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Promoting healthy families and positive parenting since 1993.


PUBLISHER/EDITOR Liz Buckingham - 208.938.2119 liz@treasurevalleyfamily.com


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Sue Webster - 208.861.2010 sue@treasurevalleyfamily.com


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DISTRIBUTION REPRESENTATIVES Shelly and Duane Gustafson, Erica Cicero, Melece Williams, Michelle Stickney,


Jennifer Field, Gina Zimpelmann, and Lisa Roark


TREASURE VALLEY FAMILY MAGAZINE publishes monthly. It is distributed free, to over 500 locations, one copy per reader. Subscriptions by mail are $15 for 12 issues/year. Reader correspondence and editorial submissions are welcome. We reserve the right to edit, reject, or comment editorially on all material contributed. Address correspondence to:


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©2012 by FAMILY MAGAZINE & MEDIA INC. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without express written consent of the publisher. FM&M reserves the right to refuse any advertising for any reason. The opinions expressed by contributors or writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this Company. Distribution of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services herein.


Study and Learn


chanting, “She’s not going to be here next year.” So she made her usual vocabulary flashcard sets


F


and we quizzed each other over U.S. government terms.


Now I think we’re pretty savvy when it comes


to current affairs, politics, government etc., and that we’re part of the “attentive public” (one of her terms). But I can’t lie—there were some words I recognized, but I couldn’t explain what they actually meant or had to do with our government, our elected officials, laws, political parties, etc. Here’s one word: “levy.” Well actually, that wasn’t one of her words, but it is a


term that every Treasure Valley parent should be familiar with because March is “levy” month for a majority of the area school districts. Who knew the word “levy” would become such an important word, a word we’d


want to be able to define and know for our children’s education. Beth Markley touches on the subject regarding the local March supplemental levy elections (see page 14). I’m sure there will be public meetings in March and other opportunities to learn more before the March 13 elections. I encourage you this month to do your homework, to study the facts, and to quiz your local and state officials and district officials. This is an important time to be a good student and to become savvy on the topic. Our March issue is our annual education issue. We offer many opportunities that


you might want to consider when it comes to your child’s education. (And we offer some definitions, too!) If you want to study up on the various private, charter, public, online, and more educational offerings, see our guide that begins on page 16. If you want to learn more about math and science-focused academic offerings, read Pamela K. Thompson’s piece on page 30. And if you have a budding inventor in your family, Heather Humrichouse shows us how to turn their creativity into inventing (see page 34). And there’s a little St. Patrick’s Day idea for your curious inventor as well. But it’s March, which means spring is almost here too! Need to plan an upcom-


ing family picnic or reunion? Check out local parks and recreation departments on page 36 and arrange a picnic in the park. You can also head to the MK Nature Center in Boise and learn about their new Junior Naturalist Certification Program for your kids. And if you’re staying in town over spring break and you’re looking for some fun for your kids, we have a list of local programs and centers you can check out. We won’t quiz you on what you’ve studied in this issue, but we do hope it defines what your family is interested in doing, exploring, and learning more about.


or one of my daughter’s recent AP Government high school tests, her dad and I thought we’d be really helpful and study along with her. You know that mantra I’ve been


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