December 10th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Total gym workouts are the key to developing and sustaining a healthy and strong body. There is a trend for bodybuilders just to concentrate on one limited area, and miss out on the holistic benefits of full body training. Here, we show you the benefits of a total gym workout.
Phase 1
When you start a total gym workout, you should start by doing cardio work. Warming up is essential for any athletic endeavor, and with bodybuilding, you want to get the limbs loose and the blood pumping. Warming up will also help burn off excess fat. Running is a very common way of warming up, but for something really strenuous try the boxer’s training of skipping.
Phase 2
People often start total gym workouts by working the arms or legs, but this really makes little sense. It makes a lot more sense to end your workout with your limbs, as tiring them early will mean that your arms will only be able to handle reduced weights during the rest of your workout, and your legs will not be able to carry you as vigorously around the gym. Working the chest and back first is a much better progression. Try to use dumbbell bench presses to enhance your chest, and if you have a pec deck, use that. It is not so easy to work your back, but you can do lat pull downs and deadlifts if you have access to the right equipment, and these should produce very satisfactory results.
Phase 3
The arms can come next, and this is a favorite area of so many bodybuilders. You can look forward to this part of your total gym workout, as your arms can produce the most visible results from your hard work. Too many people don’t consider that there are 3 sets of muscles in the arm, so you need to exercise them all in turn. You can try some dumbbell curls which benefit the biceps, some triceps pulldowns which will build the triceps (hard work!), and then forearms curls and reverse forearm curls to enhance your forearm muscles. If you work this hard, you will see for yourself why this is not a good place to start!
Phase 4
Time now for some leg work. Even with total gym workouts, many people overlook the legs, unless they are competitive bodybuilders. As the legs do a lot of work carrying the rest of your body, they respond well to exercise. Start out by doing squats to build your thighs, and if you try single footed heel raises for your calves you should find them highly effective. The hamstrings are the final part, and although they will be exercised by default during your running and warming up, you can also do some basic leg curls which will increase the effect.
This will show you that total workouts can be simple enough, and not take that much time, and also that working the whole body is far more effective.
As accounting educators, CPAs are members of the faculties of community colleges, colleges of business administration, and graduate schools of business. This study noted that the accounting majors in the School of Business were clearly the most satisfied majors with their business education. What’s more, B-schools see accounting as a profession that has been relegated to second-tier status, the backwater of the business world. The curriculum has been arranged so that students who major in accounting in this Business School can also take those lectures. FacultiesSchools of accounting, business law, economics and finance, information systems, management and more.
Healy, who teaches accounting at the Business School, said that undergraduates would not fit easily into his class. Smith School of Business, through its teaching and research, enables members of the accounting profession to meet the financial information needs of their stakeholders. The accounting major is excellent preparation for managerial careers in business, graduate study in business, law school and legal careers. In accounting school you will be trained in the fundamentals of business economics, auditing, ERP systems, general ledger and accounting systems, bookkeeping, and more.
The School ensures that the necessary data, tools, and personnel are available to provide excellent support for accounting and financial economics-based empirical research. The School of Accounting is committed to adding value to the development of students, to research, to the profession and wider community. Several Smith School accounting faculty members are also actively engaged in research on information assurance. Bian currently teaches financial and management accounting in the School.Bian current research interests include charities and de-listing of quoted companies. Leading accounting academics from well-known schools present and discuss their research at weekly workshops.
The curriculum has been arranged so that students who major in accounting in this Business School can also take those lectures. The accounting major is excellent preparation for managerial careers in business, graduate study in business, law school and legal careers. Remember an education is a major financial investment.It is imperative that you select the online accounting school that is right for you. In addition, as report preparation is automated a school may want to interface the accounting system to the report to facilitate its preparation. FacultiesSchools of accounting, business law, economics and finance, information systems, management and more.
Friedman, the director of undergraduate studies for Harvard economics department, said that undergraduates could get their accounting fix at the University graduate schools. In accounting school you will be trained in the fundamentals of business economics, auditing, ERP systems, general ledger and accounting systems, bookkeeping, and more. As accounting educators, CPAs are members of the faculties of community colleges, colleges of business administration, and graduate schools of business. Call today and discover why PTI has earned the reputation as one of the best Accounting Administration schools in the country. From administration to accounting to registrar duties, HeadMaster’s flexible, customizable interface provides a complete solution for your school’s office. This study noted that the accounting majors in the School of Business were clearly the most satisfied majors with their business education.
