1. Page 6 Thursday, May 15, 2014 The Chronicle-News Trinidad, Colorado
Parenting a child
with ADHDWeb MD
Children with ADHD need consistent rules
that they can understand and follow. Kids
with ADHD should be rewarded for following
these rules. Parents often criticize children
with ADHD for their behavior, but it’s more
helpful to seek out and praise good behavior.
Ways to do this include:
n Providing clear, consistent expectations, direc-
tions and limits. Children with ADHD need to know
exactly what others expect from them.
n Setting up an effective discipline system. That
means learning discipline methods that reward ap-
propriate behavior and respond to misbehavior with
alternatives such as a time out or a loss of privileges.
n Creating a behavior-modification plan to change
the most problematic behaviors. Behavior charts that
track your child’s chores or responsibilities and that
offer potential rewards for positive behaviors can be
helpful tools. These charts, as well as other behavior-
modification techniques, will help parents address
problems in systematic, effective ways.
Children with ADHD may need help orga-
nizing their time and belongings. You can en-
courage your child with ADHD to:
n Stay on a schedule. Your child will function best
if he has the same routine every day, from wake-up to
bedtime. Be sure to include homework and playtime
in the schedule.
n Organize needed everyday items. Your child
should have a place for everything and keep every-
thing in its place. This includes clothing, backpacks
and school supplies.
n Use homework and notebook organizers. Stress
the importance of having your child write down as-
signments and bring home the needed books.
Helpful Tips for Doing Homework
You can help your child with ADHD
achieve academic success by taking steps to
improvethequalityofyourchild’shomework.
You can do this by making sure your child is:
n Seated in a quiet area without clutter or distrac-
tions.
n Given clear, concise instructions.
n Encouraged to write each assignment in a note-
book as the teacher assigns it.
n Responsible for his or her own assignments.
You should not do for your child what your child can
do for him or herself.
ADHD and Driving
Driving poses special risks for teens with
ADHD. The following behaviors associated
with ADHD impose serious driving hazards:
n Inattention
n Impulsivity
n Risk-taking
n Immature judgment
n Need for stimulation
Discuss driving privileges with your
teen in relation to the overall ADHD treat-
ment plan. It is your responsibility to estab-
lish rules and expectations for safe-driving
behaviors.
Kids With ADHD and Relationships
Not all children with ADHD have trouble
getting along with others. If your child does,
however, you can take steps to help improve
his or her social skills and relationships. The
earlier your child’s difficulties with peers are
addressed, the more successful such steps can
be. It is helpful for you to:
n Recognize the importance of healthy peer rela-
tionships for children
n Involve your child in activities with his or her
peers
n Set up social-behavior goals with your child and
implement a reward program
n Encourage social interactions if your child is
withdrawn or excessively shy
n Schedule play activities with only one other
child at a time
n Supervise play activities as your child practices
social skills
Education
RITE OF PASSAGE
305 TSJC
graduates
honored at
spring com-
mencement
Special to The Chronicle-News
Trinidad State Junior College recog-
nized 305 degree and certificate graduates of
the Trinidad Campus at its annual Spring
Commencement ceremony on Friday, May
9. Of those graduating, 118 wore caps and
gowns and participated in the ceremony.
The keynote speaker for the ceremony,
which was held at 10 a.m. in the “Pit,” a
grassy amphitheater on the Trinidad State
Campus, was Trinidad native and Trinidad
State alumnus Jay Cimino. President of
Phil Long Dealerships, Cimino began his
address by sharing the rich history of Las
Animas County and his roots to the area.
“I grew up believing Trinidad was the city
of champions,” he said, and then continued
by sharing examples of champions in his
life, in Trinidad and graduating students of
Trinidad State.
Cimino encouraged graduates to pursue
their passions and shared with them his
leadership steps and guiding principles,
which start
with having
a vision. “If
your choice
is to follow
your pas-
sion, you’ll
have the op-
p o r t u n i t y
to pursue
excellence,”
Cimino said,
“When ex-
cellence is
pursued, you
can make a
difference in
your family,
your chil-
dren, your
community
and just
about ev-
eryone you
touch.”
He closed
with a say-
ing from
A.R. Mitch-
ell, a local
artist who painted western scenes and who
Ciminocitedasachampion:“‘Youlookover
the back trail and you see the fine friends
you’ve made and you see you’ve managed
to make a good living doing something you
really loved. So how could anyone ask for
more?’”
