Category Archives: Area Education

Lee boys soccer team, walking hallways with pride, preps for Districts after sharing conference title

Area Education, City of Wyoming, Education, Sports, Upcoming Events, WKTV Featured sports,
Lee High School’s boys soccer team preps for District tournament play. (Photo Credit: WKTV)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

After a 17-1 regular season, and being crowned co-champions of the OK Conference Silver, the Lee High School Legends boys soccer team is preparing for another run at a District title next week at Hudsonville Unity Christian and — hopefully — another shot at a Unity Christian squad which knocked them out in the District finals last season.

But first things first. As his team practiced this week, Lee coach Jaime Ramirez talked to WKTV about his team having a week off after a great regular season, detailed his top players, and his belief that this year’s team has brought their own bit of pride to the school.

Oh, and ya. There is that thing about “the kids” wanting a rematch with Unity Christian.

“It is a fantastic season so far, the kids are playing so good,” Ramariez said. “They earned this (conference co-championship) because they are doing the job on the field. … There is a little (school) pride in this team this year.”

Ramirez gives some of the credit for the school pride to Lee Middle and High School’s new principal, Candy VanBuskirk, who in addition to her impressive educational background played and coached basketball at the collegiate level — “This year the new principal is doing good job announcing (game results) every morning when we play, how we did.”

There was a lot of good news announced, as far as the soccer team’s season was concerned.

The Legends outscored their regular season opponents 81-12, with their only loss being a 1-0 setback to conference co-champion Grandville Calvin Christian, which the Legends beat early in the season, 2-1.

While scoring has not been a problem for the Legends this season, Ramirez still thinks they can do better and he is using the team’s 10-day layoff to “adjust” some things.

The long layoff “is kind of bad because the kids don’t get to play,” he said. “But it is kind of good too because the kids get to rest and I am able to adjust some things, what we’ve been struggling on, like targeting or scoring goals. That is my main thing right now.”

Lee High School’s boys soccer team huddles, from an early season game. (Photo Credit: WKTV)

Senior-led but but with plenty of young stars

The Legends are deep and talented with both offensive and defensive position players, according to their coach.

Senior co-captain and midfielder Raúl Montañez has 10 goals and six assists this season, junior co-captain and midfielder Gerardo Montañez has scored 10 goals and has eight assists, sophomore midfielder Edgar Vazquez leads the team in assists with 16 while adding five goals. But the team’s scoring leader is co-captain Michael Esqueda with 19 goals and five assists this season.

Senior forward Tristan Perez has played through injuries but still contributed nine goals and 10 assists.

On what has been a smothering defense, sophomore Alexandro Ruiz “improved so much and … (is a) very solid defender”, Ramirez said, while junior Gustavo Romero has also anchored the back line. Senior goalkeeper Jorge Montes blocked two penalty kicks, has 25 saves and six shutouts.

Two younger players who have contributed to the team’s success are junior Wili Diaz and Jacob Flores, who has played both on the field and in goal. “Definably he (Flores) will be my main goalkeeper next season, but he did an outstanding job as a defender,” Ramirez said.

District tournament outlook

Coach Ramirez said he and his team are not looking past their first game of the District 35 tournament, scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 15, at a time to be determined, when they will play the winner of an opening round contest between Grand Rapids Catholic and Grand Rapids West Catholic. But, should they win, they know which team they’d like to see in the District finals.

“We have to beat anybody that is going to be in our way, regardless of who it is,” Ramirez said. “If we come out and play a bad game, and they beat us up, then we don’t have anything to say. But if we play good, it doesn’t matter who we play, if we play good, we beat them.”

And as far as that rematch with Unity Christian — “The kids are looking for that rematch because they think they can do better this year than we did last year.”

Despite concerns, Godfrey-Lee student fall count above budget projection

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Lee Middle and High School. (WKTV)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

Before the current school year started in August, Godfrey-Lee Pubic Schools Superintendent Kevin Polston publicly expressed concern that this summer’s partial collapse of a portion of the Lee Middle and High School building could drive parents to transfer their students out of the district.

Such a loss of student head count would add a reduction in state per-student funding to the losses in class space and district financial flexibility.

But, the district reported Wednesday, Oct. 2, that Godfrey-Lee Public Schools counted 1,824 students today during Michigan’s Fall Count Day, according to supplied information. The number is slightly above the 1,820 students the district based the 2019-20 budget on and would result “in a modest amount of additional funds for the district.”

The number represents a similar number from the spring count, and a loss of 21 students from last fall’s count.

Fall counts occur on the first Wednesday in October and represent 90 percent of state funding. Spring counts occur on the second Wednesday in February and represent 1 percent of state funding. According to state school funding records, Godfrey-Lee gained $10,807 per student in 2017-18. But the amount can change year-to-year and per student funding for 2019-20 is not yet finalized.

“The district is grateful for the support of our community during the past four months and the trust they have in the district,” Polston said. “We are honored to serve our community to provide an excellent educational experience for our students based on deep, meaningful relationships and rigorous learning.

“Our student count will allow the district to grow the vision into the future as we partner with a dedicated staff and loyal community partners to design innovative practices that prepare students for success well into the future.”

Seven classrooms and the psychologist’s office were destroyed during a roof collapse at the school building, located at 1335 Lee St. SW, on June 5. No one was injured. It was determined that corrosion of bar joists that supported the roof structure caused it to disengage from the exterior wall.

On June 23, the remaining structure of the affected area collapsed from the weight of the debris. With localized repairs, the remaining portion of the building was ready for opening day as planned on Aug. 19.

7 tips to avoid playground injuries

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Keep the play in playgrounds … and the tears away. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Rick Jensen, Spectrum Health Beat


Playgrounds are fun, but all too often result in injuries.


From kids falling from swings and monkey bars, to little tykes flying off the merry-go-round, hazards abound.


But that’s not a reason to avoid them altogether. If a playground has good equipment with soft landing surfaces, add in a bit of adult supervision and the risk is greatly reduced.


To make sure everyone has a merry time at the playground, keep in mind a few statistics.


Each year in the United States, emergency departments treat more than 200,000 children for playground-related injuries, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


Falls are the most common, accounting for more than 75 percent of all playground-related injuries, according to Jennifer Hoekstra, an injury prevention specialist.


Lack of supervision is associated with approximately 45 percent of playground-related injuries.


Check out some helpful advice from the Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Injury Prevention team for keeping your kiddos safe at play.

7 tips to avoid playground injuries:

1. Actively supervise children on playgrounds.

It won’t be hard—they’ll probably be calling for you to watch them climb, jump and swing.

2. Look down.

Take your kids to playgrounds with shock-absorbing surfaces such as rubber, synthetic turf, sand, wood chips or mulch.


If your child falls, the landing will be more cushioned than on asphalt, gravel, concrete, grass or dirt.


For swings, make sure the surfacing extends in the back and front, twice the height of the suspending bar. (If the swing set is 10 feet high, the surfacing should extend 20 feet.)

3. Dress appropriately for the playground.

Remove necklaces, purses, scarves or clothing with drawstrings that can get caught on equipment and pose a strangulation hazard. Even helmets can be dangerous on a playground, so save those for bikes.

4. Make sure your kiddos are kind.

Teach children that pushing, shoving or crowding while on the playground can be dangerous.

5. Focus on the littles.

Little kids play differently than big kids, so it’s important to have a separate play area for kids younger than 5.

6. Inspect equipment.

Check playgrounds for hazards such as rusted or broken equipment and dangerous surfaces such as sharp points or edges. Report hazards to the school or local office.

7. Look up.

If playground platforms (such as the top of slides) are higher than a few feet, there should be guardrails that little ones can’t slip through and fall.


All openings should also have gaps of less than 3 1/2 inches or more than 9 inches to avoid head entrapment.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.



Lee Legends ride big plays, tough defense to first win of independent season

Area Education, City of Wyoming, Education, Sports,
Lee High School’s football team celebrating a win over Galesburg-Augusta, 18-12, at home Sept. 13. (Supplied)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

Lee High School — after opening its non-conference season with two competitive losses when the offense scored but the defense struggled — defeated Galesburg-Augusta, 18-12, at home Friday as the Legends rode a big-play offense and a bend-but-not-break defense to the team’s first win while playing an independent schedule.

The visiting Rams actually out-gained the Legends in total yards, 258-230, and ran 81 offensive plays compared to Lee’s 39. But the Lee defense limited the Rams to just two scores and came up big in the fourth quarter.

“It was a huge test on the defensive side if you look at time of possession and number of snaps we played,” Lee defensive coordinator William Hollstein said to WKTV. “Over the first two games, we gave up big plays which put us in a tough spot. Going into Friday night, we really stressed limiting those big plays through a simplified scheme and getting pressure on passing downs.”

Lee High School freshman Elijah Beckwith had 97 yards and a touchdown in the win over Galesburg-Augusta on Sept. 13. (Supplied)

In the Legends’ win, freshman running back Elijah Beckwith scored on a 36-yard run and Ke’ontae Taylor caught a 45-yard scoring pass from Niko Mena in the first half. Beckwith totaled 97 yards on 12 carries to lead the Legends ground game.

After Galesburg-Augusta tied the score, 12-12, at the half, Taylor and Mena again hooked up, this time for a 47-yard pass in the third quarter, and the Lee defense made that score hold up for the win.

Senior Gumer Rodas was one of the stars on the Legends defense. (Supplied)

“During Galesburg’s final offensive possession, I was able to speak with the defense during a timeout,” Hollstein said. “It was all smiles in the huddle and I told the kids that this is why we play the games, for moments like this. They were fired up to play on 4th down and you could feel their confidence. As a team, our theme has been to ‘win the next down.’  As a coach, it’s rewarding when you see the kids come together and play for each other like that.”

For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.

Godfrey-Lee ‘Legends’ rebranding takes two (big) steps forward with grant awards

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While the Lee High School teams are still wearing old uniforms this season, they are already Legends. (Note: This football team t-shirt, worn here by head coach Tom Degennaro, is not the new official logo for Godfrey-Lee school district or its sporting teams). (WKTV)


By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

Godfrey-Lee Public Schools announced this week two major donations for the rebranding of the district and high school’s mascot to become the Legends — including $98,000 from the Native American Heritage Foundation to “rebrand the current mascot from ‘Rebels’ to a new mascot and nickname that is culturally responsive.”

“Godfrey-Lee Public Schools is proud to share the announcement of $120,000 in donations to support the district with the change of our mascot to the Godfrey-Lee Legends,” Kevin Polston, Superintendent of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, said Sept. 17 in supplied material. “The support of our community through the transition has been critical to the success of the project.

“Financial contributions will ensure that operating expenses will be spent in the classroom to support our students. The donations will offset costs for a new logo design, athletic and performing arts uniforms, signage, murals, the electronic footprint of the district, and more.”

The grant from the Native American Heritage Foundation (NAHF) adds to a grant made by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, as well as other smaller donations.

Grand Rapids Community Foundation was established in 1922 and is Kent County’s philanthropic leader, according to a statement by the Godfrey-Lee district. “The Community Foundation creates partnerships to overcome inequities in West Michigan, supporting racial, social and economic justice for all.”

“We are committed to providing opportunity, prosperity and belonging for everyone who calls West Michigan home,” said Diana Sieger, president of the Community Foundation, said in supplied material. “A new Godfrey-Lee mascot will unify the school community and help students shift their focus to using their talents and creativity to fuel our shared future.”

The official receipt of the grant from the Native American Heritage Fund will take place at a check ceremony on Monday, Sept. 30, at the FireKeepers Casino-Hotel in Battle Creek.

The Native American Heritage Fund, established in 2016 as part of the Second Amendment to the Tribal-State Gaming Compact between the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) and the State of Michigan, allows for a portion of NHBP’s annual state revenue sharing payment to be distributed by the NAHF.

According to the NAHF, the fund “serves to promote positive relationships between public and private K-12 schools, colleges, universities, local units of government and Michigan’s federally recognized Native American Tribes. The NAHF provides resources to help improve curricula and educational resources related to Michigan Indian history, as well as to replace or revise mascots and imagery that may be deemed as offensive to or inaccurately conveying the culture and values of Native Americans.”

