JAK CHAT

Library Summer Reading Programs of Heroic Proportions! by Just Add Kids Founder, Paula Herrmann Reading over the summer months can make a huge difference for kids when they get back to school in the fall. With a lack of summer reading, children can actually loose up to three months in reading skill. Summer reading loss is cumulative, leaving some kids years behind as they get older. By the end of 6th grade, kids who lose reading skills over the summer may end up being two years behind their classmates. Wow! I know, you don't want your kid to end up on the low end of the reading spectrum. Don't let your kiddo's reading skills take a blow this summer. Read more... Our area libraries have once again come to the rescue in offering summer reading program incentives under "Every Hero Has a Story" and/or "Escape the Ordinary",  this years themes for a nationwide summer reading program collaborative of public libraries. POW! P retty O utstanding W ins for th...

Allergies! Sponsored by Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare- All Saints It’s spring in Wisconsin and for many of us that means allergies. And with seasonal allergies comes sniffing, sneezing, and watery eyes… which can mean months of misery.   Allergies are not only annoying; they can affect your quality of life. At All Saints, our allergy/immunology physicians work with patients of all ages who are suffering from allergies and other immune system diseases. Allergies are the leading chronic disease in the United States. Often allergy symptoms develop gradually over a period of time, so sufferers may become so accustomed to these chronic symptoms that they don’t consider their symptoms to be unusual.  Read more... Allergists can help prevent or control a variety of chronic symptoms including: Sneezing Nasal congestion Wheezing Coughing Asthma Difficulty breathing Eye irritation Skin irritation How is an allergy diagnosed? This begins with a clinical examination and taking a me...

With Miracle Whip: The Sandwich Generation by Just Add Kids Founder, Paula Herrmann That's the life I'm being served up, at this time. That of the "sandwich generation".  I've recently stepped into the role of caring for my aging parents while supporting my own children. Wowza, did that happen fast! Thank God I have siblings that are pitching in. To recap... (Read more....) 2 weeks ago ..."Then finally, on the path to back surgery, my dad's health has significantly diminished. Not sure what exactly has happened here. But he surely isn't the same man he was only a short month ago. So with this intro, I've gotta run. It's back to my parents place to help my mom navigate through this strange, unwanted new world as we work with professionals to figure out....what the heck is going on?"    Last week ..."Above was the introduction to last week's JAK Happenings weekly e-newsletter. That next day, Friday, May 1st, my dad was taken to the...

Human Trafficking is not a “Crime du Jour” by JAK's guest mom blogger from Racine, Karri Hemmig Human Trafficking is not a “Crime du Jour” Recent sentencing in the Riverside case has caused human trafficking in Racine County to once again be in the news. Mr. Richards, Weatherspoon’s attorney, referred to it as the “crime du jour”, and dismissed it as a passing phase. The sentence handed down was 6 years in prison with 10 years probation. Four of those years were due to possession of a weapon with a felony, again supporting the idea that illegally possessing a gun is a more severe punishment than selling another human.   Read more...   We understand that these cases can be very difficult to prosecute and commend the DA’s office and the Judge for the harshest sentence given to date on human trafficking crimes in Racine County. The juvenile trafficking charge was dropped in a plea agreement and carries a much harsher sentence.   Simply put: If you sell yourself and keep 100% of the p...

Children and Concussions Sponsored by Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare- All Saints Every sport your child plays comes with the risk of a concussion. Risks are present even just when they are socially playing indoors or outdoors. As a parent, it is important to know the risks, symptoms, and treatment options for concussions. Would you recognize the signs of a concussion? Read more... A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury, and all concussions are significant. A person does not need to lose consciousness to suffer from a concussion. A person can sustain a concussion without a direct blow to the head. Concussions left untreated can cause long-term problems. It is common for a concussed athlete to have one or many concussion symptoms and they evolve and emerge 24–48 hours after the injury occurs. Concussion Symptoms Physical Headache Nausea/vomiting Dizziness Balance problems Fatigue Sensitivity to light/noise Numbness Emotional Feeling mentally foggy Feeling slowed d...

 Empowering Parents to Equip Their Children for Success Written by guest mom blogger from Racine, Lindsay Knapp "The Parent Empowerment Initiative (PEI) is a community supported effort to give parents and caretakers the tools they need to raise children who are equipped for the future." Aside from being a mouthful to say, ... what is the Parent Empowerment Initiative really? Read more... In real terms - this initiative consists of 12 electives, taught by our own community members, on topics ranging from "finance management" to "leadership development in your children". We currently meet twice a month at Living Light Community Center for an hour on Tuesday nights to gain understanding and education on various subjects - both pragmatic and soft-skill parental. Our hope is to raise awareness regarding the needs within our community, and to address some of those challenges head-on through education and relational support for families. Currently, the city of Ra...

Considering Online Public School? Sponsored by Wisconsin Virtual Academy   A tuition-free, online public school option for grades K-12 Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA), authorized by the McFarland School District, is a full-time, tuition-free, online public school option for students in grades K-12 living anywhere in the state of Wisconsin. We provide an individualized, high-quality education. Our goal is to deliver a personalized, high-quality education so that each child may reach his or her full potential through: Read more... Individualized Learning and Personal Attention: Every child receives an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) and one-to-one attention. You will experience a close learning partnership between you, your child, and Wisconsin-licensed teachers. We provide a mastery-based approach to learning in grades K–8, and multiple course levels and support in grades 9–12. Exceptional, Extensive Curriculum: Our school offers more course offerings than most brick-and-mortar sch...