january education 2013 - eastern edition

7/29/2019 January Education 2013 - Eastern Edition

1/8

Special Section to: The Valley Gazette I The Stratford Star I The Milford Mirror I The Trumbull Times I Fairfield Sun I The Shelton Herald I The Monroe Courier I The Easton Courier

EducationJANUARY

2013HERSAM ACORN NEWSPAPERSHERSAM ACORN NEWSPAPERS

Students at the Shelton School of Rock during a weekly rehearsal for their 2012 spring performance

program a tribute To Aerosmith, which the kids started in February and performed as a band in June

at Bear & Grill in Orange.

The Platt brothers of Shelton firstjammed with their rock band lastFebruary Bryan on electric guitar andKevin on drums. In June 2012, at theirfirst performance, the crowd was blownaway by song after song of the rockband Aerosmith.

The crowds enthusiasm was infec-tious, said Karen Platt, their mom andone of their biggest fans. Their initialnerves gave way to them having fun andreally demonstrating showmanship whileplaying songs we all knew and loved.After the shows, both boys were beam-ing, and I swear walking a little taller!

Yes, boys. Bryan is now 14 and inninth grade, and Kevin is 11 and in fifth.Prior to this, neither had taken formallessons, said Karen.

Next up: A Feb. 8 and 9 Dave GrohlExperience performance at the Bear &Grill in Orange. Its hard to say who ismore excited, them for the anticipationof playing or us for hearing Nirvana and

Foo Fighters, Karen said.Making it all possible is the School of

Rock a deliberately different kind ofmusic school where students age sevento 17 learn harmonies, musicianshipand how to perform in an authenticrock show environment. Show themeshave run the gamut from Pink Floydand AC/DC, to the 80s and punk rock.Students attend private weekly lessons inguitar, bass, drums, keyboard, or vocals,plus a weekly three-hour, whole-bandrehearsal.

Karen admits she was skeptical at firstabout the time commitment. But theboys practice (with passion) almost dailyand have never been reluctant to bangout their homework on School of Rockdays.

Stamford native Craig Sasson ismusic director of the Shelton School ofRock, open since August 2011 and with

out

A school for

By Melissa Ezarik

See Rock on page 8

rocking


2/8

2 Education Hersam Acorn Newspapers January 24, 2013

Although many of the publicschools in Fairfield County are highlyrated, with good, solid matriculationrates at the high school level, boast-ing well-educated and well-trained

teachers (and theyre free!), some-times a child may better benefit froma private (or boarding) school, whereclasses arent as large and curricu-lums are perhaps more varied andchallenging than those at a publicschool.

One of the advantages of privateschools is that they have a smallcommunity atmosphere that allowsfor a lower student-to-teacher ratio.With smaller class sizes, teachers areable to focus more attention on indi-vidual students, and have more timeto get to know them better. Withfewer students, classmates also get achance to form more intimate bondswith one another.

Another advantage private educa-

tion has that may not immediatelyspring to mind, is that independentschools also have the option of expul-sion, which is rare in public schools,since public education is considereda right rather than a privilege.While this may not seem like one ofthe advantages of private schools, thepossibility of expulsion might makesome students less likely to fight, totake drugs or to cut classes.

At boarding schools, children canreinvent themselves; they might havenon-productive, preconceived opin-ions of themselves that they made ina traditional school setting, and thisis a chance for a do-over of sorts.The same can be true of going to an

independent day school.

Independent thinkersPrivate and boarding school stu-

dents also tend to become moreindependent thinkers, since theymust make many decisions on theirown mostly those living awayfrom their family.

What really makes an indepen-dent school independent is our abil-ity to design curriculum that chal-lenges children to think more deeplythan the typical standardized cur-riculum or test, Tim Brazemore,New Canaan Country School Headof School, said. Our students loveto learn because passionate teach-ers design lessons that are relevant,interesting and complex.

The Country School serves stu-dents from lower Fairfield County in

grades pre-K through nine.According to Brazemore, Our

mission is to guide students to reachtheir intellectual, creative, moral and

physical potential. That means weexpect students to develop skills andconfidence in all of these areas aspreparation for their next schoolsand for life.