The district is still soliciting donations and individuals or organizations that want to contribute toward the district reaching its’ goal of $200,000, Polston said in supplied material.

Those interested can make a tax deductible contribution online via the District’s PayPal account (the link is found at the bottom of the district’s homepage (godfrey-lee.org) or by sending a check to the district’s administration building, 1324 Burton St. SW, Wyoming, MI, 49509.

For more information on the Native American Heritage Fund, visit here.

Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood tips for parenting

3-bottom, Area Education, Community Health, Education, Health, Kids Activities

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

“Parenting is hard, especially trying to be patient with little versions of impatient you.”

Anonymous
Parenting is work, but there are some tools to help.

Parenting ain’t easy

Sometimes, parents can send their children mixed messages by the ineffective commands they give them and lack of consistency with routines and household rules. Go here for more info.

Soft lights and light reading helps.

Sleeping ain’t easy

Exposure to bright light in the hour before bedtime can make it difficult for kids to fall asleep, family health experts warn. Go here for more info.

Kids carry the weight too.

Lugging books ain’t easy

Thousands of children each year suffer from a variety of backpack-related injuries, including back and neck pain, shoulder pain, muscle strains and spasms, nerve damage and headaches. Go here for more info.

(Not-so-) Fun fact:

As much as 7 pounds

Hardcover textbooks weigh between 2 and 7 pounds … a burdensome load of information that students have to haul around school five days a week. Source.

Local football wrap: Wyoming falls to Northview’s big play offense; East Kentwood bounces back

Area Education, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Education, Kentwood Public Schools, Sports, WKTV Featured sports, ,

[huge_it_slider id=”90″]


By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

At Northview High School Friday, Wyoming high got a great effort from running back Cameron (Cam) Simon, who rushed for rushed for 192 yards and one touchdown, and quarterback Matthew Berg threw scoring strikes to Mahki Mathews and Diamonte Parks.

But the Wolves could not match the Wildcats’ big-play power in a 49-21 non-conference loss Sept. 6.

After a finishing the first half with a 21-21 tie, Northview (2-0) scored 28 unanswered points to hand Wyoming (1-1) its first loss of the season.

Last season, Northview was 7-3 including an opening round playoff loss to Grand Rapids Christian, which ended a six-game winning streak. They were 5-1 in OK White and finished second to Cedar Springs, their only conference loss.

Against Wyoming, Wildcat running back Jakaurie Kirkland rushed for 270 yards and four touchdowns, including runs of 60, 37, 82 and 57 yards.

The Wyoming at Northview was scheduled to be televised as a WKTV Featured Games, but technical issues forced plans to be cancelled. This week’s featured game will be at East Kentwood.

In other local football action, East Kentwood (1-1) bounced back from an opening season loss at Muskegon Mona Shores with a 39-6 road win at Grand Ledge Friday. In the win, the Falcons jumped out to a 25-0 first half lead on a 40-yard run by Josh Ledesma and a 13-yard pass from Christian Tanner to Colton Emeott in the first quarter, and then a 39-yard run by Willie Berris and a 22-yard run by Tanner.

Also on Friday, South Christian (1-1) lost at Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, 35-21; Godwin Heights (0-2) lost at Hudsonville Unity Christian, 36-0; Kelloggsville (0-2) lost at Williamstown, 27-0,Wyoming Lee (0-2) lost at Gobles, 37-20; and Tri-unity Christian lost at Martin, 20-0, in 8-Man football.

For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.

After impressive opener, Wyoming high Coach Sigler likes progress of team, program culture

3-bottom, Area Education, City of Wyoming, Education, Local Faces, Sports, Upcoming Events, WKTV Featured sports,
Wyoming High School football practice. (WKTV)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

As his team “went to work” at practice this week in preparation for a high school football Week 2 game at Northview High School, Wyoming high head football coach Irv Sigler Jr. sounded like an X’s and O’s football coach as he talked to WKTV.

He praised his offensive line play in the team’s dominating 59-25 win over Holland opening week. He praised his opponent this week and said his team would need to be better to beat the Wildcats on their home field — a game which WKTV’s Featured Game sports coverage crew will be covering. UPDATE: Due to technical issues, WKTV was unable to video record the game.

But Coach Sigler also went a bit beyond the X’s and O’s by talking about the “culture” of his program, which has a modest 5-13 record in his first two years but may be about to turn the competitive corner.

Coach Sigler. (WKTV)

“We’ve grown a great deal in our ability to practice with purpose, with having a sense of urgency about getting better every day when we come out … the little things are the difference between being good and great,” Coach Sigler said in a WKTV interview. (See the entire interview on YouTube here.) “I describe our kids as lunchbox kids. They come here every day. They got a lunch box and they go to work.”

In their opening night games, Northview defeated Comstock Park 28-7 while Wyoming defeated Holland 59-25 in a game which was began on Thursday night but finished on Friday night due to storms moving through the area.

Wyoming High School football practice. (WKTV)

For the Wolves, junior running back (and linebacker) Cameron (Cam) Simon rushed for just shy of 200 yards and scored four touchdowns, while junior quarterback Matthew Berg passed for three TDs.

Northview, out of OK White, had 10 new starters on defense against Comstock Park but still held the Panthers to a single touchdown. Running back Jakaurie Kirkland had 220 yards on 23 carries. Senior quarterback Dan Frey went 7-of-11 for 72 yards, with two touchdown passes to sophomore Kyler VanderJact.

Northview, last season, was 7-3 including an opening round playoff loss to Grand Rapids Christian, which ended a six-game winning streak. They were 5-1 in OK White and finished second to Cedar Springs, their only conference loss.

All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvlive.org.

 
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.

How much will health insurance cost me in the Marketplace?

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By Brenda Long, Michigan State University Extension


How much will health insurance cost in the Marketplace? This seems to be a big question for many consumers. The Affordable Care Act mandates that most people are insured either through their employer or by purchasing their own policy.


Two online calculators may assist consumers estimate the cost of their health insurance premium as they comparison shop different health insurance plans. You can get into the Marketplace web site www.healthcare.gov to use a price estimator for your state and county. You can also see the available plans and premiums before any subsidy without setting up an account.


You can also use the Kaiser Family Foundation Subsidy Calculator. With this calculator, you can enter your zip code, different income levels, ages, family sizes and tobacco use to get an estimate of your eligibility for subsidies and how much you could spend on health insurance in the Marketplace. Income, age, family size, geographic location and tobacco use are the criteria the Marketplace uses to determine premiums for your eligible health insurance plans.


As premiums and eligibility requirements may vary, contact these resources with enrollment questions:

I have heard from a local Navigator that some folks that have successfully enrolled through the Marketplace have been pleasantly surprised with the affordability of the health insurance plan they chose.


For more answers to your questions about health insurance, go to Health Insurance FAQs – eXtension. Also see previous news articles about health insurance choices on the Michigan State University Extension website.


This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).


Looking for a summertime pollinator activity? Help hunt the range of the native squash bee!

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Squash bees. Photo by Ben Phillips, MSU Extension.

By Meghan Milbrath, Michigan State University Extension


The squash bee, Peponapis pruinosa, is a great pollinator of squashes, gourds and pumpkins. Squash blossoms are a source of food for foraging female bees and provide pollen for the young in their underground nests. For the male bees, squash blossoms act as a bed and breakfast—the male bees actually sleep in the flowers of squash plants. They spend so much time in the blossoms that the male bees are efficient pollinators along with the females (in most bee species the females do all the heavy lifting for pollination).


Squash bees have a long history with squash plants since both are native to North America. The spread of the squash bee seems to be linked to the spread of farmers and gardeners growing squash. You can learn more about the history of their spread in a great video by Margarita Lopez-Uribe.


Researchers are trying to determine the range of squash bees in the United States and are counting on citizen scientists to help. If you have vine crops in your garden, you can help us survey for these pollinators. Two labs are looking for data, so you can help by filling out two data sheets:

You can often find squash bees early in the morning on blossoms in your garden. To get familiar with what you are looking for, watch this video from the ARS lab and this video by Katharina Ullmann, view our resources on the MSU Vegetable Entomology website and check out these Bug Guide photos.


To learn more about squash bees:

For more information, visit MSU’s Squash Bee Project page.


This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).



Ten tips for back-to-school success

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As you plan for your child’s day, be sure to think about safety coming and going from school. Courtesy Michigan State University Extension

By Carrie Shrier and Michelle Neff, Michigan State University Extension


As the summer draws to a close, Michigan State University Extension suggests parents and caregivers address back-to-school basics now to help their children get the school year off to a good start.


Back-to-school time is an exciting time for most children — it’s a time to make new friends, reconnect with old friends and meet new teachers. As exciting as school can be, however, it often is a source of anxiety for children. As the summer winds down, take time to plan ahead for the start of school to avoid complications and reduce anxiety.

Ten tips to help your child be ready for the school year

  1. Visit the school. Most school buildings open a few weeks before the first day. Take your children to school for a tour. Where is the lunchroom? The playground? Where do they hang their coats? Where are their classrooms? How do they get from the front door to the classroom? Many schools offer a special open house or picnic, a time to meet up with old friends and make new ones. Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity.
  2. Meet the teacher. Once the coveted teacher assignment arrives in the mail, plan a meet-the-teacher visit. Call ahead to see if you can make an appointment to stop in and say “hello.” Help your child find their coat hook, locker, desk, etc. Talk with the teacher about any concerns you may have and any special needs, allergies or other issues that may arise.
  3. Make new friends. If your child is new to the building, see if you can arrange for a play date with other children going into the same grade or in the same class. Having a few familiar faces that first day can help your child feel much more confident and comfortable.
  4. Be prepared. Include your child in back-to-school shopping. Even kindergartners have strong opinions about what they would like on their backpacks or what they want to wear to school the first day. If the teacher has provided a supply list, take your child shopping to help select those special items.
  5. Adjust the schedule. As the final days of summer draw to a close, start moving your child onto the school schedule. Those late bedtimes have been fun all summer but not so much when kids have to get up and moving early. Begin by moving up bedtime 10 to 20 minutes a day until you have adjusted children to their normal school-day bedtime and wake-up time. Remember, elementary school-aged children should be getting 10 to 11 hours of sleep a night.
  6. Practice the routine. In the last few days before school starts, take time to run through a typical school morning. Get your child up and dressed as if they were headed to school. After a healthy breakfast, head out to the bus stop or the car on time. Look for potential glitches in your routine and plan ahead to avoid “morning madness.”
  7. Think safety. As you plan for your child’s day, think about safety coming and going from school. Walking, carpooling and riding the bus present different potential safety risks. Talk to your children about their specific situation and make sure they know how to cross streets safely, are using an appropriate booster seat in a car if needed, or that they understand bus rules. More back-to-school safety information can be found at SafeKids.org.
  8. Immunizations and physicals. Check with your child’s pediatrician to be sure immunizations are up to date. Back-to-school time is a good time to schedule annual well-child exams. An exam may be required if your child is planning to participate in a sport. More information about the Michigan school vaccine requirements, as well as contact information for your local health department, can be found online at the Michigan Department of Community Health website.
  9. Plan for healthy meals. Research has shown that kids who eat a healthy breakfast and lunch get better grades and are more attentive at school. Talk with your children about what they would like to eat and help them choose a well-balanced selection of “brain foods.” More information on children’s nutrition can be found at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlatewebsite.
  10. Assistance is available. Your family may qualify for nutrition assistance through the National School Lunch Program. This federal program provides for free or reduced-price school lunches and in some cases breakfast as well. Contact your school’s nutrition program for an application. Some districts make this application available online. Many community agencies also offer additional back-to-school support, such as free backpack events and discounted or free school supplies and clothes. If you are in need of support to help get your children ready for school, be sure to contact your local community service agencies for more information on events in your area.

Taking time to plan ahead for the new school year is well worth the effort. Confident, calm, well-rested children are more likely to have an excellent first day and a fabulous year ahead. Let’s help our children start the school year on a positive note.


This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).



