Monthly Archives: August 2018

Cyberbullying: What to Know as Your Kids Start School

Cyberbullying is not fun to talk about. With school creeping up, technology and social media use will be on the rise. Talking about cyberbullying to make your child or children aware of the subject is a step in the right direction. What you may not know is that cyberbullying is any type of harassment, taunting, or threats made on different social media platforms. It is so common these days that sometimes it is unrecognizable. Kids may think the post is funny without thinking about their peer, resulting in them not even defining it as a form of bullying.

With just a click of a button, a demeaning or embarrassing message can quickly be spread to thousands of people. Here are some things you should know about cyberbullying while the school year is in play:

Websites and Apps: There are many different social media platforms out in the world today, for instance: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube, where cyberbullying can reach children even in places where they feel safe. It can spread faster and further to more people and can occur any time of the day. Cyberbullying is different from bullying, as online posts can cause more confusion and emotions than in-person communication. With cyberbullying, there is no escaping online interactions. This is where you can become aware of the social media platforms your child/children are using. Have regular conversations with your child and discuss examples. Do this so they become conscious of the issue, so if they ever become victims or witness it themselves, they can either try to communicate the issue or know ways to fix it.

Cyberbullies Can Act Anonymously: People who participate in cyberbullying may use an anonymous cloak to hide behind. In other words, it may not always be clear who the person is behind the screen. This can be troubling because it ultimately encourages them to be more audacious and difficult to trace. Once again, become aware of the sites your children are using. Also, do not assume that your children will not participate in cyberbullying. As hard as it may seem, even the nicest kids can get swept up in the moment of tormenting another peer as the acts may not seem real. It’s best to be a role model, monitor your own social media and make it clear that bullying is not tolerated no matter the form.

Cyberbullying vs. Just Being Kids: When school starts, children tend to use social media more often than not. They like to use online as a way to email, chat, watch videos, send messages, play games and do homework. It is important for them to know the differences between cyberbullying and the factors of “just being a kid.” The intentions and context of their behavior are crucial when trying to decide if cyber bullying is occurring. Being mean can be accidental, but when tools are used over the internet to intentionally make someone upset, that is cyberbullying. You can help explain to your child that being online is a place to be responsible and respectful. Help them develop ways to communicate in a responsible manner.

We hope this information brings awareness to you and what your child/children might deal with throughout the school year. It is time to come to terms with the fact that no matter what you do as a parent, your child will be exposed to social media. It is your responsibility to guide and educate them on the correct way to use it.

Back to School Savings Tips

Back to school shopping can be dreadful. Trying to buy new school supplies for your kids or yourself can be crazy expensive. Luckily, these 5 saving tips might just be the key to school supply shopping success.

Do a Closet and Supply Sweep

Don’t be alarmed, but there may be school supplies lying around your house! Before rushing to the store to buy brand new school supplies, you may want to check in between your couch cushions and in desk drawers. By doing this, you may find school supplies that were bought years prior that have not been used. Finding previous school supplies that are on that list will help you save money by not having to buy brand new products. You may have most supplies already!

To avoid forgetting that you may have school supplies lying somewhere around the house, start collecting the items that you already have and put them in a central location. This will allow you to keep track of what you already have, so you don’t end up wasting time or money!

Hit up the Dollar/Thrift Store

You don’t have to buy everything here, but for items such as: loose leaf paper, staplers, erasers, pencils, rulers and clothes, you sure could get a deal. Buying such items at the Dollar Store or Thrift Store will help save you money before going straight to the major department stores. Shop at these places first for basic supplies and then go to the main stores to find the rest of what you need! This may take some planning ahead, but you can score some amazing bargains.

Use Coupons

When school starts approaching, you may want to look at your Sunday paper or online for coupons! Sites like RetailMeNot have a special section on their site for school supplies. Also, keep in mind that stores, like Walmart, offer price matching. Check ads every week, and keep an eye out for sales! Doing these things should help maximize your savings.

Start Early!

You can start early, but not too early. As soon as you see school supplies go on sale, begin shopping. If you wait too long, you might miss out on those bargain deals or the opportunity to have the best notebook and pencils! Getting a jump-start gives you time to shop around and compare deals. With shopping early, you have the option to buy in bulk. That way during the school year, you’ll have back-ups at home when it’s time to re-stock.