This philosophy is echoed atLauralton Hall in Milford, a Catholiccollege-preparatory school for girls ingrades nine through 12. Independentschools are remarkable for their abil-ity to foster community, AntoinetteIadarola, Ph.D., school president,said. We have the opportunity tobuild strong, personal relationships,helping these young women developboth as individuals and leaders. Formany, these bonds last a lifetime.

Often, a private education may

be able to bring out confidence in aheretofore hesitant learner, not onlythrough the experience in the class-room, but through a schools extra-curricular offerings as well.

What students find at GreenwichAcademy is an array of curricu-lar opportunities that is stunningin depth and quality, Molly King,Head of School of the all-girls pre-Kthrough grade 12, Greenwich-basedschool, said. Such a reality is theconsequence of dedicated, commit-ted teachers who are well prepared,experienced, and patient mentors.Extra-curricular activities reinforcethe development of well roundedsophisticated young women, anxiousto explore those opportunities andvenues that may be unique in theireducational journey.

Small class size benefitsIf you have found your child to be

struggling in a larger class setting inthe public school, perhaps he or shewould benefit from the smaller, moreintimate learning environment at aprivate school.

With our small class sizes, ourstudents truly feel known on a verypersonal level by their teachers,Brazemore said on the subject. Ourteachers know their students notjust by name, but by learning styles,strengths, needs and interests. It isimpossible to fall through the crackshere.

With a smaller student populationat a private vs. public institution, thisintimacy is more easily accomplished,of course. It doesnt mean that a pri-

vate school educator is better thantheir public school counterpart, butrather, that a private school teachersimply has the advantage of havingfewer students and, consequently,

more time to devote to them.Nothing at Greenwich Academyis random, King said. Everythingwe do is mindful of our goal to maxi-mize each students experience.

Before sending your child to anyschool, public or private, you shoulddo your homework. Find out thestrengths and weaknesses of eachschool and what is most importantto your child, be it sports or politicalscience.

Both will be beneficial in yourchilds future, but if you choose aschool that focuses on something thatdoes not interest your child you willjust be throwing their school yearsaway, according to EducationBug.org.

Lauralton Halls ultimate goal isempowering women for life.

We understand that the values,the growth, the education and therelationships that we help studentsdevelop during these formative yearscan set them on the road to lifelongsuccess however they choose todefine it, Iadarola said.

For more information onthe private schools mentioned,visit GreenwichAcademy.org,LauraltonHall.org, or CountrySchool.net. For a comprehensive listing ofindependent schools in the state,visit the Connecticut Association ofIndependent Schools at CAISCT.org.

School: Public or private?By Julie Butler

Photo courtesy of Lauralton Hall, Milford.

PRESCHOOL

For 30 years Trumbull Loves Children, Inc

(TLC), has been one of Connecticuts best

before and after-school care programs. TLC

has locations in all of Trumbulls middle and

elementary schools as well as in our own

Fun Zone Center for TLC Pre-School. TLCs

mission is to provide quality childcare for

Trumbulls working parents.

Visit us on the web to learn more and apply:

w w w . t l c t r u m b u l l . c o m

Trumbull Loves Children2 Corporate Drive, Suite 207|Trumbull, CT 06611|(203) 452.9626

TLC...where children come to learn and play!

TLC centers providea safe and caringplace for your child.

hours and programsdesigned to meetyour familys busyschedule and childsneeds:

TLC Pre-School

Half-Day Pre-School

Before School

Program

After School Program

Attend 2,3, or 5

days a week

from 7 am to 6 pm

What does your childdo at a TLC center?Have fun. Socialize.Make friends. Reada good book. Joinothers in a game.Spend lots of timeoutside. Eat a healthysnack. Get help withhomework. More im-portantly - be a child.

TLC Half-Day Pre-

School gives familiesthe option to easetheir child into a

school environmentthat provides thesame quality andreliable care as allof TLCs programs.

TLC Half-Day Pre-

School is taughtby staff and mirrors thefull-day curriculum.

TLC Summer Camps:

We invite your child tospend their summerdays at TLC engaging

in many activities andof our camps:

TLC Pre-School Camp

Camp TLC (age

appropriate camps

for kindergarten

through 8th grade)

Afternoon

TLC now acceptsapplications online.

Please visit our web-site to learn more orcall us.

