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How fun do grandparents have to be?

Now that you are one, you may not like to think back on who was your favorite grandparent while you were growing up.

For me, it was my father’s father, my first love. As soon as I learned to write, my first love letters were for “Pancho,” our nickname for him. While sitting on his lap, he let me comb the little hair he had left on his head. He used to take us to the movies by bus on a Sunday afternoon. Pancho introduced us to the circus, back when it was under a real white tent and the elephants smelled. He spent time with us. When I needed glasses at age nine, I never wore them in his presence because he said they “took the shine out of my eyes.” A mixed message for sure, but back then I would have gone blind for his approval.

For my husband, his favorites were his paternal grandparents because even though he was sentenced to watch The Lawrence Welk Show with them on Saturday nights, they allowed him to drink Coke at their home. Was it the soft drink or the time spent?

My maternal grandmother had eleven children who produced fifty-three first cousins; I was number thirty-four in the queue for her attention. My memories are of a very strong woman, a personality to be admired and maybe even feared a little bit. She taught my older cousins table manners in a manner that would be frowned upon today. My cousins were strapped into their dining chairs to make sure they grew accustomed to sitting ramrod straight and did not splay their arms. What are you, an airplane ready for take-off? At her table you brought food to your mouth and not the other way around. From her life came dozens of “my mother always used to say…” encompassing childrearing lessons, marriage pointers, life training. My maternal grandmother lived her examples to her family, and we all remember. Still, I don’t believe she was anybody’s favorite. She just wasn’t fun.

If you are raising your grandchildren, there is a chance you may not make the favorite list. Then again, once your grandchildren are adults, they just might look back and think you were the most remarkable person who ever lived. But there are some unwritten rules that we are forced to follow as the child-rearing grandparent. One of those is that we must forfeit our ordained right to spoil.

So, you have to keep a stiff upper lip when, after an outing with the other grandparents, the grandchild comes back with stories of the fun they had, the bending of rules, the sweets free-for-alls, the late-night sleepovers. We need to remember when dealing with the other grandparents that they too are suffering through the disappointments of having raised a child who is not taking on the full responsibilities of parenthood.

It does not really matter if we chose or were chosen to help bring up our grandchildren. We accepted that role and now we have to do it—because in truth, what conditions can we realistically set, what rights (read: legal) do we really have?

Now as an adult, and as a grandmother, I like to look back on my two pairs of grandparents and re-remember the favorite things I loved about each one of them. Fun lasts for a time, and in sweet memories, they are precious to us. But there is so much more in life: upbringing, manners, morals, faith—those are the life lessons that still resonate with us, that mold us, that make us responsible, good people. These things last forever.

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BMW's new V10

OUR spies in Munich report that despite losing the chief designer for the 2001 V10 engine, BMW Motorsport in Munich will have an all-new engine ready in time to begin testing in November. The new engine has been drawn by a number of ex-Cosworth employees including Simon Cawthorne and Dave Fraser and the men in Munich are confident that the engine will be as light and as fast as anything currently running. The current units are rather old fashioned in comparison to the top-level engines but are still showing very well so far this year, although BMW Motorpsort is struggling to keep up with the number of engines needed for the program and for the Michelin testing activities.

We hear that the new engine will probably begin running during the testing ban period in the back of the Michelin test cars as these are not covered by FIA regulations until the start of the 2000 season.

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From Grand Theft Wiki
Revision as of 21:00, 11 April 2009 by Dimitri1994 (Talk) (New page: An Assassin or Hitman is a person (a vast majority of the time a gangster) that is payed to kill people. They play a considerable role over the course of the GTA games, and the player...)

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An Assassin or Hitman is a person (a vast majority of the time a gangster) that is payed to kill people. They play a considerable role over the course of the GTA games, and the player is usually an assassin themself.

Important Assassins

Claude, Protagonist of GTA III, was formerly a bank robber (among other crimes) before his girlfriend Catalina turned on him and left him for dead, if not the cops. He then became a member of the Leone Family but was later chased out of town for having an affair with the Don's wife. He then became a member of the Yakuza, whiched included assassination. Then he started working for Ray Machowski, the Yakuza mole in the LCPD. Claude became an assassin for Machowski as well. He later became an assassin for Donald Love, friend of Machowski.

Tommy Vercetti

Vercetti was the personal assassin for Sonny Forelli, don of the Forelli Family 15 years prior to the events in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Forelli eventually hired other assasssins to kill Vercetti himself (for unknown motives) but they were all killed by their target. Vercetti earned the nickname "The Harwood Butcher" and spent 15 years in prison. When he got out, he was transferred to Vice City, eventually started the Vercetti Gang, and ended up killing Forelli for his betrayal. Notably, he took the place of Loe Teal in Mr. Black's Assassination Ring.

Carl Johnson

After CJ's brother Sweet was sent to prison, he started working for Frank Tenpenny as an assasissin. Tenpenny was a corrupt cop and CJ killed people that would expose him and his partner Pulaski. CJ went on to be an assassin for the Leone Family and Triads.

Toni Cipriani

Being a member of the Leone Family, being an assassin is part of the job. Prior to the events in Liberty City Stories, Toni was forced into leaving Liberty City after killing a rival mobster for Salvatore Leone. Upon coming back, he resumed his work. Toni worked as an assassin also for Donald Love.

Vic Vance

After being dishonorably discharged from the US Army, Vic started working for Phil Cassidy, Marty Jay Williams, Umberto Robina as an assassin and also starting his own gang. It seems he would always be assassinating Cholos and Bikers. Later in the game, he would chiefly assassinate rival Drug Lords under orders from the Mendez Brothers or just for his own power.

Niko Bellic

Niko came from Europe to seek "The American Dream" and started working for the Russian Mafia, and later the Italian Mafia (notably the Pegorino Family). He also worked for the Irish and Little Jacob.

Huang Lee

Huang's father was son of the Triad Leader, and therefore a Triad. Being any sort of gangster involves assassination.

