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Thursday, February 3, 2011 - 11:17
by Liza Weidle
Seeing the mug shots of two teenagers who live close to my community charged with cyberbullying is heartbreaking. Parents need to be aware of the laws in their state and to continually monitor their child’s online activity. Sameer Hinduja, Associate Professor at Florida Atlantic University, and Justin W. Patchin, Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin‐Eau Claire, update state laws on a regular basis and provide the latest information on causes, and consequences of cyberbullying among adolescents. Hinduja and Patchin say, cyberbullying can be defined as "willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices.” Read Full Post
Sunday, January 23, 2011 - 12:45
by Liza Weidle
In the wake of the Tucson, Arizona shootings that left six people dead and wounded 13 others, people across the nation are afraid it will happen again and preventative measures are under consideration. Some are calling for tighter gun restrictions while others are buying guns to protect themselves. In North Carolina, the State Board of Community Colleges voted on January 21 to change the admission policy in a way that would refuse to admit prospective students who may present “an articulate, imminent and significant threat to others.”
All the responses appear to be preventative measures. What about intervention methods? In the February issue of Parenting School Years, the Mom Congress report highlights Rebecca Nachlas, a mom who is on a mission to stop cyberspace bullies. Read Full Post
Thursday, January 20, 2011 - 11:28
by Liza Weidle
Keeping the focus on raising achievement overall and closing achievement gaps between racial and needs-based groups of students is the mission behind Wake (NC) Raising Achievement and Closing Gaps RACG advisory board. Creative efforts to achieve this mission include establishing an Academic Achievement Academies that support students and and schools. This initiative set to launch next month will provide after-school tutoring in reading and mathematics to students identified at 26 elementary and middle schools as ones who are performing at Level 1 or Level 2 on End of Grade tests or who are not currently meeting benchmarks. Transportation and snacks are provided at no cost to parents. According to Darryl Fisher, WCPSS Sr. Director of Elementary Programs, this effort is “going beyond words to action.” Read Full Post
Friday, January 14, 2011 - 19:50
by Liza Weidle
"America's strength has always been a function of its diversity, so it is troubling to see North Carolina's Wake County school board take steps to reverse a long-standing policy to promote racial diversity in its schools," U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan wrote in a letter that appeared on January 13 in the Washington Post and also provided to The Associated Press.
The controversy began last spring when the Wake School board voted to have school assignments based on neighborhood schools instead of the policies to have assignments based on to achieve socio-economic diversity.
This issue has called into question the district’s ability to have the high schools accredited by AdvancED. Inquiring minds have started asking questions about the accreditation process and what it means to students. Using my children’s high school as a reference point, I compiled answers to Frequently Asked Questions. Read Full Post
Thursday, January 13, 2011 - 16:44
by Liza Weidle
One of the best outcomes of participating in the 2010 Mom Congress event held in May at Georgetown University is getting to know so many amazing moms from across the country. Moms that keep giving. Moms that have the interest of all children in mind when they volunteer. Moms who are role models for other moms and kids. Moms like Myrdin Thompson, KY Mom Congress delegate who says “Volunteering isn't the proximity to a location (although that helps) it is the proximity in one's heart that counts. Do you want to make a difference, then do it. Don't let barriers get in the way. One hour makes as much of a difference as ten as long as every ounce of your spirit is intent on making that one moment count above all the rest.”
If you are a mom who wants an amazing opportunity to network with other moms and haven’t registered to be a part of the 2011 Mom Congress event, do it TODAY. Deadline is January 31. Click here for details. Read Full Post
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 - 12:13
by Liza Weidle
In a world that seems to demand more, it’s a better idea for me to do more with less, much less. This Christmas, we slowed the pace down and enjoyed time together. The kids picked one main gift they wanted and then focused on time together as a family. This process helped me come up with some ideas to keep the focus on family. Read Full Post
Wednesday, December 22, 2010 - 19:12
by Liza Weidle
CT Mom Congress delegate Gwen Samuel is an amazing advocate who knows how to get things done in her city and state. When Gwen learned about Parenting magazine and Target’s Read. Connect. Grow initiative to boost early literacy, she went into action to plan a special “Tis the Season to be Reading” day. Local officials were extremely supportive of Gwen’s efforts. Mayor Richard A. Moccia (Norwalk, CT) offered greetings and Governor M. Jodi Rell read the formal proclamation designating December 16, 2010 as “Tis the Season to be Reading” day. THUMBS UP Norwalk, CT Mayor Moccia!
Inspired by Gwen’s early reports of elected official support, I contacted Cary (NC) Mayor Harold Weinbrecht asking if he saw “possibilities for the Cary Council to join in a Read.Connect.Grow effort by providing information to business leaders about the need to support early literacy as well as help spread the word on giving books to children in need.” The Mayor suggested requesting for a Citizen Issue Advisory Group to be formed to investigate the pros and cons of a new proposal. The link to the timeline for a group’s formation from application submittal to presenting to the Council which would include public hearings and final action is estimated to take approximately 7.5 months. THUMBS DOWN Cary, NC Mayor Weinbrecht! Read Full Post
Thursday, December 16, 2010 - 14:02
by Liza Weidle
On December 13, the new Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR) that is now called the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, passed through Congress and was signed into law by President Obama. This landmark achievement brought cheers from moms across the nation. Register for free webinar to find out how this will change the lunch line in your child's school. Read Full Post
Monday, December 13, 2010 - 18:30
by Liza Weidle
Western Wake iMoms delivered more than 1200 books to the Methodist Home for Children on Monday, Dec. 13. The books collected over the last month were a part of Parenting Magazine’s “Read.Connect.Grow!” early literacy campaign that encouraged Mom Congress delegates to take action in their communities to boost literacy among at-risk children.
The books were collected in bins located at two Cary (NC) locations: Great Harvest Bread Company on Maynard Road and Huntington Learning Center on Kildaire Farm Road. Stacey Kannenberg, WI Mom Congress delegate, donated more than $300 worth of her books including ones in Spanish. Love the power of Mom Congress! Read Full Post
Wednesday, December 8, 2010 - 15:27
by Liza Weidle
The PTSA at Cary North Carolina’s Green Hope High (GHHS) is taking steps to prevent another suicide from happening to one of their students. In September, the group held an awareness walk that raised enough money to have Dar and Dale Emme, Co-Founders of the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program, give a day-long workshop to establish a bridge of links for youth in the community to reach out to when they need help.
The simplicity of the program and the focus on youth being the foundation to help others is what has made the Yellow Ribbon program one of the most successful outreach efforts in the nation. More than 250,000 people have been touched by this effort with an estimated five million “Ask 4 Help” cards have been distributed. Read Full Post
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