The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

When I hear that Oregon is third from the bottom nationwide in graduation rates I wonder aloud, "How can that be?" Living in a state with numerous opportunities for enrichment, this doesn't seem possible. Taking that thought a bit forward I... — Updated 12/31/2018 Full story

As I watched with horror the terrible event that unfolded last week at the school in Florida I wondered what I could say to help parents in Sisters as their children become aware of this terrible tragedy. Events such as these can be... — Updated 2/21/2018 Full story

As the school year gets underway in Sisters, parents are eager to help their students have the best possible experience. How that plays out through the year greatly depends on what takes place in the opening weeks of the school year. One of... — Updated 9/12/2017 Full story

Thanksgiving - what a wonderful holiday! We hear that more people travel for this yearly celebration to be with family and friends than any other during the year. Its traditions, wonderful food, reconnecting and bringing out the fine china.... — Updated 11/15/2016 Full story

Measure 99 would allocate 4 percent of funds from the Oregon Lottery toward Outdoor School, a program that brings fifth-and sixth-grade students to one of the state's designated camp areas for a week. As the former owner and director of... — Updated 9/27/2016 Full story

Recently I read an article about the joys of taking your toddler camping and it took me back to the days when my adult children were little. The memories of those excursions are very precious and the results, as shown in the way they are... — Updated 8/16/2016 Full story

Summer! What a wonderful time for reunions, traveling, exploring, adventures, and introducing your kids to new cultures. I'm not talking about cultures of different countries. I'm referring to the many cultures found here in our own United S... — Updated 7/19/2016 Full story

All of us were shocked with horror at the killings in Orlando. Something few adults could ever imagine, much less our kids. What do you tell them? How do you explain something so unimaginable? The first rule of thumb when something like... — Updated 6/28/2016 Full story

In years past, a father's purpose was to establish the linage and wealth of the family. That wealth often determined prestige, opening up pathways for advancement into society. Everything else, the nurturing, loving, teaching, discipline,... — Updated 6/14/2016 Full story

Kindergarten Roundup, an important event for the five-year-olds in Sisters, is set for Thursday, May 5, at 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. This is one of those milestones that marks the beginning of a special journey - the journey into the formal ed... — Updated 5/3/2016 Full story

Your child's education and development doesn't start when she walks through the doors into kindergarten. In fact, much of your child's critical development takes place before kindergarten starts. There is much every parent can do to assure... — Updated 3/1/2016 Full story

Earlier this month we asked the question, "Are there helicopter parents in Sisters?" Parents are asking: "How do you avoid falling into the trap of being over-protective or rescuing? You certainly don't want your kids to fail and experience... — Updated 1/19/2016 Full story

A "Helicopter Parent" is a parent who is always "hovering and rescuing." It's a negative label. Since it appears to be a universal expression, what does it mean in Sisters and how are the parents here avoiding or embracing this model of... — Updated 1/5/2016 Full story

Great schools need many things. They need teachers passionate about what they teach, highly qualified to teach their subjects and who know how to open up new worlds for their students. They encourage dialogue and exploration, offer positive... — Updated 10/21/2014 Full story

It's that time again: The time of the year when Healthy Beginnings brings their crew of volunteers to Sisters to provide free screenings for any child from birth through 5 years old, not yet enrolled in kindergarten. The screening is set... — Updated 10/22/2013 Full story

April is a month when a great deal of focus is given to children. Prevention of child abuse is emphasized all month and The Week of the Young Child appropriately lands in the middle (April 14-20). This is an annual celebration sponsored by... — Updated 4/23/2013 Full story

As we begin a new year and look back to the holidays, we can't help but think of the horrendous act of violence that happened in a small Connecticut town, one not unlike Sisters. It isn't hard to relate to the parents and community that... — Updated 1/8/2013 Full story