Meijer Gardens new art curator brings European background, historic art context to Grand Rapids

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Dr. Jochen Wierich, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park new Curator of Sculpture and Sculpture Exhibitions. (Supplied/Meijer Gardens)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

Dr. Jochen Wierich, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park new Curator of Sculpture and Sculpture Exhibitions, comes to Grand Rapids with extensive art curatorial experience, having most recently led curated exhibitions at Nashville’s renown Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art including a much admired exhibition “Jaume Plensa: Human Landscape” in 2015-16.

He also has an equally impressive resume as an art historian and teacher, which includes being a lecturer on art history at prestigious institutions of higher education including Vanderbilt University — and he now holds the Lena E. S. Meijer Professorship in Art History at Aquinas College.

But the “American” portion of the German-born Wierich’s art history resume only hints at his depth of knowledge and appreciation of art, and his desire to share his knowledge and appreciation with local students and the general public visiting Meijer Gardens.

During one of his first in-depth interviews after coming to Meijer Gardens in late July, Wierich wore his curatorial jacket as he discussed his admiration for the Meijer Gardens sculptural art collection as well as some works which surprised him on his initial tours of the gardens. (See the following video.)


During the WKTV interview, however, he also discussed his views on the differences between art education in Europe and America, as well as his conviction that understanding history and culture is essential to understanding art.

“I see a number of differences in the role of art and art education in Europe and in the United States,” Wierich said to WKTV. “From my own perspective, in Europe young people grow up understanding that art is a part of a kind of cultural heritage, a part of a kind of patrimony, that we inherit. So even outside the classroom education, that is something that young people in Germany, in Europe, they just bring to their college education.

“I, you, she or he” by Jaume_Plensa. (Supplied/Meijer Gardens by William J Hebert)

“In the United States, I would say that museums have done a great job of helping, educating young people, in the arts. Encouraging them to be creative. And then to appreciate art. But, still, art is not as much imbedded in the broader education sphere in the United States. And so, when the students come to college, they just don’t quite bring that background, that kind of familiarity with the arts, that I see in Germany and in Europe.”

But passing on his passion for art is where Wierich’s passion for education comes into play.

“That is something that, especially as a college teacher, I also want to help with,” he said. “Being part of the Aquinas faculty, and interacting with the students in the classroom, and possibly encouraging them to come out here and explore the sculpture collection, that is going to be part of my job. … And maybe bridge that gap a little bit.”

Another stop in Wierich’s American journey was at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture in Spokane, Wa. — a place which cemented his belief in the importance of culture and historic context in understanding and appreciating modern art.

“The issue of understanding art within the historic and cultural context, to me, it is something that I think about all the time,” Wierich said. “My background, as you know, is in art history and American studies. So I thrive in museum environments that are multi-disciplinary, if you want (to call it such). And, for example, here at Meijer Gardens, you have art and horticulture, and you have programs that bring music and literature to this institution, and create this conversation across different disciplines.

“At the MAC, the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, you might see in one visit a Native American contemporary artist painting landscapes, you might see additional plateau Indian baskets, and then you might see an exhibition of German and Italian immigrants who came to the inland Northwest as farmers. And so, each of these exhibitions contributes to, in a sense, framing the art.”

When it comes to modern and contemporary art appreciation and art history “I think that learning about the context (is important), that none of these works was created in a vacuum. That each of these works can help us understand what the historical circumstances were that, maybe, inspired the artist,” he said. “Think about the great Picasso painting “Guernica”, without understanding the (Spanish Civil) War, that painting is not quite the same.”

And he brings that idea home to Meijer Gardens.

Iron Tree by Ai Weiwei. (Supplied/Meijer Gardens by PeterMcDaniel)

“Even with the artists here in the sculpture park — Ai Weiwei, Jaume Plensa — you can really understand what an artist like Ai Weiwei is processing in terms of his growing up in contemporary China, and struggling with the changes in China,” Wierich said. “Or Jaume Plensa, somebody who grew up right after the dictatorship of Franco, and when Spain became a democracy. This are all stories that allow us to have a greater appreciation of the modern and contemporary art works.”

Prior to his work at Vanderbilt, Wierich held teaching positions at Whitman College, Free University in Berlin and Belmont University.

He earned a Master of Arts degree from the Universitat Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Universitat Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany. He has a master’s degree in American Studies from Goethe University of Frankfurt and a Ph.D. in American Studies from the College of William and Mary in Virginia — where his dissertation is titled “The Domestication of History in American Art, 1848-1876”.

Joseph Becherer, who previously held both the Meijer Gardens and Aquinas College positions, was named director of the Snite Museum of Art at the University of Notre Dame last fall.

Yawn! Reset your child’s sleep routine

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Help your child adjust to back-to-school sleep schedules gradually. This will help them be alert and eager to learn by the time class starts. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Health Beat staff


Good sleep habits tend to take a vacation when school is out for the summer.


Long lazy days. Staying up late. Sleeping til noon. It’s all part of the fun.


But in the weeks leading up to the first school bell of the year, don’t forget to plan an adjustment to your child’s sleep routine. It’s never too early.


“It’s natural to be flexible with bedtimes in the summer,” said Jason Coles, MD, a pediatric sleep medicine specialist with Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. “But … you’ll want to transition to a more normal routine. The day before school begins isn’t the time to start—kids need to gradually adjust to a new sleep schedule.”


Begin adjusting bedtime and wake time now to work toward the following recommended amount of sleep each night:

  • Children 3 to 5 years old: 11 to 13 hours
  • Children 5 to 12 years old: 10 to 11 hours
  • Teens 13 to 18 years old: 9 to 10 hours

The best way to make bedtime earlier, Dr. Coles said, is to decrease bedtime by 15 minutes every three to four days, giving your child time to adjust.


For example, if your child is going to bed at 11:30 p.m., have him start going to bed at 11:15 p.m. for a few days, then 11 p.m. for a few days, and so on. If your bed time goal is 10 p.m., it’ll take a while to reach it.


Making sleep a priority can be challenging. Especially considering the growing body of evidence that early school start times prevent adolescents and teens from getting the sleep they need.


“Sleep is such an important element in a child’s success at school and their overall health and well-being,” Dr. Coles said. “Just like with adults, lack of sleep can negatively affect memory, concentration, mood and attitude. It’s well worth the effort to ensure that your kids get the sleep they need.”


Dr. Coles noted, however, that it’s equally important to focus on wake-up time.


“Kids will have a hard time falling asleep earlier if they’re not waking up earlier,” he said, suggesting having the alarm ring earlier and earlier leading up to the school year.


“Bright light exposure and physical activity, specifically in the morning, help this process to happen quicker and feel more natural,” Dr. Coles added.

Dr. Coles offers these 8 tips for healthy sleep habits:

  • Steadily adjust to earlier sleep and wake schedules well before school starts. This will adjust biological clocks to the new schedule.
  • Avoid physical activity before bedtime and encourage physical activity in the morning upon waking.
  • Establish a relaxing bedtime routine. Reading before bed is a good choice for kids of all ages.
  • Create a sleep environment that is cool, quiet, dimly lit and comfortable.
  • Keep television, video games and other electronics out of the bedroom. Avoid using them within one hour of bedtime.
  • Eliminate or reduce caffeine.
  • Eat well. Avoid big meals right before bed.
  • Increase activity (not near bedtime). Exercise and regular physical activity during the day improves sleep at night.
  • Even on weekends, keep a regular sleep schedule and avoid extremes. Having a regular bedtime every day increases the likelihood that kids, including teens, will get optimal sleep.

Keeping your child on a sleep routine will make it easier to wake them in the morning and they’ll feel better and more rested during the school day.


But don’t expect this to be easy.


“A change in sleep habits is hard, especially when kids want to make summer last and not think ahead to school,” Dr. Coles said. “Younger kids are more likely to question why they have to go to bed before the sunset. Remind them that good sleep means more energy to have fun the next day.”


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.



August high school sports schedule includes WKTV featured football game

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East Kentwood takes the field. (File photo)

By Mike Moll, WKTV Volunteer Sports Director
sports@wktv.org

Here comes the start of another academic school year opening this month, which also means the local high school sports schedules are doing the same.

Beginning on Aug. 16, fall seasons for girls golf and volleyball, along with boys and girls cross country, and boys soccer, tennis, swimming, water polo and — of course — football all get under way throughout the last two weeks of the month leading to Labor Day weekend.

WKTV will once again be featuring a weekly football game starting with the Thursday, Aug. 29, matchup between White Cloud and Wyoming Lee.

There are some changes not only to Wyoming Lee this year, but to the O-K Silver conference, where the former nicknamed Rebels and now called Legends have played.

For a variety of reasons, Lee, along with NorthPointe Christian and Calvin Christian have all made the change to play independently this season.

As a result, the four remaining Silver teams — Godwin Heights, Kelloggsville, Belding and Hopkins — will each play a home and home conference schedule to determine the league champion.

Want to be a television sports announcer?

If anyone has ever thought about trying to announce a sporting event, WKTV has a great chance for you to do exactly that! The tentative schedule for May follows and we are always looking for additional announcers, especially for the spring games. If you would like to try it or have any questions, please email Mike at sportswktv@gmail.com.

Where and when to see featured games

Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.

WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.


For complete schedules of programs on WKTV channels, see our Weekly On-air Schedule.


All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvondemand.com.

 
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.

 
Following is this month’s schedule, starting Friday, Aug. 16:

Friday, Aug. 16
Boys Soccer
Wyoming @ Wyoming Lee
East Kentwood @ FH Central
Girls Golf
East Kentwood vs Jenison – Jenison Invite @ The Meadows
Boys Tennis
East Kentwood @ Ludington – Ludington Invite

Saturday, Aug. 17
Boys Soccer
Whitehall @ South Christian – Mark Hasper Invite
TBA @ Wyoming Lee – Copa Leyendas

Monday, Aug. 19
Girls Golf
South Christian @ Traverse City Invite – Spruce Run
Boys Soccer
Holland Christian @ South Christian
Holland @ East Kentwood
Boys Tennis
Wyoming @ Holland

Tuesday, Aug. 20
Girls Golf
South Christian @ Traverse City Invite – Wolverine
Boys Soccer
Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville
Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian
Union @ Wyoming
Boys / Girls Cross Country
Godwin Heights @ Kent City

Wednesday, Aug. 21
Boys Tennis
TBA @ South Christian – Sailor Quad
TBA @ Wyoming – Quad
Boys Soccer
Caledonia @ South Christian
Wyoming @ Zeeland West
Portage Northern @ East Kentwood
Boys / Girls Cross Country
Wyoming Lee @ Hesperia – Baker Woods Invitational
Potter’s House @ Holland Calvary

Thursday, Aug. 22
Boys Tennis
TBA @ South Christian – Sailor Quad
Wyoming @ Lowell
Boys Soccer
Belding @ Godwin Heights
Potter’s House @ Wyoming Lee
Ravenna @ Zion Christian

Friday, Aug. 23
Boys Soccer
Tri-Unity Christian @ Barry County Christian
Potter’s House @ Wyoming
East Kentwood @ West Ottawa
Girls Golf
South Christian vs Middleville T-K – TK Invite @ Yankee Springs
Girls Volleyball
Wyoming Lee @ WMAES
Wyoming vs TBA – WMVOA Meet @ MSA Fieldhouse
Boys Water Polo
East Kentwood @ Ann Arbor Pioneer – Pioneer Invite

Saturday, Aug. 24
Girls Volleyball
Tri-Unity Christian vs TBA – WMVOA Invitational @ MSA Fieldhouse
Godwin Heights vs TBA – Officials for Kids Tourney @ MSA Fieldhouse
Potter’s House vs TBA – Official for Kids Tourney @ MSA Fieldhouse
Zion Christian vs TBA – WMVOA Invitational @ MSA Fieldhouse
South Christian @ Grand Haven
Boys Tennis
South Christian @ East Kentwood – EK Invite
TBA @ Wyoming – David Bentley Tournament
Boys / Girls Cross Country
South Christian @ East Kentwood
Wyoming Lee @ Muskegon Catholic Central
Boys Soccer
TBA @ Zion Christian – Zion Soccer Invite
Boys Water Polo
East Kentwood @ Ann Arbor Pioneer – Pioneer Invite
Girls Volleyball
East Kentwood @ Grand Haven – Lakeshore Classic

