Lists of presents filling the page front to back, hundreds of dollars spent on gifts, a warm holiday dinner, presents too plentiful to fit under the tree – these are occurrences that the average American family may be accustomed to during the holiday season.  In the midst of it all, we often forget about the millions of families to which these blessings are not guaranteed. How can we teach our kids about the importance and relevance of giving back and the countless ways to do so this holiday season?

OKVA student delivering 1095 holiday cards to the local Red Cross to send to the troops.

The Importance of Giving Back

1. Explain to your children that not every family has the luxury of purchasing and receiving gifts or having a warm meal during the holiday season. A great way to convey the importance of holiday giving to younger kids is with books such as The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving by Jan and Michael Berenstain, and Angel Pig and the Hidden Christmas by Jan Waldron and David McPhail.

American Education Week: November 11-17

American Education Week is a seven day celebration of public education and a time to recognize those who are making a real difference in our children's lives by doing their part to ensure that every child has the opportunity to receive a quality education. 

Myth: Kids just stare at a computer screen all day.

Fact: In the K-8 program, only about 30% of lessons are online. Traditional materials are used the remainder of the time; things like textbooks and novels, art supplies, musical instruments, CDs, and science equipment.

In high school, the percentage of online work is higher. This shift to more online coursework gives students more interaction with teachers who are experts in their subject areas. It also sets the stage for college (whether brick & mortar or online), where many classes are moving all or partially online, and even offline classes typically include online work. We live in a connected, online world. In many industries, business is largely conducted online, and more are moving that way. The skills necessary to work and communicate in an online environment are important, and it doesn’t hurt to begin to develop them early.

It's time for the 2012–2013 K¹² Art Competition

Did you know that according to Edutopia.org, "years of research have shown that arts education is closely linked to almost everything that we as a nation say we want for our children and demand from our schools: academic achievement, social and emotional development, civic engagement, and equitable opportunity. Involvement in the arts is associated with gains in math, reading, cognitive ability, critical thinking, and verbal skill. Arts learning can also improve motivation, concentration, confidence, and teamwork."?

Giving students a fun way to explore their creative side and an opportunity to be recognized for their talents is the goal of our annual Art Competition, a K¹² program created to encourage creativity through the arts.