Looking for a more individualized middle school experience? Call Kn.I.L.E. Prep Academy at 281-682-4573 or click on the logo above to e-mail us!

“Within Arms Reach: The Future is Yours!” Feb. 1-28: Teen Art Contest at Fort Bend Libraries Area middle school and high school students are invited to submit entries for Fort Bend County Libraries’ Teen Art Contest for the 2010 Summer Reading Club. Entries may be submitted anytime during the month of February, to the Youth Services department of any of the libraries in the Fort Bend County library system. The theme for this year’s Teen Summer Reading Club is “Within Arms Reach: The Future is Yours!” The winning contest entry that best portrays this theme will be used on the bookmarks and flyers for the Teen Summer Reading Club at Fort Bend County Libraries. The winner will also receive a $25 gift card from an area bookstore. The Teen Art Contest is open to middle school and high school students, grades 6-12, only. Each drawing must be on unlined, white paper no larger than 8.5x14 inches, and the final version must be inked in black only. The drawing must be line art, with no shading and no color. The artwork must be appropriate for all ages. For more information, call the libraries’ Public Information Office at 281-341-2677 or your nearest branch library.   College Goal Sunday is moving to Tuesday and Thursday.   Lamar Consolidated High School will host the event Tuesday, February 23, from 6 to 8 p.m., with Terry High School hosting Thursday, February 25, also from 6 to 8 p.m.   College Goal Sunday is a free program that helps families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the form required to apply for any federal financial assistance for higher education opportunities.   This event is not exclusive to Lamar CISD families and translators will be available each night.   The program's main focus is to help families of college-bound students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and to have counselors and financial aid experts answer questions concerning grants, loans and financial aid. The application is required for students seeking any kind of financial aid, including grants, scholarships, loans and work-study.    Parents and students should bring: ·         Social Security Number; ·         Driver's license (if any); ·         W-2 Forms for the previous year and other records of money earned; ·         Your (and your spouse's, if you are married) most recent Federal Income Tax Return; ·         Parent's Federal Income Tax Return for the previous year (if you are a dependent student as defined by federal criteria); ·         Untaxed income records for the previous year, such as Social Security; ·         Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, welfare, or veterans benefits; ·         Current bank statements; ·         Current business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond, and other investment records; and ·         Documentation that you are a U.S. permanent resident or other eligible noncitizen.   Pre-register at https://finaid.tamu.edu/cgs/Default.aspx.  Pre-registration is necessary to receive a PIN number to be used when filing out your application online.   Pre-registering also enters you into a drawing for a $250 Textbook voucher (Limited 2 entries per student). Students must attend a College Goal Sunday event to be eligible for the drawing. The winner must prove enrollment and attendance to an accredited college program (fall 2010) in order to receive the textbook voucher. Winners will be notified by mail by approximately April 1.   The event is being held statewide. For more information and a total list of sites, go to https://finaid.tamu.edu/cgs/Default.aspx   Contact cgs@tamu.edu for more information or call Jill Duban, Parent Involvement Facilitator, at 832-223-0335. You can also contact the College Goal Sunday representatives on each campus:   ·         Cecelia Rodriguez at Lamar CHS, 832-223-3154; ·         Glenda Torres at Terry HS, 832-223-3425; and ·         Jennifer Roberts at Foster HS, 832-223-3818.