Monday, Aug. 26
Boys Soccer
Tri-Unity Christian @ NorthPointe Christian
South Christian @ Grand Rapids Christian
Wyoming @ FH Eastern
Hudsonville @ East Kentwood
Girls Golf
South Christian @ Muskegon Mona Shores
Boys Tennis
Holland Christian @ South Christian
Girls Volleyball
Wyoming Lee @ Algoma Christian

Tuesday, Aug. 27
Boys / Girls Cross Country
South Christian @ St. Joseph
Girls Swimming
South Christian @ Grand Rapids Christian
Central @ East Kentwood
Boys Soccer
NorthPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights
Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee
Ottawa Hills @ Wyoming
Zion Christian @ Saugatuck
Boys Tennis
Wyoming @ Zeeland East
TBA @ East Kentwood – EK Quad
Girls Volleyball
Ottawa Hills @ Wyoming
Zion Christian @ Martin – Quad
TBA @ East Kentwood – EK Early Bird Tournament

Wednesday, Aug. 28
Girls Golf
South Christian @ Kent Country Club – OK Jamboree
Boys Tennis
Unity Christian @ South Christian
Girls Volleyball
Caledonia @ South Christian – Sailor Invite
Boys Soccer
East Grand Rapids @ South Christian
Wyoming @ Wayland
Rockford @ East Kentwood
Boys / Girls Cross Country
Godwin Heights @ Saranac
Wyoming Lee @ Saranac
Wyoming @ Wayland

Thursday, Aug. 29
Girls Swimming
South Christian @ East Kentwood
Boys Football
Greenville vs South Christian – @ Byron Center
Godwin Heights @ Hamilton
White Cloud @ Wyoming Lee – WKTV Featured Event
Holland @ Wyoming
Boys Soccer
Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights
Potter’s House vs West Michigan Heat – @ Hudsonville Christian
Zion Christian @ Kalamazoo Christian
Plainwell @ East Kentwood
Girls Volleyball
TBA @ East Kentwood – Lady Falcon Invite
Boys / Girls Cross Country
East Kentwood @ Milford – Invite

Friday, Aug. 30
Boys Football
Tri-unity Christian @ Climax-Scotts
East Kentwood @ Muskegon Mona Shores

Just get along!

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Courtesy Michigan State University Extension

By Tracy Trautner, Michigan State University Extension


“Don’t make me pull this car over!” Siblings will often bicker, fight and disagree, but wait a few minutes and they will be best friends and don’t remember why they were fighting. Or if they are like my boys, they will say, “We are just having a conversation,” yet it sounds like bickering to me and it is stressful to the outside listener!


Families heading out for a summer vacation or even staying at home know all too well sibling “conversations” are inevitable. Fighting can be frustrating for everyone involved. Kids can have conflict for many reasons including jealousy, different temperaments and even the developmental needs of the child. For example, a child that is in elementary school has a strong sense of fairness and will be upset if they are treated differently.


Michigan State University Extension offers the following suggestions when sibling rivalry erupts in your family:

  • Try not to get involved unless the argument becomes physical. Effective negotiating and problem solving are skills they will need for life. When we constantly rescue, they will learn to expect that from us and the opportunity to learn how to resolve a conflict is missed. In addition, kids that are always rescued may feel they can get away with more.
  • If necessary, resolve conflicts with your child.
  • Discuss with your kids that equal and fair is not always possible. Someone may sometimes get more. That is true in a family scenario as well as real life.
  • Sometimes it can be as simple as offering, or setting up, space for time apart. We don’t always get along with friends and coworkers, so it is unrealistic to think siblings will be non-confrontational.

According to a Mayo Clinic article, “Sibling rivalry: Helping your children get along,” parents can also respect each child’s unique needs, avoid comparisons, set ground rules and stick to them, anticipate problems, listen, encourage good behavior and show your love.


The silver lining is when children disagree, they are showing healthy signs that they are able to express their needs and wants. Sibling rivalry is normal. All children will disagree. Treating them as individuals is key to helping the family through those stressful times.


This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).



VanBuskirk named as new principal at Lee Middle and High School

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Lee Middle and High School. (WKTV)

By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

Lee Middle and High School will have a new principal when it greets students later this month as Godfrey-Lee Public Schools announced this week that Candida VanBuskirk would fill the position following Kathryn Curry’s retirement after 7 years as principal.

Candida VanBuskirk. (Facebook)

According to the district, VanBuskirk, who often goes by the name “Candy”, comes to Godfrey-Lee from Michigan City (In.) High School, where she served as the principal for two years. Prior to that, she was the associate principal at the same school, and before that assistant principal at New Prairie (In.) High School and teacher at New Buffalo High School.

VanBuskirk “is a strong instructional leader that will bring expertise in a culture of collaboration, excellence for our staff and students, and build the type of relationships that will sustain success,” Kevin Polston, Superintendent, Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, said in supplied material. “In addition, she has a background in athletics as a 2-time All American at Roberts Wesleyan College and team co-captain at Bowling Green (State University). She has (also) coached basketball at the high school and collegiate levels.”

VanBuskirk has a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Bowling Green, a masters degree in Educational Leadership from Western Michigan University, a masters degree in Science Education from the University of Dayton, and is currently pursuing a Doctorates Degree from Indiana State University.

Look before you lock

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Courtesy Michigan State University Extension

By Carrie Shrier, Michigan State University Extension


As a dangerous heat wave descends upon the Midwest, and in advance of National Heat Stroke Prevention day on July 31, 2019, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reminding everyone to “look before you lock.” This national campaign urges drivers to develop a routine habit of checking their backseat before locking their car and walking away. Outside of crashes, heatstroke is the number one vehicle-related killer of children in the United States. Vehicle heat stroke occurs when a child is left in a hot vehicle, allowing their body temperature to rise rapidly and often fatally. In the 20 years from 1998 to 2018, 772 children died of heatstroke in hot cars. Already in 2019, 21 children have died in hot cars.


As temperatures outside climb, the interior of vehicles rapidly reach dangerous temperatures. It takes just 10 minutes for a vehicle in the sun to heat up by 20 degrees and become potentially deadly. This means in the forecasted 95-degree heat, the interior of a vehicle can reach a lethal 115 degrees in the time it takes to run into the bank or gas station.


Children are significantly more sensitive to heat stroke than adults. Infant and children’s body temperatures rise three to five times faster than that of adults experiencing the same temperatures. When a child is trapped in a hot vehicle, their body temperature will rise rapidly. Heat stroke begins when the core body temperature reaches 104. A core body temperature of 107 is fatal.


Michigan State University Extension urges all parents and caregivers to do these three things:

  • NEVER leave a child in a vehicle unattended.
  • Make it a habit to look in the back seat EVERY time you exit the car.
  • ALWAYS lock the car and put the keys out of reach.
Heatstroke Infographic
Courtesy Michigan State University Extension

If you are a bystander and see a child in a hot vehicle:

  • Make sure the child is OK and responsive. If not, call 911 immediately.
  • If the child appears to be OK, attempt to locate the parents or have the facility’s security or management page the car owner over the PA system.
  • If there is someone with you, one person should actively search for the parent while the other waits at the car.
  • If the child is not responsive or appears to be in distress, attempt to get into the car to assist the child—even if that means breaking a window. Many states have “Good Samaritan” laws that protect people from lawsuits for getting involved to help a person in an emergency.

Know the warning signs of heatstroke, which include red, hot and moist or dry skin; no sweating; a strong rapid pulse or a slow weak pulse; nausea; confusion; or acting strangely. If a child exhibits any of these signs after being in a hot vehicle, quickly spray the child with cool water or with a garden hose—NEVER put a child in an ice bath. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.


More than half (54%) of all vehicle-related heatstroke deaths in children are caused by a child accidentally being left in the car, and 26% are from a child getting into a hot car unsupervised. It only takes a few minutes for a vehicle to reach dangerous temperatures. Take time to develop a vehicle safety routine for your family and prevent tragedy.


This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).


After partial building failure at Lee high, District leader stresses safety of rest of complex

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The portion of the Lee Middle and High School complex where the collapse and clean-up occurred. (Supplied/Godfrey Lee Public Schools)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

Kevin Polston, Superintendent of Godfrey Lee Public Schools, was really busy this week and it really had little to do with the opening of school in six weeks.

In the wake of the June multi-day collapse of a portion of the Lee Middle and High School, with the damaged area now cleared and the remainder of the multi-building complex independently inspected and judged structurally sound, Polston led a series of meetings to report the current status and possible future plans.

Aerial view of building complex.

After an earlier report to the Godfrey Lee Public Schools Board of Education, Polston has led meetings with staff, city and educational community leaders, community and parents as well as host a press conference. In all the meetings, Polston repeatedly stressed three things:

Building design with affected area in color.

First, the cause of the unforeseeable failure is now clear and rigorous inspections led by Ross Smith, WJE Associates Structural Engineer, of the other buildings in the complex show no similar structural problems.“The building is safe and we are opening as scheduled,” Polston said on Thursday, adding that both the inspector and the superintendent himself “would put my children” in the building.

Second, the district, despite being hampered by local economic factors including the district’s near maximum school millage rate, has plans — three in fact — to rebuild the section as quickly as possible, both due to educational need and insurance reimbursement requirements.

Third and finally, Polston and the entire Godfrey Lee community are grateful that the building failure — the failure of a single wall section actually — occurred after the school year and when the students were absent, and in two incidents over a single weekend when the building was unoccupied. “This would have been a catastrophe if it had been occupied,” he said.

The biggest concern now for the district, Polston said, is that parents will transfer their students — and the funds the district gets for educating their students — to other school districts due to lack of information or misinformation.

“It is extremely important to make sure we have the trust of the community … it is important they get the facts,” Polston said. “We want to make sure they know it is safe to send their kids here.”

District supplies fact sheet on incident and aftermath

Districts summary of incident and aftermath

Zero in on childhood dangers

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Children safety alert—what you need to know to child-proof your house. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Health Beat Staff


First-time parents are barraged with safety tips from every side.


Lock the cupboards! Cover the outlets! Block the stairs! Lock the windows! Kiss knick-knacks goodbye!


As it turns out, all of that well-intended advice is valuable. Every one of those warnings makes sense.


But home safety isn’t just for new parents, or parents of tiny tots. Until all your kids are grown, Hanna Jaworski, MD, a pediatrician at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, is a strong proponent of regular reviews of your home based on the ages of your children.


“What gets infants and toddlers in trouble is obviously different than for older kids,” Dr. Jaworski said. “We need to use common sense when talking about safety at home. Gates, locks, covers—they’re all smart. But kids are smart, too—and curious, at every age.”


Taking a few minutes to think about what your kids are into now should give you clues about potential pitfalls in and around your house. Be mindful that:

  • Infants who can’t move themselves well are vulnerable to suffocation.
  • Mobile babies can fall down stairs or hit sharp corners.
  • Toddlers might drink or eat anything they can reach, and they can climb into a tub of water.
  • Preschoolers are often intrigued by electrical outlets and might try to stick something in the plug openings.
  • Elementary-age kids want that “thing” off a shelf that’s too high and don’t always think about consequences to actions.
  • Kids of all ages might forget about traffic if a ball flies into the street.
  • Tweens may think sports stunts or online friends are safe.

Safety for “littles”

Being a parent who is actively engaged with your child is the most important safety measure you can take.


“You could have everything in the house maxed out for safety, but if you aren’t watching the kids, or engaged with them where they are at risk, something is going to happen,” Dr. Jaworski said, citing baby gates as an example. “Yes, you put the gate up, but did you see your toddler pulling on it or bumping against it? If not, it could dislodge the next time he comes through.”


In her pediatric practice, after-hours calls often require emergency room visits because kids have ingested something.


“For example, a child swallowing a single magnet might not be a big deal, but it must be checked, because if it turns out to be two or more, those magnets will want to go together. That can be deadly,” Dr. Jaworski said. “Or, if the casing on that button battery was compromised in any way, the acid it contains is awful. Not that it happens every day, but it happens.”