REGISTRATION DATES:

Now: TLC Pre-School

February 1st: TLCSummer Camp 2013

March 1st: TLCHalf-Day Pre-School;Fall Before & AfterSchool Programs


3/8

January 24, 2013 Education Hersam Acorn Newspapers 3

Conventional wisdom has long intimatedthat girls are more adept at language arts andreading than boys of the same age. A recentstudy indicates there may be some merit to theassumption that boys tend to lag behind girls

in reading. In order to bolster interest in booksand reading comprehension, parents and edu-cators can look to many successful literaryseries that tend to draw the attention of boys.

Boys and readingA 2010 study by the Center on Education

Policy that looked at trends beginning from2002 to 2008 found boys have been laggingbehind girls on standardized reading testsin all 50 states. According to Jack Jennings,president of the Center on Education Policy,We found no state in which boys did not lagbehind girls in reading at the elementary level,the middle school level and the high schoollevel. So its pretty clear: boys are not doing aswell as girls in reading.

There are many theories as to why boysseem to eschew reading for other things.

Some say that boys in general are always onthe defensive, and reading which oftencalls to mind emotion and vulnerability isnot something that boys would like to admitto doing. Furthermore, schools heavily pushclassics full of fictional characters as the main-stay of literary curricula. However, researchpoints out that boys tend to gravitate towardnonfiction. Others argue that boys do not haveenough male literary role models. The major-ity of adults involved in shaping boys interestin reading are women, and boys might notview picking up a good book as a masculineactivity.

Another theory as to why girls performbetter on standardized reading tests revolvesaround brain function. Girls brains tend tobe more verbally oriented, which can make

reading skills easier. Boys are more visuallyoriented. It stands to reason that boys are morephysically restless than girls as well. Sitting forlong periods of time reading can be challeng-ing, even for an otherwise well-behaved male

student. This was discovered as early as 1986in an analysis of more than 100 studies bypsychologist Warren Eaton and his colleaguesat the University of Manitoba in Canada. Thefindings revealed that the average boy is more

active than about 69% of girls.

Choosing reading materialsFinding reading material to which boys will

relate can be challenging. There is no blanket

approach to finding the right books. Boysmay need to be approached individually tofind subject matter that will interest them andtake them out of their comfort zones. Shouldschoolmates be viewed reading frequently, itmay help other boys surpass their own readingfears and hurdles.

Here are some titles boys can explore. 2095, by Adam McCauley: children on

a field trip to New Yorks Museum of NaturalHistory travel 100 years into the future.

Adventures of Captain Underpants, byDav Pilkey: fourth grade boys get into troublewith their principal and decide to hypnotizehim into the superhero Captain Underpants.

Babe & Me: A Baseball Card Adventure,by Dan Gutman: main character Joe wants todiscover the legend of Babe Ruth and his homerun predictions.

The Beast in Ms. Rooneys Room, byPatricia Reilly Giff: Ms. Paris, the readingteacher, helps Richard get serious about read-ing and win a contest for best class.

Encyclopedia Brown series, by DonaldSobol: readers solve the cases and exploreadventures through the stories.

Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen: a boy mustlearn to live in the wild alone after the plane hewas traveling in with his father crashes.

Lunch Money, by Andrew Clements:Greg is a sixth-grader who is good with money.He begins creating and selling comic books atlunch until a rival cuts into his business.

Rufus and Magic Run Amok, by MarilynLevinson: Rufus discovers he has magicalpowers, but this special talent isnt what heexpected.

Helping boys become better readers

Wonder Years Learning CenterDiscover the WONDER of Learning

~ Infant

~ Toddler~ Preschool ~ Pre-K

~ Summer Camp

~ Before & After School

203-929-0708

188 Rocky Rest RoadShelton, CT 06848

email: [email protected]

Quality & AffordableChild Care Programs


4/8


Students enrolling at the Fairchild WheelerInterdistrict Magnet School in the fall of 2013,will find an education unlike any other, accord-

ing to John Curtis, director of the RegionalAquaculture Science & Technology School.Curtis saw the aquaculture school open with

12 students in the early 1990s and expand to astate-of-the-art facility with enrollment of morethan 500. He foresees similar success for thenew magnet school.

