Winter 2009 | Volume 3, Issue 1
Season's Changes
 This summer, I returned to my alma mater for my 25-year college reunion. So many had aged! Not me, of course. The reunion was a fascinating time of reintroductions to former roommates and old friends. We've changed in many ways over 25 years.
But it doesn't always take years for change to occur. Sometimes just a few months in a new environment with new experiences instigate change. And so it is with your student who comes home changed by academics, friendships, and experiences ...
Read the rest of the article by Jeff Jordan, associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of student life, and learn ways he says parents can help with their students' changes.
Headin' to Camden
 During Christmas Break, while most Seattle Pacific students are enjoying a much-needed rest, senior Klarrisa Frank and five other SPU students will head back to the classroom -- in Camden, New Jersey.
Why Camden? As part of a winter service project sponsored by SPU's Urban Involvement program December 13–21, the six students will volunteer at CamdenForward School to support at-risk students in an area considered to be one of the poorest in America.
"I'm particularly interested in learning how education can make a difference in people's lives," says Frank, an international business major. "My global development classes are helping me see that education is important in the process of people getting out of poverty."
Find out more about the trip -- and what else the SPU students hope to learn.
Meet Dale Anderson
 As the director of student programs at Seattle Pacific University, Dale Anderson oversees a variety of student activities, from major campus events to student-funded clubs. But he says it's his role as an advisor to student leaders that keeps him busy.
"The development and learning and character-building that come from leadership opportunities are important," Anderson explains. "So I take my role seriously."
Along with his many duties, Anderson works to create opportunities for student leaders to grow. "I see myself as an educator," he says. "It's my job to establish a safe environment in which student leaders are empowered to learn."
Read more about Dale Anderson and why he says it's important for students to get involved.
Tips for Flu Season
Christine Carlson, a nurse practitioner in Seattle Pacific's Health Services, offers the following tips to help your students during cold and flu season.
- Do the basics. Fine-tune your immune system with plenty of rest and good nutrition.
- Think hygiene. Practice good hand-washing, and cover your coughs.
- Already sick? If you have a cold or flu, antibiotics won't help; your body will fight the virus on its own. Push fluids, get extra rest, and take Tylenol for the fever.
For more tips, including when to consult a doctor, visit the parents and families website. |