Minor Assassins

Leo Teal

Teal was a chef in Ocean Beach, Vice City, but also a Drug Dealer and assassin for the mysterious "Mr. Black". Teal, as hinted by several phone calls, played a major part in the ambush of the Forelli-Vance Deal. After selling some of the drugs to Ricardo Diaz, he was killed by Tommy Vercetti when he wouldn't reveal any information.

Several unnamed assassins were emloyed over the course of the games. Ma Cipriani employed an army assassins to kill her own son. They wore completely black suites and were bald with 5:00 shadow. Vincenzo Cilli employed Leone assassins to kill Toni as well, dressed as casual Leones (black dress suites with gloves, black goaties and slick hair). Normally, mafia assassins dress as their own gangsters.


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Karen (GTA IV)

From Grand Theft Wiki
Revision as of 14:33, 17 August 2010 by Master Sima Yi (Talk | contribs)

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Karen was, in 2008, the receptionist for the Goldberg, Ligner and Shyster law firm and a resident of Liberty City.

Mission appearances

  • She could die in Final Interview if Niko Bellic shot Tom Goldberg. She runs in and finds him dead and runs away. She could easily get shot in the shootout.
  • She can be easily be confused with Niko's ex-girlfriend. She had the false name of Michelle while her real name was Karen.


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Published in Games

Apple promotion kind to Infinity Blade 2

Bags over 5.7 million downloads while free

Infinity Blade 2 was able to rack up an incredible 1.7+ million downloads when Apple kicked off their celebration promotion for the Apple Apps Store. During this promotion, Apple was giving Infinity Blade 2 away for free as part of the promotion.

Developer Chair Entertainment was admittedly surprised when the game bagged 5.7 million downloads during the time that the promotion ran. He game normally retails for $7, but was one of five games offered during the promotion. Infinity Blade 2 does support in-app purchases so the developer and publisher Epic could still end up making some scratch out of the deal, but the game is balanced in such a way that in-app purchases are not necessary.

The Infinity Blade franchise has been good to developer Chair and publisher Epic. Sales of the franchise have topped more than $50 million according to sources. Attracting fans to the franchise is of course a worthwhile goal of any promotion. It can do nothing but increase the long term success of the franchise going forward.

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Nickel Creek

Watkins Family Hour | Berkeley | Review

Sometimes a pet-project grows into a full concept far surpassing the inventor's original prospects. For veteran bluegrass siblings Sara and Sean Watkins, they likely began their musical Family Hour as a way to ease the strains of rigorous touring in their native Southern California. In their natural habitat of Americana, exploring favorite originals and classic canonical country brought them enough pleasure to make a regular occasion out of it.

Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival 2014 | Preview

An unbelievable line-up. Food made fresh, local and right. Camping that’s just enough jam-session, just enough ‘kick back and watch the sunset.’ An energy that is beyond description. It’s the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in the foothills of the Catksills outside of Albany, NY, July 17-20 and its high time you came to this premier bluegrass extravaganza.

Catch Nickel Creek in Indianapolis on May 7th, 2014

The Grammy Award–winning, multi-platinum selling trio Nickel Creek—Chris Thile (mandolin/vocals), Sara Watkins (fiddle/vocals), and Sean Watkins (guitar/vocals)—officially reunites for the first time since its 2007 self-described “indefinite hiatus” with a new album, A Dotted Line. The band is touring the US in support of the Eric Valentine–produced album, with shows in New York, Boston, Washington, Chicago, Nashville, and Los Angeles, as well as at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Newport Folk Festival.


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Talk About Your View

April 28, 2008
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Some might say Brian Hanson has no fear of heights. If they did, they’d be right.

Hanson is Wolverine Building Group’s project superintendent for the River House condominium tower the Robert Grooters Development Co. is putting up at 335 Bridge St. NW. Hanson is approximately 380 feet above ground and there isn’t a parachute in sight — nor any eagles, blimps or other high-flying things. But someone had to take the shot, so Hanson isn’t alone. Out of the picture is photographer and former Wolverine Building Group Marketing Coordinator Rene Brott. Maybe she had the parachutes.

When the River House is completed later this year, its 34 floors will rise 404 feet into the city’s skyline.

Prices for the building’s 207 luxury condos range from $323,900 to $544,900. CQX

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Great Lakes 4x4. The largest offroad forum in the Midwest - View Single Post - SOLD - Rokon 2 wheel drive motor bike! Classic. Sale or trade.
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They are about 6 grand new bare bones.

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Great Lakes 4x4. The largest offroad forum in the Midwest - View Single Post - 1 goodyear MTR 40X13.50X17
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Doing stuff...and things.
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There's no such thing as an Accidental Discharge.

Only Negligent Discharge.

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Nope. Sold my Xbox a couple years ago. One of the best things I've ever done.
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arginine side effects

Family, Friends, Faith, and Farming: the good “F” words

| April 3, 2014 | 0 Comments
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By: Roddy Dull

Focus. It’s one of the most important things we do in today’s business world. Whether you are a farmer, a retail store owner, or an accountant, when you are self employed, focus could be the difference between making it or not making it.

That said, the one thing that I miss the most about farming is the occasional opportunity to be free from focus, to dream, to let your mind wander, or even fantasize a little if you will. I recently watched a documentary on TV with my wife about eating habits and food myths. According to the show, there is absolutely no evidence that high cholesterol is in any way shape or form a contributing factor to heart disease. Rather, the effect of stress on the human body is the culprit.

I think my first effective non focusing experience started with my first official machinery operation task on the farm, raking hay. Not a hard job, but still a necessary one. Part of my mind would have to focus on maintaining a straight row and making sure that I was picking up all of the flat hay on the ground, but the other 99 percent of my multitasking brain was free. All of the elements were perfect to just drift off into my own little dream world. The sound of the tractor running was like soothing music, the sweet fragrance of the now dried hay was like incense, and the breeze blowing in my face with the warmth of that beautiful summer sun was story book. What a life. Now I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up…not just a farmer, but a Professional Hay Raker.