The School provides a dynamic and stimulating visiting speaker series in accounting, finance, and related fields. Several Smith School accounting faculty members are also actively engaged in research on information assurance. Smith School of Business, through its teaching and research, enables members of the accounting profession to meet the financial information needs of their stakeholders. “By a considerable margin, the gift is the largest grant ever made to an accounting school or department,” Merchant said. The School of Accounting is committed to adding value to the development of students, to research, to the profession and wider community. Bian currently teaches financial and management accounting in the School.Bian current research interests include charities and de-listing of quoted companies.
Our distance learning accounting school can give you the freedom to make your career anything you want it to be. In terms of learning you will get a bigger slice of your professor guidance.Ask the prospective school about their accounting graduates. As well, there are an increasing number of online schools with accounting and bookkeeping programs available to New York students. As a Merrick School graduate, you be equipped to handle the complex demands of a challenging career in accounting or to pursue further study. FRS’s are part of generally accepted accounting practice, and schools are required to comply with the accounting treatments they prescribe. Depending on when you apply to accounting school, you will have to time when you take your required standardized exams.
The authors surveyed high school students to measure their impressions of, and interest in, accounting careers. This is the first accounting school among all the national universities in Japan! A good starting place is to listen to high school students perceptions of the accounting profession. The school seeks individuals who have the potential for outstanding achievement in accounting, auditing, or taxation. Healy, who teaches accounting at the Business School, said that undergraduates would not fit easily into his class. Recommended for: This school is for those individuals who possess some accounting experience, but are newcomers to governmental accounting in New York. Assist schools in achieving and maintaining accredited graduate accounting programs.
That means it is easy for school bookkeepers without formal accounting training to learn and use! Think about how you can increase YOUR chances of getting into accounting school. Students in the School benefit directly from the support provided by the Accounting Circle in the form of scholarships and program improvements. is a public accounting firm specializing in audits of municipalities, school districts, charter schools and non-profit organizations. The School ensures that the necessary data, tools, and personnel are available to provide excellent support for accounting and financial economics-based empirical research. If you are unsure of what constitutes `materially correct’ for your school, please contact your school accountant, accounting service provider, or auditor.
What’s more, B-schools see accounting as a profession that has been relegated to second-tier status, the backwater of the business world. Diamond was named as interim dean of the accounting school. Anyone interested in more information about either the school or taking the accounting qualification test should call Mr. Changes to school accounting systems as a result of the introduction of FRS-3 are summarised below. .accounting-master-degree.com/accounting-school/
Heroes inspire. Everyone wants to be associated with ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary feats. Recently, educators have recognized the importance of using heroes to teach children and adolescents various subject matters ranging from values to science.
Tony R. Sanchez, Assistant Professor of Social Studies Education at Purdue University recognizes that using role models and heroes can be quite effective when teaching values education. He claims that by examining the spirit of heroism, it serves as an invitation for the students to adopt the heroic spirit for themselves.
Dr. Mae Jemison, the first African-American in space, created the Jemison Group, which aims to bring the technological advancements to people across the globe and hopefully nourish students’ love for science. This explorer hero is very active in her undertakings. Schools on the other hand are actively using her as an example when teaching science. A few years ago, West Clayton Elementary School invited the astronaut to give a talk about space travel. After the visit, a significant number of students became more engaged in the subject matter. Children are inspired to learn of the countless possibilities that await them if they try hard enough to pursue their dreams.
The use of heroes in the classroom is becoming more and more popular. However, careful thought should be put in the curriculum design if educators want to ensure the effectiveness of the method. Here are a few tips:
The instructor needs to find a suitable hero to use. There is not generic hero that can be used across all subject matter, although heroes by and large have universal attributes. For instance, it may be more appropriate to use Michael Jordan as a role model when teaching sports rather than using Oprah.
It is important that the instructor does not take away the human-element in heroes. They are not super humans, and it is important for children and young adults to understand this. They need to know that they can be their idols; they can be the heroes who always put things into perspective, who makes sound decisions based on careful reasoning and who thinks of the greater good more than self-interest. Students need to be able to see the hero potential in each of them.
Hurricanes cause billions of dollars in damage each year, including damage to computers. Unfortunately, computers can be much harder to replace if lost than other electronics because of the data contained on their hard drives and time spent tweaking and overclocking them. Being a Katrina evacuee and survivor myself, I know how important a computer can be after a natural disaster. With hurricane season looming in the days ahead, I decided to write a guide to help people protect their computers and data during a natural disaster.