This is a one-of-a-kind school in the entirecountry, Curtis told a group of prospectiveTrumbull parents earlier in January.

Curtis and former Westport SuperintendentClaire Gold spoke to a group of about 20prospective Trumbull parents at an informa-tional meeting Wednesday about the magnetschool currently under construction on QuarryRoad. The school will eventually have 1,500students with about two-thirds coming fromBridgeport and the rest from seven suburbantowns. The school has about 20 spots in each

class for Trumbull students, though the school

will open in September with only grades nineand 10.

Gold, credited as the driving force behind

the Fairchild Wheeler school, said New Havenand Hartford had already transformed theirschool systems using magnet schools to drawsuburban students into the cities.

When I was superintendent of Westport,we became involved with many of the regionalprograms available, specifically the Six toSix Magnet School, she said. The programshelped address racial isolation between theheavily minority populations in the cities andthe predominantly white suburbs, which Goldsaid was unfortunate for both groups.

Gold said the idea for the interdistrict mag-net school originated as she drove past theDiscovery Magnet School on Park Avenue, anelementary school that currently enrolls 44Trumbull students.

I thought, with Sacred Heart and theDiscovery Museum right here, somebody ought

to do something about building a high school,

she said. As time passed, she said, she thenbegan thinking, Maybe that someone is me.

When the school is completed, Curtis said,

the education delivered there will be revolu-tionary.Students and teachers will be partners in

learning projects, he said. Theres no lectures,no 45-minute classes. Engineers will assignprojects, and students and teachers will worktogether to solve problems and reach objec-tives.

Such a learning environment has workedwell at the aquaculture school, Curtis said.Engineers from companies such as GeneralMotors have set challenges in front of studentsand forced them to deliver real-world solu-tions, he said.

We have students designing commercialships using software programs that other stu-dents have written, Curtis said. We have a3-D simulator that puts students on the bridgeof a virtual vessel where they have to deal with

all the situations we can create.

The design of the Fairchild Wheeler schoolwill lend itself to similar learning, Curtis said.Each of the schools three wings has a focus on

a specific area of science research: biologicalscience, physical science and information/tech-nological science. The wings share a commonarea, which includes a 500-seat black boxtheater with a 3-D simulator. Curtis said thesimulations provide a chance to tie the schoolsthree wings together as the technology stu-dents write software that the biological scienceand physical science students use to completeprojects.

Weve thrown out the traditional to providea unique learning experience, he said.

Though some might have reservations aboutthe instruction at the magnet school, Gold saidit has proven itself throughout the state.

Its very clear parents want choices in theirchildrens education, she said. We alreadyhave the Agriscience Center, the Aquacultureschool, the Discovery school, and the Six to Six

school, and theres always a waiting list.

Fairchild Wheeler Interdistrict Magnet School

New magnet school opening in TrumbullBy Donald Eng

Infants Toddlers Pre-School

Transition Kindergarten

LITTLE WHITE HOUSE69 Woodmont Road Milford

Call for a Tour! 203-877-5167Visit our Website! LittleWhiteHouseLearningCenter.com

Educating and caring for children for over 40 years!

Low staff turnover

Hours 6:30am - 6pm

Convenient location: Just off Exit 40, I-95

6 weeks to 36 months full time 5 days$268.00/wk

3 to 5 years full time 5 days$223.00/wk

Part time days and hours are available

Call for other rates and availability

Ask about our referral program


5/8


Now is the time of year when high schoolseniors and even some juniors preparefor and then take the SAT. It is a stressful and

anxious time, not just for the student, but oftenthe parents as well.Should they try and give their kid a leg up

by insisting upon enrolling them in an SATclass? Hire a tutor for one-on-one test prepara-tion? Or just let the teen fend for themselves,so to speak, with an SAT book and their ownbrand of self-motivation.

Its a topic fraught with emotion.In 2009, the National Association for College

Admission Counseling (NACAC) released areport showing that expensive test preparationcourses provide only modest score increases.For the SAT, for example, test prep servicesimproved students total scores by an averageof just 30 points. The report, however, alsoshows that these small gains might, in fact,have an impact on a students admission pros-pects (think about it a score of 600 looks

much better than a 570).So what does this all mean? JeannettePayne, a writer on Helium.com, says. Shouldyou or shouldnt you invest in a pricey testprep class? In the end, the decision is clearlya personal one. For a student with limitedresources, a $15 SAT book and a lot of self dis-cipline will produce equally good results.

