PARENT INPUT IS NEEDED FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

The High School Improvement Team, or HSIT, meets once each marking period during
the school year. The HSIT looks at student performance data, school procedures and
policies, and discusses ways to help the school improve. Parents, school staff, as well as
community members are welcome to participate. The next HSIT meeting is Thursday,
March 15th at 6:00 p.m. in the high school library. Items on the agenda include a review
of first semester student performance data and a discussion about the school's attendance
waivers for exams. Please call Mr. Holt, JLHS principal, at 731-4420 ext. 242 for
more information.

ENERGY DRINKS - TOO RISKY FOR KIDS

The latest dangerous trend affecting children is energy drinks. There are no age restrictions, so young children are routinely purchasing energy drinks at grocery and convenience stores.

What are energy drinks?
Energy drinks:
~Are carbonated beverages claiming to increase alertness and endurance;
~Contain up to 3,000 mg of stimulants per serving (compared with 34.5 mg in a can of Coca-Cola); and
~Common brands include Red Bull, Monster, and Rockstar.

What are the risks?
Energy drink companies are marketing these drinks to children through television shows and sports advertisements. Adolescent males are quickly becoming the top consumers of energy drinks in this $10 billion industry. A recent study titled "Epidemic: Teen Perceptions and Consumption" indicates that by age 12, one in three students had tried energy drinks. By age 14, 80 percent had tried an energy drink and nearly 50 percent consumed the drinks on a routine basis.

Energy drinks have large amounts of stimulants, including guarana (one of the most potent sources of caffeine). While companies are required to state caffeine is an ingredient, they are not required to list other stimulants or to include the amounts. Companies are not required to list the potential risks of the beverages. Known side effects of consuming excessive stimulants in energy drinks include:

*Heart palpitations;
*Caffeine addiction;
*Severe Headaches;
*Rapid Heartbeat
*Jolt and crash episodes;
*Jitteriness and nausea;
*Insomnia; and
*Increased propensity for strokes

The long-term effects of children using energy drinks are unknown. Research indicates that childhood energy drink consumption might be linked to future illicit drug use.

What Can We Do?
Talk to your kids about the risks of energy drinks to prevent first trial. "Our children don't need more drugs (or more stimulants) like the caffeine these drinks contain, not to mention the empty calories provided by these drinks," says Denise Koo of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Speak to your pediatrician if you suspect that your child may be experiencing these symptoms.

Prevent energy drink consumption at schools. Talk to your child's school about your concerns. Limiting students' access to unhealthy foods and beverages is important to their health. Restricting the use of energy drinks on campus, particularly for elementary and middle schools, can send a strong message about the potential harms of these beverages. An important step was taken by the Los Angeles Unified School District, which eliminated energy drinks from vending machines and school stores as part of its ban on sale of sugar-sweetened drinks, notes Steven Teutsch, chief scientist at the Los Angeles County Public Health.

This report to Parents was written by Shoshanna Goldin.
National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP)

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Head Start
A tuition free Pre-School Program for qualifying families with children ages 3-5 years.
*Children with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Please call today for an appointment:
Susie Hartz at 989-786-5181

The Johannesburg-Lewiston Head Start Program attempts to meet the needs of the pre-school child and his family in several ways.
The Head Start staff works with families and their children on activities that will promote family and community partnerships.

The Head Start Program offers the child the opportunity to progress at his individual pace. Social and emotional development are important parts of the Head Start curriculum. One of the Head Start goals is to develop self worth in a relaxed atmosphere, using developmentally appropriate activities. The "play-based" curriculum includes: art, music, science, reading readiness activities, cognitive and motor development, health, safety, mental health and nutrition awareness. Special needs children are welcome in Head Start. Planned programs are specially designed by the Intermediate School District, teaching staff, and other agencies to meet the needs of these children and their families.

An important part of every Head Start Program is the family. Head Start maintains that the parent is the child's first and most important teacher. Parent involvement is necessary and encouraged in all areas of the program. Parents are encouraged to volunteer in the classroom, attend parent workshops, plan field trips and to use community resources made available to them by staff members. Many Head Start families are active members in the community and are involved in building working partnerships with other organizations.

