy can I have this, can I have that,” Kinch said.

But not anymore. Now before she shops, Kinch drops her kids off at a free, supervised in-store play area.

Nicola Difelice of Shaw’s supermarkets says their ‘Bunches of Fun’ centers are an easy and convenient way to curb the chaos of shopping with small children.

“All they want when they come grocery shopping is a scream free shopping trip,” Difelice said. The reason why we put this in here is to make shopping a little easier for moms and dads.”

While mom and dad pick up the produce, they can keep an eye on their kids through monitors in the back of the store.

While hanging out in the play area, the kids can do arts and crafts, watch a movie, or even play video games.

Or they can just take a load off.

“They love it if I have to go buy something at the store,” Kinch said.

The play area was set up with security in mind. Each parent is given a wristband that has to match the one given to their children when they pick them up.

And pagers are handed out so parents can be reached anywhere in the store if there’s an emergency.

“At the end of the day we want to make our customers happy,” Difelice said.

Now, with a kid-free cart, Kinch actually looks forward to grocery shopping, and so do Molly and Brendan.

This isn’t day-care so certain things like diaper changing won’t be done and the service is only offered for kids ages three through nine.

Shaw’s Bunches of Fun

I found this article (following) and had to laugh.

This is the 1950s version of childcare that has become so poisonous to kids and parents buying a day’s worth of care for a child in the twenty-first century.

I can’t believe anyone working in childcare would even list these things. Good grief! Everything mentioned here should be a behind the scenes, “taken for granted” part of a set of ordinary good daily habits. If these things are on the front of any provider’s mind, where is the life of the child? And what about someone who is thinking about these things for the first time?

How to pick a good day care center for your childJul 28, 2005, 9:02 PM

For young children to remain healthy, happy and in the mood to learn,
parents need to do their homework when chosing a facility.

Astri Tadlock is the director at Montessori Academy. She says, “Some
things I can point out with safety is safety plugs…. In the walls all of
them have to be plugged.”

She says the diaper changing area should be disinfected in between each
change, “…and there should always be gloves used in between each diaper
change.” “There should be a sink located, low for the child to wash their hands
and dry them. We do a lot of hand washing and that’s something you should notice
as a parent.”

Children are naturally inquisitive that’s why all medicines should be
kept in a lock box and all cabinets and doors should be latched. And while
play time can be a learning experience, parents should be concerned about nap
time, too.

Mrs. Tadlock says, “One of the things they need to look for is an
individual cot, that only that child needs to use. They use their own cot sheet
every day and it’s not shared because of germs and you want a cot not a mat on
the floor.”

And she says, don’t be timid about wanting to see the facility
unannounced, “I believe in that and I’m a director of a school so I
would always tell parents …and if your looking at a facility i would drop in
unannounced.”

That way you can see the children in a more natural environment.

Reported By: Ashley Anderson

It’s always interesting to read about childcare problems other places. Here’s a story from Grand Rapids, and I can say we should all count our blessings. I used to write for Grand Rapids. They picked up my column.

Childcare across the nation is in flux, and it’s always the same things: teacher turnover because of low wages, high tuition rates, and a lack of “program” which in effect causes no respect.

In trying to solve the problems, the old guard is feeling lost and unappreciated. The managers are at a loss of how to implement better programs with less money and a staff that’s uncooperative.

I am so grateful for our staff.

Changes spark anger at child-care center
Thursday, July 28, 2005
By Ben Cunningham
The Grand Rapids Press

CALEDONIA — Changes at the Duncan Lake Early Childhood Center have sparked discontent among parents, but district officials vowed to work on any problems.

The center has seen a new director, a new building and rate increases in the day-care program during the past year. Parents recently outlined grievances over staff turnover during a recent Board of Education meeting.

“We are not getting the services we pay for,” said parent Angie Brown, during a recent meeting, adding that the district is sending mixed messages.

Another group of parents, when asked to specifically define their grievances, said there were “hundreds of problems.”

Beginning Sept. 1, the district’s rates for day care for a child five hours or more per day for four days or more a week jumps from $130 per week to $150. A part-time rate, for three days or fewer a week or less than five hours, rises from $38 per day to $44.

In comparison, Caledonia Appletree Christian Learning Center, a private facility, charges about $175 for five days of care, and Kid’s World Child Care/Learning Center charges about $160 per week.

District officials said the rate hike comes from a variety of causes, most notably a desire to maintain competitive salaries and an effort to make the center more self-sustaining.

Assistant Superintendent Carol Nelson-Purkey said bond money has been available to upgrade technology and other items in the general education in recent years, leaving other money to subsidize the Early Childhood Center. She said rates have not increased in more than three years, despite the rising cost of such things as natural gas.

Parents said they object not only to the rate increases but to the way they were informed of the changes, through an impersonal letter delivered just before spring break.

“It is not meant to be for profit, but we are trying to make things self-sustaining,” said Janel Switzer, who took over as the center’s director late last year.

Switzer oversaw the move from the now-demolished buildings on Johnson Street to a new facility in the former high school. She is leading the district’s effort to give the day care a more educational emphasis.

“Since we really are an educational institution, that really is the direction we are trying to take it,” she said.

While some turnover in staffing has taken place, the exact numbers are unclear as district representatives say personnel matters are confidential. Nelson-Purkey said much of the turnover has come because staff members are moving to private facilities that pay higher wages.

Switzer said the district offers training to employees to allow them to better blend with the institution’s newer educational philosophy.

“Change is always difficult,” she said.

“As an employee of the (center), I can honestly say that I felt the pain of our families and fellow workers,” Sheri Maxlow, an 11-year employee of the day care wrote to the board. “The lack of respect that we have all felt has not showed the support we once felt that our district tried to provide to all families in our community.”

Nelson-Purkey says she is meeting with any staff members who are having problems. District officials said they will continue working with parents to address concerns.

Hadley’s mom, Tami, sent me these from last week. I think they are wonderful.

I hate to say goodbye to summer field trips, but all is not lost. We will be taking some local trips on a regular basis.

Three cheers to Miss Molly who organized summer this year. I think it was a huge success. Next year, we plan to look for more sites with lake fun.

I think teaching the kids to really swim this summer made the lake thing possible.

Miss Stacey suggested that we swim in the winter. Not a bad idea. The Y has some good deals, and the kids would love an afternoon of swim fun once a month. Call it gym class.

You know the state mandates a certain number of minutes for every subject in an elementary school. This summer, rock climbing at the Garden of the Gods was included as geology. Swimming in the lake has been duly listed as health with safety – water safety. Did you notice that someone wasn’t?

The trip to St. Louis was of course history and current events. Grant’s farm doubled as history, geography, and animal husbandry. Being creative is a part of the Garden School curriculum.
This is the lake. It’s a geat lake. The water is warm, the lake is shallow, and the beach is clean.

Hadley and Faith enjoying our last picnic lunch of the season.