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Health & Fitness

Back to School, and Back in The Day

Back to School tips, and more Belmont memories!

Back to School

Well, summer is over and school is back in session. I remember back in the “olden days” school didn’t start until after Labor Day. Nowadays, most schools are into their second week of instruction before the three-day weekend. Like my students, I’m slowly getting used to having a schedule again. Here are a few beginning of the year tips that may be of help to you and your children:

     -Have an “inbox” and “outbox” at your home, and teach your child where to drop off and pick up school-related papers.

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   -Have a place that is appropriate for study; preferably a desk or table in a place away from the action. Be sure there’s enough light and it’s reasonably quiet. Definitely not in front of the television, in a place where people congregate, or in the car on the way to school in the morning!

   -Have a designated place at home for backpacks, and pack the night before school to insure that homework and papers get back to school.

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  -Have your child lay clothes out the night before.

 -Read to your child, and have your child read to you. Be a good model and let your child see you reading.

-Eat dinner together and have conversations. Ask: “What was the best part of your day?” Avoid the dreaded: “What did you do in school today?” You’ll get the famous: “Nothing” as a reply.

-Teach and encourage personal responsibility, self-respect, and respect toward others.

I hope you can put some of these tips to use.

Back in The Day

I was waiting at the traffic light at Ralston and 6th Ave. the other day, and it got me to thinking.  What a great intersection it was back when I was a kid! On the southwest corner was Plank’s Pharmacy, where we bought school supplies and candy. The southeast corner had a Mobil Gas Station (replete with Pegasus sign).  There, you could put air in your bike tire and buy a coke for a dime. The northeast corner had Knutson’s Bakery and the legendary ladies in white, who would always give you a free cookie! I think everyone in Belmont got their birthday cakes from Knutson’s.  Lastly, the northwest corner housed Family Billiards. The big green building was the place to shoot pool on a Friday night (unless you were at Belmont Iceland).

That’s all for now.  Be sure to visit The Belmont Greek Festival this weekend. This Belmont tradition is in its 41st year.  http://www.goholycross.org/Festival/

OPA!

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