Since we've written a few articles in our Monthly Update for Facilities Managers' e-letters about the benefits of community gardens, we thought we would share with our readers some supporting information from the American Community Gardening Association (ACGA). Summer is the perfect time to transform your school's open campus into a garden haven. It's an easy way to involve your whole community in your school's culture, not to mention broaden your students hands-on learning. But, if you don't believe us, here's what ACGA had to say.

On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the economic stimulus bill—known as The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The law contains specific provisions that impact continuation of benefits (COBRA) coverage for all employers (including schools) currently offering COBRA coverage to employees. (As a general statement, COBRA is required for all employers with 20+ employees that offer health benefits coverage.)

On July 20, 2009, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11's moon landing. Students and adults alike flooded Web sites and micro-blogging engines for information about that famous afternoon 40 years ago, and to watch virtual re-creations. In case you missed it (or would like to share it again with your students), here is a link to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum for a minute-by-minute recreation of the historic event.

Kids look forward to summer. Whether they're off to camp, summer programs, or spending two months in their own backyards, they love the free time to play, explore, and dream. Summertime freedom can lead to more than creative exploration, however, it can also lead to accidents. Here are some safety reminders we found on the American Academy of Pediatrics Web site, that will hopefully help to keep all the little people in your life accident-free.

Chances are, as a private-independent school, no you don't. Unless you receive federal funds or services to support your programs, you may not be required to comply. (Your Admission Office should have the details on whether or not your school needs to develop a 504 Plan.) However, a major provision of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires public schools (libraries, Universities, and the like) to provide all students, regardless of disability, with a free appropriate public education. Hence, anything interfering with a student's ability to learn, physical, mental, or emotional, is subject to review.

According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, since 2001 there has been a 78% increase in registered sex offenders. In the Washington DC area, registries have grown even faster—there are now more than 24,000 people listed.

Just when we thought winter's nasty flu season was behind us, we have a new strand to be concerned with—the swine flu (H1N1). Having no relation to cold weather, this new virus comes from sunny Mexico. And although health officials are telling us not to panic, that this is not an epidemic, they are warning people about unnecessary travel to Mexico and contact with anyone who has recently been to affected areas.

According to a study by The American Psychological Association, children sense their parents stress—30% said they worried about their families' financial difficulties.  

That's an absurd suggestion. Yet, according to the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, if food prices had risen at the same rates as medical inflation since the 1930s, a dozen eggs would be equivalent to a nice dinner out for a family of four.

Blogs, forums, chat rooms, listservs—the list goes on and on. These are valuable resources to find alternative opinions and information about almost anything. From HR concerns to just needing a quick laugh to fuel the rest of your day, blogs can help remind you you're not alone in the all to often chaotic world of private-independent education. Here's a few we liked and thought we would share.