10910 Reed Road
Lake in the Hills, IL 60156
ph: 847-659-5831
cmpta158
VARIETY SHOW
Variety Show was another huge success. Thank you to all the particpants and volunteers!
The Reflections Committee would like to thank all of the students who participated in the Reflections program this year. We had over 40 entries submitted for this year's theme "Beauty is". The entries were on display in the main display case at each school during the month of December. We would also like to thank the teachers and staff at both schools for taking the time to assist us in judging the entries. Their input was greatly appreciated. Based on the judging results, fourteen Martin entries and eight Chesak entries were forwarded on to the District PTA Reflections Committee. We are currently waiting for the names of any student that may advance to the next level. The following students' entries were sent to the district level:
Martin
Rachel Adams, Rutva Bhatt, Amanda Juergensen, Rebekah Klempner, Sofiya Kyrylyuk, Brady Michel, Courtney Mills, Katie Ostrem, Matthew Rodriguez, Emily Schirmacher, Brendan Thompson, Bradon Wade, Taylor Wade & Paige Wegrzyn
Chesak
Zachary Adams, Blake Buczkiewicz (2 entries), Olivia Hummel, Megan Juergensen (2 entries), Tegan Thompson, & Colin Wade
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STRANGER AWARENESS & SAFETY TIPS
Make sure that kids know when it is okay to say no to an adult.
1. Share a secret code word.
You and your child should agree on a code word that is easy for everyone to remember. This way, if anyone tells your child that s/he needs to come with them because their parents were hurt or are in the hospital, your child should ask that person for the code word. If they really are a friend, they will know the code word that you share. If they do not know the code word, your child should run away from them as fast as possible.
2. Stay away from strangers.
Who is a stranger? Discuss that even if your child sees someone hanging around the playground, or at school or in your neighborhood, this does not mean that they "know" him or her. Although they may have a familiar face, s/he is still a stranger to your child.
3. Grownups should NOT ask kids to do things that other adults can do for themselves.
This means that children should not go, or get in a car, with an adult who,for example, asks them for directions, or if they ask a child to help them find a lost puppy or kitten, etc. If someone does ask for your child's help, tell your child to say, "Wait here and I'll check with my mom or dad." Then they should go get one of you.
4. If your child gets separated from you in a public place tell them to NOT go looking for you.
Instead your child should be told to immediately ask someone who works at the store or an adult like a police officer or guard, to help them find you.
5. Always tell your child that they need to ask the grownup in charge before:
- Going anywhere with anybody;
- Leaving the yard, play area, or going into someone's home;
- Getting a ride home with someone other than their bus driver or your usual ride; and/or
- Getting into a car or going somewhere with somebody even if it's someone you know!!
6. Once your child has permission from you, find out:
- Where they are going;
- How they will get there;
- Who will be going with them;
- When they will be back ;
- Remind them to call if they are running late
7. If someone follows your child on foot or in a car, tell them to STAY AWAY.
- Do not go near the car to talk to the people inside.
- Tell your child to trust their instincts. If they feel scared or uncomfortable, they should get away from the situation. Tell them to make an excuse or just run away, and go to a safe place.
- Tell them to "Think No, Go, Yell, & Tell". Say no, run away, yell as loud as they can, and tell an adult.
(courtesy of McGruff Safety)
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HOME FIRE SAFETY
1. Make a family plan, set off smoke detector randomly once a month and evacuate the house.
2. Clean the dryer filter every time, and vacuum the vent tube monthly.
3. Always sleep with the bedroom doors closed. This will keep deadly heat and smoke out of bedrooms, giving you additional time to escape.
4. Find a way for everyone to sound a family alarm. Yelling, pounding on walls, whistles, etc. Practice yelling "FIRE!"
5. In a fire, time is critical. Don't waste time getting dressed, don't search for pets or valuables. Just get out!
6. Roll out of bed. Stay low to the group to avoid smoke or gases.
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Car Safety
The State of Illinois has a new cell phone law that has gone into effect on Janary 1, 2010. It applies in particular to school zones. http://www.drivinglaws.org/ill.php
Make sure your child is properly restrained even when in line being dropped off/ pickup at school.
