Tag Archives: school

Back-to-Cafeteria: How to help kids who struggle with eating as new school year begins

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Eating meals at school can be challenging for many students (Courtesy, pxhere.com)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


For some children heading back to school this fall, their biggest challenge may not be reading or math but, rather, something else that’s critical to their academic success: eating meals at school.

Children can experience all types of difficulties with eating, from limited diets (“picky eating”) to feeding and swallowing disorders, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Feeding challenges may occur due to a medical problem or in conjunction with other developmental differences or disorders.

Regardless of the reason, all children need appropriate nutrition and hydration to learn and participate in the school day.

(Courtesy, pxhere.com)

Cafeteria Struggles

The cafeteria can present numerous challenges for children who have difficulty eating. These include:

  • Overwhelming sensory environment. The cafeteria can be loud, crowded, and hot. The sights and smells may bother some kids. The tables may be sticky, and the cafeteria benches may be uncomfortable. None of these factors makes eating easy or fun. Some students may require a distraction-free environment to safely eat.
  • Time constraints. Students often have a small amount of time to eat—usually, much shorter than they are used to having at home. Students receiving feeding and/or swallowing treatment may need more time to eat. This accommodation may be included in a child’s individualized education program (IEP).
  • School-based food restrictions. Some schools have rules about foods that children can or cannot bring, such as no peanut products. For kids who have limited diets, it’s not always easy to find alternatives to a preferred food. Also, some children may not have options if they are provided free or reduced-price meals at school. If a student has a documented feeding or swallowing disorder and requires a modified diet, then the school district’s food services program must offer the meal accommodations recommended in the student’s feeding and swallowing plan.

school, education, learning (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

Twelve Tips for Success

ASHA offers these tips to parents and caregivers to help their child eat successfully in the school setting:

  1. Make their lunch gear fun. Let kids pick out a lunchbox with their favorite character or theme, or a Thermos® or bento box of their choice. Alternatively, have them decorate or personalize a basic lunchbox or other items that they already have.
  2. Help them prepare. Have kids practice eating in the time they’ll be given at school. Try this for a few days before school starts. If you’re sending in containers or prepackaged food or drinks, make sure that they can open them first before packing such items in their lunchbox.
  3. Go grocery shopping together. Look for new items that they may want to bring—or meal ideas to try. Be sure to try them at home first.
  4. Brainstorm ideas. Write out a menu of options that are reasonable for you to prepare. Make sure that these foods can also be eaten at school easily (e.g., foods that don’t need to be cut up or kept at a very specific temperature). Have them choose their lunch from that menu each day.
  5. Let them pack their meal. Kids love to take ownership and show some independence. They’ll be much more likely to eat what they choose to pack. If you don’t feel comfortable giving them total control, offer choices—let them pick one “main course,” one “side dish,” and one “dessert” out of items that you have pre-selected. Do this the night before, so you aren’t stressed or in a rush the next morning.
  6. Troubleshoot together. Ask your child what makes eating in the cafeteria difficult. For example, maybe they don’t have enough time to eat when they buy lunch. Talk it through with them and see if you can solve the issue together.
  7. Send foods that your child is comfortable eating. You may desperately want to expand your child’s diet, but you also want to maximize the likelihood that they’ll eat at school so they’re nourished properly during the day. Save the experimentation for home.
  8. Aim for foods that will keep them full, but don’t stress over perfect meals. Ideal foods are ones that are protein-rich and/or high in fiber because they’ll keep kids full for longer. But remember, the best foods are the ones that your child will actually eat.
  9. Don’t obsess over what they didn’t eat. It’s frustrating when you spend time carefully packing a lunch—only to notice that it comes home lukewarm and untouched. Ask your child why they didn’t eat their meal: Did they not like it? Or did they just not have time to eat it? Try not to scold them about the uneaten food.
  10. Arrange for your child to have a lunch buddy. Eating with a friend is always more fun. A lunch buddy can be a support—and even a role model—for trying new foods. Talk to the school staff about finding a willing peer for this role.
  11. Talk to the cafeteria manager or other school staff. If your child is provided meals at school and isn’t eating what is served, check with the school about alternative options. If a child is regularly not eating the food provided, then this lack of needed nutrition likely will impact their learning and/or behavior.
  12. Help your child to advocate for themselves. If your child has an IEP with feeding and swallowing goals and accommodations, help them understand what their goals are and what they can safely eat.

