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Mom of 9Our blogger is due with baby No. 9!When our Mom of 9 blogger, Monica Calavitta, began writing for both ocfamily.com and inlandempirefamily.com late last year, she had “only” 8 children. But we were anticipating that her latest child would arrive as scheduled. Sometime this month, Monica’s title will be official. Our 4 mom bloggers provide up-to-date, sensible information, based on their own experiences as parents. It is important that our readers follow their exploits and comment on them. Creating this interactive portal is our way to better communicate directly with you and help you to better coordinate your own family life. We’re looking forward to the dialogue. And we’re sending congratulations your way, Monica! High marks for IE schoolsEven with all the budget cuts!Despite the state budget crisis that threatens to slash $320 million from public education in Riverside County, there’s much good news to report from several schools and districts around the Inland Empire that saw big gains in academic achievement. That was the good news delivered by Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Kenneth M. Young, who spoke to about 100 educators, community leaders and others at the 9th annual State of Education in Riverside County address in late February. The county’s enrollment is slowing, but has passed the 422,000 mark. Riverside County, with more than 2 million residents, has the 4th largest student enrollment in California. Achievement is on the rise at many schools. Riverside County’s Academic Performance Index – a key measure of public education in the state – grew by 127 points between 1999, when the API was established, and last year. The state’s goal is for all schools to reach a score of 800 on the API. Young praised districts and schools for their success: The Romoland School District’s API rose 196 points and the Coachella Valley Unified School District’s API rose 182 points between 1999 and 2007. Two elementary schools – Abby Reinke in Temecula and Victoriano in the Val Verde Unified School District – broke the 900 API score in 2007. Mecca Elementary School in the Coachella Valley, Coombs Middle School in the Banning Unified School District and Jurupa Valley High School in the Jurupa district posted the largest API scores for grammar, middle and high schools last year. Van Buren Elementary School in the Desert Sands Unified School District was recognized for an impressive 363-point API gain in 8 years; the API at Jefferson Middle School in Desert Sands grew by 245 points in 8 years; and Rancho Verde High School in Val Verde Unified grew by 150 points. State Superintendent of Schools Jack O’Connell named Ortega High School in the Lake Elsinore Unified School District as 1 of 12 Model Continuation Schools. Young further praised the Alvord USD, Menifee Union and Palm Springs USD for passing local bond measures for new school construction and remodeling. Palm Springs’ $516 million bond is the largest school bond passed in Riverside County history, Young says. Amy Bentley is a contributing writer. Burn controlProtect your child from sun damageIn Southern California, it’s always a good idea to wear sunscreen, even in the winter. But as warmer months approach, parents need to be especially vigilant in protecting their babies from sun exposure. Children who live near the ocean have the privilege to be involved in water sports. The downside is that they get sun damage at a much higher rate. While we can’t keep our little ones locked indoors forever, we can minimize their chances of sunburn. First and foremost, use sunscreen, even on your infant. Test a small amount of sunscreen on your infant’s skin before applying. If there is no allergic reaction, apply a small amount to exposed areas, such as hands and feet. On all children, use “broad-spectrum” sunscreen. Broad-spectrum sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes prior to outdoor activity. Second, dress your children in sun-protective clothes. A T-shirt and shorts will not protect against sunburn. Sun-protective clothing is made from a tighter weave of fabric and provides ultraviolet protection equal to 30+ SPF sunscreen. When shopping for swimwear, buy 1-piece bodysuits for your baby. Toddlers and older kids should wear rash tops and board shorts. The 3rd step to fight sunburn is to find shade. Stay (and play) in it. m – By Kathleen Crain FAST FACTWhile the U.S. teen birth rate has dropped 33% overall (from 1991-2005), there were still 441,832 babies born to teens in the U.S. in 2006, according to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. |
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