THE NATURALLY WILD SWAP SHOP IS OPEN AT THE HOUSTON ZOO It’s an enduring reality of childhood – kids love to collect stuff – all kinds of stuff: rocks, leaves, sea shells, flowers, bugs, and snake skins – just about anything from nature.  The Houston Zoo has opened the Naturally Wild Swap Shop at the McGovern Children’s Zoo, an interactive exhibit where kids can bring their discoveries, learn more about them, and trade them for other cool stuff from nature! Staffed by Zoo volunteers led by resident ‘cool stuff’ expert and naturalist Charlona Ingram, the Naturally Wild Swap Shop is a fun place to learn about the world around us through the collecting and trading of objects found in nature – things kids always seem drawn to – ball moss, nuts and seeds, insects – the list goes on and on.   Here’s how the Naturally Wild Swap Shop works: Find a natural item that captures your curiosity – something you’d like to know more about.  Do some homework – learn all you can about the item.  Then, bring your discovery to the Naturally Wild Swap Shop to discover its place in the environment.  You’ll earn points for your item and for what you know and learn about the item – points you can trade for something in the Naturally Wild Swap Shop collection.  Or, ‘bank’ your points and make your trade later!               Rules for Collecting   While kids of all ages can start collecting things from nature, it’s different than collecting baseball cards, coins or stamps.  Please don’t disturb living things or natural habitats.  All items brought to the Naturally Wild Swap Shop must be clean.  Only three items accepted per trade. They Accept                                          They do NOT Accept   Shells                                                   Items from Zoo Grounds                                             Bones (except bird bones)                        Items from State or National Parks Rocks and minerals                                 Arrowheads or Native American artifacts Fossils                                                  Bird parts (feathers, eggs, nests) Nuts, seeds, pressed plant material             Intentionally killed vertebrates Insects                                                 Mounted vertebrates Nature art and journals                            Dried seahorses or corals Sand (dry)                                            Live plants or animals   The Naturally Wild Swap Shop at the Houston Zoo’s McGovern Children’s Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.  For more information, visit the Naturally Wild Swap Shop on-line at www.houstonzoo.org/swapshop. Avoiding College Scholarship Scams By Dr. Kuni Beasley, www.newamericanschool.com In this day of college tuition rising at double or triple the rate of inflation, families are scrambling to find ways to pay.  There are plenty of predatory people out there who want to capitalize on your fears and offer you a promise of boundless college funding. The scam usually has two components: 1) a statement that there are “billions” of college scholarships that go unclaimed, and 2) you are “guaranteed” to get college funding.  Sometimes they add the first name and initial of some mythical student who “qualified for $100,000 in scholarships” using their services. Let’s get some reality here.  There are not a bunch of people out there dying to write checks out to good, solid, “C” students, but some people want to believe that and are willing to hand money – lots of it – to people based on that belief.  These same people probably also respond to those emails from Nigeria asking for your help to transfer $10 million to your bank account or that you won the European lottery without entering it. These scams start out with a “guarantee” of some specific amount of “college funding” to be available.  The upside is that the “guarantee” is legitimate.  They use the term “college funding” instead of “scholarship.”  However, the desperate parent looking for some instant miracle reads “scholarship.”  The “guaranteed college funding” is not a secret.  Every citizen and legal resident in the United States is entitled to a certain amount of “college funding” regardless of income, grades, etc.  It called a Stafford Loan.  Yes, a loan is considered “college funding.”  I’m not going to get into the details about these loans – that’s another article. These scams usually end a postcard and invite you to some “free” seminar at a hotel.  There, they make a big pitch about all the money that’s lying around out there waiting for you to pick it up.  They also set you up for the hard sell.  These programs often charge several thousands of dollars and tell you that you can take advantage of this offer this one time.  They offer you a payment plan and take your credit card number.  Here are some quick pointers to spot and respond to these scams. 1 – Don’t take scholarship counsel from someone who hasn’t received a scholarship for themselves or a family member.  Often, people who run these scams didn’t even go to college.  To them, this business is just an alternative to selling used cars.  Find out where they went to college and if they did this for their kids. 2 – Ask to talk to someone who actually received all this scholarship money.  Ask to look at letters or documentation to support their claims.  If they talk in generalities or can’t produce a real person, time to leave. 3 – If you are ever in a high pressure sales situation, walk out!  It is a scam.  If it is such a great deal, it will be a great deal tomorrow.  If the deal is not available tomorrow, it’s not a great deal.   Get the New Houston Zoo iPhone App! The Houston Zoo is opening a new dimension in guest services with the launch of a GPS enabled Zoo iPhone application, one of only two zoos in the world, along with the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, to offer such a service.  The Houston Zoo’s new free iPhone application displays guests’ location on Zoo grounds using real-time GPS coordinates and allows visitors to access photos and videos of Zoo exhibits and animals and access daily Meet the Keeper Talks and presentations. “We designed this application with the guest experience foremost in our minds,” said Houston Zoo Director of Interactive Marketing Kelly Russo.  “We wanted the application to be a personalized guide for our guests, giving our visitors instant information about all the Zoo has to offer so they can make the most of their visit,” added Russo. The Houston Zoo’s new free application for the iPhone or iPod Touch features:   A GPS enabled map displaying guest’s locations and a “Friend Finder” feature allowing users to connect with their friends while at the Zoo. A “Near Me” button lists all the Zoo’s animal exhibits as well as the location of concession stands, food courts and restrooms in proximity to the guest’s location. The “Today” button features a continually updated list of Meet the Keeper Talks, presentations and activities, allowing guests to create a personalized schedule and identify each item on the list on an interactive map. The application’s homepage includes a live Twitter stream (twitter.com/houstonzoo). The “Animals” button provides guests with photos, videos, names and facts about Houston Zoo animals. The application’s “More” page will keep guests informed with frequently updated Houston Zoo news including parking information, new animals and birth announcements, upcoming special events, guest surveys and the latest video/photo galleries.   The application, designed in collaboration with the Austin-based Avai Mobile Solutions is available now for free download at the iTunes App Store.  Search for “Houston Zoo” to download.    Have a Parenting Question or Concern?  Check out Debbie Elder of the New American School in this awesome webinar (It's FREE): http://www.screencast.com/t/Xh89P83alIc. Then, if you still need help, e-mail us your most pressing parenting question and we will have Debbie answer it right here! Want more information about New American School or Parent Coaching? Contact Debbie Elder, who is a parenting coach and expert, at delder@newamericanschool.com.

