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Healthy Kids = Healthy Classrooms

Kiddos are back in school!

This means 3 things:

1. They are learning new and interesting things
2. They are playing with new and interesting friends
3. They are bringing home new and interesting viruses (oh joy!)

Let’s talk about keeping kids healthy IN the classroom.

First up, Vaccinations!

Schools are requiring more and more shots and vaccinations each year. Ouch! But the protection of all our children is important. Are your children up to date on all their immunizations? Including some of the newer shots like Hepatitis B or Varicella?

Other shots to consider and (of course) talk with your pediatrician about:

• Tdap booster —11 and 12 year olds should get a booster for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.
• Seasonal Flu and H1N1 — The CDC says the H1N1 and Seasonal Flu vaccines will be combined this year and all children ages 6-18 should receive it.
• HPV Vaccine — Girls ages 13-26 need a 3 part dose to protect against genital warts and several types of cervical cancers. Boys ages 9-26 can also receive the vaccine.
• Meningococcal — Protects against bacterial meningitis and blood infections. All children aged 11 or 12 and up to 18. Plus all freshmen entering college dormitories.

Next on your healthy student checklist is to schedule well visits to your pediatrician and optometrist plus bi-yearly dental checkups. Talk with your child’s doctors about any concerns you have and ask about any local concerns they might have. Has it been a heavy year for cold viruses? Are there any lice outbreaks? Is your local drinking water fluorinated and do they recommend fluorine prescriptions?

And make it a point to teach your kids good handwashing skills!

 

One more health concern is T1D Awareness.

What’s T1D? | Type 1 Diabetes

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) has created a fabulous Facebook page complete with information, frequently asked questions and a question and answer spot.

Please read these few quick answers to common questions and then read more to become T1D aware yourself.

 What is Type 1 Diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, debilitating disease affecting every organ system that strikes children and adults suddenly, and lasts a lifetime.

What are warning signs?

Frequent urination is one of the telltale signs of type 1 diabetes, along with excessive thirst, lower than normal energy/tiredness and weight loss.
Early diagnosis of type 1 diabetes is important and can help prevent the risk of a potentially deadly condition, especially in young children.

What are the different types of Diabetes?

Type 1 (insulin-dependent or juvenile)
Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset)

*** Do you volunteer during your school’s eye exams or during dental health week? Are you part of a Diabetes walk-a-thon team this fall? VolunteerSpot is perfect for organizing all those helpful volunteers, in turn helping keep your kids healthy this year!

Is Facebook Right for our School? (PTO, PTA, PTSA, etc.)

YES YES and YES!!

Schools and parent groups across the country have been considering this question and the answer is resoundingly YES! Let's face it, a good proportion of school parents access facebook daily or weekly. Intersecting with parents where they already hang out is a great way to keep them updated about news, events and meetings and ask more to get involved.

 

6 Tips to get the most out of facebook with school-parent groups:

• Invite parents to participate in multiple places.  Once you've established a facebook community page for your school, promote it and ask your parents to 'like' your school on facebook to show their school sprit.  Adding a 'like' box to your school website lets parents see who else is part of your facebook community and encourages more to join.  Also, be sure to add a link to your school facbeook page in school newsletters, announcements and flyers that are sent home.

• Use 'pulse' questions to engage parents. Asking simple questions from time to time gets parents chatting and engaged with your parent-group on facebook. E.g., "What's your child's favorite school lunch?" "What should our new carnival booth be this year?" "Any ideas for how we can help our school reduce paper use?"  "What's your favorite/least favorite fundraiser and why?"

• Assign a parent liaison to monitor your school facebook page for comments every few days. (Find one of your active facebook parents - and ask if (s)he'll take it on as a small responsibility).

• Facebook is a great way to put out a call for volunteers because other parents (and grandparents) networked to your 'like' fans will also see announcements. Make those announcements active by linking to your VolunteerSpot sign up sheet with a URL link right in the facebook message. Get them signed up to help on the spot. VolunteerSpot is perfect for connecting your online savvy parents and super easy to use!

• Respect privacy.  In postings, never name children by name, and only name adults if you have their permission. Only post photos of children if you have photo-releases and permission to do so. Children should never be 'tagged' (identified) in photos on your parent-group facebook page.  All links and phone numbers will be publically viewable, so think twice before posting.

• Remember, not all parents are on facebook and the opinions of those who are may not represent your general population.  Use this community tool as supplemental communication for your school and parent-group. Don't assume annoucnements are recevied or make big decisions based on the feedback of your school's facebook fans.

Here are a few examples of school-parent groups with active facebook communities:

Surprise-Elementary PTSA

Bledsoe Elementary PTA

Swedesboro-Woolwich PTO

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Have fun, get more parents invovled!!

...Then add Twitter to your school's socail media repertoire too!  Here are a few examples:

http://twitter.com/CanyonRidgePTA
http://twitter.com/ReevesSchool
http://twitter.com/mohrPTA

World Habitat Day: October 4th

 

The United Nations has designated the first Monday in October as annual World Habitat Day.

On October 4, 2010, in recognition of World Habitat Day, Habitat for Humanity will raise awareness of the need for improved shelter and highlight Habitat’s priorities: the worldwide connection between human health and housing, and, in the United States, neighborhood revitalization. These themes echo the United Nations’ chosen theme for 2010 for events in the host city of Shanghai, China and the rest of the world: “Better City, Better Life.”

Health and Housing

Habitat’s World Habitat Day efforts will focus on the link between housing and health, for example, through the release of the 2011 Shelter Report, which focuses on the need for more research on the connections between healthy homes and healthy families around the world.

Neighborhood Revitalization

In the United States, Habitat for Humanity will also focus on neighborhood revitalization. In a broad effort to help communities fulfill their aspirations, Habitat will expand its housing programs to include repairing more homes, rehabbing more vacant homes, and improving the energy-efficiency of homes. Habitat will work with partners to provide holistic improvements in a community.

Habitat for Humanity World Habitat Day Events

Around the world, many Habitat for Humanity local offices have organized World Habitat Day events. 

Habitat for Humanity’s 27^th annual Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project is a World Habitat Day event  this year.  It will be held Oct. 4 – 8 in six cities in the United States. Held in a different location each year, Habitat’s Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project is an annual, internationally-recognized week of building that brings attention to the need for simple, decent and affordable housing. This year, the Carters will work alongside volunteers in Washington, D.C.; Baltimore and Annapolis, Md.; Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.; and Birmingham, Ala. to build, rehabilitate and improve 86 homes.

• To see a list of other Habitat World Habitat Day events, click here.
• To view online resources available for download, click here.
• To join Habitat's World Habitat Day Photo Wall, click here.

 

What can you do for World Habitat Day?

 The most important thing you can do is take action! Below are three common ways that people take action in their community.

Advocate

In addition to building homes in partnership with people in need, Habitat advocates to address the causes of poverty housing. Advocacy activities always include a specific request, such as asking supporters to sign a petition, send a message to an elected official or take part in a rally.

Fundraise

World Habitat Day is a great way to raise funds for Habitat in your area. A fundraiser can help educate the public and generate publicity for nonprofit organizations like Habitat for Humanity.

Educate

Organize a public awareness event for World Habitat Day 2010 that not only highlights the need for affordable housing in your own community, but also discusses the need for improved shelter for billions of people around the world.

For some ideas on how you can take action in your community, click here.

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