Another of my favorite escapes from reality jobs was plowing. We didn’t have a chisel plow or an offset disc, we just mole board plowed. Once again, I had found a new adventure in my own little escape from reality. The tractor played a different, more powerful song than when I was raking hay. It’s kind of like changing the radio station from soft rock to hard rock. The music was different, but still inspiring and pleasing. The smell of freshly disturbed black dirt was wonderful and the weather was usually warm but with that little bit of crispness left behind after a long winter. I was like Superman in complete control and powerful.

Cultivating tobacco offered me one of those “escape from reality” jobs on the farm, too. I liked to cultivate at night when the tobacco would fold it’s leaves straight up just as if it were saying , please fold this fresh soil close around me so I can over power the bad weeds and grow tall and strong.

In those days, I found these times to be priceless. No cell phones, no radio, no one to interrupt you or disturb you. You were just left alone with your own thoughts, which happens to be the perfect medicine for everything that ails you.

To find this same freedom from focus today is a job by itself. My cell phone never leaves my side, the radio, TV, or computer is always on, my hands always seem to have a snack, soda, or cup of coffee in them, and my head, well, it hurts way more often than it ever did in my farming days. If I do find any time to dream now, it’s not about what I want to do going forward, but instead more about the way it was, those amazing never to be forgotten days on the farm.

These stories for me are so vivid some days that if I just stop typing for one second and take a deep breath through my nose, I can smell that drying hay and that freshly plowed soil just as if I were there.

If you want to live longer and be happier, this is my advice to you: find a little time to be free from focus. Let yourself dream. Let your mind wander and forget about smelling the roses, but instead smell the hay, smell the dirt, and listen to the tractor music on both the soft and hard rock stations.

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Northern California Preparatory School 5

Posted June 01, 2015
- a community member
I want to thank Ms. Johnson and the staff for the support they have given to my son the last three years. I appreciate the staff for the many updates on his progress and the phone calls when there were concerns or issues. No other school would have taken the time to do this. If it wasn't for NCPS, I doubt that my son would be graduating this month and attending college. I highly recommend NCPS.

Northern California Preparatory School 4

Posted May 14, 2015
- a parent
My son has attended NCPS this year. He is on the autism spectrum, but high functioning and diploma bound. The teachers, administrators, and therapists are truly top notch! They are all special education and general Ed. certified and have always helped my son focus and learn while making him feel loved and appreciated, WOW! The classes average 10-14 students with two teachers per class and about 100 total. They have family events sometimes too (bowling, etc) so that we can all meet each other. I would give the school five stars or more except for the food program. They offer lunch/snacks that also include highly processed (sugar/grain) pseudo-foods. These kids especially need lunches/snacks made from real foods in their natural state ONLY in order to heal their very damaged gut microbiomes which affects their ability to learn. See David Perlmutter's book "Brain Maker" for explanation. If the food program was thus improved, then I would say that Northern California Preparatory School would be ideal to prepare most spectrum kids for the rigors of upper grades in public high school and beyond!

Northern California Preparatory School 5

Posted April 21, 2015
- a parent
Thank you Ms. Johnson and teachers at NCPS for providing a positive learning environment for my son who is ASD. Life as we knew it fell apart in 7th grade. Our son couldn't function at school - couldn't make it through the day without being physically sick from stress. He didn't attend school for the better part of two years - and we were advised to have him do independent study. Not an acceptable alternative. For us, academics came secondary to having our son at school and with peers on a daily basis.Our son will be graduating soon after having exceptional attendance and grades at NCPS. He takes pride in his school and looks forward to being in the classroom and with his peers. He still has social-emotional goals to tackle, but NCPS has given him the framework to understand his challenges - and tools to work on improving his behavior and responses to the outside world. He's a work-in-progress, like most young men his age.Our son did well on his recent college placement exams. He did a lot of solid learning at NCPS - while homework and courses were carefully structured not to overwhelm students. The future is bright for my son - thanks in large part to NCPS.

Northern California Preparatory School 5

Posted December 15, 2013
- a community member
I graduated from NCPS and stop by every year to tell the staff they were right! I was not the easiest student and always threatened to quit, but the staff never gave up on me. I am in college now and living on my own. I am doing good, but life is challenging. The staff tell you the truth at NCPS and as teens we don't want to hear the truth. Now I am an adult, I want to say thank you to all of the staff at NCPS. They definitely care about you. The Principal is firm but fair, now I understand the reasons why. If you are looking to put your son or daughter in this school, I would tell you it would be a good choice. I learned life lessons in this school besides just the usual subjects. To this day I stop by and see the staff, they are like my other family. Thank you NCPS! Your biggest fan!

Northern California Preparatory School 1

Posted September 06, 2012
- a community member
NCPS is a VERY restrictive school. You cannot touch any student or teacher in any way. This includes handshakes. Students are supervised by staff at all times, and whenever a student goes as far as the next classroom, it is communicated to the entire school through a walkie talkie. Every single conversation between students is monitored by a staff member. Some staff members are also highly confrontational and will look for fights. The classrooms are the size of shoeboxes, and the teachers do not teach. They assign work and say just do it without directions or details. This school is for kids with behavior issues, so if your child has Asperger's Syndrome or any other learning disability that has to do with academics, he/she will be treated like a student with behavior problems. Students cannot even make friends, because trading phone numbers is forbidden. A portion of the students at NCPS claim they they belong in gangs, thus wearing a plain red shirt or any shirt that has to do with certain cities is forbidden. Also, this is a "therapeutic day program", and students have to get all of their work done to see the "therapists." The Principal just tries to get as many kids as possible.