Hold off on buying the ‘popular’ gear

The only good thing about going back to school might be the new clothes, gear and school supplies, but that does not mean you have to spend hundreds every year. Most of the time the ‘popular items’ will be very expensive and then become not so ‘popular’ after the first month of school, so hold off on buying those and try to invest in the quality of items. You want to be able to get the best bang for your buck!

We hope these 5 tips will grant you success when shopping for school supplies! We wish you and your family the best for this school year!

What to Consider Before Adding a Furry Family Member

As we’re all obsessed with the adorable puppy pictures on Instagram and kittens in cups, it’s easy to understand why we’d want one of our own. However, whether you’re looking to teach your children about responsibility or just want a furry family member, there are a few things you should consider before making the addition.

Can you afford it?

According to the SSPCA, vaccinations, medications, litter, collars, food, checkups and grooming can add up to a bill of at least $1,000 a year. This doesn’t even include toys, a dog house, fencing for your yard and so on. Be prepared to budget out your funds, so affording a pet doesn’t overcome your finances.

Do you have the time?

Even though you’d love an animal to snuggle up with at night, you must think about the amount of time it takes to care for it. Your lunch breaks will have to be spent going home to let the dog out, you need to add time to your schedule for walks and take less vacations.

Do you have a kennel and/or dog walker on hand?

If you travel, you will have to have someone care for your pet. A kennel will be a solution for housing your pet, but this will cost you. Pricing for overnight boarding can be anywhere from $25 – $45 a night. A dog walker is also another option to take care of your pet while you’re at work, but they charge anywhere from $15 – $30 for each walk.

What breed fits you?

A large yard and house means you can easily care for a big dog, but be sure to consider your animal’s size before trying to fit a large Labrador into a 200 sq. ft. apartment. Puppies are cute and small, but they can grow to be more than you can handle. Find a docile animal to fit your child’s personality or a hyper animal if you’re looking to have a companion ready to be on the go.

How much is grooming worth?

Depending on the breed you choose, you could be looking at a hefty grooming bill. As professionals charge $50-$100 for their services, your puppy will start to add up. Taking care of your pet is important, so you can’t skimp on grooming them regularly.

Do you have an emergency fund?

Let’s face it, pets have accidents too. Whether you need an emergency surgery or have to get Sparky fixed, these costs will add up. Preparing for the unexpected will help ease the financial stress that could be caused by unexpected bills.

Getting a pet is an exciting adventure – but remember all of the financial responsibility that follows. If you’re looking to add a furry member to the family, contact us today to set up a savings account for your pet’s emergency fund!

Karl Metcalf Graduates From Graduate School of Banking at Colorado

BOULDER, COLO. – Karl Metcalf, Vice President of Iowa State Bank & Trust, recently graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado (GSBC), a 25-month banking school which provides management and leadership training for community-banking professionals. Metcalf finished among the top 10% of 164 graduates during the 68^th Annual School Session, hosted July 15-27 on the campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado.

GSBC students are recognized as rising stars in their organizations and, as graduates, often become senior leaders in their respective organizations. A diploma in banking is widely recognized by the banking industry at large, and is a marker of advanced education which hundreds of bank-industry professionals from around the country accomplish each year.

“Completing the coursework and projects associated with the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado is a great accomplishment for community bankers around the country,” said GSBC President Tim Koch, “Sponsoring organizations and communities should be very proud of the time and effort our graduates expend during their time in the program.”

Graduates receive a diploma upon successfully completing six weeks of classroom training which focuses on the areas of general management and technology, lending, leadership and human-resource management and financial management in banks. Requirements for graduation also include comprehensive examinations, intersession research projects and participation in a bank-management simulation course designed to provide students with experience managing a bank.

Aaron Kness, President and CEO of Iowa State Bank & Trust, commented “We are obviously very proud of Karl and view this accomplishment as yet another step in his development as a banking executive. Considering we have grown 60% in size over the past 5 years, and continue to grow rapidly, it’s imperative that the organization invest in talented leaders like Karl to ensure success for many years to come.”

The Graduate School of Banking at Colorado is one of America’s premier community banking schools, and is located on the campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. GSBC offers an annual school session each July, and offers a variety of seminars and continuing education workshops throughout the year. GSBC will host its 69th Annual School Session July 14-26, 2019. To learn more, call 800-272-5138 or visit www.GSBColorado.org.