Part I: Backing Up Data And Things to Have
Hurricane season or not, you should always be backing up your data. Whether you plan on riding out the storm (a bad idea) or evacuating to another location, you should have a backup of your computer data either on an external hard drive or optical media such as CD-Rs or a DVD. Be sure to keep your data in a very safe place, such as a water proof safe. Never leave your backup by your computer.
Next, you should have the following things to make life after the storm easier:
1. Phone numbers for insurance, computer or computer parts companies, and phone numbers for all local ISPs (including dial-up and satellite). Having your insurance phone number and phone numbers for your computer company will help get your computer replaced faster if it is damaged. I can’t stress enough how important it is for you to have phone numbers and even access disks for all of your local ISPs! After Katrina, the Internet was the only way many people could contact the outside world. As fate would have it, my broadband was down for 3 weeks and none of the other broadband ISPs would except new orders due to the storm, leaving me with my old friend Dial Up, whom I thought I had buried 8 years ago. Your best bet is to use a satellite ISP as they have no equipment that can be destroyed by a hurricane and cause an outage.
2. Back ups of all your file, have all application and game discs, CD keys, drivers, and operating system discs on hand.
3. Photos of your computer as well as proof of what parts are inside.
In the event your quad SLI rig is destroyed, you don’t want your insurance company to replace it with something of a significantly lesser value, do you? It’s very easy for people to claim “I had this, this, and this and it all cost me $3000 last month.” after their 3 year old Athlon XP rig is destroyed. As a result, your insurance company may be hesitant to replace your expensive computer parts unless you can prove you own them. Also know to what extent your insurance (including flood insurance) will replace damaged property. While some policies will cover the replacement cost of damaged property, some may only cover part of the damage cost. Also know what your deductible is.
4. Blog or Social Networking Profile
Social networking sites such as myspace were great after Katrina. Friends could find out where other friends had evacuated to simply by reading each others’ myspaces.
5. Generator and Gas
A generator can power many things, including home computers! Check with your local generator supplier about any local laws about generators, how to safely and properly set one up, and how well they will work with computers. Because generators provide unstable power, a battery backup UPS and a surge protector are a must. Do not count on gas to power your generator being available in the aftermath of the storm. It’s best to have a good supply of gas as well as a few empty gas containers on hand.
Part II: Evacuating with Your PC
Like any family members or pets you may have, your PC isn’t something to leave behind if you can avoid it. While your first priority should be getting out alive, you should consider bringing your PC with you if you can room in your car. You can’t count on your destination to have good computers, high speed Internet, or any entertaining activities for that matter. Being in another place during a hurricane is stressful. Between watching your home town being walloped on CNN and The Weather Channel, the people around you as well as yourself will be tense and worried. Having a nice computer to browse the web with and play Battlefield 2 is a sure entertainer. In fact, the Internet was the only place where I could get information about my very neighborhood after the storm! Local newspaper message boards were packed with evacuees from all over my area and had plenty of information about damage to share.
Even if you can’t bring your PC, at the very least bring your hard drive with you! If your home is looted in the aftermath of the storm, the last thing you want is your personal data in someone else’s hands. Be sure your hard drive is in an anti-static bag to avoid needless damage to it.
If taking a long road trip, you should probably place some sort of padding or foaming (even a blanket will work) around your computer or hard drive to protect it from the vibrations of the car. Don’t bring your monitor unless you have an LCD and there’s room for it.
Part III: Leaving Your PC at Home
If you don’t have room for your PC in your car, don’t plan on staying with it during the storm. There are several safeguards you can take to prevent unnecessary damage to your computer:
1. Cover any open parts of your computer case (such as fans and vents) with tape. Don’t use duct tape unless you want to risk taking paint off your case or a sticky mess.
2. Cover your computer with as many trash bags as you need. At least 2 trash bags per computer are recommended.
3. Consider how high your home is above sea level, the risk of flooding, and other factors. If you know your home could flood, you should put your computer on the second floor. But if you know your roof is weak and could easily blow off, don’t put it on the second floor! Find an enclosed space with no windows (such as a closet) as close to the center of your home as possible. If your computer case has a side window, make sure it’s facing towards the ground or against a wall. If you can, place other objects around your computer to offer it additonal protection from blowing rain and flying debris.
