The Texas Mama

Bryan Science Teachers Plan to Use Space Training Experience to Motivate Students

Mama — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 14:38:46 +0000

Science and maths aren’t the most engaging subjects and recent findings show that among industrialized nations, America is ranked at number 17 in Science and 25th in Mathematics. However, Honeywell Educators at Space Academy scholarship program is trying to change all that. Each year, the program selects hundreds of science and maths teachers from middle schools around the world to participate in a camp which helps them to become more effective educators in the areas of science, math, technology and engineering.

This year, Bryan area teachers Amber Sepsey and Stephanie Hanover were selected to participate in the program which was held in Alabama. Sepsey is a 7th grade science teacher at Jane Long Middle School. Hanover is also science teacher but teaches at Davila Middle School.

The scholarship program included astronaut-style training, jet simulations, land and water survival training and scenario-based space missions at the U.S Space and Rocket Center. Both teachers were delighted that they were given the opportunity and had plans to integrate what they were taught when the new school term begins.

Children Learn the Importance of Physical Activity and Nutrition at ETMC’s Annual Camp

Mama — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 14:33:59 +0000

The popularity of the computer and games, has had an effect on the amount of physical activity that children engage in. In light of this, the East Texas Medical Center again hosted a Kids in Motion program for children between the ages of 8-12. Personal trainer at the ETMC’s Olympic Center, Cassie Ebert taught activities to the children.

The aim of the program was to teach children the importance of physical activity and nutrition. Some of the activities that the kids participated in included: a hopping game, and a game of tag. The hopping game required the children to hop around while trying to grab an item from the pocket of a playmate. The basis of the tag game was to have the kids run around to generate enough heat to melt a large cube of ice.

The children were also educated about the importance of healthy eating. The lessons included facts about fruits and vegetables and also the importance of reading food labels.

Safety Tips for 4th of July Celebrations

Mama — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 14:32:30 +0000

The fourth of July without fireworks is like Christmas without presents. Yet, this attraction was responsible for many injuries. in 2013 alone, there were 11,400 reported injuries according to the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission. Children were the major victims of the reported injuries, with 5-14 year-old age group accounting for 65 percent of the injuries.

Many people are not aware of the real dangers of fireworks. Even just watching it can cause damage to the eyes. The natural curiosity of children places them at an even greater risk to be injured. In light of numerous injuries last year, the National Council on Fire Safety has offered some tips to reduce the number of injuries this year.

Some of the tips listed by the Council include:

• Using fireworks only outdoors,

• Having a designated shooter,

• Using only legal fireworks

• Reporting use of illegal explosives to the police

• Keeping water handy when using fireworks

• Not allowing children under age 12 to handle sparklers

Week-Long Program Encouraged Children To Eat Healthier

Mama — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 14:20:57 +0000

Texas school teacher Roxana Salinas pioneered a recent program that encouraged students at the Dr. Rodriguez Elementary School to eat healthier. The program was dubbed Eat4-Health and connected with over 700 children. The program was launched based on the teacher’s concern that her students were not eating healthily. She believed that if students learned the importance of eating nutritious food, they would make healthier choices.

Eat4 Health program took place over the course of one week and featured games and lessons that were geared towards encouraging children to eat more fruits and vegetables and also to become more physically active. Among the lessons was one that taught the students to swap French fries for carrots.

Taste testing of fruits and vegetables were made possible by the kind support of business partners such as TexaSweet Citrus Marketing, HEB, Chick-Fil-A and Hygeia. The 4-H and Prairie View A&M Cooperative Extension Program, United Health Care, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service were also instrumental in the program’s success.

Texas Students Will Hone Their Skills In First Green Home Building Project

Mama — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 14:33:27 +0000

Carpentry, welding and plumbing students from the New Caney Independent School district will engage in their first major project of building a green home. The students will receive support from Piney Woods United States Green Building council who will supply the materials for the project.

A Costa Rican architect drafted the plan for the home which will be built from two 40 foot shipping containers. The container home will feature two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, a bathroom and storage closets.

Solar panels will supply the home with electricity and the water management system will consist of rain water capture system, a thermal dynamic water heater and a composting toilet. The objectives of building this green home are to demonstrate to the public the benefits of living in an affordable green home, as well as to improve the carpentry and welding skills of the students.

Renewable Energy Sources Supplying Bulk of Energy to Texas Electricity Grid

Mama — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 15:42:25 +0000

The amount of energy supplied by renewable energy sources in Texas has seen a marked increased moving up to a 10% share in 2013 up from 1% in 2001. This is according to a report released by U.S Energy Information Administration. This drastic increase is as a result of the strain on Texas’ electric grids which experiences great demand especially during summer.