Fore more information about Head Start, call 989-786-5181 for the Johannesburg/Lewiston area and
989-731-1015 for the Gaylord area. You can also visit NEMCSA

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Dear J-L Parents/Guardians:

I would like to bring your to your attention some information about a growing concern I have that directly or indirectly relates to all our students. During the past several years there has been a growing problem of drug abuse among school age children. For many, the source of the drugs does not come from a drug dealer on the street or in a dark alley, but right from the medicine cabinet that exists in most of our homes.

Drugs that are outdated, left over from previous illnesses's or injuries, and current prescriptions are the culprits. Most of us do a poor job of disposing of outdated and unused prescriptions. We have concerns about the environment, clean water, or where we can take old drugs to be
properly destroyed at no cost to ourselves.

Currently, there are several ways of disposal to consider:
1. The Otsego County Sheriff (see below) has a "no questions asked" free disposal plan;
2. Some drug stores will allow you to return old drugs; please check with your pharmacist; and
3. A growing number of Northeastern Michigan Pharmacies are supporting the Yellow Jug Old Drugs program which promotes the concept of clean water. There may be other programs that I am not aware of at the moment. Please feel free to contact me if you know of other disposal alternatives.

We all want our children to be safe and healthy as possible. Please take the time to check your own medicine cabinets and cupboards and take an inventory of what you have. Think about a lock box for the drugs you are currently using and take the others to a proper disposal site. It is not unusual for school age students to visit the home of friends or relatives or spend the night. Please pass the word about securing and/or disposing of prescription drugs to them.

Thank you in advance for making life safer for all our children.

Sincerely,

James J. Hilgendorf
Superintendent

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Otsego County Sheriff's Office, in conjunction with the Otsego County Prosecutor's Office and the Otsego County Board of Commissioners are pleased to announce the implementation of a prescription drug turn in and disposal program. This program will allow individuals to bring in unused, unwanted, or outdated prescription medication to the Sheriff's Office for disposal by Sheriff's Office Personnel. With the growing concern of prescription medications contaminating ground water by being flushed into city sewers and private drain fields, not to mention the possibility of prescription narcotics being taken from private garbage after being discarded, a safe, effective alternative has become necessary. This public service is offered free of charge and aside from some Sheriff's Office bookkeeping measures, no questions will be asked. Prescription medications may be turned in at the Otsego County Sheriff's Office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or by appointment.

Please contact Under Sheriff Matthew Nowicki at 989-731-7282 for further information or to set up an appointment outside of the normal scheduled turn in hours.

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SCHOOL BUS STOPS...
What Every Driver Must Know

1. Yellow lights flashing - PREPARE TO STOP.
2. Red lights are flashing - STOP NO CLOSER THAN 20 FEET FROM BUS.
3. Red lights are turned off - Proceed.

SCHOOL BUSES WITH OVERHEAD RED LIGHTS ONLY
1. Red lights are flashing and bus is moving - Prepare to Stop.
2. Red lights are flashing and bus is stopped. Stop no closer than 20 feet from the bus.
3. When red lights are turned off - Proceed with caution.

ALL SCHOOL BUSES
Yellow hazard warning lights are flashing - Proceed with Caution.

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7 Tips for a Healthy School Year
Get organized, get the kids to bed - and get everyone breakfast

It's back to school time, the perfect time to set up healthier school-day routines at home. Consider these your "new school year resolutions" for minimizing stress and maximizing well-being. Here are seven strategies:

1. Organize the night before.
A mad morning rush gives everyone's day a stressful start. Skip the drama by taking a few unhurried minutes in the evening to load backpacks and lay out school clothes. Are there forms to be signed? Do snacks or lunches need packing?