Jaworski also encourages parents to look for the hidden dangers in the house.


According to Consumer Products Safety Commission statistics, between 2011 and 2013, 21,700 children required emergency room visits due to tip-overs from furniture and/or TVs. Between 2000 and 2013, the Commission reports 360 child deaths from falling furniture and TVs. The agency notes that the reported number of fatalities “should be considered incomplete, due to a time lapse in reporting to the (Commission).”


Knowing the actual number is even higher, to lose even a single child to a preventable accident such as furniture or TV tip-overs is one too many.


Kids can open drawers of a dresser to climb, for example, or reach and pull. Jaworski advises parents to buy inexpensive straps or bracket systems designed to secure furniture to walls.


Talk to your pediatrician about toys, positioning devices and activity seats. Most doctors try to be in tune to what’s out there.


Jaworski noted that after several years off the market, baby walkers are back on the scene.


Before going out and buying the latest thing or putting your child into a thing, find out if your pediatrician is familiar with any risks. You can also monitor the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s constantly updated childrens product safety warnings and recalls to check the products you see.

Safety for “bigs”

Once again, Dr. Jaworski stresses common sense and your presence as the key factors in keeping kids safe.


“Street safety becomes a concern when your child learns to ride a bike, for example,” she said. “Can that same child safely play in the living room without you? Probably yes. Should you have a watchful eye and ear for your elementary kids playing outside? Absolutely.”


It’s important to know your child, because they are so different.


“I have a son who would leap before he looks,” Dr. Jaworski said. “And he’s curious about nature. I know he would wonder what that leaf tastes like. Would he be at risk for eating a toxic plant? Probably not, but because I know he’s curious about it, I’m going to be watchful over what he wants to eat in the yard.”


Your goal as a parent is to help your kids learn to be good decision makers.


“You can’t protect them forever,” Dr. Jaworski said. “You can’t be everywhere. But when you’re engaged, you’re creating a powerful combination: your presence and the teaching moments that come from being there. I hope my son would think, ‘Mom said this leaf might make me sick, I better not try it.’ It’s those opportunities that lead them to stay safe when you are not there.”

Safety for tweens and teens

Jaworski’s advice to parents of older kids is to zero in on independence-related dangers. If you have a 14-year-old daughter who is on the Internet a lot, who is she talking to, what is she doing? If they are going to drive soon, is your family culture one that always buckles up? What about texting?


It’s also critical to know your kids’ friends and be clear about personal safety. Keep an open relationship. It is not OK to drink alcohol, for example, but if they’ve been at a party drinking, it’s more than OK to call for a ride.


Yes, it’s mostly about you being engaged. It’s easy to get busy with work, chores and demands. But taking a “T” for time out and assessing whether you are prioritizing safety at home just might be the best thing you can do for your family today.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat



Your health digs ginger

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Ginger is an excellent source of vitamin C, potassium and magnesium, but its most salient property is gingerol, an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Len Canter, HealthDay


Zesty ginger is more than just a great way to dress up your favorite recipes. It contains a potent immunity booster—its active compound gingerol is an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory compound.


Ginger is also a source of vitamin C and the minerals potassium and magnesium.


Ginger root is inexpensive and easy to find in the produce aisle of your local grocery store. Look for a piece that’s firm and smooth. It may have many nubs, but they shouldn’t be shriveled.


The skin should be a light brown and fairly smooth. Ginger keeps well for up to a few weeks in the produce bin of your fridge. Keep it wrapped in a paper towel and change the towel whenever it gets damp.


Many people peel ginger with a spoon, scraping off the skin with an edge. But a veggie peeler works too and may be faster.


When a recipe calls for minced ginger, after peeling, make horizontal slices and then cut each slice into matchsticks and cut the match sticks into tiny pieces.


For grated ginger, you could use a mini food processor or, even better, a microplane—just run one trimmed end of a piece of ginger across the metal mesh and let the ginger and its juice fall into a bowl.


Ginger is perfect for jazzing up salad dressings and marinades and for making an herbal tea.


For a simple main course, try it in this tasty vegetarian stir fry:



Ginger Stir Fry

2 tablespoons sesame oil
2 cups sliced mushrooms
2 carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
1 green bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
1 onion, peeled and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons minced ginger
2 cups cooked brown rice
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce

Warm a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sesame oil, then the vegetables and the ginger. Cook three to four minutes, stirring often, until the veggies soften. Add the rice and the soy sauce and toss well. Serve immediately.

Yield: 4 serving


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.



A classroom for the ages

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The grant-funded Intergenerational Connections Project is providing a rich learning environment where traditional college students and adult learners are thriving together. (Courtesy Calvin College)

By Hannah Ebeling, Calvin College


“We have so much to learn from other generations.


“At Calvin, we don’t just value academic knowledge—we value shared and collective wisdom from multiple communities,” said Kristen Alford, professor of social work and sociology.

Fostering inclusive intergenerational classrooms

The Council of Independent Colleges in partnership with the AARP Foundation awarded Kristen Alford, professor of social work and public health, and Julie Yonker, professor of psychology and public health, the Intergenerational Connections Project grant towards their intergenerational learning initiative. Both professors integrated some element of intergenerational learning into their classes, something they believe made the courses much richer. Yonker noted that the grant was instrumental in providing them adequate research and resources for the project.


“Older adults in our community tend to be marginalized,” explained Yonker. She felt this initiative would be an apt opportunity to serve a group of individuals who have not always been treated with the respect they deserve. “Older people have lived full and rich lives, and we can learn so much from them, but we don’t always take the time to,” she said.


Since the program was so successful during its first semester in fall 2018, Alford and Yonker repeated the intergenerational learning elements of their courses during the spring semester.

Cultivating rich environments for conversation

Alford invited nine older adults to join her class, Human Behavior in the Social Environment (SOWK 350), once per week for five weeks during the lifespan portion of the course. The older adults were co-learners and contributed to class and small group discussions.


“Our goal was to reach people in the community that were not already part of CALL or who maybe would not have access to Calvin traditionally,” said Alford.


The class learned about a variety of issues such as childhood trauma, harm reduction among teens, chronic disease, as well as grief and loss, in an intergenerational setting. The adults in the class were able to articulate much of the course content from their own life experience, explained Alford.


“It was really helpful to have a different perspective than maybe the traditional college students would hear. But then at the same time my college students were able to provide more input to our older adult learners on how teenagers and early adults function today,” she said. “Together we created these very vibrant conversations and gave deeper meaning to the course as a whole.”

Nurturing lifelong learners and listeners

Students in Yonker’s Health Psychology (PSYC 335) course were sent into the community alongside Tandem 365, a community partner serving older adults with limited resources. Pairs of students were matched with an older adult—often at high risk of being admitted back into the hospital—with whom they would visit weekly.


The students engaged with and discussed with their older adult friend a variety of health and wellness topics as well as served as a friendly visitor.


“I’ve heard from several students that their visits are one of the things they look forward to each week,” said Yonker. “Students have this wonderful opportunity to be agents of kindness, compassion, listening, smiles, and joy—essentially agents of renewal.”

Promoting dignity and worth no matter the age

Both Yonker and Alford noted that young adulthood and older adulthood can be two of the loneliest periods in a person’s life.


“You might think ‘why would emerging adults and college students be lonely,’ but you often feel the loneliest in a crowded room of people,” said Yonker. “One of the things I wanted to look at was if pairing older adults and students together had any effect on loneliness that older and emerging adults feel.”


Promoting the dignity and worth of a person and valuing the importance of human relationships are both values held by the sociology and social work department at Calvin.


“Each of those values come into play with this project,” said Alford. “We are trying to build intergenerational relationships and show the dignity and worth of people, no matter the age.”


Reprinted with permission from Calvin College.



Setting the stage for success: Promoting social and emotional health in young children

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Parents and caregivers do much to help promote healthy development. Photo credit: Pixabay.

By Carrie Shrier, Michigan State University Extension


What is social and emotional health? What role does it play in children being ready and able to succeed in school and life? Much emphasis is placed on teaching young children their ABC’s, colors, shapes and numbers in preparation for heading off to Kindergarten. Research, however, is showing that one of the greatest predictors of children’s success in school is their social and emotional health.


According to the Early Childhood Investment Corporation, social and emotional health is a child’s developing capacity to experience and regulate emotions, form secure relationships, and explore and learn. This all happens within the context of one’s family, community and culture background.


Parents and caregivers do much to help promote healthy development. Many of these are things you are already doing every day with the children in your care. Other skills take targeted effort to develop within the context of your home or child care center. However, it is well worth the effort to plan for children’s social and emotional development in the same manner we do for academic success. Michigan State University Extension believes that children who understand and cope with their emotions usually:

  • Perform better academically
  • Form stronger relationships with their peers and adults
  • Have fewer behavioral problems
  • Handle their own negative emotions better
  • Lead happier, healthier and less stressful lives

One key strategy to prompting children’s social and emotional development is through the use of children’s literature. Books provide a wealth of opportunities to teach young children about their emotions, how to identify and label their feelings, how to problem solve, and to see characters engaging in situations that might be similar to their every day life. MSU Extension offers Family Book Sheets to help parents and child care providers expand on these concepts beyond reading the book.


Even as very young toddlers, children can learn to express their feelings appropriately and learn to label their emotions. For example, teaching toddlers to sign the word “stop” instead of biting when they feel frustrated. Give preschoolers the opportunities to be reflective about their feelings and expose them to a wide variety of feeling words beyond just happy, sad and mad. Take the time to say in front of the children in your care that, “It is frustrating when the CD player won’t work!” or “It’s disappointing that it’s raining and we can’t go outside today.”


It’s also important to teach children friendship skills. What does being a good friend look like? Are you modeling that for your children? Teach empathy by being empathetic and recognizing emotions in others. Provide positive verbal support to children who are “caught” engaging in positive play with their peers. Practicing turn taking and build in opportunities for children to help each other, such as serving snack to their peers.


This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Questions in block play can support scientific learning

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Courtesy Michigan State University Extension

By Kevin Zoromski, Michigan State University Extension


An excellent way to enhance your child’s scientific skill set is by playing together with blocks. Through block play, you can help your child focus on specific skills that may lead to a greater understanding of scientific principles as they learn more about the world around them. Remember that you can play with blocks anywhere. Feel free to take blocks to the backyard, park and places where you can spend time in nature. Using blocks in unconventional locations may create new sensory experiences that connect children to the natural world and their overall environment. In this series of articles, you will learn some specific questions to use to interact with your child using blocks to increase their developmental skills.


There are many ways to increase scientific skills and knowledge by playing with blocks. Playing with blocks can increase the ability to use observation, guessing and comparison. Block play can also lead to increased understanding of gravity, weight and balance. As you use blocks to play with your children, it is essential to be aware of some important and fun questions you can ask to support their learning and increasing of scientific skills.


Questions for learning about comparisons with blocks:

  • Can you show me which tower is the tallest?
  • Which block is the smallest? Which block is the biggest?
  • Which block is the shortest? Which block is the longest?
  • Do you have more red blocks or blue blocks? More yellow blocks or green blocks?
  • Is the red tower or the green tower the smallest?
  • Is the yellow tower or blue tower the biggest?

Questions for learning about gravity with blocks:

  • What will happen to the tower if we take this block away? (Choose a block in the middle.)
  • What makes the blocks fall down?
  • What can you do to make the tower fall down?

Questions for learning about balance with blocks:

  • Can you hold this block and stand on one foot?
  • How many blocks can you stack before it tips over, falls down, etc.?
  • Can you build a bridge with your blocks?
  • How can you make the blocks even? (Two on each side, three on each side, etc.)

Questions for learning about weight with blocks:

  • Can you show me the block you think is the heaviest? Lightest?
  • Which block would fit best on the top of your tower?
  • Which block should we use for the bottom of the tower (use to start building the tower)?
  • What would happen if you put the heaviest block on top of the tower?

Questions for learning about observation with blocks:

  • Can you show me the smallest block? The largest block?
  • Where is the square block, the circle block, the triangle block, etc.?
  • Can you find the shortest block? The longest block?
  • Where is the straight block? Where is the curved block?