Online Homework Help ... FREE! Fort Bend County Libraries’ HelpNow (Homework Tutoring) program enables the library system to provide online homework assistance in a broad range of subjects in English and Spanish for students in grades 3 through 12, free of charge. This tutoring program is an Internet-based service that provides library patrons with live, on-demand homework help, seven days a week, from 3:00 to 11:00 pm. Certified tutors are experienced in Math, Science, Social Studies, and English/Language Arts. If live, real-time assistance is not needed, students may also submit questions any time of the day or night, and emailed responses will arrive within 24 hours. Math tutors assist with basic skills, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus, while Science tutors are versed in biology, chemistry, physics, and earth-science subjects. Social Studies tutors cover American history, world history, and political science. English/Language arts instructors provide help with writing, reading comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary skills, as well as help in English literature. Tutors are also able to assist with Advanced Placement (AP) subjects and introductory college courses. The program includes a 24-hour writing lab, which allows students to submit papers to trained writing instructors online at any time; students receive feedback within 24 hours. Writing experts evaluate the submitted paper and provide constructive comments with the aim of helping students become better writers. Besides homework help, the homework tutoring program offers a Skills Building section in which students may receive additional exercises to help them master the concepts being taught in their homework lessons. Skills-building lessons involve one-to-one sessions with live instructors. These tutors utilize a library of field-tested, state-aligned lessons, including age-appropriate content, reading passages, simulated test questions, and worksheets to help students master key academic areas. Students may access this resource from any computer – whether at home, school, or at the library – by going to the library’s website, www.fortbend.lib.tx.us. Click on the “Homework Tutoring” icon on the main webpage or the “Live Homework Tutoring” link in the Youth Pages section, and then enter the Homework Help area or the Skills Building area. There is no time limit to the sessions. All tutors are required to have a four-year college degree, and undergo extensive background and reference checks. They are also subject to a rigorous selection and training process, multiple screening interviews, and skills testing. Ongoing monitoring of online sessions ensures security and instructional quality. For more information, call the library’s Public Information Office at 281-341-2677.