(Courtesy, Kids’ Food Basket)

Getting Help for Feeding Problems

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) help children who have difficulties with their feeding and swallowing. Feeding and swallowing disorders can lead to health, learning, and social problems, so it’s important not to minimize these challenges.

SLPs can help children try new foods or textures, can help parents feel more confident feeding their child, and can provide feeding therapy (e.g., using certain exercises to strengthen the muscles in their mouth, moving their tongue around more while eating or drinking).

Children with a diagnosed feeding or swallowing disorder may need additional support eating in school, including modified food and drink consistencies. These students should have an IEP or 504 plan to guide school-based treatment and accommodations.

They also may have a swallowing and feeding program (which is typically designed by an SLP) and/or an individual health plan (which is typically designed by a school nurse).

If you have concerns about your child’s eating, talk to your pediatrician and seek an evaluation from the school-based SLP or from a private SLP who specializes in feeding and swallowing. You can find one at www.asha.org/profind.

Godfrey-Lee student arrested for bringing firearm to school

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Teachers located a firearm in a student’s backpack at Godfrey-Lee East Campus (Courtesy, pxhere.com)



By Wyoming Police Department

(Courtesy photo)

One juvenile male is in police custody after bringing a handgun to Godfrey-Lee Schools East Lee Campus.

At approximately 9:20 a.m. on Nov. 10, police personnel from the Wyoming Police Department responded to 982 Lee Street SW (Godfrey-Lee Schools East Lee Campus) on the report of school staff locating a firearm in a student’s backpack.

The 15-year-old Godfrey-Lee student was taken into police custody without incident.

Godfrey-Lee’s school staff were able to safely locate this weapon by following word-of-mouth rumors that someone had brought a firearm into their school. The Godfrey-Lee school faculty’s commitment to the safety of their students is unwavering and truly exemplified by their diligence in following up on this matter.

This incident will be presented to the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office for a review of appropriate charges.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Wyoming Police detectives at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345; 1-866-774-2345; or https://www.silentobserver.org.

School News Network: No ‘bad’ apples here

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By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

From creative writing about apples to making music with ukuleles, area schools are offering innovative programming during the pandemic. Speaking of succeeding, if you were an essential worker from April 1 to June 30, you may qualify for the Future for Frontliners program. Scroll to the bottom for more information.

For more stories on local schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.

There wasn’t much recognizable about Symone Gray’s apple, Martin Van Buren, after he got hit by a car in the Big Apple (School News Network)

Wyoming: Babysitting an apple

Ninth grade students at Wyoming High School get creative in their writing by telling the woes and tragedies of the apples they babysit. Want to get all the juicy sauce on this? Click here.

TEAM 21 Coordinator Ellen Veenkant tackled the change of coordinating the West Godwin Elementary’s drop-off and pick-up schedule (School News Network)

Godwin Heights: A real team player

With no parents allowed in its buildings due to COVID, West Godwin needed help coming up with a plan for pick up and drop off. TEAM 21 member Ellen Veenkant stepped up to the challenge, showing how much of a team player she is. For more, click here.

Kelloggsville music teacher Susan Iacovoni had to figure out a way to get her ukuleles to her students when COVID-19 restrictions meant they couldn’t come to the music room (Dianne Carroll Burdick)

Kelloggsville: Have cart, will travel

Some 140 years after the ukulele was introduced to Hawaii, in Kelloggsville schools, music teacher Susan Iacovoni is introducing her students to the “jumping flea” and watching with glee as their fingers make music, albeit haltingly at first. To learn more about the musical fun, click here.

Brookwood Elementary School Principal Lorenzo Bradshaw is the recipient of the 2020 NAACP Role Model Education Award

Kentwood: Prinicpal earns role model award from NAACP

This past October Kentwood’s Brookwood Elementary School Principal Lorenzo Bradshaw was virtually honored as the 2020 NAACP Role Model Education Award from the local Grand Rapids chapter of the association. Learn why Bradshaw tried to decline the honor and what he finds most rewarding about being in education by clicking here.