Part IV: When the Worst Happens
In the event your PC becomes damaged during the storm, don’t fret. If the damage is from a fallen tree or a piece of flying debri, there is nothing you can do. If your computer becomes flooded, however, there are steps you can take to recover it. Below is a basic guide on how to recover a flooded computer.
1. Do not turn on the computer! Make sure it is unplugged! While you may be anxious to see if your computer can run, don’t do it if you know it’s been exposed to water. You’ll just end up causing more damage if you do. Remember to keep your computer unplugged.
2. Remove components that work. If you can see a water line in your computer, take out all the components above it and put them in a safe place.
3. Let your computer dry. Let your computer dry for a week or so. One drop of water in a running computer could mean disaster.
4. Remove the CMOS battery and other parts.
5. Use a solution of 90% alcohol or more to wash the various components of your computer, including connectors. If necessary, use a paint brush to remove stubbon crud.
6. Let your computer dry completely.
If the above doesn’t work or you have data you can’t risk losing on your hard drive, consider professional computer recovery. Do not plan on salvaging the power supply, CMOS battery, the hard drive, optical drives, or any fans if they have been flooded. Also remember to take pictures of any damage to your computer before you attempt to fix it for insurance purposes.
Hopefully this guide will help people save their computers from hurricane related damage. A computer is a very useful tool that should be part of any good disaster supply kit. Trust me when I say it’s an important thing to have around. However, remember a computer is only a material possession. Like all material objects, they can be replaced. Human and animal life, however, cannot. Use good judgement when deciding whether or not to take your computer with you and while repairing it if it damaged.
Disclaimer: In no way is the author responsible for any actions you may take to save your computer from a hurricane or fix it after flooding. Any actions you choose regarding hurricanes and computers are taken at your own risk. For the sake of all, please use common sense during any natural disaster.
Family Math Nights
Seattle Schools hosted a series of Family Math Nights to help parents and students learn about upcoming changes and challenges to the Seattle Public School Mathematics Curriculum. Topics covered included helping your child with math at home, questions parents can ask, computational fluency, algorithms and mathematical proficiency, and relationships between research and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards.
Teachers and administrators at the Family Math Nights stressed the importance of deeply engaging all elementary school students in mathematics instruction that is meaningful in order to create a learning environment in which students are math literate. The meetings were led by Gini Stimpson, a University of Washington Mathematics Educator and Senior Researcher. Examples of student work from Seattle Public Schools were shared in order to show what students were currently learning and what more they needed to learn. In addition, parents received valuable suggestions for how to help their children improve math skills at home.
Mathematics Curriculum Adoption Overview
Seattle Public Schools began a district wide initiative to improve the mathematics curriculum in late 2005. The last time that new textbooks and curriculum were considered varied for each level of schooling. Seattle Public High Schools last revised their curriculum in 1993, elementary schools in 1998, and middle schools in 2000. The push for new textbooks and curriculum is based on the recognition that student achievement must improve in order to meet the new graduation requirements in Seattle Public Schools. In order to meet these new graduation requirements, research into the best mathematics programs available began.
After conducting extensive research into new mathematics curriculum, Seattle Public Schools concluded that the new programs must be similar for each grade so that students move progressively through a range of math experiences that reflect the same practices and approach. The research also indicated that the curriculum and instruction need to focus on the achievement standards in order for a high percentage of students to perform at the required proficiency. In order to monitor this, assessment needs to monitor student progress within and between grade levels. In addition, the cultural needs of students needs to be considered in developing effective instruction.
Mathematics Curriculum Timeline
In October 2005, the Seattle Public School District began the process by selecting a committee of teacher, parents, and administrators. This committee included representatives for English Language Learners, Special Education, and various ethnic groups. This committee sought feedback throughout the community to choose the best teaching program for Seattle Public School students. The community has had many opportunities to learn about the various programs and offer feedback on which ones would be most appropriate for Seattle Public School students.
From November 2005 to January 2006, the committee developed a screening process that offered opportunities for the community and families to increase awareness and understanding of the new mathematics curriculum and why it was chosen. From February to March, the committee evaluated the best candidate programs in order to recommend a program to the Seattle Public School Board. Based on their recommendation, the Seattle Public School Board determined the best mathematics program for the students
Base ten blocks are an excellent tool for teaching children the concept of addition because they allow children to touch and manipulate something real while learning important skills that translate well into paper and pencil addition. In this article, I will describe base ten blocks and how to use them to represent and add numbers.