Questions for learning about guessing using blocks:

  • Can we stack 10 blocks without them falling over?
  • If I remove this block, what do you think will happen?
  • If I place a block here, what will happen?
  • Can you show me the block you think will fit here?

Using any of these questions while playing with blocks can help a child increase their knowledge and excitement for science. Beginning to learn science at an early age can help increase creation of pathways in the brain. With more experiences, children may have a greater chance of being successful at learning higher scientific skills later in life.


Another great spot to search for science activities and resources is PBS Parents. They offer many activities, ideas and articles for playful science learning and are a great place to find extra resources for helping children increase their learning in science.


For more information on developing science skills, please see these articles provided by Michigan State University Extension:

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Why are my pine trees turning brown?

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Austrian pine along a roadside with Dothistroma needle blight. Photo: Jill O’Donnell, MSU Extension.

By Jill O’Donnell, Michigan State University Extension and Bert Cregg, Michigan State University Extension, Departments of Horticulture and Forestry


As spring arrives, we begin to see browning of pine needles in plantations, landscapes and along roadsides. Depending on the type of pine tree, there are several common causes of needle browning in pines.


A crash course in pine ID 


The most common pines in residential and commercial landscapes in Michigan are eastern white pine, Austrian pine and Scots (or Scotch) pine.  Unlike many other conifers, needles on pine trees are clustered together in groups called fascicles. Determining the number of needles in a fascicle is the first step in identifying pines. White pines have five needles in each fascicle. The needles are thin and soft and often pale green. White pines have long (4” or longer), slender cones. Austrian pine and Scots pines are part of group known as hard pines along with our native jack pine and red pine. Hard pines have two or three needles in each fascicle. Scots pines have shorter (1 1/2’” or less) needles and smaller cones than Austrian pines. Older Scots pines have orange-reddish bark, whereas the bark on Austrian pines is grey.

Pine identification left to right: Scots (Scotch) pine, Austrian pine, eastern white pine. Photo by Bert Cregg, Michigan State University. 

Environmental-related issues


Conifers located along the road can be damaged by road salt. Road crews apply sodium chloride and other deicing materials to keep roads clear in the winter. Many plants, especially eastern white pine, are sensitive to salt spray from roadways. Acute damage caused by direct salt exposure is easy to spot since the damage is usually greatest on the side of the trees facing the road. Sensitive trees such as white pine can usually survive one-year’s damage but repeated acute damage can ultimately disfigure or kill trees.  


Another culprit is winter injury. Many conifers are subject to needle drying of winter burn during the winter. The most common symptom of winter burn is brown or red foliage on the exposed (often south) side of the tree. In some cases, trees will have a snowline below which no damage occurs since those needles were under snow when the rest of the tree was drying. Winter burn occurs frequently on dwarf Alberta spruce but can occur on other conifers as well.

Road salt damage on white pine. Photo by Bert Cregg, Michigan State University. 

In addition, several possible fungal pathogens can cause these symptoms as well.


Dothistroma needle blight


Austrian pine is commonly affected by Dothistroma needle blight. The foliage of the lower half of the tree turns brown in March to April.


Dothistroma needle blight is caused by the fungus Mycosphaerella pini. This common pine pathogen kills needles of all ages and can weaken or kill Austrian pine trees. Characteristic symptoms of Dothistroma infection is the presence of needles showing browning at the tip of the needle while the base of the needle remains green.

Dead needle tips and needle base remains green. Photo: Jill O’Donnell, MSU Extension.

The black fruiting bodies of the fungus can be seen in the dead spots or bands on the needles. Dothistroma spores spread by wind and rain and can infect needles throughout the growing season. New needles are susceptible once they emerge from the needle sheaths. The black fruit bodies appear in the fall; however, the spores are released the following spring and summer. The best protection of new needles can occur when applying copper-based fungicides as the new needles emerge from the needle sheaths and as the spores are released from the fruiting bodies. This is usually June and July. Reports suggest that pruning infected branches helps reduce disease.


Brown spot needle blight


Brown spot needle blight (Mycosphaerella dearnessii, syn. Scirrhia acicola) is relatively new to Scots pine in Michigan. Needle spots can appear on needles at any time of the year, but most commonly occur during August and September when trees suddenly turn brown just before growers are ready to harvest. Short-needled Scots pine varieties such as Spanish and French-green are more susceptible to fungal attack than the long-needled varieties.

Left: Black fruiting bodies on dead needles. Photo: Jan Byrne, MSU. Right: Brown spot needle blight symptoms on Scots pine. Photo: Jill O’Donnell, MSU Extension.

Lophodermium needlecast


Lophodermium is a severe needlecast of Scots pine, which in some cases can cause the entire tree to brown in spring. Even though we see the symptoms of Lophodermium in spring, the most important time to protect trees is from the end of July through September. This is when needles are infected from spores being released by the small, shiny, football-shaped, black fruiting bodies that form on the fallen needles. To break this disease cycle, the time to manage this disease with a fungicide is particularly in late July and throughout August, but maybe even into fall if it the weather stays warm and moist.


You can help identify the disease your trees have by knowing the species of pine and the time of year you first see the symptoms. To confirm which needlecast disease you have, send a sample to MSU Diagnostic Services. The cost for a sample is $20.

Lophodermium needlecast on Scots pine. Photo: Jill O’Donnell, MSU Extension.

Pine Tree Disease Overview


Disease: Dothistroma needle blight
Symptoms appear: March/April
Species: Primarily Austrian but also on Red pine, Scots pine
Timing of control: May – July


Disease: Lophodermium needlecast
Symptoms appear: April/May
Species: Primarily Scots pine but also found on Austrian and Red pine
Timing of control: August – September


Disease: Brown spot needle blight
Symptoms appear: August/September
Species: Primarily Scots pine but also on Red pine, Austrian
Timing of control: May – June


This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).



Calvin LifeWork unlocks soft skills

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Photo credit: Andrew Quist

By Connor Bechler, Calvin College


In a haze of coding, caffeine, circuits, teamwork, snacks, and sleep deprivation, around 120 students from Calvin and other universities worked for 24 hours straight, developing a wide range of software and hardware computing projects. The students were competing in Calvin’s first “hackathon,” a marathon software and hardware development competition held from February 8-9 by the CalvinHacks student organization.


As the sun set on February 9, a team of Calvin students emerged victorious, their project—PlantBit—scoring first place. A combination of a smartphone application, an arduino board, a Google Home, and a moisture sensor, PlantBit allows its user to remotely turn on and off grow lights for their plants, while also providing data on the moisture of the plant’s soil.


“It was inspired by the massive amount of succulents I keep in my room,” said team member Lauren Ebels, a biology and computer science major. “I have a whole bunch of grow lights for them, but couldn’t set them to be on when they’d help the plants the most.”


Over the course of the 24 hours, the team divided and conquered: Junior Shion Fukuzawa programmed the remote control iPhone app, Seniors David Widjaja, Megan Koh, and Toussaint Cruise set up the hardware and control database, and Ebels connected the Google Home to the control database.


“There’s a sense of accomplishment,” said Fukuzawa, a math major and computer science minor. “At the end you have to submit something no matter what, and the fact that you worked as a team for 24 hours and actually made something is pretty satisfying.”


“CalvinHacks was a really fun event, and was unlike anything I had ever done before” said Caleb Schmurr, a Calvin junior electrical engineering student whose team worked on a project using an e-ink screen to display information from a Google Home.


“I liked getting the chance to spend time working in an environment that encouraged and supported creative uses of technology,” Schmurr added. “We were able to use our programming abilities gained from either coursework at Calvin or other experiences to create a really unique project.”


Among a multitude of other creative submissions, Calvin teams also designed a web-based video game, a sign language video detection user interface, and an app for tracking grocery purchases.


Reprinted with permission from Calvin College.


Local talent in spotlight as St. Cecilia youth jazz groups hit the stage

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The Jazz Band, directed by Paul Brewer, in rehearsal for its coming concert. (Supplied/St. Cecilia Music Center)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

Improvisational jazz music is not for everyone, especially young musicians learning their craft. But it is challenging and rewarding for the youth who make up the St. Cecilia Music Center’s Youth Jazz Ensembles — including several local players from East Kentwood High School.

The public can get a reward of their own this weekend as those young players will be on stage at St. Cecilia during the center’s Youth Jazz Ensembles Concert, a free, public event scheduled for Sunday, May 19, at 7 p.m.

Both the small Jazz Combo group and the Jazz Band big band will be on stage, and both will showcase the developing talent of their young players.

Mitchell Arganbright is a student at East Kentwood High School and a member of the Jazz Band. (Supplied/St. Cecilia Music Center)

“The combo format has a lot of potential for learning because every aspect of musicianship is involved: sight-reading, learning by ear, music theory (chord structures, keys, form), improvisation, arranging,” Robin Connell, St. Cecilia Jazz Combo director and local musician, said in an email to WKTV. “The big band music is all written and presents challenging reading for most students. They also work on blend, balance, intonation, and style.”

While the combo format focuses more on the traditional improvisational aspects of jazz, Connell said the big band is more structured but has “improvised parts (that) are only for a selected few instruments within an arrangement that is otherwise all written out.”

The current Jazz Combo has five members, Connell said: piano, bass, drums, saxophone and two trombones.

“The combo learns jazz standards and, in the process, learns a lot about music and jazz,” Connell said. “They learn the tunes from a ‘lead sheet’ (melody and chord symbols without any intro/ending or arrangement). Then we put an arrangement together. We start the year with me giving all the direction but, by the end, I’ve encouraged them to take over the leadership and direction as they are able.”

The combo members range in age from 12 to 16 (four are in middle school), and they will play four tunes:  “Listen Here” by Eddie Harris, “Moanin’ ” by Bobby Timmons, “Artherdoc Blues” by Jimmy Heath, and “So What” by Miles Davis.
 

The Jazz Band, directed by Paul Brewer, has the standard instrumentation, Connell said: five saxophones, four trombones, four trumpets, with piano, bass and drums — “But I will be playing piano with the band because he doesn’t have a student pianist.”
 

The Jazz Band are all high school kids, with half a dozen from East Kentwood high. Their program will be published pieces arranged for this instrumentation, but specifics are not known at this time.

The St Cecilia Music Center is located at 24 Ransom NE, Grand Rapids. For more information visit the event’s Facebook page here.

High school sports schedule includes WKTV featured game at Kelloggsville

Area Education, Kentwood Public Schools, Sports, WKTV Featured sports
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)

By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

WKTV’s spring baseball and softball schedule continues this week as our coverage crew will be on the road for softball at Kelloggsville.

But there is high school sports action all over the Wyoming and Kentwood area, so check out something live if you can.

The tentative schedule of WKTV featured game’s remaining this month are as follows:

Wednesday, May 15, girls softball, Godwin Heights at Kelloggsville
Wednesday, May 22, boys baseball, South Christian at Wyoming
Friday, May 24, boys baseball, Zion Christian at Kelloggsville

Want to be a television sports announcer?

If anyone has ever thought about trying to announce a sporting event, WKTV has a great chance for you to do exactly that! The tentative schedule for May follows and we are always looking for additional announcers, especially for the spring games. If you would like to try it or have any questions, please email Mike at sportswktv@gmail.com .

 
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.

WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.

For complete schedules of programs on WKTV channels, see our Weekly On-air Schedule.

All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvondemand.com.


 
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.

