News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 26 - 49 of 49
How strange to have Halloween happen without the traditional celebrations special to Sisters. One of the highlights of the fall for my deceased husband, Ted, was to volunteer as a Rotarian at the annual parade on Cascade Avenue. He so enjoyed watching merchants and friends, dressed in costume as they greeted kids “trick or treating.” How sad it had to be canceled along with the fun celebration at the fire station. It is unfortunate that they were canceled, as those events allowed young and old to dress-up, pretend they wer... Full story
In the August 26 issue of The Nugget we learned about a promise that has been granted to Sisters. A promise that will change the lives of 3- and 4-year-olds living in our school district. However, it is a promise that can’t be kept while schools are mandated to keep their doors closed. That promise is money that has been awarded to the Sisters School District to provide 18 preschool spots to families that apply and qualify. Preschool Promise, awarded through the Oregon Department of Education Early Learning Division, is desig... Full story
Our country is going through a radical change, and our children are watching and observing. I’m talking about the movement against racism. The June 8 webpage of www.afineparent.com shared an article entitled “How to Talk to Your Kids About Race.” Young babies categorize, separating things into shapes, color, gender and even race. By 6 months they can distinguish colors of skin. By 3 years old they are already forming biases, often picking playmates with the same color of skin as their own. These discriminations are not taugh... Full story
Heading into another week of the stay-at-home order, how are you adapting? It’s certainly not easy! Not the least of these adaptions is the homeschooling that has been thrust upon parents. For families with younger children the need to be creative is a challenge. Some fun examples: tape on a sidewalk in a stained-glass pattern to be colored in with chalk; an extra-large cardboard box becoming a playhouse; and surprising friends by hiding plastic eggs in the friends’ yard, leaving a note, ringing the doorbell and running awa... Full story
In the January 29 issue of The Nugget there were two excellent articles addressing the concerns of parents as they wade through the difficult job of raising their children. One was Michael Luftig’s commentary on the benefits of strength-based parenting and the other was by Charlie Kanzig as he shared his experience as a school counselor exploring emotional and mental wellness in kids. Both emphasized the importance of positive involvement by parents in their kids’ daily lives. It is often the case that parents are perplexed a... Full story
On a recent afternoon I spent a bit of time at Paulina Springs Book Store researching layouts for my up-and-coming book about my dog Walker, and I spotted the timeless, well-loved book of “Make Way for Ducklings” by Robert McCloskey. It made me smile as it brought back a vivid memory from just a few days ago. Approaching the roundabout at the west end of town I noticed all of the cars traveling west and all the cars traveling east had come to a dead stop. My heart raced, fearing something dreadful had happened. Much to my... Full story
A recent headline in The Bulletin and also in The Oregonian stated “Oregon schools record poorest test scores in five years.” If you are a parent this undoubtedly caught your eye. The article went on to share, “Oregon schools recorded their poorest performance in the five-year history of Oregon’s current reading, writing and math tests this spring, registering year-over-year declines in every grade level and among nearly every demographic group.” The scores revealed that only 40 percent of students across grades three through... Full story
When I hear that Oregon is third from the bottom nationwide in graduation rates I wonder aloud, "How can that be?" Living in a state with numerous opportunities for enrichment, this doesn't seem possible. Taking that thought a bit forward I wonder about our own school district and Sisters High graduation rate. Where do we stand? Well, actually rather high. According to The Bulletin on January 25, 2018 Sisters was fourth in our area with an 86.54 percent, behind Summit High with 90.71 percent, Crook County with 90.06 percent... Full story
As I watched with horror the terrible event that unfolded last week at the school in Florida I wondered what I could say to help parents in Sisters as their children become aware of this terrible tragedy. Events such as these can be terrifying to children, even when they take place far away. In their minds they question, if it happened there could it happen here? As I pondered what to say, part of an answer appeared in my emails; from SOS Children's Villages - USA. A letter from their chief executive officer, Lynn... Full story
As the school year gets underway in Sisters, parents are eager to help their students have the best possible experience. How that plays out through the year greatly depends on what takes place in the opening weeks of the school year. One of the most important aspects of learning is for students to feel empowered and important. I'd like to suggest some strategies for parents that will help develop these perceptions. First, I feel it's important to have a strength-based approach to learning. When students only hear about what... Full story
Thanksgiving - what a wonderful holiday! We hear that more people travel for this yearly celebration to be with family and friends than any other during the year. Its traditions, wonderful food, reconnecting and bringing out the fine china. For our kids it's time to play with cousins, greet grandparents, get dressed-up, hear their parents exclaim over a beautifully cooked turkey, and feel connected to family. And - that's about it. Or, is it? Do your children really know what we're giving thanks for? At school, especially if... Full story
Measure 99 would allocate 4 percent of funds from the Oregon Lottery toward Outdoor School, a program that brings fifth-and sixth-grade students to one of the state's designated camp areas for a week. As the former owner and director of Camp Tamarack, I can personally speak of the positive reasons every child in Oregon needs to attend Outdoor School and why economic development funds are an appropriate funding source. Years ago, our youngest son attended Outdoor School for a week as part of his sixth-grade curriculum,... Full story