The numbering system that children learn and the one most of us are familiar with is the base ten system. This essentially means that you can only use ten unique digits (0 to 9) in each place of a base ten number. For instance, in the number 345, there is a hundreds place, a tens place and a ones place. The only possible digits that could go in each place are the digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9. In this example, the place value of the ones place is 5.
Base ten blocks turn the base ten concept into something children can see and touch.
Base ten blocks consist of cubes, rods, flats, and blocks. Cubes represent the ones place and look exactly like their name suggests - a small cube usually one centimeter by one centimeter by one centimeter. Rods represent the tens place and look like ten cubes placed in a row and fused together. Flats, as you might have guessed, represent hundreds, and blocks represent thousands. A flat looks like one hundred cubes place in a 10 x 10 square and attached together. A block looks like ten flats piled one on top of the other and bonded together.
In order to use base ten blocks to add numbers, students should be familiar with how to represent numbers using base ten blocks. To see what base ten blocks look like, and to try them out, go to the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives:
nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_154_g_1_t_1.html
To represent a number using base ten blocks, make piles of base ten blocks to represent each place value. If your number was 2,784, you would make a pile of 2 blocks, a pile of 7 flats, a pile of 8 rods, and a pile of 4 cubes. It is useful to arrange the piles in a row in the same order that they appear in the number as that will be useful later on when children learn the paper and pencil algorithm.
Another useful skill to practice is trading base ten blocks. Each block can be traded for 10 flats, each flat for 10 rods, and each rod for 10 cubes. Going the other way, 10 cubes can be traded for one rod, 10 rods for one flat, and 10 flats for one block.
One simple use of base ten blocks that translates well to a paper and pencil method of addition is to add by regrouping. To add two or more numbers, start by representing each number with base ten blocks. Put all of the cubes from both numbers in the same pile; do this with the rods, flats, and blocks as well. Next, trade any groups of 10 cubes for a rod. Trade any groups of 10 rods for a flat; then trade any groups of 10 flats for a block. To read the resulting number, count the number of base ten blocks left in each pile and read the number.
To illustrate this procedure, picture the addition question, 568 + 693. After representing both numbers with base ten blocks and combining the piles of like base ten blocks, you should have a pile of 11 cubes, a pile of 15 rods, and a pile of 11 flats. Trading 10 of the cubes for 1 rod means you now have 1 cube, 16 rods and 11 flats. Trading 10 of the rods for one flat results in 1 cube, 6 rods, and 12 flats. Trading 10 of the flats for one block gives you your final piles of 1 cube, 6 rods, 2 flats, and 1 block. The answer to the addition question, therefore, is 1,261.
If you don’t have base ten blocks, you can use the virtual base ten blocks or make paper versions. If you need addition questions (with the answers included), you can access thousands of free math worksheets at .math-drills.com
In future articles, I will describe more uses for base ten blocks including subtraction and multiplication, and I will continue the series with other manipulatives that can help your child or student learn math.
If you are one of the nearly 200 million American cell phone users, you probably signed a contract to get a steal of a deal on your phone. While this contract might be fine and dandy if you stay in the same town or city, travelers risk high roaming and per minute fees if they venture out of service area. This is where unlocking your cell phone comes into play. So how will you know if your phone is locked? And how do you unlock it if it is?
Cell phones providers AT&T/Cingular and T-Mobile are GSM (Group Special Mobile) and can technically be used worldwide if unlocked. Sprint, Nextel and Verizon are not GSM providers and cannot be unlocked. If you have a SIM chip in your phone, then it is GSM and you can perform a mobile unlock on your cell.
Once you’ve determined your phone number and account are tied to your SIM chip, not your actual phone, you can then perform the following test to see if your phone is locked:
• Borrow an activated SIM chip from a friend using a different wireless service provider
• Install the borrowed SIM chip in your phone and turn it on
• Try calling your friend’s phone number from a LAN or other mobile phone
• If it rings on your phone, it is unlocked.
• If your mobile with the borrowed SIM does not have service or issues an error message, your phone is locked.
Once you have determined your cell is locked, there are two basic techniques to perform a mobile unlock. You may have to try both of them to accomplish a mobile unlock.