 
Following is this week’s (original) schedule; due to rainouts and other factors, please check the school’s websites for latest changes:

Tuesday, May 14
Girls Softball
South Christian @ FH Eastern – DH
Grandville @ East Kentwood – DH
Wyoming Lee @ East Grand Rapids
Middleville T-K @ Wyoming – DH
Boys Baseball
South Christian @ FH Eastern – DH
Grandville @ East Kentwood – DH — WKTV Featured Game
Middleville T-K @ Wyoming – DH
Potter’s House @ Kalamazoo Heritage Christian
Girls Soccer
FH Central @ South Christian
Kenowa Hills @ East Kentwood
Kelloggsville @ Wyoming
West Michigan Aviation @ Grand River Prep
Boys Lacrosse
East Kentwood @ Jenison
Girls Tennis
Kelloggsville @ Muskegon Catholic Central
Boys Golf
Tri-Unity Christian @ Covenant Christian

Wednesday, May 15
Boys Golf
South Christian @ FH Eastern – Egypt Valley
East Kentwood @ Caledonia – Broadmoor Country Club
Kelloggsville – OK Silver Conference @ The Meadows
Wyoming @ FH Eastern – Egypt Valley
Boys Lacrosse
South Christian @ East Kentwood
Girls Softball
Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville — WKTV Featured Game
Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee
FH Central @ Wyoming
Boys Baseball
Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville
Hopkins @ Wyoming Lee
West Michigan Aviation @ Kalamazoo Cougars – DH
Girls Soccer
Godwin Heights @ Calvin Christian
Wyoming Lee @ NorthPointe Christian
Tri-Unity Christian @ Holland Black River
Wyoming @ Christian

Thursday, May 16
Boys Baseball
FH Eastern @ South Christian
East Kentwood @ Grandville
Tri-Unity Christian @ Holland Black River – DH
Wyoming @ Middleville T-K
Zion Christian @ Heritage Christian Academy – DH
Girls Tennis
East Kentwood @ TBA – MHSAA Regionals
Kelloggsville @ TBA – MHSAA Regionals
Wyoming – MHSAA Districts @ FH Northern
Girls Softball
East Kentwood @ Grand Haven
Godwin Heights @ Ottawa Hills
Girls Soccer
East Kentwood @ West Ottawa
Tri-Unity Christian @ Grand River Prep
Boys Golf
Grand River Prep @ Tri-Unity Christian – Maple Hill

Friday, May 17
Boys / Girls Track
South Christian – MHSAA Regionals @ Houseman Field
West Michigan Aviation – MHSAA Regionals @ Houseman Field
East Kentwood – MHSAA Regionals @ Grand Haven
Wyoming – MHSAA Regionals @ Grand Haven
Godwin Heights – MHSAA Regionals @ FH Eastern
Wyoming Lee – MHSAA Regionals @ Saugatuck
Girls Tennis
@ South Christian – MHSAA Regionals
Girls Soccer
South Christian @ Wyoming
East Kentwood @ Kalamazoo Central
Godwin Heights @ Kelloggsville
Girls Water Polo
@ East Kentwood – Regionals
Girls Softball
East Kentwood @ Caledonia
Holland @ Wyoming – DH
Boys Baseball
South Christian @ Wyoming – Lamar Park
Potter’s House @ Kelloggsville – DH
West Michigan Aviation @ Barry County Christian – DH

Saturday, May 18
Boys Baseball
Hamilton @ South Christian – Sailor Invite
East Kentwood @ Lakeview – DH
Wyoming Lee @ Saranac – Saranac Invite
Zion Christian @ North Muskegon
West Michigan Aviation @ Barry County Christian – DH
Girls Water Polo
@ East Kentwood – Regionals
Girls Softball
Christian @ East Kentwood – DH
Wyoming Lee @ Saranac – Saranac Invite

Monday, May 20
Boys Golf
South Christian @ Middleville T-K
Fruitport Calvary Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian – Maple Hill
Wyoming @ Christian – Thornapple Pointe
Boys Baseball
Wyoming @ South Christian – DH
East Kentwood @ West Ottawa – DH
Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian
Kelloggsville @ Belding – DH
Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee
Girls Softball
Wyoming @ South Christian – DH
East Kentwood @ West Ottawa – DH
Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian – DH
Kelloggsville @ Belding – DH
Calvin Christian @ Wyoming Lee – DH
Girls Soccer
FH Eastern @ South Christian
Hudsonville@ East Kentwood
Godwin Heights @ Hopkins
Kelloggsville @ Wyoming Lee
Tri-Unity Christian @ Covenant Christian
Wyoming @ Middleville T-K
Zion Christian @ Calhoun Christian
West Michigan Aviation @ Heritage Christian

Protecting ourselves from financial scams

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By Regina Salmi, Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan


Every year millions of Americans are victims of scams or fraud. It is estimated that approximately 11% of the population experiences loss of money or personal property annually. While it can happen to a person at any age, older adults are often the most frequent targets for fraud. Older adults often have access to funds, excellent credit, and own their homes, making them attractive targets for criminals. In fact, older adults lose an estimated 2.9 billion dollars a year to fraud.


These are the current scams targeting older adults: 


Grandchild Scam: A caller will sound distressed and claim to be a grandchild in trouble or in danger and beg to have money wired to them immediately. The best thing to do is to hang up and call family members to insure everyone is safe and sound. 


IRS/Social Security Scam: A person could receive a call, an email or an official-looking letter, demanding immediate payment. They are told information will be forwarded to local law enforcement officials for arrest if they fail to pay. This is not the way any government agency collects debts. If you get this call, hang up immediately or delete the email without opening it. 


Home Repairs: Beware of door-to-door home repair contractors. They intentionally seek out older adults, particularly those living alone. They may say they are ‘working down in your neighborhood’ and are offering discounted work while in the area. They claim you need an expensive repair you cannot do yourself, like a new roof, dangerous branches removed from a tree in your yard, or offer you an amazing deal on new windows. All they need is a deposit and they’ll get to work. The catch is, the deposit is usually a few thousand dollars and they never show up to do the work. The only contractor showing up to your door is the one you called yourself. 


While it seems there are scams everywhere we turn, there are a few ‘rules of thumb’ we can use to protect ourselves from being fooled: 

  • If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Criminals feed on our desires by offering us goods or opportunities we wouldn’t, in reality, be able to attain: vacations, money, miracle cures, property, etc. You can be sure there is always a hidden cost and we end up losing much more than we would have ever gained. 
  • Never send money to someone you do not know. Any business or government agency you owe money to will send you the request through the mail. If a paperless billing notice arrives in your email and you didn’t initiate it, call the company directly to confirm it is from them. 
  • Do not give personal or financial information to someone who calls, emails or shows up at your door. Avoid giving out your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number unless you are positive you know who is requesting the information. Businesses you have accounts with will ask you to verify some information to make sure it’s you, like the last four-digits of your social security number, but they are confirming your information — not receiving it for the first time.
  • If you get an email or pop-up message that asks for personal or financial information, do not reply, open any attachment or click on any link in the message. Legitimate companies don’t ask for this information by email and you’re often opening a door to identity theft. You also risk downloading viruses or software that collects your personal information and/or disables your computer’s security

It’s important that we protect ourselves and share tips and information with family and friends who might also fall prey to these schemes. 


If you’re ever unsure about whether you might be the victim of a scam there are several resources available to you. The Kent County Elder Abuse Coalition updates current scams frequently on their website here.


The Michigan Attorney General also has a consumer alert webpage here.


If you believe you may be a victim of a scam, you can call them at (877) 765-8388.


 

Tips to help combat allergies as you age

3-bottom, Area Education, Community Health, Health, How-To's, Senior Living,
Courtesy Vista Springs Assisted Living

By Vista Springs Assisted Living


According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, allergies incur Americans up to $18 billion in medical expenses; they take up number six as a leading cause of chronic illnesses. The risk for allergies increases as you grow old and the problem is likely to go unrecognized. Unfortunately, changes to the immune system that occur as you age mean that your body’s response to inflammation from allergies is not as strong as it once was. The resulting effect is that you are likely to experience problems with allergies as seasons’ change, which is characterized by sneezing, a running nose and watery eyes.


Fortunately, there are precautions you can take to prevent allergies as you age, such as:

Indoor plants

While you may enjoy indoor gardening as a relaxing activity, avoid having any pollen producing plants indoors. If you must have plants within the house, water them occasionally to avoid mold from growing, which then creates mold pollen. Additionally, avoid using silk and other fake plants, as they are notorious dust collectors.

Invest in sunglasses

If you are likely to experience hay fever from wind-borne pollen, invest in a pair of quality sunglasses that wrap around your eyes to prevent as much pollen as possible from getting into your eyes. If you wear optical glasses, ask your eye doctor to give you prescription sunglasses to help you outdoors. Sunglasses will prevent the amount of pollen getting into your eyes, making you feel better.

Switch up your exercise routine

Avoid outdoor exercises in the morning; pollen count is highest before 10 o’clock. If you enjoy jogging or taking a walk, do it in the afternoon or later in the evening. Alternatively, choose a different exercise activity such as yoga, which allows you to work out in a controlled environment, with numerous other health benefits.

Run your air conditioner

Keep your filter clean and run your air conditioner instead of opening the windows, which lets in pollen and other allergens. The air conditioner reduces humidity within the house and serves as an alternative to fans, which end up blowing dust and pollen around the room, worsening the likelihood of you developing allergies.

While there are several precautions you can take to prevent or reduce the effects of allergies, you cannot avoid them entirely. If you notice any persistent irritation or inflammation, consult your doctor immediately. Conditions such as a congested nose can become critical fast, especially if you suffer from pre-existing cardiovascular or nasal conditions. Lastly, avoid traditional antihistamines as you can develop negative side effects or suffer from effects of mixing them with your other prescriptions.


Your health care needs change gradually as age, forcing you to take extra precautions to stay healthy. Avoid allergens as much as possible and consult your doctor if you notice any symptoms that may indicate an allergic reaction. Taking the right precautions allows you to enjoy the outdoors more regardless of the season.


Reprinted with permission from Vista Springs Assisted Living.



Special sporting community events at Wyoming, Wyoming Lee this weekend

Area Education, City of Wyoming, Education, Kids Activities, Recreation, Sports,
A banner donated by Grandville High School for the 2016 event. (Supplied)

By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

The weather is supposed to be nice this weekend, and if you are into high school sports there will be two special Wyoming events — Wolves softball and baseball, and Rebel girls soccer — that will be both be great for viewers but also great for the community.

Wyoming High School will host Grandville High School in the Annual Christy Paganelli baseball/softball game Friday, May 10, at Pinery Park. The annual benefit games between teams from the neighboring high schools “celebrate life while bringing awareness to the importance of fighting cancer.”

The Christy Paganelli Softball Player Introduction Ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m., with baseball introduction at 5:45 p.m.

 
The annual Christy’s Cause Scholarship Baseball and Softball Games honors “the person and the spirit” of Christy Paganelli, who lost a courageous 18-month battle with melanoma.

The event recognizes all cancer awareness and prevention, and is committed to making sure everyone is aware that melanoma skin cancer can happen to anyone and how to prevent it.

All funds will be directed towards cancer research and the Christy Paganelli Scholarship Fund, which funds one or two scholarships each year at Aquinas College, where Christy played softball after playing and graduating from Wyoming’s Rogers High School.

 
The events will begin with a junior varsity baseball game at 3:15 p.m., followed by twin varsity softball and baseball games at 6 p.m.

Pinery Park is located at 2301 De Hoop Ave, Wyoming.

Cope Rebelde soccer tournament at Lee

The Lee Rebel “Copa Rebelde Soccer Invite” will be held Saturday, May 11, at the Lee Athletic Fields.

The girls soccer tournament is a three-match event starting with West Michigan Aeronautics Academy vs. Lee at 9:30 a.m.; Wyoming Potter’s House vs. WMAA at 11 a.m. (or 15 minutes after end of game 1); Lee vs Potter’s House at 12:30 p.m. (or 15 minutes after end of game #2). Each game will be 60 minutes in length, with 30 minute halves, 10 minute halftimes, and 15 minutes between games.

There will be no overtime so tie games decided by penalty shoot-outs —which are always exciting — and the champion will be determined by record then point differential.

And while the event should feature some great tournament soccer action, it will also be a Latino community celebration of sorts.

“We are lucky to have a team and community that can embrace their cultural heritage as much as they do,” the Lee soccer coach said to WKTV last year. “Copa is ultimately just a word but that word represents more than a tournament cup. It represents our small community’s strong ties with Latin America.”

The Lee Athletic Fields are located at 1824 Godfrey Ave. SW, Wyoming.

For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.