Adults attend a Kent ISD GED class (courtesy)

All Districts: Essential workers get high school diplomas thanks to state program

If you served as an essential employee between April 1 to June 30, you may qualify for Futures for Frontliners program. Through the program, eligible participants can earn a GED and/or job training or study at a community college such as Grand Rapids Community College. To be eligible, you must have worked at least 11 of the 13 weeks from April 1 to June 30. For more about the program, click here.

Aquinas College helps Chamber members with one barrier to returning to school

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Members of the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce can receive a tuition discount to further their education at Aquinas College. (Supplied)

By Faith Morgan
WKTV Intern

Going back to school is not the easiest path. There is, of course, the financial considerations, but if you have a full-time job and family, there are those obligations as well.

Aquinas College tries to offer a number of options for class times to make it convenient for working adults. (Supplied)

“It was tough, not gonna lie,” said Christine Lentine, senior director of Finance and Administration for Kids’ Food Basket, who recently attended and completed Aquinas College’s undergraduate CPA prep program. “I have a great husband who knows that this would require some extra work for him and balancing home life was good. Professionally, your regular job doesn’t stop when you have an exam. It was definitely a labor of love balance throughout the semester. And I did it.”

Another thing that made returning to the hallow halls easier was the 20% tuition discount offered by Aquinas College to members of the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce.

“Now is the day and age to take action” said Brenda Hennink, Aquinas’s director of Adult Student Recruitment. “There’s a sense of urgency to fill some of the talent gaps which have been heightened due to circumstances. The need to stand out has been increased.”

There’s always the hesitation of not having enough time to commit to schooling for full-time workers with personal lives outside of school, according to Hennink, adding that Aquinas tries to work within those personal schedules offering both daytime and evening courses to benefit busy day-time schedules with limited programs of study for evening courses.

The only requirements to participate in the tuition discount is that person must be at least 23 years of age and the company they work for is a member of the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce.

The only requirements for the Aquinas tuition program for WKACC members are the person must be at least 23 years of age and that work full-time or pastime for a business they work for is a member of the WKACC. There is no limit to how many members can use the discount and it can be used for a degree or non-degree.

Classes at Aquinas start every eight weeks so enrollment is when it is most convenient to the student, Hennink said, adding that the discount lasts for seven consecutive years or until a degree is received, whichever comes first. 

Continued eduction provides an avenue for personal growth, according to Lentine, which is perhaps why several WKACC members, like Lentine, have taken advantage of this discount.

“It’s really important to not just fall into the status quo and not improve, to make sure we’re improving each day better than the day before,” Lentine said. “Especially at a nonprofit organization, our community is entrusting us with their donor dollars and staff time. And the work that we put into the community depends on the quality of our staff’s education. And so while it can be tough for short-term the long-term payoffs are going to be worthwhile for you as a professional as well as for the team you work with and your company.”

But is the discount worth it?

“Definitely,” Lentine said. “Any type of discount is really helpful. So it not only influenced my decision to go back to school but also to be at Aquinas as opposed to a larger online university for those classes.”

For more information on the discount and programs offered you can visit aquinas.edu/wkacc-discount

Traffic Tuesday Question: School Bus Lights

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By Officer Jenni Eby
City of Wyoming Department of Public Safety

Traffic Tuesday Question: School Bus Lights. Welcome to the Traffic Tuesday question. Each week, the question will be posted on Tuesday, and the answer posted Thursday.

You’re driving behind a school bus when its overhead (upper) yellow lights begin flashing. What should you do?

1) Proceed with caution around the bus

2) Prepare to stop behind the bus

3) I’m not sure after last week’s question, I’ll check back Thursday for the answer!

Check back on Thursday to learn the answer!

Traffic Tuesday Answer: School Buses

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By Officer Jenni Eby
City of Wyoming Department of Public Safety

Welcome to the Traffic Tuesday question. Each week, the Wyoming Department of Public Safety posts a question on Tuesday, and the answer posted Thursday. **Please do not post the answer in the comments, so that others have a chance to answer on their own** Note: the answer can be found on both the WKTV Journal website and in the community social media site Nextdoor.