Northern California Preparatory School 5

Posted September 03, 2012
- a community member
Northern California prep school is the best school in Sacramento it has made me the man that i am today without them i dont know where i would be today i want thank all the staff for all of there support i could not have done it without them and most of all i want to thank the principle of Northern California Prep School for the great respect that was shown to me over the years and she is a BIG help toi all of here students she has helped me in many ways hope the best for the students and teachers Thank you to the owner of Northern California Prep School for opening this school for all of us students we really appreciate what you have done for us i am forever thankful for that school i enjoyed every second that i got to spend at that school I have always thought school was going to be the worst experience i would have but this school has changed my prospective on school it made me realize how much education is important and how that with out education i would not become anything thank you for that reality check

Northern California Preparatory School 5

Posted August 11, 2012
- a parent
We've been very happy with NCPS. Our son qualifies as both a gifted student (very high IQ) and as a special ed student (dyslexia, dysgraphia and ADHD). The public school system was woefully inadequate in addressing his educational needs. After years of spinning our wheels in a traditional school setting we tried NCPS and have been thrilled. The small class sizes and structured learning environment fit the bill for our son. The teachers are supportive and encouraging...our kid is actually regaining some of the self esteem that he lost in the public schools.

Northern California Preparatory School 5

Posted August 16, 2011
- a parent
NCPS was a Godsend. The principle Ms. Johnson and her staff went above and beyond to help my son and our family. The school actually challenges the students and makes them accountable for their behavior. My son struggled for years and developed a learned sense of apathy. After attending NCPS he has grown emotionally and academically. I cannot thank the staff enough for all the attention and care that was given to our son. We have seen how difficult it is for kids with emotional or learning disabilities to thrive in school environments and do not blame the schools or teachers in any way. Serving a challenged population is difficult and requires great organization, care and positive regard for each student in spite of their difficult behaviors. The staff at NCPS are up to the challenge, are available when needed and have the students best interest at heart. My son only spent one school year there (because of distance) but the skills he developed and the change in him will last a lifetime. If you are considering NCPS as a school for your student, you will put him in good hands...lots of them. A very appreciative parent

Northern California Preparatory School 2

Posted February 20, 2010
- a student
I am a former student ,this is a great school made great by some of the great teachers in my memory that went there when i went there ,One thing i have to say negative is the fact that i felt alot of the students and including myself weren't helped as much as others ,I felt that the ranks of those who were to succeed was determined immediately ,and once you were deemed not worth the time to help or unfit to give help to you were gone in a moment and treated unfairly,i still have some contact with some other previous students that share my feelings as well,however it was the principal who made it felt this way.But the help you did get by the teachers will stay in heart and mind forever there were truly some that made you feel respected no matter what and valuable no matter what.

Northern California Preparatory School 5

Posted November 18, 2008
- a parent
This is an incredible school!! My son had tried several education programs. As a student with mild mental retardation and Bipolar Disorder, finding a school where he could just manage a full day was a challenge. NCPS has provided my son the opportunity to gain pratical skills in an esteem building setting. Accountability has been the key to his success. The principal is committed and the staff outstanding. Highly reccommend it to families struggling to find the right place.

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Northern California Preparatory School
6046 Lemon Hill Avenue, Sacramento, CA  95824
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Last modified Northern California Preparatory School is a Private school that serves grades 6-12
Northern California Preparatory School Rating: 4 out of 5 based on 14 reviews. Top


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San Francisco, CA
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San Francisco Flex Academy 5

Posted July 24, 2014
- a teacher
Flex offers each student an individualized education that meets the needs of every kid in the classroom. The school culture is so unique and inclusive allowing all students the opportunity to shine among their peers.

San Francisco Flex Academy 5

Posted January 31, 2014
- a parent
The Flex model may not work for every student - - but for kids who work well independently, who may not flourish within the super-heated social scene of most high schools, and can cultivate the kind of discipline and focus required for college work, Flex can be a tremendously nurturing and successful environment!

San Francisco Flex Academy 5

Posted October 27, 2013
- a student
Flex is truly amazing. Going to school at Flex is one of the best choices I have ever made in my life. I know that a lot of people have a lot of concerns and doubts about this school, and it is okay for you to have doubts about it because we HAVE been through rough times in the four years since this school started. But despite everything we've been through, I have not had one single doubt about Flex, because Flex has given what normal high school cannot possibly have given me - personal growth. At Flex, I grew not only academically, but also personally and spiritually. At Flex, I am somebody and not just a face in the crowd. At Flex, I finally belong. So ignore all those bad comments and things you hear, and come and actually see and experience it yourself, because whatever you expect, Flex is always going to be more than that.

San Francisco Flex Academy 5

Posted August 16, 2013
- a parent
My son graduated from Flex this past Spring (Class of 2013). The teachers and administrators here were amazing. My son, who has a learning difference, had such a great support system here. The teachers were enthusiastic and also were advisors for the various clubs and extracurriculars. The hybrid learning concept is fabulous, particularly if your child is highly focused and motivated, as they can move ahead. Some of my son's classmates graduated early or had extensive credits due to this. The fact that the school can cater to a myriad of abilities is what makes the school great - support where you need it, great advancement for the student who wants it. AP and Honors are available. The curriculum is top notch, and challenging! Both my son and I are saddened to leave the "family" behind, but that is what Flex prepared us for. Definitely stop by for a tour. It is what sold me, and I do not regret it!

San Francisco Flex Academy 5

Posted July 23, 2013
- a student
The concept of the school is great; I think more and more school should adopt similar teaching styles. The best possible place for motivated and responsible kids who are not afraid to try something new.

San Francisco Flex Academy 1

Posted July 15, 2013
- a parent
this school is awful. especially of your child has any type of learning diffrenece. Please do not believe the hype. This is the destruction of the education system thru charter school. Yes this is teh future of education. It is a sad day. They had one teacher that was great. The history teacher

San Francisco Flex Academy 5

Posted July 11, 2013
- a community member
This school is amazing. I love coming here because it's such a different experience and the learning has helped me much more than a regular public school.

San Francisco Flex Academy 5

Posted July 09, 2013
- a community member
I went to sf flex and it's a great school there's never fights or any bully's everyone talks to each other and we are all like one big family I love sf flex!! <3

San Francisco Flex Academy 5

Posted May 30, 2013
- a student
Fex Academy is a great school. The teachers are very helpful, the students are like family, and I actually enjoy going to school since I started going here.

