Here’s a simple way you can be a STAR!! Visit Craig’s Cruisers in Grand Rapids, Holland or Muskegon and buy a STAR to support MDA. Silver stars are $1 and gold stars are $5. All proceeds raised go to help Jerry’s Kids! The big MDA Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon takes place on Monday at Craig’s Cruisers in Grand Rapids. Hope to see you there!
There are two special events happening this weekend in West Michigan. On Saturday evening at Berlin Raceway they will be passing the hat for MDA and Jerry’s Kids! Drivers will go through the stands collecting cash for the kids! My friend Bill Steffen of Storm Team 8 will be on hand too! Race time is 7:00 p.m. On Sunday, the West Michigan Whitecaps have partnered with Priority Health to present Grandparents Day at the ballpark! Game time is 2 p.m. and there will be all sorts of special activities and offers for grandparents and grandkids. The “Where You Live” crew will be out taping at this cool intergenerational event. I hope to see you there!
In just a few weeks kids head back to school. Is your family ready?
Before your kids head back to school this fall there are a few things that every parent should remember. Here are some helpful tips from Timberland Charter Academy in Muskegon.
CONTACT THE SCHOOL
1. Find out if any physical examinations or immunizations are required.
2. See if there are any new registration requirements this year.
3. Get copy of school policies (absence, illness, discipline, etc.)
4. Go over school rules with your child.
BE PREPARED WITH SCHOOL MATERIALS
1. Before the first day of school, make sure your child finds out what school supplies and materials are required.
2. Make sure to stock up on paper, folders, pens, pencils, markers, crayons, etc. Take advantage of the back-to-school sales and stock up early.
Here are five ways to sending your child off to college, without breaking the bank!
Tip 1: Remember the ABC’s of borrowing wisely
· Always take advantage of free money such as grants and scholarships, before taking out a loan to pay for college. Look for easy money, like your parent’s place of employment, which sometimes offers scholarships for college-age children.
· Be sure to maximize your Federal Stafford Loan eligibility, as federal student loans generally have lower interest rates than private student loans.
· Consider alternative or private student loans only after all federal money options have been exhausted.
Tip 2: Open a Student Checking Account
Whether you’re attending school close to home or far away, you need a checking account that’s simple. When you move onto campus, stop by your local bank and open up a student account. Student accounts are specially designed with students in mind, with less fees, no minimum balances, limited free wire transfers so parents can put money into the account from back home, and more.
Tip 3: Use Credit Cards Wisely
Use credit cards wisely because this is a chance to establish a solid credit history. Watch your interest rates, and pay your balance off each month. Don’t use the card for routine living expenses or a night on the town – those expenses add up quickly. It may be a better idea to opt for a debit card for your student instead. Read all »
As you bring your kids to and from school this fall, it’s important to remember the STAR Carpool Creed:
S – Student Safety First
T- Traffic Pattern Respect
A – Awareness Prevents Accidents
R – Restraints Save Lives
Follow the STAR Carpool Creed and together we’ll have safe kids…..Where You Live.
Heading off to college is a fun and exciting experience that most students remember for a lifetime. But, making sure you start off your college career on the right foot is important. Here are some words of wisdom from Don Green, Vice Chancellor of Ferris State University.
1. Go to class! College is an amazing experience, but you can’t stay if you fail your courses. Remember that your goal is to graduate. How are you going to do that if you can’t even make it to class regularly?
2. Participate in events early on especially during Orientation. Lets be honest. Not all events for freshman are exciting, but tours and dorm mixers can connect you to the campus and help you meet new people.
3. Don’t go home every weekend. This can be hard if you have a boyfriend or girlfriend at home or if you live close to your school, but going home every weekend prevents you from connecting with other students and getting comfortable with your new home away from home.
Good sleep habits often take a summer vacation when school is out. Now is the time to resume a normal routine according to pediatric sleep medicine experts at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.
“It’s natural to be flexible with bedtimes in the summer,” said John Schuen, MD, division chief, pulmonary and sleep medicine, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. “While appropriate for summer months, children should transition to a more normal sleep pattern as the first day of school approaches. Going to bed early the day before school starts is not the time to start a new routine.”
· Steadily adjust to earlier sleep and wake schedules 10 days to two weeks before school starts. This will adjust biological clocks to the new schedule.
· Establish a relaxing bedtime routine. Reading before bed is a good choice for kids of all ages.
· Keep a regular sleep schedule and avoid extremes on weekends. Having a regular bedtime increases the likelihood that kids, including teens, will get optimal sleep.
Join us as we celebrate the final days of summer here in West Michigan!
In this weekend’s show we showed you kids from the Cook Library Center creating artwork for the new Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital opening in 2011.
The hospital is looking for more art to be a part of the new facility and they need your help! Bring the family downtown to Celebration on the Grand on Saturday, September 12 from 3-6pm and check out the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital booth located in Ah-Nab-Awen-Park. Kids will have the chance to paint an 8×8 wooden tile that will be used to make up a large piece of art in the new hospital. Plus, there will be free t-shirts for the first 1,000 kids to participate.
For more information visit www.devoschildrens.org/news.
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