Friday, October 29, 2010
BOOK FAIR!!
The Book Fair will start on Monday, November 1, at both libraries, on the main campus and at the annex. There are great books for children and adults, wonderful gift items, teaching materials, and just fun stuff. Get your Christmas shopping done at the Book Fair! Profits go to buy books and items needed for the library. The hours for the annex book fair are Monday through Thursday, 12:00 - 2:00.
Monday, October 18, 2010
STRANGER DANGER
Strangers can hurt you. Be aware and be safe.
Who is a Stranger?
A stranger is anyone you don't know. Strangers can be men, women or teenagers. If you have never met them in real life, they are a stranger! Although there are kind strangers, some strangers are not always kind and some can hurt you. A stranger who is not kind does not have to look scary. They can be good looking, clean and well dressed. There is no way to tell if someone is good just by looking at them. Bad people can pretend to be nice to try to fool you. Don't be fooled! Just stay away.
What should I do if a stranger tries to talk to me?
Ignore them. Do not look at them or acknowledge that they have spoken to you. Walk quickly or run away from them. Go in the opposite direction as fast as you can. Go to a home of someone you know or to an area that has a lot of people. You can dart into a store or school if you have too. Tell an adult you can trust about what happened, like a parent, a teacher, a police officer or some other grownup your parents said you can talk to.
What about when I am at home alone?
Keep all the doors and windows locked and don't let anyone know you are home alone. If someone rings your doorbell, look through a peephole or window to see who it is. If you do not recognize them, don't open the door! Even if they are saying it is an emergency and they need to use the phone or come inside, do not open the door. They can go to another house where an adult is home to assist them. If someone calls and asks for your parents, do not tell them you are home alone. Tell the person your mom or dad can't come to the phone right now but you will take a message and they will call them back in a few minutes. Tell them this even if your parent(s) is gone for an hour or more. If you have call display and do not recognize the name or phone number on the phone, don't answer it. Just let the machine pick up the message or let them call back.
How do strangers trick you?
Strangers who are bad people and want to hurt you have developed some pretty tricky things to do to confuse you and get you alone with them. First there is the "Help Trick". This is when a stranger asks you to help them find a lost pet or maybe asks you for directions to get somewhere. Seems harmless enough right? That is what they want you to think. There are adults all over the place that a stranger can ask for help. Turn and walk away. The next trick is called the "Emergency Trick". This is a scary one for a child to be subjected to. A stranger will tell you that there is an emergency in your family and your mom or dad asked them to get you. The stranger may even say that your mom or dad got hurt. Think straight. Your mom or dad would never send a stranger to tell you news like this. Turn around and run away! A new one that strangers are trying is the "Accident Trick". This is when a stranger lays on the ground and looks like they have been injured and unconscious or in pain. The desire to help this person is big and kids want to help and be heroes. Do not go over to the person. They can grab you and take you away. Instead, go to someone you know and tell them about the situation or call 911 and they will come to help. You don't need to be near the person while an adult or emergency crew come to assist. Stay away! The "Animal Trick" is another one that is hard to resist. This is when a stranger holds a small animal and invites you to pet it. This is a trick! You are close enough for this stranger to discard the animal and grab you. The stranger might ask you to come back to their car or home and help feed the baby animal. Don't! Turn around and run away. The last is called the "Bride Trick". This is when a stranger promises you candy, money or something else of interest. People do not give gifts to people they do not know. This is a trick. Once the stranger has you alone you are going to be hurt. Turn around and run away.
People who look friendly are not always nice. Keep safe with these tips:
1. Always tell your parents where you are going.
2. Try not to walk anywhere alone. Walk with a friend.
3. Don't take shortcuts through the woods, a back street or empty lot.
4. Do not get close to strangers. Make sure you have room to run.
5. Don't tell your name or address to a stranger.
6. Never take candy, money or gifts from a stranger.
7. Never go with a stranger to help look for a lost pet or play a game.
8. Never get into a car with anyone you don't know.
9. If a stranger bothers you, run away and ask an adult for help.
10. Know safe places you can go. Try a police or fire station, the library, a store or a friend's house.
11. If a stranger follows you or grabs for you, yell real loud. Shout, "I don't know you," so people know you are in trouble. Fight back and make as much noise as you can. If they threaten to hurt your family, keep yelling. They can't hurt you from jail.