San Francisco Flex Academy 5

Posted February 14, 2013
- a parent
I like SF FLEX for both of my daughters. They make the learning fun and integrated and challenge the students to rise to successes.

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About GreatSchools

Our mission is to help millions of parents get a great education for their kids. is an independent nonprofit and the leading national source of school information for families. 1999 Harrison Street, Suite 1100, Oakland, CA 94612

©1998-2015 All Rights Reserved. GreatSchools is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization | Ad Choices

San Francisco Flex Academy
1350 7th Ave, San Francisco, CA  94124
(415) 762-8800
Last modified San Francisco Flex Academy is a Charter school. It has received a GreatSchools rating of 5 out of 10 based on academic quality.
San Francisco Flex Academy Rating: 4 out of 5 based on 50 reviews. Top


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Bloomfield, CT

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About GreatSchools

Our mission is to help millions of parents get a great education for their kids. GreatSchools.org is an independent nonprofit and the leading national source of school information for families.

GreatSchools.org 1999 Harrison Street, Suite 1100, Oakland, CA 94612

©1998-2015 GreatSchools.org All Rights Reserved. GreatSchools is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization | Ad Choices

The First Academy
1151 Blue Hills Avenue, Bloomfield, CT  06002
(860) 243-6520
Last modified The First Academy is a Private school that serves grades K-5
The First Academy Rating: 0 out of 5 based on 0 reviews. Top


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Public district
Sioux Center, IA
Students enrolled: 298

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About GreatSchools

Our mission is to help millions of parents get a great education for their kids. GreatSchools.org is an independent nonprofit and the leading national source of school information for families.

GreatSchools.org 1999 Harrison Street, Suite 1100, Oakland, CA 94612

©1998-2015 GreatSchools.org All Rights Reserved. GreatSchools is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization | Ad Choices

Sioux Center Middle School
950 4th Ave NE, Sioux Center, IA  51250
(712) 722-3783
Last modified Sioux Center Middle School is a Public school that serves grades 5-8. It has received a GreatSchools rating of 6 out of 10 based on academic quality.
Sioux Center Middle School Rating: 5 out of 5 based on 1 reviews. Top


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Public district
Charlotte, NC
Students enrolled: 1,068

Resources:The North Carolina education landscape explained. Learn more »

Contact this school

5925 Ballantyne Commons Parkway
Charlotte, NC 28277

School website
(980) 343-6944
(980) 343-6947
Nearby homes for sale
Map of Jay M Robinson Middle address.

July 08, 2014
People think that JMR, is the best school and everything, but that's not true. I moved from a different state switching middle schools for my 8th grade year and to say I would have probably had more opportunities at my other school if I had stayed. There are two teams in the 8th grade, but the team I got put in was T-Breds. Compared to the Mavericks, it seemed that the teachers weren't trying hard enough. Especially the math department, the teachers do not know how to teach, one teacher just yells at her students and complains, if they were bad enough she would put tests as a punishment. The other teacher did not know to teach... period. All the faculty is just a joke, since I was a new student I needed my gaggle account etc. I asked the front office many times to create my username and stuff like that in those many time they did not do anything. It seems that the faculty is more concerned about dress code especially about girl's yoga pants, dress, and shirts rather than academics. Although, I did not experience any bullying. I would say once I joined the school my math scores went from an A to a B, I really do not know why.

- submitted by a community member

June 26, 2014
My son just completed his first year at JMR after moving from an academically challenging Catholic school in NJ. He reports that the classes are just as tough, if not tougher in some instances here at JMR. He doesn't get piles of "busywork" for homework. Classes are in "blocks" of 1 1/2 hours each, thus allowing ample time for questions and discussion. The kids have been very friendly and welcoming. His teachers were very accessible via email, and helped ease his transition to JMR by watching his interactions with the other kids. We are grateful to the great teachers at JMR and look forward to next year.

- submitted by a parent

September 10, 2013
After two years, I continue to be impressed by Jay M Robinson. The teachers blend the right level of educational rigor, compassion, fun and life skills that is really needed for this age group. Let's face it: Middle School can be a tough time for kids, and yet the teachers and staff at JMR have been able to create a team environment for the kids, in which they strive to learn and do well at school. My daughter looks forward to going to middle school! We have participated in the band program at JMR, which is simply amazing. The band graduates have created a reputation of excellence among the local high schools. And, for that matter, I've been told by counselors at Providence and Audrey Kell (the two high schools who receive students from JMR) that these children consistently outperform students from their other feeder schools. They are simply more well-prepared for high school than their peers. I would highly recommend Jay M Robinson to any family looking for a school focused on academic excellence, creating life-long learners and interested in nurturing global citizens.

- submitted by a parent

August 15, 2013
After five years, our family is a high school family. My final assessment: mixed. Their emphasis on "rigor" (particularly fourth quarter, when EOG pressure amps up) caused a lot of stress for my two children and many of their peers. An entire night of homework following a seven-hour school day is excessive; pressure on the students to be the top of the heap in CMS, similarly so. As a result, self-destructive behaviors are more prevalent among the student body than even the school may know. As I barely saw administrators, I cannot offer an informed opinion. In the plus column, I found the majority of the teachers communicative and willing to work as part of a team when issues arose. However, the Math department is this school's weak link, with a couple of outstanding exceptions. I don't feel either of my children received a good math education at Jay M., because the foundation for understanding the subject wasn't laid. Nonetheless, I believe Jay M. is the superior public middle school in South Charlotte.

- submitted by a parent

July 20, 2013
Any accolades this school gets are a direct result of the students that attend. The faculty and school policies are an absolute joke. There is no sense of achievement and a very negative atmosphere.