Some phones may be unlocked by entering a code into it. The code is usually unique for your particular phone based on the IMEI (serial number) and provider. The phone’s IMEI is usually found in the battery case. Don’t confuse this number with the SIM number, they are separate. You can search online for an online “unlock code calculator”, then will enter your IMEI and phone model.
Other phones need software to “talk” to their operating system to unlock. You typically connect your phone to your PC, run a software program and flash your phones memory. We can sell you cables and software programs for your phone for a mobile unlock.
In November 2005, Governor Rick Perry initiated the $10 million grant program for paying bonuses to school employees who have performed above expectations in raising student performance levels. One hundred Texas schools have been invited to participate in the Governor’s Educator Excellence Award Program. To date, 98 have accepted the invitation.
The chosen Texas Schools have a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students. Each school has demonstrated high levels of student achievement or marked student improvement. Each has been rated exemplary or recognized, which are the two top academic ratings that can be awarded to a school under the Texas schools’ accountability system; or they have shown strong performance gains in the areas of mathematics and reading.
Each school may apply for a three-year grant as follows:
• Schools with 449 students or less &ndash $60,000 a year grant,
• With 450 to 699 students &ndash $90,000 a year grant,
• 700 to 1,199 student &ndash $135,000 a year grant, or
• 1,200 students or more &ndash $180,000 a year grant.
To maintain eligibility for the grant program, the participating Texas schools must receive ratings of academically acceptable or better. Recommended bonus amounts range from $3,000 to $10,000 per individual.
Each school may develop a customized incentive pay program that fits their individual school, as long as the teachers are involved in its development and under the following guidelines:
• 75 percent of the grant money must be used for classroom teacher incentive pay;
• A classroom teacher must be employed by the Texas schools district and spend an average of four hours each day teaching in an academic setting or career/technology instructional setting;
• Award recipients must improve student performance and exceed academic growth expectations,
• Performance must be determined using objective and quantifiable measures, such as local benchmarking systems, end-of-course tests, and other assessments, and
• Recipients must have collaborated with other faculty and staff members to improve overall student performance at the school.
Athletic coaches are not eligible for the program, unless they also teach and qualify under the classroom teacher guidelines.
The customized incentive pay plans may take into account a teacher’s assignment in hard-to-staff areas that are specific to individual school districts. A teacher’s initiative and commitment to other activities that directly result in improved student performance also may be considered, such as tutoring students after school.
Some of the possible uses for the remaining 25 percent of the grant money are:
• To provide incentive pay for other school personnel who contribute to increased student achievement,
• Provide training to teachers,
• Support activities for mentoring,
• Teacher induction programs,
• Signing bonuses for teachers in high-need subject areas,
• Activities that support common planning time and curriculum development,
• Proven programs to recruit and retain teachers, and
• Stipends for teachers who participate in after school or Saturday programs, which are designed to improve teaching and learning.
Though 12 percent of the Texas schools’ districts have some type of teacher incentive pay program, this is the first state program in almost 20 years. When Texas schools achieve exceptional results, the principals always give credit to their teachers and staffs. The Intent of the Governor’s excellence award program is to say a very sincere “thank you” to the teachers and staff who go the extra mile to help students succeed
The Commonwealth of Virginia and Governor Timothy M. Kaine have for some time been encouraging Virginia Schools high school students to take more rigorous coursework. The Governor recently announced the pilot Commonwealth Scholars Program and promotional campaign to underscore this commitment to excellence in Virginia’s youth.
Eleven divisions within the Virginia schools initially will participate in the new program. The required rigorous coursework goes beyond the minimum graduation requirements for a Standard Diploma, but falls below the college preparation coursework requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma. Students who complete the core coursework under the Virginia schools program will be recognized as Commonwealth Scholars at graduation and eligible to receive a special diploma seal that recognizes their achievement. Instructional support will be provided to all students who participate.
A two-year, $300,000 State Scholars Initiative grant from the U.S. Department of Education funds the Commonwealth Scholars Program. Virginia schools were one of eight states selected in a national competition to participate in the federal grant program.
The Virginia schools divisions were chosen based on their interest in the program and their ability to meet the requirements of the grant. The eleven Virginia schools’ divisions are:
• Albemarle County
• Alexandria
• Bristol
• Carroll County
• Chesterfield County
• Henry County
• Lancaster County
• Nottoway County
• Richmond
• Roanoke County
• Scott County
The Virginia Career Education Foundation, a statewide business and education partnership, will lead the Virginia schools initiative. They will work with participating school divisions to develop partnerships with local businesses and to promote the program. Private sector volunteers will be trained to make presentations to the students, focusing on how the rigorous high school courses will improve their post-high school career opportunities.