Cimino has been instrumental in inspir-
ing growth and change in the local com-
munity through the establishment of the
Trinidad Community Foundation, Phil
Long Toyota of Trinidad, Phil Long Ford of
Raton, Mt. Carmel Health, Wellness & Com-
munity Center and through facilitating
plans for La Puerta de Colorado, a proposed
downtown revitalization development slat-
ed to include a classic-car museum, brew
pub and restaurant and other attractions
designed to bring tourists to Trinidad.
Graduating with Associate of General
Studies, Associate of Arts and Associate of
Science degrees, Shelby Walker told fellow
graduates, “Let’s not let today be the end of
our learning.” Walker plans to continue her
education at Texas Tech Pharmacy School.
Career and Technical Honor Graduate
Amanda Sturgeon, graduating with a Nurs-
ing degree, shared with graduates some
insights she learned while visiting China
last summer with a student-
nursing delegation. “Appre-
ciate the choices we have,”
she said. “So for the young
girl, Alice, that I spent the
day with at Xian Jiao Tong
University that wanted to be
a fashion designer but was
put in the nursing program,
I promised not to waste the
freedoms and the choices I
was born with.” Sturgeon
continued, “If there are oth-
ers who are afraid to go back
to school or to continue on
with their education, just
know that there are many
people in this world who do
not get to make that choice.”
Students with 4.0 GPAs
wore gold cords, those with
3.75-3.99 GPAs wore silver
cords and those with 3.5-
3.749 wore bronze cords.
Also honored were Phi
Theta Kappa graduates
and graduating students in
Who’s Who Among Students
in American Junior Col-
leges.
“We are proud of each and every one of
our graduates,” said Trinidad State Presi-
dent Dr. Carmen Simone.
During the graduation ceremony, Foun-
dation Director Toni DeAngelis recognized
alumni class representatives. Those hon-
ored included Robert Eades, Class of 2004;
Lynn (Pachelli) Rivera, Class of 1994; Jolene
Casias, Class of 1984; Donald A. Berg, Class
of 1974; Patrick H. Schmidt, Class of 1964;
Phillip R. Castle, Class of 1954; and Amalia
(Dona) Deitsch, Class of 1944.
Photo courtesy of Greg Boyce
Adam Sperandio / The Chronicle-News
Former Trinidad resident and TSJC graduate, Jay Cimino, gives
the keynote address to graduates at the TSJC graduation on Fri-
day, May 9. Cimino is the President and CEO of Phil Long Car
Dealerships.
Adam Sperandio / The Chronicle-News
Trinidad State Junior College President Dr. Carmen Simone welcomes graduates,
families and friends to the Commencement ceremony on May 9.
Special to The Chronicle-News
Twenty nursing students from Trini-
dad State Junior College went through a
traditional “pinning” ceremony on May
10.
A nurses’ pinning is a traditional cer-
emony that started with the Crusades of
the 12th Century, when a group of knights
cared for injured and suffering crusaders.
As new monks were brought into the Or-
der, they were given a Maltese cross that
they wore on their arms. During the 1860s,
Florence Nightingale presented a medal of
excellence to her hardest-working nursing
graduates. Today the pin is a treasured
symbol of their association and everlast-
ing bond with their nursing school, evi-
dence of completing a demanding nursing
program and recognition of the history
and heritage of nursing. Each pin is dis-
tinctive, representing only one program,
and it identifies to others the program
from which the nurse graduated.
In Trinidad, graduates with an Associ-
ate of Applied Science (AAS/ADN) include
Amanda Sturgeon, Amie Lanier, Jes-
sica Gowen, Sara Bullock, Carolanne Va-
lasquez, Cindy Gutierriz, Greg Williams,
Lyndi Quintana and Megan Huffman.
Nursing students from Trinidad were
recently inducted into the Alpha Delta Nu
Honor Society. This society is for Associ-
ate Degree Nursing Students and was cre-
ated by the National Organization for As-
sociate Degree Nurses.
The inductees included Sara Bullock,
Amy Lanier, Amanda Sturgeon, Cindy
Gutierriz, Lyndi Quintana and Greg Wil-
liams. The students invited into Alpha
Delta Nu have at least a 3.0 cumulative
grade point average and have never made
below a B in any nursing course. In addi-
tion,theyhaveshownintegrityandprofes-
sionalism while representing the college.
The students have participated in various
events to promote the nursing program
and increase healthcare education in their
communities.
Those interested in a career in the field
of nursing should call Kelly Hall at 719-589-
7077. Applications for the fall semester are
now being accepted.
Photo courtesy of TSJC
Graduating are, from left to right, Carolanne Valasquez, Lyndi Quintana, Amanda Sturgeon, Amie
Lanier, Sara Bullock, Cindy Gutierriz, Jessica Gowen, Megan Huffman and Greg Williams.
Trinidad State Nursing grads honored