12. If anyone touches you in a bad way, say "NO" as loudly as you can and run away. Tell an adult immediately.
13. Tell your parents about places or people that make you feel unsafe.
14. Talk to your parents and come up with a secret code word for emergencies. Never go with anyone unless they know the secret code word.
15. Know how and when to call 9-1-1.
16. Never open the door to a stranger.
17. Never tell anyone on the phone you are alone.
18. Do not tell callers your name, phone number or address.
19. If you don't like what someone is saying on the phone, hang up right away.
Who is a Stranger?
A stranger is anyone you don't know. Strangers can be men, women or teenagers. If you have never met them in real life, they are a stranger! Although there are kind strangers, some strangers are not always kind and some can hurt you. A stranger who is not kind does not have to look scary. They can be good looking, clean and well dressed. There is no way to tell if someone is good just by looking at them. Bad people can pretend to be nice to try to fool you. Don't be fooled! Just stay away.
What should I do if a stranger tries to talk to me?
Ignore them. Do not look at them or acknowledge that they have spoken to you. Walk quickly or run away from them. Go in the opposite direction as fast as you can. Go to a home of someone you know or to an area that has a lot of people. You can dart into a store or school if you have too. Tell an adult you can trust about what happened, like a parent, a teacher, a police officer or some other grownup your parents said you can talk to.
What about when I am at home alone?
Keep all the doors and windows locked and don't let anyone know you are home alone. If someone rings your doorbell, look through a peephole or window to see who it is. If you do not recognize them, don't open the door! Even if they are saying it is an emergency and they need to use the phone or come inside, do not open the door. They can go to another house where an adult is home to assist them. If someone calls and asks for your parents, do not tell them you are home alone. Tell the person your mom or dad can't come to the phone right now but you will take a message and they will call them back in a few minutes. Tell them this even if your parent(s) is gone for an hour or more. If you have call display and do not recognize the name or phone number on the phone, don't answer it. Just let the machine pick up the message or let them call back.
How do strangers trick you?
Strangers who are bad people and want to hurt you have developed some pretty tricky things to do to confuse you and get you alone with them. First there is the "Help Trick". This is when a stranger asks you to help them find a lost pet or maybe asks you for directions to get somewhere. Seems harmless enough right? That is what they want you to think. There are adults all over the place that a stranger can ask for help. Turn and walk away. The next trick is called the "Emergency Trick". This is a scary one for a child to be subjected to. A stranger will tell you that there is an emergency in your family and your mom or dad asked them to get you. The stranger may even say that your mom or dad got hurt. Think straight. Your mom or dad would never send a stranger to tell you news like this. Turn around and run away! A new one that strangers are trying is the "Accident Trick". This is when a stranger lays on the ground and looks like they have been injured and unconscious or in pain. The desire to help this person is big and kids want to help and be heroes. Do not go over to the person. They can grab you and take you away. Instead, go to someone you know and tell them about the situation or call 911 and they will come to help. You don't need to be near the person while an adult or emergency crew come to assist. Stay away! The "Animal Trick" is another one that is hard to resist. This is when a stranger holds a small animal and invites you to pet it. This is a trick! You are close enough for this stranger to discard the animal and grab you. The stranger might ask you to come back to their car or home and help feed the baby animal. Don't! Turn around and run away. The last is called the "Bride Trick". This is when a stranger promises you candy, money or something else of interest. People do not give gifts to people they do not know. This is a trick. Once the stranger has you alone you are going to be hurt. Turn around and run away.
People who look friendly are not always nice. Keep safe with these tips:
1. Always tell your parents where you are going.
2. Try not to walk anywhere alone. Walk with a friend.
3. Don't take shortcuts through the woods, a back street or empty lot.
4. Do not get close to strangers. Make sure you have room to run.
5. Don't tell your name or address to a stranger.
6. Never take candy, money or gifts from a stranger.
7. Never go with a stranger to help look for a lost pet or play a game.
8. Never get into a car with anyone you don't know.
9. If a stranger bothers you, run away and ask an adult for help.
10. Know safe places you can go. Try a police or fire station, the library, a store or a friend's house.
11. If a stranger follows you or grabs for you, yell real loud. Shout, "I don't know you," so people know you are in trouble. Fight back and make as much noise as you can. If they threaten to hurt your family, keep yelling. They can't hurt you from jail.