The report added that the growth of renewable energy has surpassed that of other sources of energy including coal and gas, that feed the state’s electricity grid. Data released by the EIA also reflected that renewable sources of energy started to contribute more to the grid sometime in 2007.

The intense strain on the Texas electricity grid has fueled the construction of wind farms across the state. In 2012, more than 900,000 homes in Texas were powered by wind energy due to the addition of these farms.

Texas ROSE Says Prepaid Electricity Has Thorns

Mama — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 02:43:47 +0000

Texas Ratepayers Organization to Save Energy (ROSE) is encouraging consumers to opt for post paid instead of prepaid electricity whenever possible. This is in light of findings indicating that there is no advantage in terms of price if a consumer chooses a prepaid electric plan over a post paid plan.

The agency’s findings are based on Power to Choose postings in the Oncor area during September 2013. The postings featured seven Retail Electric Providers (REP) offering ten prepaid electricity plans. The rates posted by these providers were indexed price or variable which meant that the prices could change on a daily basis. The prices ranged from 9.3 cents to 12 cents per kilowatt and were not lower priced than post paid plans.

Texas ROSE outlined several reasons why prepaid electric plans are not ideal. Some of the reasons cited include:

• fluctuating rates
• Constant monitoring to know how long you will have electricity
• High electricity prices
• Poor service

Based on this, Texas ROSE made a list of recommendations for the Public Utilities Commission to reform prepaid electric service.

Texas Energy Keeps Getting Greener

Mama — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 21:12:45 +0000

There is an increase of wind farms in Texas. This follows an announcement by Lincoln Renewable Energy that work has begun on a 300 megawatt wind farm project called Hereford 2. Approval for the registration of another planned project called Miami Wind I have also been granted. Both projects will produce an average of 300 and 280 megawatts respectively. That is enough energy to power an average of 205,800 homes on a daily basis.

Lincoln Renewable Energy is piloting Hereford 2 which will be situated on 16,000 acres of land in Castro County. The company sold Hereford I which generates 200 megawatts to EDF Renewables. Miami Wind I will be constructed by Invenergy Investing Company LLC and will be located in counties of Hemphill, Gray and Roberts. The general contractor for both projects is Blattner Energy. The electricity generated by the wind farms will be sold on the wholesale market and used by consumers mainly in the Houston area.

Texas is already the largest wind producers in the country (every things bigger in Texas!). Most electricity providers offer plans that contain up to 100% renewable energy from sources like wind.
Click on the link below to read the original story.
http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2013-11-25/wind-farms-continue-spring-texas-panhandle

South Florida Mother Helps Newborns in Hospitals Across Ten States

Mama — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 22:37:31 +0000

Babies all over the United States need their mother’s milk to survive. With the recent difficult economic times casting its shadow over the country, newborns are beginning to feel the pressure.

In South Florida, the second non-profit milk depot has been established by a local mother who wants to help the unfortunate infants, even though her child is no longer breastfeeding. The results have been staggering.

Over the past year, almost fifty women have donated their excess breast milk, making it one of the top five regions that collect and distribute breast milk to hospitals. The babies who need this milk are premature and medically fragile due to many different types of complications.

The milk that is given to these newborns are in the form of prescriptions from physicians and are distributed to more than ten states. Clearly and generous act, the selflessness of the mothers who donate their milk is unique in that they give the very means of life to newborns. But even with these kind acts, more mothers are needed to fill the demand for breast milk.

North Texas Charity Turns Down Donation From Group of Moms

Mama — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 22:37:17 +0000

The Children’s Advocacy Center for Denton County (Texas), a charity that investigates the sexual and physical abuse of children recently rejected a donation from a group of mothers, because they believe the calendar they sold, with pictures of the mothers, was sexually suggestive.

The group of mothers called themselves the Tattooed Hippie Pirate Mommas. They decided to sell a calendar with pictures of members of the group in fashions from the 1950’s. Members of the groups say they love good causes and tattoos. Stacy Willingham, a spokesperson, said she expected the group to raise $3,000 to $5,000 from the sale of the calendars. She added her group was surprised the get an e-mail declining to accept the donation, adding she was disappointed and appalled by the rejection.

Daniel Leal, the executive director for the center, however, said someone might look at the pictures and take them out of context. He called it a pinup calendar and said some people might perceive it to be of a sexual nature.