For students who lack motivation, a courseat least has the advantage of providing struc-ture. Ive heard from many students who haveachieved 100-plus point gains through a testprep course, and Ive heard from other stu-dents who didnt improve at all.

Prep class prosTest-prep programs generally include three

elements: a review of test content, practice on

test questions and orientation to the format ofthe test.

There are a few definite pros of SAT prepcourses if a person takes the right one, Payne

says. In order to benefit properly however, thestudent also has to do the work.

Organization and structure are two thingsprep courses have going for them.

Studying alone without guidance can beoverwhelming, Payne says. The SAT prepcourses give structure to the way of study-ing and presenting the information. They aredesigned to provide extra organization, espe-cially for individuals who dont know whereto start.

Other pros are intense instruction andstudy.

The best SAT prep courses are intense andthey really make the mind work, says Payne.Courses that last five weeks or more and lastfor several hours a day tend to be the best ones,she says.

ConsThese courses can be very expensive

depending on the one that is chosen. A personmight be able to find one for less than $100,

but generally speaking, these courses run up tomore than $500 and in some cases cost morethan $1,000.

Parents are sacrificing, even borrowing ontheir credit cards, to pay these high prices forprep courses, said Dave Berry, a co-founder ofand senior adviser for College Confidential, acollege-admissions website. In fact, kids ifthey are dedicated, thats a big if can get theprep books and do the exercises and most like-ly increase their scores to within a reasonabledegree of the amount they could get throughthe prep courses.

Derek Briggs, the chairman of the researchand evaluation methodology program inthe school of education at the University ofColorado at Boulder, has this advice to par-ents: Dont buy the hype. Too often, people

assume because something costs $500, it mustbe worth it. Many test-prep classes involve aseries of practice tests that students can take at

home for free, he says.The SAT is designed to measure the aca-demic skills students learn throughout highschool and their ability to apply that knowl-edge, says Angela Maria Garcia, the executivedirector of SAT publications and information atthe College Board. The best way to get ready isto do well in school, take challenging courses,and read, she said. There really is no short-cut to prepare for the SAT.

The College Board encourages students touse the free resources on its website, such asthe SAT question of the day and practice teststo get familiar with the format.

The bottom lineStudents often improve their score by mere-

ly taking the test a second time, as they gainmore knowledge in school and are more com-

fortable with its structure. Colleges then takethe best mix of scores from each sitting.No matter what a student chooses, coun-

selors caution that students keep in mind testscores are just one part of the college-admis-sions decision. According to surveys by theNational Association for College AdmissionCounselors, in Arlington, Va., SAT and ACTscores have consistently ranked third in impor-tance, behind grades and strength of curricu-lum.

High SATs do not get you into college, astrong academic record does, Debra Shaver,the director of admissions at Smith College inNorthampton, Mass., says. Students shouldconcentrate more on their homework andworry less about SATs.

SAT classes: A must?

S C S S

St. Catherine of Siena School

OPEN HOUSE

Tues., Jan. 29

8:00-10:00am

T 203.375.1947

190 Shelton Road

Trumbull, CT 06611

St. Catherine of Siena School provides students the tools to

excel academically, the opportunities to develop leadership

skills, and the time and space to enjoy childhood in a

community which models our Catholic values.

St Catherine of Siena School admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin.


6/8


Navigating the College Admissions Journey will bepresented at the Huntington Branch Library, 41 Church St.,Shelton, on Tuesday, Feb. 26, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

This is a free workshop which will cover strategies forsuccessfully navigating the college application process andhelping students make the most of their college experience.No advance registration is required.

Conversation topics will include: How to develop a college list to suit values, interests,personality-style and skills;

How to review an application like an admissionscounselor;

Tips for successful essays; Making the most of interviews and campus visits; Reducing the cost of college; Overall organization of the process.The presentation will be given by Eric Dobler, the

founder and president of Dobler College Consulting, anindependent college counseling firm which works withhigh school students and their families. Dobler spent 13years in higher education as both an admissions counselorand an academic advisor.