This week’s question: You are behind a school bus, when it stops and activates its flashing red lights. What is the closest you can stop behind the bus?

  1. No closer than 20 feet
  2. No closer than 25 feet
  3. No closer than 35 feet
  4. No closer than 50 feet

Answer: You can be no closer than 20 feet from a school bus while the red lights are activated and flashing.

School News Network: A final look at the class of 2020 along with upcoming changes

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Our partners at School News Network take a final look at the Class of 2020 along with some changes taking place. For more stories on local schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.

MySchool@Kent Principal Danielle Hendry expected summer school enrollment to be large this year (School News Network)

All Districts: Summer school is in session

To get its pre-Labor Day start wavier, Kent ISD decided to offer free summer school to all of Kent County which meant a boost to MySchool@Kent which is the Kent ISD’s summer school program. This summer, the program will have three times its average number of students, but Principal Danielle Hendry said “If a student needs this extra learning opportunity then we are happy to provide it.” Click here to learn more.

In 2012, Kent Innovation High was recognized as a National Demonstration School by New Tech Network (School News Network)

All Districts: Kent ISD to close Kent Innovation High

Citing low attendance and the inability to recruit students for the 2020-2021 school years, the Kent ISD announced it will be phasing out the Kent Innovation High program. Students currently enrolled will be able to complete the program. It leaves on a high note as more area schools has implemented project-based learning within their programs. For more about Kent Innovation High, click here.

Students locally and elsewhere turned out in mass protests following the 2018 shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida (School News Network/Dianne Carroll Burdick)

All Districts: The Class of 2020: learning to roll with it

“History books are going to write about you.” The epic quote says it all as the Class of 2020 wraps up their school year. Most of the students lives are bookmarked by 9/11 and the COVID-19 pandemic. Discover all the ups and downs this class has faced and how the students have learned to “just roll with it.” Click here for more.

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.



Too soon to talk school?

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Your little one’s first day back to school isn’t that far off. Now is the time to think about new strategies for a productive school year. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Sue Gunnink, Spectrum Health Beat

 

It’s always difficult transitioning from the laid-back summer schedule to the hectic schedule of the school year.

 

It usually takes a good month or so to get back into the groove, at least to where you feel confident everyone in your household is back on track.

 

And once you’ve gotten into the groove again, don’t you wish you could keep it going all year long? Wouldn’t it be great to keep everything running smoothly ’til next June?

 

It just so happens that a few handy tips can keep your family functioning like a well-oiled machine, at least when it comes to nutrition and meal preparation.

 

We all know that one of the best tools in the toolbox is the lunchbox.

Here’s how to keep your meals on track all year long:

Pack ahead

Pack lunches the night before to avoid the rush in the morning. This gives you more time to plan meals, which increases the chances you’ll select nutritious foods. Have your kids get involved in the lunch packing, too. They’re more likely to eat the food in their lunch when they’re involved in the process.

 

Be a portion pro

To simplify lunch preparation, cut your fruit into individual portions for the week. For example: If you have three kids and want them to have fruit each day of the week, you can cut 15 containers of fruit on Sunday night.

 

Get stocked and ready

For after-school snacks, consider stocking healthier items that are easy to grab, such as trail mix, unbuttered popcorn, or peanut butter on sliced apples or pears.

 

Coordinate schedules

Plan dinners in advance. On Sunday night, take a moment to survey your family’s schedule for the coming the week, identifying nights that involve sports practice, school activities, special events and so forth. Plan the meals accordingly. Consider having one night where your child is responsible for coming up with a meal.

 

Prep and freeze

Consider preparing and freezing meals well in advance. Once every few months, you can make a large batch of a particular food item, such as lasagna, then divide it into dinner portions. These can be frozen and labeled for easy use later on.

 

Are you interested in learning more about balanced nutrition? Schedule a personalized appointment with a Spectrum Health registered dietitian or call 616.391.1875 to register for a group class series.

 

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.