Be Smart: Start Talking with Your Daughter From the time they start to notice boys, girls have hundreds of questions about their bodies, relationships, and everything else. As they start to reach puberty, the questions increase. If moms are lucky, their daughters will turn to them for answers to their questions. But daughters are often embarrassed and reluctant to approach their moms for advice. Likewise, moms are often just as reluctant to talk to their daughters about their developing bodies or attraction to others.  To help girls and their moms, psychotherapist Mary Jo Rapini (of TLC's new series Big Medicine) and OB-GYN nurse practitioner Janine J. Sherman (of Sugar Land!) have assembled more than 113 questions girls (and their moms) routinely ask or should be asking about topics ranging from periods and sex to self esteem and dating.  In Start Talking: A Girl's Guide for You and Your Mom about Health, Sex, or Whatever [an inside look at the details even she doesn't know!], Rapini and Sherman share succinct yet lively answers, sample conversations, and real life stories that will help open the door to better mother/daughter communication.  OK. That above was the press release about the book. Now, here's the real scoop: Janine Sherman is one of our very favorite OB-GYN nurse practitioners in the area. If you have met her, you know why. She is kind. She is bubbly and interesting. She is smart, but she is also real. She is a mom just like us. You will see her in the pages of this book, and you will love her for writing it. We had been hoping she would just take over and raise our daughter once she hit her teen years, but I guess this will suffice.  Find out more about Janine's book at www.StartTalkingBook.com.  If you have any questions for Janine, e-mail us at info@sugarlandmom.com, and we will forward your questions to her! Reader question: “My daughter is 8 years old.  What should I be talking to her about at this age and how much should I tell her?  I don’t want to be a clueless mom but also don’t want to tell her more than she needs to know at this age.” What Janine said: “The best way to talk to your 8 year old daughter is to answer honestly and comfortably questions that come up in conversation.  For example, if she sees a commercial for tampons and asks about them, tell her in very simple terms what they are.  Another way is to notice something about her that is changing or is indicating that her body is maturing, such as if she is developing breast buds and does she have any questions. Also, let her know that when she does have questions that she can always come to you. The best thing you can do to help her is to take time to make sure you know the correct information about what is happening to her body, so that you are equipped to answer questions that arise in everyday conversation. Good luck!"   Ask the SugarLandMOM.com Expert Our Expert: Debbie Elder, parent coach, Set Them Up for Success Have a question? E-mail it to info@sugarlandmom.com  Our reader question:  My preschool daughter is very strong-willed and throws a tantrum whenever she doesn't get her way and shouts "No!" when I ask her to do something. I find myself getting more and more angry whenever this happens. Yet, I want her to have a mind of her own and be able to share her opinions. What can I do to curb the tantrums but still allow her strong spirit to shine? What Debbie says: This is a great question and one many parents can relate to! We all want to preserve our children’s independence and perseverance – two great character traits that will serve them well as they learn and grow. The dilemma is how to do this appropriately. I am a big believer in establishing very clear boundaries for children, with parameters that they can understand. In life, no matter what age you are – there are negotiables and nonnegotiables. Our job as the parent is to clearly distinguish the difference between these two for our children. Offering choices is a great start, and it allows the child to make decisions and take control of the parts of their life they are ready to handle. Preschool children can make several choices for themselves from cereal selection for breakfast to color of sand bucket they want to take to the beach. Just remember – when you offer choices, be prepared to be ok with the choice your child makes and you don’t have to offer choices on things that are nonnegotiable for you. Pick your battles! Some great techniques for dealing with temper tantrums are: Record for a week when the tantrums are happening, who is present, where are you, is  hungry or tiredness a factor, etc. Once you can see a pattern you will be better equipped to handle the specific needs of your child. Validate her feelings. I know you really want that ________ now but I don’t have any    today. A magic wand works well here: Just pick up your “magic wand” and say, “Don’t you wish I could wave my magic wand and __________ would happen?” Sometimes being heard is enough to satisfy a child or any of us. Think of the last time you tried to complain about something and your words fell on deaf ears. How did you feel: angrier or was your anger diffused? If you are like me, you just got even angrier! Being heard feels good. Catch her being good. Turn your attention to what she does well and acknowledge it often! Be very specific – give her a ‘behavior recipe’ to follow. Talk about what you are going to do. Stop telling her what to do. If you are getting angry, she is pushing your buttons! That is a power struggle waiting to happen. Instead, tell her what YOU are going to do. Use enforceable statements like: “I only bake cookies with calm children who can follow directions.” Give her the words to use. Even preschoolers have opinions and they don’t always have to agree with us. Give her the words to use to appropriately express her opinion. If cleaning up after playtime is an issue, try this! Let her know that all the toys she puts away will stay in the playroom and any toys you need to pick up will be stored in the attic. Use a tantrum mat. Introduce your child to the tantrum mat. Even better: go and  purchase it together. Explain to her that when she wants to have a tantrum, she just  needs to go and get the mat and go to the designated temper tantrum spot – and have her tantrum! Often when permission is given, the tantrum loses its effect. Make it your mission. If you want to stop this behavior, decide to take action. Make it your focus and tackle it head on! If your child always has a temper tantrum at the grocery store for example, you can outsmart the behavior. Let your daughter know that today we  are going to the grocery store to buy food, no toys, and no exceptions. At this point you  are hoping for a temper tantrum because you have the cure! When the problem arises you abandon your cart and take your daughter to the car and sit there. After she calms down, ask if she is ready to shop again. Back in you go. Continue this until she understands the appropriate way to behave in a grocery store. Of course you realize – this trip has nothing to do with grocery shopping and it is quite likely you will leave with an exhausted sleeping child and no groceries!