More info: Dobler at 203-525-4096, [email protected], DoblerCollegeConsulting.com, facebook.com/DoblerCollegeConsulting

The law offices of Carter Mario InjuryLawyers announces the 2013 ArriveAlive scholarship Program, a combina-tion effort to assist students going on tocollege financially, but also to help maketeens aware of the real dangers of drunk

driving and distracted driving.Each applicant will be asked to pre-

pare a presentation on making the rightchoices while behind the wheel, focusingon the dangers of distracted driving byteens and drunk driving. Connecticutsinjury lawyer, Carter Mario, and his staffwill judge the presentations a combi-nation of videos, graphic presentationsand other presentations consisting ofessays, brochures, booklets or songs.The statewide firm will award $1,000a piece to 10 high school seniors in thestate of Connecticut attending a four-year college or university in the fall.

As we celebrate our eighth year ofsupporting the academic excellence ofConnecticuts youth and encouraging

our young people to make smart deci-sions while behind the wheel, our goalremains the same, Mario, president andchief executive officer of the law firm,said. If we can help to save one life, itis worth it. This scholarship program isour firm taking a stance on distracteddriving and alcohol abuse by our statesteens.

The focus of the Arrive Alive

Scholarship is the only scholarship pro-gram of its kind in Connecticut. Sincethe programs inception in 2006, CarterMario has awarded more than $64,000in scholarship money to 63 graduat-ing high school seniors in Connecticut.

In 2012, the firm increased its effortsto put an end to distracted driving inConnecticut by launching the StowBefore You Go anti-distracted drivingpublic service message campaign. Thecampaign is supported through a robustbus ad campaign, billboards and onlinevia StowBeforeYouGo.com.

Connecticut high school seniorsinterested in the scholarship can obtainthe application at GetCarter.com orfrom their schools guidance departmentor guidance counselor. All entries mustbe postmarked no later than Monday,March 25, to qualify for the scholar-ship.

More info: 203-876-2711 (Milfordoffice), CarterMario.com

College admissionsworkshop offered

Connecticut law firm offersscholarship on safe teen driving


7/8


Its Sunday evening. Owen asks his motherwhere he can find a shoe box.

Why do you need it? she asks.I need to make a diorama for a book

report, he says. Its due tomorrow.Kaitlin creeps downstairs after her mother

thinks shes asleep to tell her that she for-got to study for a spelling test the next day.Aiden accuses his dad of picking on himwhen repeatedly reminded to clean out thegerbil cage or empty the garbage. I toldyou, Ill do it after dinner, he snarls, but hedoesnt. Tomorrow, he promises when prod-ded again. But that doesnt happen either.

What are these kids hoping to accomplishby postponing these tasks? Do they thinktheyll go away? Or youll forget to remindthem? Or do they hope that if they delaydoing them long enough youll give in and doit for them?

If any of this sounds familiar, then youreliving with procrastinators. Theyve learnedhow to play for time and substitute somethingtheyd rather do for a not-so-fun responsibil-ity. Unless channeled, this stalling will become

worse as they get older and add unnecessarypressure to their lives.

There is no procrastination gene althoughit can develop into a personality trait. This isa learned behavior and one doesnt need towander too far from that tree with the falling

apples to discover where they learned it.It gives kids a wonderful sense of

power, says Rita Emmett, author of TheProcrastinating Child. As they grow, theybegin to learn they have choices, not allof which are dictated by their parents.Procrastinating becomes just one way kidsexpress their dawning sense of independence.

What can you, as a parent, do to help yourkids break this habit? The following are a fewsuggestions.

First of all, when expecting your child todo something, make it age appropriate. Forexample, telling a five-year-old to clean up herroom is unrealistic, but listing three things tomake this happen works Put your dirtyclothes in the hamper, put your shoes in thecloset, put your books on the shelf.

Giving kids a warning can be helpful as it

lets them finish what theyre doing and givesthem a sense of control. In 15 minutes I wantto see you start your homework. If necessary,set a timer so its not your voice they hear, butthe bell.

