In today’s edition of the Southern Standard, our readers are receiving a present.
A copy of the unique school calendar, “Bonnie Bear’s 2016-17 Mini Standard School Calendar” is inserted in each edition. The calendar is filled with important dates for both parents and children. All the dates for school vacations and altered days are included, as well as phone numbers for each school and a section for emergency numbers.
“We have been putting this calendar out for some years, and it’s a big hit,” said Standard editor James Clark. “Parents and children alike enjoy the calendar, and we get lots of calls when it’s time to send it out.”
Youngsters like the calendar because it’s a coloring calendar, with this year’s cover featuring a drawing of Bonnie Bear placed over an array of crayons. Each month, a special coloring page is available featuring local advertisers. The fun-loving bear is the mascot for the children’s newspaper, the Mini Standard. It is published monthly starting in October and going through April, and is distributed to elementary students in 12 local schools. 
Graphic designer and Standard editorial composing supervisor Seth Wright designs and draws the artwork, showcasing the advertisers' specialty. Bonnie goes trick or treating, does welding, sports a cast on her arm, plays in the snow, goes to the movies, and the list goes on of her many activities.