6
Back to School 2015
How to help kids choose an
extracurricular activity
T
oday's kids are
busier than ever be-
fore. Commitments in the
classroom coupled with a
full slate of extracurricular
activities have ensured that
many of today's school-
aged children don't have a
minute to spare.
While it's important for
kids to embrace extracur-
ricular activities, parents
know it's not always easy
helping kids fi nd the right activity that al-
lows them to grow outside the classroom
while still focusing on their responsibili-
ties inside it. In addition, kids' interests
tend to change at the drop of a hat, so
something they want to do today might
bore them come tomorrow. To help kids
choose and manage their extracurricular
activities, consider the following tips.
• Emphasize that schoolwork must come
fi rst. Kids get excited about extracurricu-
lar activities, especially ones involving
sports where they get to spend time play-
ing with their friends. But parents should
emphasize that school still comes fi rst and
that, if schoolwork starts to suffer, par-
ticipation in extracurricular activities will
be put on hold until kids get their studies
back on track.
• Go over coursework at the start of the
school year. Examine a child's course load
before choosing an extracurricular activ-
ity. It's important to do this each year, as
coursework gets more diffi cult as chil-
dren get older. Just because a child could
handle a couple of afterschool activities
a week when he or she was in fi fth grade
does not mean such a schedule will be as
manageable when the same child reaches
high school. Go over coursework and
requirements as early as possible, prefer-
ably before the school year starts, so you
and your child can get a grip on what
can and can't be handled with regards to
extracurricular activities.
• Get a grasp of the commitment required
of a given activity. Extracurricular activi-
ties require various levels of commitment.
Varsity sport par-
ticipation, for example,
typically requires daily
commitment and often
requires kids to par-
ticipate on weekends or
even the sport's "off-
season," which may in-
clude summer vacation.
However, volunteering
with a local charity like-
ly won't require such a
large commitment and
such charities often allow volunteers
to choose their own schedules. Parents
and their children should consider the
level of commitment an extracurricular
requires and choose the activity they're
most comfortable with.
• Don't overlook the social benefi ts of
extracurricular activities. When helping
kids choose an extracurricular activity,
it's important to leave the ultimate deci-
sion in their hands. After all, kids won't
get much of the experience if they're re-
luctant to participate. However, parents
should not overlook the social benefi ts
of extracurricular activities. Consider
those benefi ts when helping kids choose
activities, especially if they're likely to
choose solitary activities like learn-
ing a musical instrument. It's good to
encourage such interests, but also try to
encourage a balance between solitary
activities and ones that encourage so-
cialization with peers, such as a sports
team, debate club or volunteering with
other students at a local charity.
• Don't forget the fun factor. Extracur-
ricular activities are not just supposed
to instill character, they're also sup-
posed to be fun. If kids aren't having
fun or showing any interest in a given
extracurricular activity, then help them
fi nd another one. Kids need time to
have fun away from school just like
adults need time for fun away from the
offi ce. Weigh how enjoyable a given
activity fi gures to be for your youngster
before signing them up.
South Lane Schools
Food Service
South Lane School District serves nutritious meals daily that meet standards set by
the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Recent changes to the meal program require ALL
LUNCHES must include one 1/2 cup serving of FRUIT or VEGETABLE.
The cost is:
Elementary
Breakfast*
Lunch** $ 2.50
Milk*** $ .50
Middle
$ 1.40
$2.75
$ .50
High School
$1.40
$3.00
$ .50
Reduced
$1.40
FREE
$ .50
FREE
*Breakfast price is for a complete meal, may decline 1 food component. (e.g. bread,
meat, milk) At least 1/2 cup of either a fruit or vegetable must be selected.
**Lunch price is for a complete meal, may decline 2 food components. (e.g. bread,
meat, milk, fruit, vegetable) but must select at least 1/2 cup of either fruit or vegetable.
***Milk is included in Breakfast and Lunch prices. (no free milk program available)
September Advanced payment rates:
Monthly Monthly
Weekly
Weekly
Breakfast Lunch
Breakfast Lunch
Elementary
$28.00
$50.00
$7.00
$12.50
Middle
$28.00
$55.00
$7.00
$13.75
High
$28.00
$60.00
$7.00
$15.00
Reduced
FREE
FREE
FREE
FREE
Daily payment is acceptable, but prepayment is much appreciated. Prepayment of meals
allows the lines to go faster. Charges are not acceptable, they will be allowed only in an
emergency. Please send money for meals the first day of school. Online payments with
debit or credit card can be made at http://www.mymealtime.com. First time users will
need to call 541-942-3381 ext. 125 to receive a pass code.
Your child(ren) may be eligible to receive meals free or at a reduced price if:
1) Your family is receiving:
a) Food Stamps; or
b) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); or
c) Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations; or
2) Your household income is at or below the amount on this income chart:
REDUCED
FREE
Household size
Annual
Month
Week
Annual Month
-1-
$21,775 $1,815
$419
$15,301 $1,276
-2-
$29,471 $2,456
$567
$20,709 $1,726
-3-
$37,167 $3,098
$715
$26,117 $2,177
-4-
$44,863 $3,739
$863
$31,525 $2,628
-5-
$52,559 $4,380
$1,011 $36,933 $3,078
-6-
$60,255 $5,022
$1,159
$42,341 $3,529
-7-
$67,951 $5,663
$1,307
$47,749 $3,980
-8-
$75,647 $6,304
$1,455
$53,157 $4,430
For each additional
family member add +$7,696 +$642
+$148
+$5,408 +$451
Week
$295
$399
$503
$607
$711
$815
$919
$1,023
+$104
To apply for free or reduced price meals online at https://district.ode.state.or.us/apps/ or
contact the Food Service Department at the District office, 541-942-3381 ext. 124 for a
paper copy. If you qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch you also qualify for Free Breakfast.
The Oregon legislature recently provided funding to eliminate the reduced price pay-
ment for School Breakfast. Breakfast will be accessible at no charge to students who
qualify for reduced price lunches. South Lane School District is an equal opportunity
provider.