- submitted by a community member

March 16, 2013
Horrible! I am a former student at Jay M Robinson and went there from 6th to only a half of my 8th grade year. The school is not very welcoming and the teachers don't use student feedback on surveys to appeal to all students at their pace, skill, and learning standards. My 6th grade year was fine but the kids are NOT WELCOMING to people who are new and starting their first year. It is sort of like a challenge as the students in the upper grades are "the top" and "the boss". The teachers also won't take the time to help you understand a subject. I have been to all my teachers' tutoring and all they do is give us review worksheets instead of teaching us. Most of all, the students are OVERALL VERY RUDE. There was recently a new student in my 8th grade year, I payed close attention and it was obvious that no one helped her around. No one pays attention to student talents or other features that make the students unique. The principal isn't involved AND THE BULLYING GOES WAY TOO FAR! I hated it so much I switched schools during the year to a CMS magnet school and it is way better. Popularity showdown + major bullying instances + no interactions = Jay M Robinson Middle School.

- submitted by a community member

November 15, 2012
My child "graduated" from JMR 6/2012. JMR is a tough school aimed at preparing kids for high school. My daughter has an IEP (Individualized Education Plan due to diagnosed learning disability) and the staff worked with her to meet her needs to be successful. She is now at a charter high school because of the overcrowding in classrooms in CMS. JMR prepared her for the level of high school work and she is ahead of her peers in her study skills and abilities such as writing an essay. The high level of parent involvement in this public school and their children's education makes for JMR generally being a satisfactory and safe learning environment. The vast majority of capable teachers are truly interested in seeing their students excel.

- submitted by a parent

November 14, 2012
My son goes to jm is a honors student there for 3 years in his final year is a honor roll student a and b student the school is really a good lower end middle school not all but seems to me teachers are paycheck hounds not all but good amount of older staff there.But then again the administration will not change this maybe if they could they would but not likely.The old line is you get out of school what you put in not what the teachers are putting in

- submitted by a parent

April 02, 2011
Wow!! The previous poster is way off base about this incredible school. JM Robinson is not an unsatisfactory school. The teachers and staff go out of their way to meet the needs of all students. It has not been easy these last few years in CMS...budget cuts, new teacher appraisal instrument, Pay for Performance, etc. The teachers at this excellent school focus on student success and create a nurturing environment for the entire school community.

- submitted by a teacher

March 30, 2011
looks like most of these reveiws are dated, time for an up date. JMR has some fantastic teachers, unforunately they are under an adminstration that couldn't care less if they tried. The general strategy is to simply push the kids through with no regard for personal needs or learning styles. Parent engagement is 'encouraged' until a true issue needs to be addressed then they simply delay dealing with the problem or try to brush it under the rug. If your child is highly motivated and would be a high achiever in any environment, you may find this is the school for you, otherwise be prepared for 3 years of disappointment. The local demographics have more impact on how this school is rated against others than anything the adminstration is doing. If you are looking for a school that excells in getting as many kids through with little concern for personal differences and needs, JMR is your place.

- submitted by a parent

February 12, 2010
We are very happy with JM Robinson. The teachers are engaged and enthusiastic. The physical plant is outstanding. The students are hard working and generally nice kids.

- submitted by a parent
no rating
October 10, 2009
We just moved from Florida and my son was in a private Catholic school in an upscale area of South Florida. He just started 6th grade and let me tell you, this is no joke. The teachers are great, the workload is plenty and he is working hard to keep his grades at the honor level. I am so happy we picked this school and hope to have a wonderful three years here!

- submitted by a parent
no rating
October 03, 2009
Everyone works as a team!

- submitted by a parent

January 03, 2009
jay m robinson is an amazing school!!! i mean the teachers are great and make learning easy for us students!!! but now im not a current student in jay m (sadly!..) because i have moved here to to florida. and trust me the middle schools in florida are like trash compared to jay m, and other middle schools in fl. so all u parents out there who have ur kids going to jay m thats the greatest dishison u probably made for them! oh and by the way i used to be excited to do work in jaym and go to school but over here its all just so wrong!!

- submitted by a student

August 22, 2008
its just an amazing school evryone is so friendly and is always happy to help!

- submitted by a student
no rating
March 01, 2008
I can not say enough good things about this school! The teachers are unbelievably dedicated and kind! They truly make the children enjoy learning in a very challenging environment which amazes me! My normally very shy child is excited and happy to go to school ,has made made many nice friends,and doesn't even stress about getting up in front of the class for assignments! We were so worried about the middle school transition but it has been seamless...actually it has been better than elementary school ever was! Three teachers have truly been more than fantastic and need to be mentioned...Mr. Vanderhill,Ms. Merkle,and Ms. Klingler!There is not enough space here to to speak the praises they deserve! Feel confident if your child will be attending this school.You will be more than happy!

- submitted by a parent

January 22, 2006
I take exception to the statement of Jan. 6. As a parent who has had one child go to Robinson and one currently attending, I find the teachers there and the administrative staff to be very friendly and helpful. Teachers really go out of there way to be helpful. The adminstrative staff, especially the principal, are very approachable and available.As far as parents being welcome, I feel that parents are encouraged to be part of Robinson . Parents must check in and receive a visitors badge to be in the school. As a parent, I am glad to see that. It dicourages anyone from walking around at will and is one thing that keeps Robinson safe. There is excellnt education at all levels. I am most pleased with he quality of education at Robinson, and I feel that my children have been and are being given excellent preparation for the future.

- submitted by a parent

January 19, 2006
As a parent who has had one child go thru Robinson and has another child there currently I have found the school to need improvements in several area. The administration and some staff members are not helpful, friendly or even interested in children. The principal is so busy with politics downtown that she is rarely at school and certainly not engaged. Parents are not welcome in this school. On the other hand, the teaching staff for the most part is outstanding and inspires the children. I know there are several who have made life-long impressions on my oldest. The course work is tough but prepares the kids for high school.

- submitted by a parent

February 20, 2005
Outstanding school! The Principal and administrative staff are top-notch. The teaching staff is highly qualfied, with close to half the staff having either a Master's Degree or their Board Certification. Overall the students are well-behaved, and come to school ready to learn. There are numerous activities in which students can become involved. In short Jay Robinson Middle is one of the best schools in the Charlotte/Mecklenburg School sytem.