As a working mother of three, Laura jok-

ingly calls herself the Queen of Procrastination.Throughout the years shes developed a work-able strategy to help her overcome this ten-dency which shes passing on to her kids. Icall it the reward system, she says. If I startthe laundry, empty the dishwasher and changethe sheets on the beds, then Ill treat myselfto a phone chat with Rita. Larger chores getlarger rewards, she adds. If I clean the bath-rooms until they sparkle, then I will sit downand read the next chapter in my book.

Betty is the mother of teens. I used to bea procrastinator, she says, but not anymore.Every Sunday she sits down at the kitchentable and makes three lists on three differentpieces of paper prioritizing what she needs toaccomplish that week. On the A list she putsthings that must be done the next day; on theB list go the ones that need to be done within

a few days, and on the C list are those thatshould be accomplished by weeks end. Asshe completes each one she takes a Sharpiemarker and crosses it off the list.

Another mother was desperate about hersons increasing stalling and dawdling when-

ever he was asked to do something. Whenespecially frustrated, she stooped to callinghim lazy, a loafer or a goof-off and madeunrealistic threats. He felt she was alwayspicking on him and became moody whenevera must-do subject arose. While shopping atStaples one day she saw the That Was Easybutton. She bought it and gave it to him sug-gesting that he push it when he finished achore. Hearing That was Easy eliminated hernagging and gave him a sense of accomplish-ment.

Breaking the procrastination habit isnteasy, but when you see success lavish yourkids with praise. As a positive take-awayfrom all your supportive coaching, you mayfind that youre less likely to procrastinateyourself.

Is Your Childs Middle Name Procrastinate?by Polly Tafrate

OUR PROGRAMS & SERVICES

Birth-to-3

SVSNS provides early intervention services tochildren from birth to age three who have beenidentified as having special developmental needs.

The School

The FEROLETO Children's Development Center inTrumbull is an alternative school for children ages3 to 21 with significant developmental or medicaldisabilities. The school provides year-round educa-tion and therapy services to meet each child's needs.

Adult Day Services

The CHANGING IMAGES Day Programs in Stratfordand Norwalk engage adults in recreational, educa-tional, social and work activities and stimulatingexperiences in the Centers and in the community.

Residential Services

Our 12 group homes located around FairfieldCounty are specifically designed and staffed tomeet the unique requirements and comford ofeach resident.

Family ServicesThe Family Center provides information, programsand guidance to support familieis and guardianscaring for a loved one with disabilities.

St. Vincent's Special

Needs Services

(SVSNS) is a

501(c)(3) nonprofit

organization that

serves approxi-

mately 400 children

and adults with

highly complex

developmental and

medical disabilities,

such as cerebral

palsy, acute brain

injury, and neuro-

muscular disorders.

Seeks to foster the physical, educational, spiritual,emotional and social development of persons withdisabilities so they may play, learn, work and livein the community.

95 Merritt Blvd.

Trumbull, CT

(203) 375-6400 www.StVincentsSpecialNeeds.org

Proudly serving the Fairfield Community

and Fairfield University


8/8


about 50 students. Its one of approximately100 U.S. locations, and Sheltons ownersalso operate a school in Fairfield (circa2008, nearly 300 current students), NewCanaan (2011, with enrollment of 150),and Bedford, N.Y. (just opened).

A handful of students have already prov-

en they are truly destined for greatness. Forinstance, seven-year-old vocalist CharlotteRose Masi, a Shelton School of Rock vet-eran, is now on Broadway performing withScarlett Johansson in Cat on a Hot TinRoof.

Still, every performer feels like a star.You can take lessons other places, but thefact that we put kids into bands, and usemusic the kids like and the parents like,and teach theory too, theres nothing likeit, said Sasson, a 20-plus-year local musi-cian whos currently part of Darik and theFunbags. All of our teachers here are pro-fessional musicians. Everybody is activelyin a band.

Even the private lessons, includingappropriate doses of music theory, arekept fun. Instead of just explaining what

an A-chord is, for example, the instructorswill pop on Nirvana and point out the A-chords. Its kind of like were hiding veg-etables in something good, Sasson said.

While the sheer number of kids makerehearsals a teaching challenge, Sasson isblown away by their weekly improve-ment. At show time with each studentguaranteed at least three songs headded, the minute they hit the stage, theyjust step up to the plate. As the show ends,the place goes nuts. And each band mem-ber goes home with School of Rock dogtags engraved with the show name.