12. If anyone touches you in a bad way, say "NO" as loudly as you can and run away. Tell an adult immediately.
13. Tell your parents about places or people that make you feel unsafe.
14. Talk to your parents and come up with a secret code word for emergencies. Never go with anyone unless they know the secret code word.
15. Know how and when to call 9-1-1.
16. Never open the door to a stranger.
17. Never tell anyone on the phone you are alone.
18. Do not tell callers your name, phone number or address.
19. If you don't like what someone is saying on the phone, hang up right away.
Drug Addiction
Drug abuse and drug addiction are the growing problems in the society today. Drug abuse means taking a psychoactive or performance enhancing substance that directly affects the working of your nervous system. Drugs abuse can cause many problems, not only related to health, but also socialism and morality. Most people fall to drug abuse during their college life, as kids or teenagers. The largest consumers of drugs are young adults and teenagers.
There are many reasons for falling for drug abuse and getting addicted to drugs. A person, who suffers from low self esteem, is emotionally unstable and wants relief from mental pain; hence, he/she usually goes for drugs. These people do not have enough self-resilience to handle pain or stress, depression and loneliness, and find drugs a helpful way to escape the situation. Even a one-time use of drugs can cause drug addiction.
One of the factors that increase drug abuse risk is family history; if one of the family members is using drugs then it also influences the other members. An untreated physical pain or mental illnesses, like anxiety or depression, can also increase the risk of drug abuse. One of the most common causes of drug abuse is peer pressure. Teenagers and adolescents usually get into drug addiction due to peer pressure. Peer pressure means the pressure to fit in a group, to be liked or be popular. Sometimes teenagers try drugs because they are curious, or just because "everyone is doing it". Peer pressure can make one indulge in activities and do things that one would not do in normal conditions.
People, due to peer pressure, leave their principles, common sense, responsibility and morals behind, and do what their friends want them to do. With peer pressure, it becomes very hard to say no to drugs. But, it is very important to be conscious about the learning one has gotten, common sense, beliefs and feelings about drugs, before trying it. Only if one is strong and confident, resisting the peer pressure and avoiding drug use becomes easier.
Following are some ways to ignore peer pressure to take drugs:
1. Have a friend or peer who backs you up when everyone is pressurizing you to take drugs. If you have such a peer, who says no to drugs too, leaving the group and resisting the peer pressure becomes much easier. Make friends that share your values, respect your boundaries and are ready to leave with you when you ask them to.
2. If your friend or your group is pressuring you, you can also ask for an advice from an elder. Talking to an elder, parent, teacher or counselor can give you a lot of confidence in yourself. They will also give you tips and help you make new friends.
3. Set your own limits and boundaries, and speak up and communicate them to your friends, whenever possible. They might tease you, but most of the people respect the limits others have drawn for themselves. If they still force you and pressurize you, do not be afraid to leave the group.
4. Studies have shown that people are in a parent-adolescent relationship and having a strong family structure makes it easier to avoid peer pressure to take drugs.
James Handforth is a health expert. You can get complete substance abuse treatment and guidance to live a healthier life.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Handforth
There are many reasons for falling for drug abuse and getting addicted to drugs. A person, who suffers from low self esteem, is emotionally unstable and wants relief from mental pain; hence, he/she usually goes for drugs. These people do not have enough self-resilience to handle pain or stress, depression and loneliness, and find drugs a helpful way to escape the situation. Even a one-time use of drugs can cause drug addiction.
One of the factors that increase drug abuse risk is family history; if one of the family members is using drugs then it also influences the other members. An untreated physical pain or mental illnesses, like anxiety or depression, can also increase the risk of drug abuse. One of the most common causes of drug abuse is peer pressure. Teenagers and adolescents usually get into drug addiction due to peer pressure. Peer pressure means the pressure to fit in a group, to be liked or be popular. Sometimes teenagers try drugs because they are curious, or just because "everyone is doing it". Peer pressure can make one indulge in activities and do things that one would not do in normal conditions.
People, due to peer pressure, leave their principles, common sense, responsibility and morals behind, and do what their friends want them to do. With peer pressure, it becomes very hard to say no to drugs. But, it is very important to be conscious about the learning one has gotten, common sense, beliefs and feelings about drugs, before trying it. Only if one is strong and confident, resisting the peer pressure and avoiding drug use becomes easier.