Recently I read an article about the joys of taking your toddler camping and it took me back to the days when my adult children were little. The memories of those excursions are very precious and the results, as shown in the way they are raising their own children and living their lives, are evidence of the value. Soon after reading the article, I was visiting with a young Sisters mom who had just taken her 18-month-old on her first camping trip. Unfortunately, it was not a lot of fun. In fact, they cut their outing short... Full story
Summer! What a wonderful time for reunions, traveling, exploring, adventures, and introducing your kids to new cultures. I'm not talking about cultures of different countries. I'm referring to the many cultures found here in our own United States. There's great value in taking children from their normal routine and surroundings and exploring new scenery and people. Whenever possible, leave the freeway. Get out of traffic and see the scenery. Doing so enables you to see the windmills of eastern Oregon, drink in the lush pictor... Full story
All of us were shocked with horror at the killings in Orlando. Something few adults could ever imagine, much less our kids. What do you tell them? How do you explain something so unimaginable? The first rule of thumb when something like this happens and they are aware of it is to tell the truth. Keep in mind what your kids are ready for and can understand. The fact that it was a "gay bar" is unimportant until a child is old enough to understand about homosexuality. The fact that a very unhappy person felt the only thing they... Full story
In years past, a father's purpose was to establish the linage and wealth of the family. That wealth often determined prestige, opening up pathways for advancement into society. Everything else, the nurturing, loving, teaching, discipline, feeding and clothing were left to the mothers. In more recent years, fathers have been much more involved. However, they were still usually considered the breadwinner and were often stern disciplinarians. Today, neither of those pictures may be accurate. As I look around Sisters, I see... Full story
Kindergarten Roundup, an important event for the five-year-olds in Sisters, is set for Thursday, May 5, at 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. This is one of those milestones that marks the beginning of a special journey - the journey into the formal education of our youngest citizens. To register, parents need to call 541-549-8981. Of course, a lot of education has been happening during the years building up to this time, through family outings, preschool experiences, day- care and every relationship each child has known. Much of the su... Full story
Your child's education and development doesn't start when she walks through the doors into kindergarten. In fact, much of your child's critical development takes place before kindergarten starts. There is much every parent can do to assure their child has an "educated" beginning and is prepared for kindergarten. The research is adamant about the importance of the first five years of a child's life in terms of brain development. What nurtures that development are experiences - those provided by loving parents and caregivers.... Full story
Earlier this month we asked the question, "Are there helicopter parents in Sisters?" Parents are asking: "How do you avoid falling into the trap of being over-protective or rescuing? You certainly don't want your kids to fail and experience the humiliation and disappointment that comes with all of that." Stepping back and letting our kids work through problems can be very beneficial. As the popular parenting program, "Parenting With Love and Logic," by Jim Fay and Foster Cline teaches, the earlier you allow children to have... Full story
A "Helicopter Parent" is a parent who is always "hovering and rescuing." It's a negative label. Since it appears to be a universal expression, what does it mean in Sisters and how are the parents here avoiding or embracing this model of parenting? That was the question I set out to answer after reading an article in The Bulletin that reported the views of Julie Lythcott-Haims, a former dean at Stanford. Lythcott-Haims made the observation that college students were increasingly less able to take care of themselves. She... Full story
Great schools need many things. They need teachers passionate about what they teach, highly qualified to teach their subjects and who know how to open up new worlds for their students. They encourage dialogue and exploration, offer positive reinforcement and teach kids how to think and digest facts. Great schools know what they want to accomplish and how to get there. They prepare kids from early childhood to graduation to accept challenges and reach for high expectations. They offer extensive, high-level academic courses... Full story
It's that time again: The time of the year when Healthy Beginnings brings their crew of volunteers to Sisters to provide free screenings for any child from birth through 5 years old, not yet enrolled in kindergarten. The screening is set for November 8 at the Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) office at the west end of the Sisters High School parking lot. Call 541-383-6357 to make an appointment. What a grand opportunity for parents to learn how their child is doing in all their areas of growth. There are 12 different... Full story
April is a month when a great deal of focus is given to children. Prevention of child abuse is emphasized all month and The Week of the Young Child appropriately lands in the middle (April 14-20). This is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Its purpose is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet their needs. The theme for this year's celebration is "Early... Full story
As we begin a new year and look back to the holidays, we can't help but think of the horrendous act of violence that happened in a small Connecticut town, one not unlike Sisters. It isn't hard to relate to the parents and community that suffered such an unimaginable loss. What in a person's upbringing, make-up, or life could cause anyone to commit such an act? Of course, we don't know. What we do know is the importance of positive interactions between caring adults and their children in the development of a child's brain in... Full story