Theres no cover charge for shows, andfree trial lessons are typically available toaudience members.

More info: SchoolofRock.com.

RockContinued from page 1

Shiny new tech gadgets andgaming systems have a way ofpopping up under Christmastrees and calling to college stu-dents shopping in the seasonof rock bottom prices. But asundergrads headed back tocampus this month know andhigh school seniors en route tocollege in the fall will soon findout, using those new devices oncampus means having to followinstitutional policy.

Campuses today generallyimpress with their state-of-the-art network resources availableto support high-speed inter-net connectivity for all sorts ofdevices personal comput-ers, tablets, smartphones, andgaming or media devices, points out DennisMuley, president of Impulse Point, whichworks with colleges to help their networks

stay secure. But with that benefit comesresponsibility. Colleges require students toagree to an Acceptable Use Policy for networkaccess privileges. Policies vary by school, buttypically include the need to register devicesand maintain up-to-date anti-virus and mal-ware software and operating system patches.

Restrictions, requirementsAt Eckerd College (Fla.), for example,

every networkable device including smart-phones, Internet-ready TVs, laptops, iPads,Kindles, and gaming systems must regis-ter on the campus network, says John Duff,director of Internet technology services.

At some schools, gaming systems arenot allowed on the campus network orhave restrictions, or video streaming is

limited. Other institutions have a campusdaily, weekly, or monthly default bandwidthlimit. The University of Texas at Austin, forone, requires that those needing more thanallocated purchase a bandwidth subscrip-tion plan. At Carnegie Mellon University inPittsburgh, bandwidth use violations can leadto loss of network access altogether. Cornell,meanwhile, charges students by the byte afterthey reach a monthly gigabyte allowance.

Often, its heavy use of Skype or Netflixthat causes students to reach these limits.

Why the restrictions at all? Colleges needto deal with legal, security and network man-agement issues, Duff explains.

Under the Digital Millennium CopyrightAct, colleges are considered Internet ServiceProviders and must implement measuresto restrict illegal downloading, fire shar-ing and use of protected material. Also,campuses have a lot of confidential data to

protect. Unfortunately, judgingfrom those that visit our studentrepair shop, students seem tofall victim to viruses and othermalware on a regular basis,Duff says.

Requiring device registrationallows schools to force compli-ance with network security, suchas through operating systemupgrades and security patches,Scott J. Coopee, assistant vicepresident of IT at Western NewEngland University (Mass.),says. And, he adds, Knowingwho and what devices are con-nected to the network helpsschools ensure that protecteddata is not accessed by unau-thorized users. Colleges can,

if necessary, disable access for a computerwith malware installed that is flooding thenetwork with unnecessary traffic.

Bandwidth issues are a constant concernfor schools. In a public wireless space, ifseveral peoples devices are constantly down-loading content, it may severely limit thewireless bandwidth remaining for others touse, says Coppee. We want to maintainequal access for all.

Whats an undergrad to do? Duff suggestshaving an Ethernet cable handy; it will allowdevices to be plugged in when in wireless isweak or unavailable. Also, consider purchas-ing a mobile hotspot, which can generallyaccommodate up to five wireless devices at4G speed. He says, As prices come down,more and more students will head off tocampus with what is essentially their ownnetwork.

BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)

Technology on Campus: What to Watch ForBy Melissa Ezarik

NEW!For the 2013-2014

academic year for all

students in grades9 through 12

- Olivia Tyrrell, CHS Class of 2009

Houghton Class of 2012

English & Political Science double majorTeach for America 2012-14

Scholarship to Cornell Law School

Robust Academics

Spiritual Depth

Impressive Arts, Athletics & Accessibility

- Suleiman Abiola

CHS Class of 2012

Freshman at

Johns Hopkins University

Presidential

Scholarship Winner

Studying Public Health

St. Paul Christian SchoolEmbraced by love, Empowered to learn

Programs available forFrom 15 mos., 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s & Kindergarten

Limited spaces available for 2013 2014 yearCall now to enroll Donna/Lesley

(203) 227-7920

41 Easton Road, Westport, CT 06880

www.stpaulchristianschool.org

january education 2013 - eastern edition

Documents