Following are some ways to ignore peer pressure to take drugs:
1. Have a friend or peer who backs you up when everyone is pressurizing you to take drugs. If you have such a peer, who says no to drugs too, leaving the group and resisting the peer pressure becomes much easier. Make friends that share your values, respect your boundaries and are ready to leave with you when you ask them to.
2. If your friend or your group is pressuring you, you can also ask for an advice from an elder. Talking to an elder, parent, teacher or counselor can give you a lot of confidence in yourself. They will also give you tips and help you make new friends.
3. Set your own limits and boundaries, and speak up and communicate them to your friends, whenever possible. They might tease you, but most of the people respect the limits others have drawn for themselves. If they still force you and pressurize you, do not be afraid to leave the group.
4. Studies have shown that people are in a parent-adolescent relationship and having a strong family structure makes it easier to avoid peer pressure to take drugs.
James Handforth is a health expert. You can get complete substance abuse treatment and guidance to live a healthier life.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Handforth
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
First Nine Weeks Grade Reports
Thanks to all the parents who came to the school and met with their children's teachers on Tuesday, October 12. If parents were unable to pick up the first nine weeks grade reports on Tuesday, the students will bring them home on Friday, unless the parent comes to the school before then. If any parent has questions or concerns about their child's grades, please call the school at 280-2820 to schedule an appointment to speak to a teacher.
This Week's Word is CLEANLINESS
This week at Verbena High School, the character education word for the week is "cleanliness". Sometimes cleanliness is a problem among students that we as educators have to address. Kids can be brutally honest when they notice that a classmate has poor hygiene or an odor issue. Students with poor hygiene usually have all the basics to help the problem at home, but parents may be too busy to notice that their child is not bathing properly or always wearing clean clothes. Educators may have to talk to the student and call the home to help rectify this unhealthy hygiene condition. Hygiene kits can also be made available to any student who needs help with having the basic supplies that are necessary for a clean body, including teeth and hair. For students or adults who have questions on the subject of cleanliness or health issues, there is a wonderful website, kidshealth.org. It is a source for much good information.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
SAFEGUARD AGAINST FOOD POISONING
While the approaching holiday season offers the opportunity for fun and fellowship
with friends and family, there is also an opportunity for pesky pathogens to wreak
havoc via food borne illnesses. It is important to safe guard your family from food
poisoning by taking precautions while preparing or partaking in festive fare. Each
year, hundreds of children are hospitalized due to ingesting foods that have not
been properly stored.
"Always wash your hands before preparing any meal, wash all fruits and vegetables
especially those that are going to be served raw, and thoroughly clean counter
tops, cutting boards or anything that might be exposed to raw meat," said Ann
Slattery, Supervisor of the Regional Poison Control Center at Children's Hospital.
"Also, never leave any foods that require refrigeration out for more than two hours
at room temperature."
To prevent food borne illnesses from disrupting your holiday celebrations this year,
follow theses food safety tips:
* Never leave food out for longer than two hours at room temperature.
· Always keep cold foods cold (below 40°F) and hot foods hot (above 140°f).
· When reheating cooked food, make sure to heat to 165 °F before serving.
· Always wash your hands.
· Use a meat thermometer to make sure the meat is done.
· Use two cutting boards, one for raw meats and one for vegetables.
For more information on this and other children's health and safety issues, visit
our web site at www.chsys.org
with friends and family, there is also an opportunity for pesky pathogens to wreak
havoc via food borne illnesses. It is important to safe guard your family from food
poisoning by taking precautions while preparing or partaking in festive fare. Each
year, hundreds of children are hospitalized due to ingesting foods that have not
been properly stored.
"Always wash your hands before preparing any meal, wash all fruits and vegetables
especially those that are going to be served raw, and thoroughly clean counter
tops, cutting boards or anything that might be exposed to raw meat," said Ann
Slattery, Supervisor of the Regional Poison Control Center at Children's Hospital.
"Also, never leave any foods that require refrigeration out for more than two hours
at room temperature."
To prevent food borne illnesses from disrupting your holiday celebrations this year,
follow theses food safety tips:
* Never leave food out for longer than two hours at room temperature.
· Always keep cold foods cold (below 40°F) and hot foods hot (above 140°f).
· When reheating cooked food, make sure to heat to 165 °F before serving.
· Always wash your hands.
· Use a meat thermometer to make sure the meat is done.
· Use two cutting boards, one for raw meats and one for vegetables.
For more information on this and other children's health and safety issues, visit
our web site at www.chsys.org
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