- submitted by a teacher

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Jay M Robinson Middle
5925 Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Charlotte, NC  28277
(980) 343-6944
Last modified Jay M Robinson Middle is a Public school that serves grades 6-8. It has received a GreatSchools rating of 10 out of 10 based on academic quality.
Jay M Robinson Middle Rating: 4 out of 5 based on 22 reviews. Top


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Public district
Montgomery, TX
Students enrolled: 692

Contact this school

P O Box 1475
Montgomery, TX 77356

School website
(936) 597-6333
(936) 597-6339
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Map of Montgomery Elementary School address.

January 21, 2010
Teachers, staff, & administration work extremely hard to give the students what they need to succeed. Being a Title 1 school, there can be many challenage; however, every student is treated with respect & challenged to do their personal best. I'm proud of MES!

- submitted by a parent

September 29, 2009
I hate to hear that someone has such a bad opinion of MES. I have one child go through MES and on to MIS and I currently have my second child on his second year at MES and I have been very pleased with the teachers, the school and their studies. My oldest child has been on the all A honor roll every year and is doing very well. I have been pleased with all his teachers and find that if I have had any problems they have been addressed and resolved in a very professional and friendly manner. I do think that there is a lot of focus on the TAKS test but I believe this to be true in all school districts.

- submitted by a parent

September 22, 2009
Don't be fooled by the TAKS scores. High test scores aren't the only measure of a successful student. This school is much too rigid and strict. Children are being taught to be robotic and fearful by rude (not all) and disrespectful teachers. These poor kids can't even be kids anymore! Hate it!

- submitted by a parent
no rating
October 14, 2004
Security at this school is poor. Too much home work for the kids. The kids are doing homework untill 8-9 at night along with week end projects when do kids get to be kids. 3rd grade had too major projects due the same day. Not very organized. our kids are in school for 8 hrs. a day why do they have so much home work. Then they say my boy is too quite. Well if he could have more social time with friends after school maybe he would have more people skills. Yes learning is good but schools are what push our kids to do stupid things. And stop asking the parents to buy stuff. If you stopped sending home 50 pages of junk asking us to join or pay maybe you would save money. After all we do pay school taxes.

- submitted by a parent

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Our mission is to help millions of parents get a great education for their kids. GreatSchools.org is an independent nonprofit and the leading national source of school information for families.

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Montgomery Elementary School
P O Box 1475, Montgomery, TX  77356
(936) 597-6333
Last modified Montgomery Elementary School is a Public school that serves grades PK-4. It has received a GreatSchools rating of 9 out of 10 based on academic quality.
Montgomery Elementary School Rating: 4 out of 5 based on 7 reviews. Top


text:
Two Steps Forward

The Sustainability Consortium: A Status Report

Since its launch in July 2009, The Sustainability Consortium has been the subject of intrigue, not to mention myths and misunderstanding. Founded initially at the behest, and funding, of Walmart, it now boasts a membership of 75 or so companies, plus nonprofits and government agencies, plus affiliations with more than a score of academic institutions around the world. Just last week, the group, which is housed jointly at Arizona State University and the University of Arkansas, announced it was planting a flag across the Atlantic, with affiliations at universities in the U.K. and The Netherlands.

But what, exactly, is the group doing? Is it, as some would have it, creating a rating system for products? Is it establishing standards by which products will be certified as sustainable? Is it merely a cover organization for companies seeking to appear proactive?

None of the above. During 2011, the consortium seems to have found its footing, conducting research and building tools to help deliver science-based thinking to manufacturers, retailers, and others. In April, it hired its first fulltime executive director: Bonnie Nixon, formerly a sustainability executive at Hewlett-Packard and, before that, founder of an environmental consulting firm. Earlier this month, Nixon issued a 100-day assessment and plan, her first official statement. It listed more than a dozen activities and achievements the group had undertaken since her arrival.

Last week, I spoke with Nixon to learn more: the consortium's ambitions and plans, and where the group is headed over the coming year. Following is an edited version of that conversation.

Joel Makower: You've been at The Sustainability Consortium for a little over four months now. Is it everything you expected?

Bonnie Nixon: In many ways it's even more exciting than what I expected. As I've gotten more and more grounded with it, and met with most of the members and all of the staff and many people externally, it's become clear to me the space in which we need to be playing, the space that creates a tremendous opportunity and momentum for us.

Makower: So what space is that?

Nixon: I was hired under the premise that I focus on three things. One was delivery. The second was internationalization, making sure it's not just considered a North American initiative or just a Walmart initiative. And the third was growth -- that we be conscious about our vision and mission and how we're going to achieve growth objectives.

Bonnie NixonWhen I think of growth it's not just "Let's get a lot more members." It's what should our model be for the future so that we ourselves are a sustainable organization? How do we support innovation and products. How do we create assurance out there, not just for consumers, but for the huge B-to-B space, providing the right toolsets for retailers and buyers.

Makower: You mentioned that "delivery" was one of your goals, but I'm not entirely sure what that means.

Nixon: We have to be really clear on what promises we are making, and that we're delivering on those promises. When I came into this, my observation was that there was a lot of excitement, a lot of anticipation about who we are from the moment it was announced. And initially people thought we were just an index, right? As time went on, there was a lot of discussion on what exactly are we and how should we evolve.

What became clear was that we needed to help navigate this very complex space that contains lifecycle assessments, lifecycle thinking, lifecycle approaches, but also look at other innovative approaches like Cradle to Cradle, biomimicry, natural capitalism, and whole systems design. How do you deal with the fact that, to date, there hasn't been consensus around things like biodiversity or social impacts or toxicity in materials?

Ultimately, delivery is about our longer-term vision, which is how we advance the science to drive a new generation of innovative products and supply networks that address environmental, social and economic imperatives. They're not mutually exclusive. We have to recognize that in order for companies to be actively engaged in many of the environmental and social things, that they actually have to be viable companies.

But they may also have to transform their business model. We've all been very focused on eco-efficiency -- rightfully so -- for quite some time. And we'll continue to be focused on eco-efficiency. But I think companies need to ask, "How do we redesign products? How do we take full responsibility for the impacts that we're having? How do we accurately assign value to the social and environmental benefits that we receive today for our planet?" I don't think to date that we've fully taken responsibility for the impacts of our production and consumption patterns.

