SanTanValley.com

“Give it the ol’ college try.”

We’ve all heard it. Whether from a coach, a parent or other authority figure, the phrase is often used as encouragement when one is faced with a seemingly insurmountable task. It instructs us to pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and do our best, even in the face of possible, or even likely, defeat. Lately, the phrase seems all too apt as post-secondary students worldwide are dropping out of school at alarming rates. In fact, a recent study found that one in four freshman in the U.S. do not complete their first year of school, despite giving college a try.

Pinal County’s Public Health program aims to reduce health complications of patients with diabetes by presenting brief educational sessions for the community.

“These sessions are designed to help those living with diabetes or those who are newly diagnosed as well as their family members and loved ones,” said Rosanna Ringer, a registered dietitian who helps supervise Pinal County’s nutrition, education and outreach programs.  “We will have useful information for everyone who wants to know more about living with diabetes.”

Pinal County’s Public Health program aims to reduce health complications of patients with diabetes by presenting brief educational sessions for the public.

“These sessions are designed to help those living with diabetes or those who are newly diagnosed as well as their family members and loved ones,” said Rosanna Ringer, a registered dietitian who helps supervise Pinal County’s nutrition, education and outreach programs. “We will have useful information for everyone who wants to know more about living with diabetes.”

Believing Arizona legislators have forsaken edu­cation, residents found success in placing a measure on the Nov. 6 general election ballot designed to address what they believe is inadequate school funding.

Proposition 204 would renew the 2010 1-cent property tax, scheduled to expire next year, and provide protections against reducing education funding in the future. The additional revenue generated by the tax would fund educational programs in addition to pub­lic transportation infrastructure projects and human services. Other measure provisions include forbid­ding reduction to existing K-12 and university funding levels, and prohibiting reductions to the current state sales tax base.

Since publication of A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform in 1983, public education has been the universal whipping boy for a multitude of society’s ills.  Certainly, much of that criticism was earned and while reform has been a constant for the past 29 years, much is yet to be accomplished.

Arizona is a mess.  You know it.  I know it. Our friends and neighbors know it.  Polls say so.  We’re headed in the wrong direction. We are much like America on the whole, only worse.

We have choices in life. This letter asks you to make one.

I’m writing to all Arizonans because I think it is time we choose.  Not Obama and not Romney, but Arizona and Arizona’s children.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Can you believe that there is less than a month of school left?  Where has the year gone?  I am hopeful that all of our students and parents feel that this school year has been successful.  I have seen our students make significant growth in many areas.  At Harmon, we do place an emphasis on academics but we also want to be sure and help students develop in many other areas as well.  As each year winds down I  always like to reflect back on the year and I am always amazed by the amount of learning that has taken place.  Your children have been excellent to work with this year.

IHS is a secular parent-centered support group for home educating parents in the Florence-Queen Creek-Apache Junction triangle, including San Tan Valley.

Being a homeschooling parent can be challenging and isolating, but you don't have to feel alone!

We often hear and read that people are very resistant to change. Most certainly that is true. Oh, there are always a few folks who love to be on the bleeding edge and are happy to adopt new practices, but that sure isn’t the norm.

I’m a bit older than most who are reading this column, but I still think young – or I think I do. I get up at 4:30 or 5:00, jump in the shower, and get out loaded for bear and feeling great; then I look in the mirror and think, “Wow. Who is that old sucker looking back at me?”