Sign Up for Chess Club and Math League

Chess Club

Saturdays, 2:30-3:30, October 22, 2016 - November 12, 2016
• Students entering 3rd - 8th grade are welcome to attend.
• Club size limited to 6!
• Cost: $90


Competitive Math League Lessons

Saturdays (times below), October 22, 2016-December 3, 2016
(6 sessions-no session Nov. 26)
Cost: $120 for 6 sessions 

Saturdays (times below), October 22, 2016-January 28, 2017
(12 sessions, no sessions on Nov. 26 or Dec.24 or 31)
Cost:$ 200 for 12 sessions

3rd/4th Graders 3:30-4:30
5th/6th Graders 4:30-5:30     
If interested in grades 7-12, see Betty.

• Class size limited to 6!

Students strengthen math skills by working through problems and by preparing for math competitions like Math Kangaroo and American Math Competitions (AMC)!                                      


Parent Information Session to learn more about
Competitive Math Leagues 

Saturday, 2:30-3:30, September 24, 2016
   
Learn how your children can strengthen their math skills by working through problems and by preparing for math competitions like Math Kangaroo and American Math Competitions (AMC)!
                                        

For more information and to sign up for any or all of these sessions, contact Betty at (973) 425-1774 or Betty@foundationforlearning.com                                                                            

Foundation for Learning
914 Mt. Kemble Avenue, Morristown, NJ

Letter from Betty for September 2016

Hello Friends,

The first day of school for most local students is just days away! Now is the time for your family to enjoy familiar traditions for the first day of school, or start some new ones. Get some great ideas about this with our feature article for September, "Kick Off the School Year with New Traditions."

Find out in which year the first ever Labor Day Parade was held (hint: it was before the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge), and in what city, in this month's bonus article: "Did You Know? Fun Facts About Labor Day."

Consider a trip to an apple orchard, plus try a tasty recipe for Apple Ring Pancakes in our second bonus article: "Fun Stuff to Do: Apple Season."

As always, please remember that whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, SAT/ACT test prep, and educational evaluations. Please don't hesitate to give us a call at 973-425-1774 for a free consultation.


Best regards,

Betty

Betty Bodenweiser
Director
Foundation for Learning

September 2016 Test Schedule

Mark your calendar! Here are the latest test dates.

 

Kick Off the School Year with New Traditions

You’ve seen the “first day of school” photos on Pinterest. They are even more clever than the photos of us that our mom’s took as we headed back after our summer break. “First day of school” photos are great but we thought that it would be really fun to start your own family traditions in addition to the time-honored photo. Below are some ideas we came up with:

Do breakfast up right
Do your children have a special breakfast that they love that normally is reserved for the holidays? Cook them a send-off feast on the first day! Not only will they be heading off to school feeling full and happy, but it just may help ease their jitters by starting their day on a fun, positive note.

Give them the gift of time
If you work outside the home, arrange to take the day off so that you can ease into the day with your children rather than feeling the rush to get everyone out the door, including yourself, and so you can greet them when they return at the end of the day. This will allow you to sit and have a special treat with them and give them the opportunity to talk at leisure about their new teacher, classes and friends. 

Present them with a special surprise gift
On the night before that first day, surprise them with that school supply they were yearning for but was more of a wish item rather than a need item. Whether it’s a fancy Trapper-keeper, fun lunchbox, colored pencil set, whatever, wrap it up like a present and let them open it just before bedtime.

Make a schulute cone
What’s a schulute cone? A tradition in Germany, Czech Republic and Austria is to make a large decorated cone constructed from cardboard or heavy stock paper and to fill it with small candies and other trinkets. What fun it will be for the kids to receive one of these special cones on their first day of school!

Plan a lunchtime surprise
Tuck an encouraging note, some stickers or other tiny surprise into your child’s lunchbox. He’ll love finding the small, unexpected treasure.

Plan a welcome home activity
If your child is nervous about heading to back to school, plan an activity that you can do together once he gets home. A trip to a museum, a nature hike, a movie, a trip to the bookstore to pick out a special book, there are many choices. That way, your child will have something to look forward to whenever anxiety kicks in during the day.

Go all out with a new school-year fest
Why not really celebrate with a true party? Perfect for the day or so before that first day back, invite special classmates over for a pizza party, rollerskating adventure, movie night, or cook-out. Decorate the party room or table, take silly photos (include props!), give out cute take-home gifts to pass out as the party winds down. Everyone is sure to enjoy getting back in touch with each other after being apart over the summer break.

No matter which activity you choose, your child is bound to appreciate the extra effort you took to make his return to school a special one and he will remember this special new family tradition!. 
 

Did You Know? Fun Facts About Labor Day

                     The first ever Labor Day Parade.

1. Labor Day was started by Peter McGuire, who is considered the father of the holiday. He was an Irish-American union leader who wanted citizens that “labored” all year long be honored and have a day off to relax.
2. Labor Day has been a nationally celebrated holiday in the U.S. since 1894 and is also honored in Canada.
3. The first Labor Day parade was held in New York City on Sept. 5, 1882, eight months before the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge.
4. Organizers picked the first week of September to celebrate Labor Day because it’s the downtime between the 4th of July and Thanksgiving. 
5. Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day an official holiday. This happened in 1887, five years after the very first parade.
6. President Grover Cleveland decided that the first Monday of every September would be set aside to celebrate Labor Day. 
7. During the Industrial Revolution, Americans worked (on average) 12-hour days, seven days a week. And it wasn’t just adults. Young children worked in factories and mills throughout the nation.
8. Labor Day is celebrated on a different day in most countries. Many have chosen May Day (May 1st) as their day to honor working people.
9. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it takes the average American nearly 30 minutes to get to their job. 
10. Remember the old adage about not being able to wear white after Labor Day? Fear not, wearing white all year long is now an acceptable practice. 

Fun Stuff to Do: Apple Season

  

Bundle up and take your family to a pick-your-own apple orchard! There’s nothing like the taste of fresh fruit picked from the tree and the bonus is that you’ll be showing your children where their food comes from.

When you get home, gather everyone together for a fun afternoon making Apple Ring Pancakes. Your children will love being able to eat the “fruits” of their labor!

Apple Ring Pancakes

• Wash and core an apple. Cut into ¼ inch rings. 
• Prepare pancake batter using your favorite recipe or using the tried-and true Bisquick mix. Stir in a bit of cinnamon.
• Melt butter in a skillet.
• Dip each ring into the pancake batter and immediately drop into the hot skillet.
• Flip each ring once browned.
• Serve in a stack with warm maple syrup drizzled over the top. Yum!