What we're doing at the Consortium is designing a consensus-based accounting system that essentially enables companies to internalize the societal and the environmental externalities.

Makower: A lot of people still ask the question, "What does The Sustainability Consortium actually do?" What's the elevator pitch these days?

Nixon: We're a very diverse group of stakeholders, grounded in the science. We're collaborating to design and implement transparent, credible, reputable and scalable science-based measurement and reporting systems, for not just the users of consumer products, but also for the producers of consumer products.

Makower: That's a start. What if it's a long elevator ride?

Nixon: We're the glue helping to design and implement this system. And what's important about this system is that it be credible, firmly planted and grounded in academia. We have a lot of researchers on staff, and formal affiliations with more than 20 universities. That number's increasing as we establish ourselves in the European, Asian and Latin American communities. So, making sure that what we come out with is science-based.

And making sure that it's transparent. There have been a lot of conversations about whether we going to create all kinds of open-source IT tools. We're definitely going to be creating an IT infrastructure that houses all of this data and information, and we've been doing that over the past few months. But we're making sure that it's transparent and that it supports innovation, so that someone bringing a new product into the market can do LCA-type analysis in a matter of hours rather than months, and in a cost-effective way rather than costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

So when I talk about delivery, it's making good on that mission of designing and implementing a credible, transparent and scalable science-based measurement and reporting system.

Makower: It sounds very tool-focused. Is that they way you'd describe it?

Nixon: No, it's more research focused -- how do we advance the science? And providing some infrastructure for housing that science and information is one of the jobs we have to do. Tools are a means to that end. The longer-term vision for the consortium is to advance the science to drive a new generation of innovation and products and supply networks that address these issues.

Makower: So you consider the Consortium a research organization?

Nixon: Yes. We consider ourselves an organization that is a hub for collaboration, a hub for bringing the various stakeholders together from academia, corporations, NGOs and government around advancing the science.

Makower: Tell me about your recent expansion into Europe.

Nixon: We've developed two formal partnership agreements with the University of Manchester in the U.K. and with Wageningen University in the Netherlands. Wageningen is a leading agricultural university with a strong commitment to sustainability. They have really strong relationships with agricultural producers and food processors and retailers. We've put Al Dijkhuizen, the president and CEO of the university, on our board.

In addition, the University of Manchester is an important partner for us. One of the reasons is Tesco: the Tesco foundation gave 25 million pounds to the University of Manchester to work on sustainability. We're very actively engaged in conversations with Tesco on how we can meet the needs of European-based retailers.

Makower: How will what you're doing -- the fruits of your labors -- benefit companies that aren't members of the Consortium?

Nixon: The goal here is that we're going to be very transparent. Keep in mind that we're sourcing this out of the university environment. We're working strongly with the foundations within the universities. We're working with lots of the companies that are involved in the consortium. They fall into four categories.

First, major retailers. We've got companies like Ahold, Kroger, Safeway, Marks & Spencer, Best Buy, and Walmart. We're talking to a lot of other retailers. They're very important and powerful leverage point for us. So that's the first set of companies.

The next set of companies are major brands and manufacturers. Ones that recognize the imperatives, feel the pressure, not just from their major customers but from NGOs, investors, and consumers.

Then we've got the major supply network companies. So, now you go deeper into the value chain or supply chain, like in the home and personal care sectors, where you've got the chemicals companies and the plastics companies. You have the large agricultural companies like Cargill and Tyson and Monsanto. Chemical companies like BASF and Bayer.

The fourth kind of company that's engaged in the Consortium are the service providers, and a lot of the creatives that are helping to create the standards, reporting methods, measurement tools, and the IT infrastructure. That's everything from ULE to Source 44 to PE Americas. These are entities that understand what it takes to make products more sustainable and are helping us to create the systems around it.

So, Joel, the answer really is that these folks are helping to create this. The outputs are going to be available or accessible to everyone.

Makower: What's coming up? What are we going to see over the next six to twelve months from the Consortium?

Nixon: A really important piece of what we're doing over the coming months is expanding. We're looking at our vision, a longer-term vision and mission, ten years out, asking "What is possible in making sure we engage the larger community in this dialogue?"

We'll be very focused on establishing ourselves in the European community. In addition to the Netherlands and the U.K., we've got university relationships now in Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. We'll be expanding to Asia. We're already in conversations with Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and China, as well as Australia and India. And we'll be expanding to Latin America; right now we're in conversations with groups in Mexico City and Brazil. An important part of this coming year is making ourselves a truly global organization.

We'll be helping to define the SMRS -- the sustainability measurement and reporting standards. We're doing level-one analysis on 50 products right now and by the end of the year we'll have 100 products. We started out with a very detailed look at about seven products and we'll be making that analysis public. We're making the process more scalable and creating some tools for the retail community and the buying community based on that science.

Now we have a knowledge base, a big IT system. That's a large part of what we're doing, too. We've purchased the rights to Earthster and we'll be housing a lot of our models and information in there. We're looking to determine what the infrastructure will be that will house all this science, all this data, to make it accessible to various audiences.

And we'll be looking at the long-term business model -- whether there is a revenue-generating scheme connected with some of the IT infrastructure or the availability of detailed analysis, customized analysis or scientific analysis that can be done around products.

Makower: It sounds ambitious.

Nixon: It is, but it's all very much underway. What's important, Joel, is that I'm a businessperson first and foremost. I spent 13 years in the HP environment. I owned my own environmental consultancy of 65 people for 17 years. So when I came here it was important to look at things like the financial plan, the operations plan, the HR plan, the marketing and communications plan. You know, assess the skills of the organization, assess the capabilities and skills of all the individuals. I've been doing some restructuring and revamping, as anyone would expect.

You asked me what we are delivering. You know, we're delivering the science. We're delivering the tools. We're delivering an international organization. We're delivering a strong collaborative network. We're delivering consensus around controversial standards. We're just delivering.