News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
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Congratulations, graduates — the day is here. It’s been coming a long time. If you start counting with first grade it’s been 12 years. If you begin from their first year with a teacher, as in pre-school, it could be as many as 16 years. That’s a long time to stick with something. A celebration is well in order. How is it possible that so many of our young ones have reached this day, and done it well? The 2024 Sisters’ graduation rate will be above 90 percent. As well deserved as it is, they didn’t do it by themselves.... Full story
In a recent magazine, an advertisement appeared with a young man wearing a sling across his chest, carrying an infant. The purpose of the ad was to send the message that it was “cool” to be a dad. Yes! To be a dad is cool. Where would we be without them (beyond replenishing our species)? Where are we when they are absent? It’s easy to think of the many practical things dads do — fixing things, earning an income, transporting to and from events, teaching a firm handshake, helping with chores, and giving strong, bear hugs to... Full story
Since May is the month we traditionally honor mothers, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the many things they do in that role. In many small ways their love manifests itself in common gestures that are easily overlooked as important. Yet so important. From the time of a child’s birth a mother’s hands are there to cradle, clean, caress, and correct. Have you ever given thought to what life would be like without those four “C’s”? In the worst scenario, a child would not live, unless someone else stepped forward to perform tho... Full story
Recently I came across a reminder that the Harry Potter books are not about never failing, but rather are about rising every time we fall. The story about the Sorcerer’s Stone is a great illustration of how overcoming obstacles creates growth. Those words took me immediately back to the article, “Ten Things You Should Do Now So Your Kids Know How to Deal with Failure,“ by Dr. Jill M. Richardson, and her emphasis on the value of failing. A primary piece of that article emphasized the value of play and what it teaches kids.... Full story
The children of our community are in good hands, in their classrooms, and in relationships with their parents. This is obvious every time I have a chance to listen to or meet one of the young people in our district. Knowing that, I am also aware of how difficult the job of being a parent is. I believe it is the hardest and the most important job we will ever have. It can also be extremely satisfying and rewarding. There is no manual of how to do this job. We are on our own, and often the examples that have gone before us... Full story
Plunging into 2024 we are at a new beginning, one that takes place every year when the clock strikes midnight on January first. With it comes resolutions to do “better” — better at the goals we’ve put in front of us. Determined, this year, we will succeed! With that in mind, consider thoughtfully the value of not succeeding. The value of making mistakes. Recently, on “Hidden Brain,” an NPR program, Amy Edmondson, a Harvard researcher and author of “The Right Kind of Wrong, The Science of Failure,” shared data that revealed w... Full story
The Back-to-School Breakfast for teachers and all employees of District 6 took place on August 29. Being on the Sisters School Board I felt an obligation to accept the invitation to attend. Sitting next to a middle school math teacher I was greeted by many from my days of teaching parents for Together For Children, 25 years ago. I instantly felt connected. I was immediately swept away by the camaraderie that permeated the room. Starting with the District Office and continuing with each of the principals and department heads,... Full story
Recently, while purging notes and flip charts from earlier teaching days, I came across the notes from a class entitled “Stay Away from the Rocker.” It was a class for an adult education program, and I was much too young to teach it. Now, being older, and, knowing the median age in Sisters is hovering just under 50, I thought it would be interesting to revisit its premise and see what guidelines it might have. The main idea was that to age successfully you had to minimize the negative physical aspects of your life while opt... Full story
The article “Recounting life in Sisters’ forest” which appeared in the October 12 issue of The Nugget, recounted the story of Buddy Blair and his family, living in the forest near Sisters. It inspired me to write and encourage everyone to attend the Town Hall discussion on October 20 on homelessness. I won’t be there because of a previous obligation; however, if I were to attend, I could share my experience of welcoming a houseless woman into my home. A request came across my computer, seeking a single woman, perhaps a widow... Full story
In preparing a presentation about the Sisters School District and what the school board on which I serve does, I started off with our mission statement: “An education community that creates belonging prepares and inspires.” A few days later I was reminded of the words from another school. This one is private and located in Oakland, California. Their words describe their school as a place that promotes “scholarship, diversity, and citizenship.” I am also serving on the board of the High Desert Education District. Their s... Full story
America, the melting pot of the world! A phrase I’ve grown up with that said all are welcome here. That this is a place where dreams come true. If you work hard enough and stick with it, anything is possible, for all people. Listening to the news, I am struck by how wrong that concept can be. Yes, for a white, middle-class woman, it has been true, as it was for my parents, my brothers and sister, and my children. From all observations, it will be true for their children too. Instead, I am beginning to see that this melting p... Full story
I attended the Central Oregon Early Learning Conference held at COCC last month and came away excited, inspired, and full of hope. Hope in today’s societal atmosphere is often missing and it was invigorating to experience it. What made me so hopeful was hearing information that can make a difference to many parents and children in Sisters, and throughout our state. A recent development in the Oregon Department of Education is the organization of the new Early Learning and Care Division, headed up by Alyssa Chatterjee. As a m... Full story