The Commonwealth Scholars Program is based on a core course of study that includes:
• Four years of English;
• Three years of mathematics &ndash Algebra I and II, and geometry;
• Three years of science &ndash biology, chemistry and physics;
• Three and half years of social studies &ndash selected from United States and Virginia history, world history, geography, economics and financial literacy, United States and Virginia government;
• Two years of health and physical education; and
• Two years of language other than English.
Research has shown that there is a strong correlation between the academic rigor of high school coursework taken and postsecondary degree completion. One example is mathematics &ndash 40 percent of students who took Algebra II in high school earned a bachelor’s degree, as compared to only 23 percent of graduates who stopped taking high school mathematics at geometry.
Governor Kaine has confidence that the new Commonwealth Scholars Program will encourage many Virginia schools students to continue onto college after graduation. He has thrown down the gauntlet and issued a challenge to those Virginia schools students who are not on track for an Advanced Studies Diploma. His hope is that they will reach higher and strive to move from competence to excellence.
What are some of the possible complications of Lasik eye surgery?
Undercorrection &ndash this occurs when the expected vision correction falls short of the desired outcome. This occurs more commonly with patients who have a high degree of nearsightedness (only objects close up are clear), farsightedness (only objects far away are clear) or astigmatism (images both far and near are distorted). Why? There is more laser corneal sculpting that needs to occur with patients having higher degrees of vision imperfection. When choosing your Lasik eye surgeon, it’s important to ask them what percentage of their patients need retreatment for undercorrection. This should be something that they are willing to freely discuss with you. If not, walk away! This is not to be confused with a planned slight undercorrection for nearsighted patients over forty years old which aids their reading vision. But this is something that you and your Lasik eye surgeon would have discussed before your surgery.
Overcorrection &ndash this complication occurs less frequently than undercorrection and results when the amount of correction (corneal laser sculpting) exceeds what is planned. Slight overcorrection can be temporary and may resolve itself in the first month following Lasik eye surgery. Patients can manage slight overcorrections by wearing glasses until their vision resolves. Some patients with overcorrection may need additional Lasik eye surgery 3 to 6 months following their first surgery.
Dry Eye &ndash many Lasik eye surgery patients may experience the feeling of ‘grittiness’ in their eyes following surgery. This condition usually resolves itself in 3 to 6 months and may be helped by using lubricating eye drops. Patients using birth control pills and patients going through menopause may experience this condition more often. If ‘dry eye’ continues beyond 6 months, your Lasik eye surgeon may recommend blocking your tear ducts with tiny silicon plugs to prevent tears from draining away too quickly.
Corneal abrasion &ndash a small percentage of Lasik eye surgery patients may develop a small corneal abrasion (scrape) caused by the microkeratome (instrument used to create corneal flap) used during surgery. This abrasion is generally not serious and will heal quickly. Your Lasik eye surgeon may temporarily place a thin bandage contact lens on your eye to promote healing. While your abrasion is healing, your vision will be blurry.
Night glare &ndash this annoying condition may not affect your vision clarity but patients may see halos or ghosting of images at night during the first month following surgery. Night glare generally improves in 3 months and often disappears within 6 months. Patients with large pupils and more severe vision impairment may be more prone to night glare.
Corneal flap complication &ndash this occurs when the corneal flap is too small, too thin or is an irregular shape. In some cases the corneal flap may shift slightly following surgery if a patient rubs their eyes during the first 6 hours after surgery. If the flap does shift, ‘wrinkles’ can form causing distorted vision. A second procedure may be necessary to ‘smooth out’ the wrinkles and improve vision.
Infection &ndash although this is the most feared complication of Lasik eye surgery patients, it is extremely rare. If your eye is going to become infected, chances are it will happen in the first 72 hours following surgery and will be treated with antibiotic eye drops. For this reason it is very important to avoid eye makeup, hot tubs and swimming pools for at least the first week following Lasik eye surgery.
The risks of Lasik eye surgery are low with an experienced Lasik eye surgeon but you need to be aware of possible complications prior to surgery. Your Lasik eye surgeon should freely discuss all possible complications of Lasik eye surgery prior to surgery. Do everything you can to put your eyes in the best possible hands.