Page 40 September 2011 She said she came across Arizona Connections Academy, a fully accredited, tuition free, virtual public school. The Smoake children were enrolled for eighth and ninth grade, and Yvette served as their learning coach, the guardian responsible for day-to-day activities. The academy provided the family with state-certi fi ed teachers and free educational materials, including textbooks, art supplies, audio equipment, and a computer equipped with a webcam. The school also offered technology courses, clubs, fi eld trips, extracurricular activities and electives such as foreign language courses. This year Jordan, who has aspirations in cosmetology and photography, is enrolled in Web design and digital photography. After her sophomore year, the virtual school also will pay for cosmetology courses at the East Valley Institute of Technology in Mesa. Trent is provided special education services ranging from curriculum modi fi cation to speech therapy. Yvette said she has been pleased with the results of the Individualized Education Program. “I can stay in close contact with his teachers, and I am able to modify his curriculum and accommodate his learning level,” she said. Although the brother and sister did not join any clubs like debate or arts, in their fi rst year, they said they would like to be more involved this time around. By 2015, Connections Academy estimates more than 17 million K-12 students in the U.S. will receive a portion of their education online. Four million of those students will receive 100 percent of their education from a virtual school. Coronado High School in Scottsdale has begun offering more than 20 online classes to students this fall. Online Continued from page 30 Neighbor Continued from page 26 Touché enjoyed local foods such as bitterballen -- a savory, deep-fried Dutch snack similar to krokets and typically made of minced beef, beef broth, fl our, butter, parsley, salt and pepper. “My favorite moment (of the trip) was sitting outside at a restaurant on a busy street eating deep-fried anchovies and calamari in Amsterdam,” Touché said. “Nobody ever sat inside if they had the option to sit outside. It gave us a chance to relax and enjoy the city.” Another favorite memory was when he experienced “one of the best bike rides ever while the sun was coming up.” “I wasn’t ready to come home; I was enjoying my traveling too much,” Touché said. “I mostly have gone to London. My dad lived there for two years, so we try to make it out there as much as possible. It’s my goal to live there for a couple of years.” Touché has also traveled to Mexico and France. He just returned from his latest visit to London in mid-August, when he helped his brother move there from Arizona. “I have always had a passion for trying and seeing new things,” Touché said. “I like traveling, even when it’s for work. I have had many great and even some bad experiences, but I always feel that I have changed (for the better) even just a little bit every time. The further away I get from home, the more my perspective seems to change.” Touché hopes to travel to Germany in the near future. He said he is currently looking for work in Phoenix. Kaley Kalil is a 24-year-old traveler from Arcadia who has lived in and traveled to roughly 30 countries. Email her at kaley.kalil@gmail.com. CALL US TODAY TO REPAIR OR CALL US TODAY TO REPAIR OR REPLACE YOUR A/C SYSTEM! REPLACE YOUR A/C SYSTEM! 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DETAILS INCLUDE: When : Friday, September 23 at 3:30 p.m. Where : (parade route) Starting at Shemer to Exeter to Rubicon to Lafayette and then back to Shemer. Who : All types of AHS clubs and groups will be participating and making their own Á oats. Each grade level will also enter STUGO Á oats. An added feature will be Arcadia High’s own Royalty! Future and past Titans are invited to march in the parade. The neighbors and community are all invited to come out and watch. For more information or to offer support: contact Kris DeWulf at kdewulf@cox.net or www.arcadiapto.org. Arizona’s emergency chest pain experts. We’re chest-pain certified. Ready 24/7 with full-service care. And no matter what the emergency, our wait times are short. So when you’re faced with chest pain or any emergency, trust the experts. 20th St. & Thomas Rd. | AZHeartHospital.com

Page 41 September 2011 “I get so inspired by all the dynamic women.” Brooks, Kessler and Buckley Button agreed that in the past six years, how books are written and sold has changed. “I have no doubt that many of my authors would not have been on the shelves if it hadn’t been for the dramatic changes in the industry,” Brooks said. “We have so much opportunity.” More information available online at www.plbrooks.com/SSWW/index.html or via email at patricia@plbrooks.com. Writers Continued from page 16 Stress leads author to book subject Kebba Buckley Button By Brittany Morris Kebba Buckley Button, a fi ve-time published author of self-help books, said too often a blind eye is turned to natural treatments and health. The Arcadia resident said that after several years of stress in her work as an engineer, she decided to work in holistic health to fi nd the proper balance of physical, psychological and social needs. The inner peace Buckley Button refers to is a state of mind she said can be triggered with meditation. Her latest book is “Peace Within.” “Meditation can be visual, audio, kinesthetic – some prefer to be guided through meditation, and some even walk around,” she said. “It’s a personal experience. For me it’s a re fl exive response, I drop my shoulders, exhale and go to peace within.” The intention, Buckley Button said, is to reset the brain and nervous system. For those who wish to appeal to a higher power, meditation strengthens a person’s relationship with the divine. “I’ve been meditating for 30 years, and before I was a stress mess. I had no positive tools. Continued on page 44 www.AreaSuccess.com 602.214.5169 TRUTH TRUTH THERAPY THERAPY