On the morning of December 7, 1941, the Honolulu RCA office received and delivered the last warning of an imminent attack that was sent to the military command in Hawaii. Detailed in Sisters author Valarie Anderson’s recently released book “Pearl Harbor’s Final Warning: A Man, A Message, and Paradise Lost” are the chronological happenings of what took place after it arrived, and how coding snafus caused it to arrive at Fort Shafter nearly two hours after the initial Pearl H... Full story
While reading the commentary in the October 13 issue of The Nugget entitled “Resilient Sisters must be ambidextrous,” it occurred to me that what was being talked about was flexibility. Mitchell Luftig, the author, was referring to a concept that Michele Gelfand of the University of Maryland referenced as knowing which circumstances in life require tightening restrictions and when it’s OK to loosen them. The article’s premise was in relation to the collective threat of the pandemic. I’d like us to think about it in relation... Full story
It’s always uncomfortable admitting you’ve made a mistake — especially if you need to do it publicly. There are times, however, that it is important to do that, and this is one of those times. I recently was scammed. This occurred when some very convincing, sincere-sounding “gentlemen” sent an email to my computer. Their intention was to take advantage of anyone vulnerable to their message — mainly a senior with limited income. I became a victim by responding anxiously to an inappropriate charge of a large s... Full story
In Gretchen Matos’s column, “It’s All About the Little Things,” in the March 24 edition of The Nugget, she talks about the value of volunteering and highlights the many opportunities there are in Sisters. She points out that it’s many little things, that create the fiber that makes up our very special community. I agree with her and would like to encourage all of us to look for ways we can add to that fiber. One area I hope we don’t overlook is recognizing the benefits of volunteering with our kids. Whether it’s puttin... Full story
Hearing that six Dr. Seuss books will no longer be published due to racially hurtful messages, I started to wonder what other stories in children’s literature may also need to be examined? One that immediately came to mind is “Little Black Sambo.” Originally a story that took place in India, written in 1899 entitled “The Story of Little Babaji,” it was a story that garnered attention of American civil rights activists in the 1930s and ’40s. The title was changed to “The Story of Little Black Sambo,” depicting a very dark-ski... Full story
Valentine’s Day has come and gone — yet, love lingers. Traditionally, Valentine’s Day is a time to send cards, give gifts of candy and flowers, and proclaim our love to those we care about. It’s a lovely day and too bad we have to wait a year for it to roll around again. Not that we have to be perpetually giving gifts — but wouldn’t it be nice to let those we love hear it proclaimed more often, especially by our kids? To hear the words, “I love you,” as often as possible, can make a profound difference... Full story
What do we say to our kids in the wake of the events of January 6, 2021? I ask this question knowing many of us feel what we witnessed was unbelievable, incomprehensible, and inexcusable. No matter our political affiliation, there are lessons to be learned by us adults and our kids. This is a teachable moment of which I implore every parent, with children old enough to understand what happened, to take advantage. What are these lessons? • Preparedness. Without more information, none of us know why the Capitol Police... Full story
As we move into 2021 it’s hard not to approach it with fear and worry, considering the year we’re putting behind us. When this is the mindset we adults carry forth, it is sure to be picked up by the children in our lives, whether we verbalize it or not. An important question is how can we avoid passing on these negative vibes to our kids? Probably the most important thing we can do is to find a way to change our perspective. Even if it happens in small increments, it can make a difference. Finding a way to start each day reme... Full story
As we close in on Thanksgiving, one of the most celebrated holidays in our country, I’d like to share with you a quote I recently received from The Waterfront Depot in Florence: Generosity is a resistance to the fear that we won’t have enough, the illusion that we can control the future, and the walls we put up that separate us. Every small act of generosity has the ability to fight back by creating a counter culture of joy, freedom and unity. We all have something to give. Whether it’s a smile so big that it can be seen... Full story
How strange to have Halloween happen without the traditional celebrations special to Sisters. One of the highlights of the fall for my deceased husband, Ted, was to volunteer as a Rotarian at the annual parade on Cascade Avenue. He so enjoyed watching merchants and friends, dressed in costume as they greeted kids “trick or treating.” How sad it had to be canceled along with the fun celebration at the fire station. It is unfortunate that they were canceled, as those events allowed young and old to dress-up, pretend they wer... Full story
In the August 26 issue of The Nugget we learned about a promise that has been granted to Sisters. A promise that will change the lives of 3- and 4-year-olds living in our school district. However, it is a promise that can’t be kept while schools are mandated to keep their doors closed. That promise is money that has been awarded to the Sisters School District to provide 18 preschool spots to families that apply and qualify. Preschool Promise, awarded through the Oregon Department of Education Early Learning Division, is desig... Full story
Our country is going through a radical change, and our children are watching and observing. I’m talking about the movement against racism. The June 8 webpage of www.afineparent.com shared an article entitled “How to Talk to Your Kids About Race.” Young babies categorize, separating things into shapes, color, gender and even race. By 6 months they can distinguish colors of skin. By 3 years old they are already forming biases, often picking playmates with the same color of skin as their own. These discriminations are not taugh... Full story
Heading into another week of the stay-at-home order, how are you adapting? It’s certainly not easy! Not the least of these adaptions is the homeschooling that has been thrust upon parents. For families with younger children the need to be creative is a challenge. Some fun examples: tape on a sidewalk in a stained-glass pattern to be colored in with chalk; an extra-large cardboard box becoming a playhouse; and surprising friends by hiding plastic eggs in the friends’ yard, leaving a note, ringing the doorbell and running awa... Full story