Grant allows Godfrey-Lee schools to ‘invest in kids’, put books in their hands

3-bottom, Area Education, City of Wyoming,
Modern computers in the Godfrey-Lee Public School’s Early Childhood Center, but quality, modern books are just as important. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

While there are rows of modern computers in the Godfrey-Lee Public School’s Early Childhood Center, a recent event celebrated an older means of early childhood education that is always of great value — putting quality, modern books in the hands of young readers, both in school and to take home.

Godfrey-Lee Public School Board of Education member Dave Blok reads with a student at the event. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

At what was billed as “a celebration of literacy” April 24, at the Early Childhood Center in Wyoming, district Superintendent Kevin Polston detailed how the district gained $30,000 in grant funds to purchase books as he addressed a group of invited guests and staff, a discussion followed the group joining some of the young users of the new books for a little reading time.

 
“Literacy is important across the board, whether we are talking about it in the traditional sense — writing, speaking, listening — or technology literacy,” Polsten said to WKTV. “In the media center, this is hub of our school. It serves as ways to access information, whether is it via a computer or via a traditional, tangible book.

“You just really can’t replace putting a book in a kid’s hands,” Polston continued. “There is something special about touching, feeling, seeing the pictures, and engaging with the book. We know there is value to that.”

Dorothy VanderJagt, High Impact Leadership (H.I.L.) Grant program coordinator, reads with a student. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

Last year Godfrey-Lee was accepted into the High Impact Leadership (H.I.L.) Grant program facilitated by Western Michigan University in partnership with the Reading Now Network, according to supplied information. One of the recommendations for improving literacy was to increase the amount of books students have access to in classrooms and media centers.
  

Upon learning of this recommendation, The Guido A. and Elizabeth H. Binda Foundation issued a $30,000 challenge grant to Godfrey-Lee to assist in making progress on the recommendation.

“Generous individual donors matched the $15,000 Binda gift to meet the $30,000 goal in just a few short months,” Polston said.

At the recent event, it was explained that the books purchase were mostly non-fiction, because it is important to keep up-to-date information in the students hands, and that they were high quality books which would last longer than the 1-to–2 year lifespan of more “mass-market” books — the district actually made the conscience decision to buy fewer books of higher quality than they could have bought of lesser quality books.

And that decision was wholeheartedly supported by one visitor, longtime local educator Dr. Vern Boss, who with his wife, Norma, and family were honored guests at the event.
 

Dr. Vern Boss, who with his wife, Norma, and family were honored guests at the event, reads with a student. (WKTV/K.D. Norris) 

Boss, who was a former superintendent at Grandville Public Schools and Kent ISD, said to WKTV that the educational value of books has not changed over the years and “it is so much better if you can maintain a quality book.”

The Binda gift was actually given in honor of Boss, Polston said. The matching funds were from an anonymous donor or donors.

The books will be shelved not only in the Early Childhood Center but also in the district’s Godfrey elementary school — reaching not only a large community of low income and minority children not only in need of the tools of learning but deserving the tools.

“Our kids deserve the best,” Polston said to the audience at one point. “… it is about investing in our kids.”

For a video of the event produced by Lee High School students, visit here.



Understanding culture and family history: Birth and adoption stories

3-bottom, Area Education, Education, How-To's, Voices,
Photo supplied

By Darren Bagley, Michigan State University Extension


The most memorable part of many family’s history is when a new child is brought into the family. Often, the date is recorded with photos, but have you captured the stories associated with your birth or adoption? Many times, people don’t think to ask those questions until it is too late. Sometimes these conversations are avoided because they are uncomfortable, so be sensitive if these questions bring up strong emotions.


Here are some things to potentially talk about with your family. You could also ask the same questions about your parents by talking with your grandparents.

  • Does your family have stories about how they knew you were arriving?
  • Were there any “baby shower” events before you arrived? Who was there? Are there any gifts from that event that are still in your home?
  • Are there any memories of the day of the adoption or birth? My grandfather, who worked on an old-school dairy farm, talks about the day his first child was born and how he “ran over the milk cans three times that day.” Bringing a new child into the home can cause moments in time to stand out in our memories. Going through photos can help stimulate even more stories.
  • Were there any complications to bringing you into the family? Was the adoption or birth easy or difficult? Did you arrive when you were planned, or early or late?
  • Do you know where your name came from? Was it based on a family name? Was there argument between your parents on the name? Do you know what your name would have been if you were a different gender? If you were adopted, the stories of your names may be multi-layered and come from different places.
  • If you have siblings or pets, what were their reactions when you were brought home?
  • Are there interesting stories of how other family members (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins) reacted when they found out about you?
  • Is there a story of when you first said “Mom” or “Dad?”

Capturing these and other stories about you and your family could be the foundations for a set of your own stories in the future.


This article was inspired by and adapted from the 4-H Folkpatterns curriculum:

Michigan State University Extension and the Michigan 4-H Youth Development program help to prepare youth as positive and engaged leaders and global citizens by providing educational experiences and resources for youth interested in developing knowledge and skills in these areas.


To learn about the positive impact of Michigan 4-H youth leadership, citizenship and service and global and cultural education programs, read our Impact Report: “Developing Civically Engaged Leaders.” Additional impact reports, highlighting even more ways MSU Extension and Michigan 4-H have positively impacted individuals and communities can be downloaded from the MSU Extension website.


This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Early childhood education millage use plan approved by Kent County commissioners

3-bottom, Area Education, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Education, Kids Activities, Non-Profits,
An estimated 45,000 children in Kent County are below age 5. Too many of them and their parents need help so they can be healthy and prepared for kindergarten, according to early childhood advocates. (Supplied/First Steps Kent)

By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

The Kent County Board of Commissioners last week approved First Steps Kent’s proposal to administer the countywide Ready by Five millage and to push forward a plan distribute the funds intended “to help young children be ready for school success” by “support young children and their families across the community.”

The action took place at the April 25 Board of Commissioners meeting. In November 2018, county voters approved the millage, which will provide more than $5.5 million annually for enhanced early childhood services.

“We are excited to work with First Steps and the broader community to increase community based, early childhood services,” Wayman Britt, County Administrator/Controller, said in supplied information. “The Ready by Five funds will allow us to reach children and their families early in life when brain development and social/emotional bonding are critical. We have confidence that First Steps and the system that is being created will ensure that the resources are directed where it can have a significant impact.”

The millage will support programs that improve the healthy development and school readiness of children ages zero to five. The funding will be distributed to community-based organizations across the county that provide services such as in-home parenting support, developmental screenings, play and learn groups, and outreach to “ensure families know what is available and have access to the services that best meet their needs,” according to supplied material.

A review board comprised of parents, Kent County commissioners, a First Steps Kent board member, and a community member with early childhood expertise will review proposals from service providers and make recommendations about which programs and services should be funded. The first round of funding will be awarded this fall.

“We are fortunate in Kent County to have innovative and effective early childhood programs that are getting great results,” Annemarie Valdez, president and CEO of First Steps Kent, said in supplied material. “The Ready by Five Millage will allow many more children and families in our community to benefit from those services. We again want to thank the voters of Kent County, who recognize this is an investment that will pay off for our community.”

The statement from Kent County stated that research shows money invested in high quality early childhood programs saves money down the road with reduced costs for child welfare, education, health care, and criminal justice. All programs funded by the Ready by Five Millage will be evaluated to measure their impact. Those results will be shared with the public. Kent County is the first county in Michigan to have local tax dollars dedicated to early childhood.

First Steps Kent is an independent nonprofit leading a community-wide effort to build a comprehensive early childhood system in Kent County. A comprehensive system requires that programs, policies, and supports are in place to help all young children and their families thrive.

For more information on First Steps Kent visit firststepskent.org .

Questions in block play can support mathematical learning

3-bottom, Area Education, Citizen Journalism, Education, How-To's, Kids Activities, ,

By Kevin Zoromski, Michigan State University Extension

 


Playing with blocks is one of the most satisfying and fun ways to interact with your child while teaching important skills to enhance their language, social, emotional, cognitive and motor development. Block play can help to increase vocabulary, math, science and overall physical development. In this series of articles, you will learn some specific questions to use to interact with your child using blocks to increase their developmental skills.


There are many ways to increase mathematical skills and knowledge by playing with blocks. Playing with blocks can increase the ability to understand sizes, shapes and patterns. Block play can also lead to increased skills in counting, adding, subtracting and sorting. As you use blocks to play with your children, be aware of some important and fun questions you can ask to support their learning and increasing of mathematical skills.


Questions for learning about counting with blocks:

  • How many blocks do you have?
  • Can we count how many blocks you have?
  • How many square blocks? How many circle blocks?
  • What color blocks do you have?
  • Do you have a red block? Do you have a blue block?
  • How many red (blue, green, orange, etc.) blocks are there?

Questions for learning about patterns with blocks:

  • Can you make a pattern with…? (choose two color or two shape blocks)
  • What comes next in the pattern? (example: red, blue, red, blue)
  • How can you continue the pattern?

Questions for learning about shapes with blocks:

  • Can you pick up a round block? Can you pick up a square block?
  • Can you find a block shaped like a triangle? Can you find a block shaped like a circle?
  • What shapes are you using to build your castle (tower, house, etc.)?

Questions for learning about sizes with blocks:

  • How tall can you build your block tower?
  • Which block is the smallest? Which block is the biggest?
  • Which block is smaller? Which block is bigger?
  • Can you build a castle/tower larger than the one you just built?
  • Can you find the smallest block and place it on top?

Questions for learning about sorting with blocks:

  • Can you put all the yellow (red, blue, green, etc.) blocks right here?
  • Can you put all the red blocks in the bucket? All the green blocks? All the blue blocks?
  • Can you line up all the small blocks? Can you line up all the big blocks?
  • Can you line up all the blocks from smallest to biggest? Biggest to smallest?

Questions for learning about adding using blocks:

  • How tall will your tower be if you add two more blocks?
  • How many orange (red, blue, yellow, etc.) blocks will you have if you add one more?
  • How many red (blue, green, yellow, etc.) blocks will you have if you take one away?

Using any of these questions while playing with blocks can help a child increase their knowledge and excitement of math. Beginning to learn math at an early age can help create pathways in the brain for children to have a greater chance of being successful at learning higher math skills later in life. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) provides many activities, ideas and articles for playful math learning and is a great place to find extra resources for helping children increase their learning in mathematics.

For more information on developing math skills, please see these articles by Michigan State University Extension:

Fountain Street Church continues 150th Anniversary year with annual ‘Alternative Prom’

3-bottom, Area Education, Education, Local Entertainment, Upcoming Events

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

Fountain Street Church, celebrating its 150th anniversary, will once again host its annual Alternative Prom — an evening of “safe inclusivity” for everyone — on Saturday, April 27, from 7-10 p.m., with the event open to any and all high school students.

“Alternative Prom at Fountain Street Church is purely a social event where high-schoolers from across West Michigan can feel safe, included, and affirmed no matter who they are,” Christopher Roe, Minister for Spiritual Life and Learning, said to WKTV. “While the event initially began as a inclusive dance for LGBTQ youth who did not feel welcomed in their high-school proms, it has grown to be an event for 9th to 12th graders of all social, religious, racial, economic, and physical backgrounds.

“You can dress up, you can dress down, you can bring a date, or you can bring a crew, but what matters most is that you are welcome at the Alternative Prom no matter who you are,” Roe said.
 

Fountain Street Church in downtown Grand Rapids, is an independent, pluralist church that strives to be a “vibrant church community that challenges individuals to craft their own spiritual journeys, and to engage in creative and responsible action in the world,” according to supplied material.

At the Alternative Prom, the FSC Social Hall will be transformed into a prom venue with this year’s theme of “Once Upon A Springtime” featuring a “Spring fantasy decor.”

There will be a $10 suggested donation and free but required sign up by following this link. Students can also sign up in-person the day of the event. Please note that all students must provide parent/guardian contact information at time of sign-up.

Fountain Street Church is an independent house of worship with an open pulpit and a 150-year history of progressive action in the heart of West Michigan, at 24 Fountain St NE. For more information on Fountain Street Church, visit fountainstreet.org .