Do not allow your child to ride unrestrained when you are in line during drop off/ pick up or when at a bus stop. Accidents can still occur even when your car is not moving. Remember safety should not be sacrificed for the few seconds of time being saved by not having your child properly restrained.
Be an example to your children, they are more likely to wear their seatbelt without objection if they see you wearing one on all occasions.
If your child refuses to wear the seatbelt, or ride in a booster seat, or takes the seatbelt or shoulder belt off, pull the car over and refuse to go forward any further until everyone in the car is properly restrained. It is the LAW.
(courtesy of LITH Police Dept.)
Car seats
- Once a car seat has been a crash it must be replaced since the restraint belts are only meant to be stretched once.
- Ask you auto insurance company because many will replace them for free.
Booster Seats
- Children should be in a booster based on their height.
- The safest place for a booster seat is in the back seat or row.
- If the lap belt rests on a child's stomach, the child should be seated in a booster seat. If an impact were to occur the belt could cause internal bleeding or serious bruising both in the stomach area as well as across the neck. The shoulder belt should also be across the shoulder, not the neck.
Front Seat Riders
- Most vehicles are now equipped with front seat airbags
- A deployed airbag can cause injuries to a person riding in the front seat that is not tall enough.
- Children belong riding in the rear seat. However, if an older child must sit in the front seat, then the front seat should be pushed back as far as the seat will go.
(courtesy of Lake in the Hills Police Department)
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Healthy Lunch Options
When children becomes bored of their school lunch favorites, often most of their lunch ends up in the trash instead of their bellies. How frustrating! Try these ideas to help keep interest in lunch going through the new year.
Sandwich Roll Ups
Mini Subs
Homemade Lunchables
(courtesy of Family Fun Magazine)
Internet & Phone Safety
On December 15, 2009 Marlowe Middle School will host Sarah Migas from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. Ms. Migas is an Internet Safety Specialist from High Tech Crimes Bureau. She will discuss legal and safety issues relating to technology including: social networking, chat rooms, instant messaging, blogging, peer-to-peer networks, and cell phone use. Other areas of interest to be discussed include online child exploitation, cyberbullying, and sexting. The presentation will begin at 7PM in the gymnasium. For more information contact Kurt Rohlwing at 847-659-4702 or at krohlwing@district158.org
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From the Health Office:
Cold and Flu Season
Along with snow, the winter brings cold and flu season. It is that important to remain steadfast in trying to prevent the transmission of viruses. Cold and influenza are very contagious because they can also be spread by respiratory droplets. The following self care measures can help decrease the spread of infection from person to person:
- WASH HANDS FREQUENTLY using warm water and soap.
- Cough and/or sneeze into a tissue or into the elbow of your own sleeve
- Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth.
Wipe hard highly touched surfaces with an appropriate disinfectant
- Avoid crowds whenever possible.
- Change toothbrushes after having a cold or flu.
It is also important to ensure the sick children are kept home from school until their highest period of being contagious has passed. Please do not send your children to school if they exhibit any of the following symptoms:
- Temperature greater than 99.8 degrees.
- Nasal congestion and/or discharge.
- Persistent cough.
- Sore throat with difficulty swallowing.
- Inflamed eyes with or without discharge.
- Nausea/vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Extreme fatigue
- Rash or scratching of unknown cause.
Communicable Diseases
Please notify the school office as soon a possible if your child contracts any contagious disease. If such a disease is contracted, the child must be excluded from school. Communicable disease such as; chicken pox, German measles, impetigo, influenza, measles, mumps, scarlet fever, infectious mononucleosis and Strep throat are contagious before they reach a stage where they can be recognized and diagnosed. Certain communicable diseases will require a doctor’s release for the student to re-enter school. Please check with the health office for specifics. As always, please keep your child at home during an illness to decrease the number of students who are exposed to the illness. Students who have been running a fever (100 or greater) should be kept home fever-free for 24 hours before they return to school.
Dawn Ruffatti, R.N.
Director of Health Services
10910 Reed Road
Lake in the Hills, IL 60156
ph: 847-659-5831
cmpta158