2. Set a bedtime and stick to it.
School children need nine to 11 hours of sleep. Kids who don't wake easily, often seem irritable or lack daytime energy need more sleep. Sleep is important for many things, from overall growth to learning and concentration at school. Help kids wind down quietly before lights-out.

3. Make Breakfast.
If your child hasn't eaten since dinner the night before, there's no energy to draw from - the gas tank is empty. Kids learn better with food in their stomachs. Kids who eat breakfast are leaner because they're not as likely to snack on high-calorie, low-nutrient foods later in the day.

4. Learn what's up.
Ask open-ended questions, such as: "What were the best and hardest parts about today?" or "What things stress you out?" Kids are more apt to open up about problems if you show interest.

5. Teach Safety.
Think through your child's day from the moment he or she leaves for school to the time he or she gets home. How can he or she be safe? - from wearing a bike helmet to avoiding strangers and keeping doors locked at home?

6. Spell out expectations.
Discuss appropriate classroom behavior, a homework policy, balancing social time and schoolwork, and grade goals. Set the path for them and they'll know when they are on track.

7. Practice relaxation.
It's important for everybody to have some downtime, even children. As you sign kids up for sports and other activities, ask yourself: "Whose needs are being met - mine or my child's?"

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HELPFUL WEBSITE'S for Parents & Students

From www.RIF.org: Research and practice show that one simple activity — reading aloud — is the best way to prepare children for learning to read and to keep them reading as they learn and grow. Reading aloud helps your children develop the language skills that they will use in school and throughout their lives.

Helpful sites:

A+Math

AAA Math

EZ School
(Math & Language arts activities)

Learning Planet

For cool science experiments
CLICK HERE

Reading to children, even for a few minutes each day, prepares them to read
and encourages a positive attitude toward reading. Children who are read to at
home learn to read more easily, have a higher vocabulary, and are more likely to
develop a love for reading than those who are not read to on a regular basis.
Simply put, this cannot be done too early or too often.

PARENTS:
There is a great website to encourage reading!
www.bookadventure.com.
It’s user friendly and there is an opportunity to win great prizes.
This is part of the Sylvan Learning Center site.

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Michigan CSI
(Michigan Cyber Safety Initiative)

10 Internet Safety Tips

1. Create clear and simple ground rules for children to follow.
2. Place a computer with Internet access in a location that is visible to other members of the family (not in a child's bedroom).
3. Explain to your children that they should never give out identifying information: name, home address, school name, or telephone number in a public forum such as a chat room or a bulletin board (newsgroup) or to people they do not know.
4. Discuss the importance of telling you or a trusted adult if someone ever makes your child or teen feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused while online.
5. Get to know the Internet and any services your children use.
6. Become familiar with blocking and monitoring programs.
7. Never allow a child to arrange a face-to-face meeting with another computer user without parental permission or accompaniment.
8. Tell you children never to respond to messages or bulletin board items that are suggestive, obscene, belligerent, threatening, or make them feel uncomfortable.
9. Report messages that present a danger to local law enforcement.
10. Remind your children that people on the computer may not (and are likely not) who they seem; and that everything people say online may not be true.

Help keep your child save on the internet!!!
Visit the
Internet Keep Safe Coalition

KEEP SAFE - KEEP AWAY - KEEP TELLING

I keep safe
my personal information - all of it! I never give my real name, address, phone number,
the name of my school, or a picture of myself to anyone online.

I keep away
from Internet strangers - no matter what they tell me because I have no way of knowing who they really are. I don't talk with them online, and I never meet them face-to-face.

I keep telling
my parents or a trusted adult about anything that makes me uncomfortable.

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Web Resources
Below are useful Web sites where you can access additional and
continually updated information about H1N1 Flu and Pandemic Flu planning.

www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu

http://pandemicflu.gov/

Dear Parent/Guardian,

As you may know, flu can easily be spread from person to person. Therefore, we are taking steps to reduce the spread of flu in Johannesburg-Lewiston Area Schools. We want to keep the school open to students and functioning in a normal manner during this flu season. But, we need your help to do this.

We are working closely with District Health Department #4 to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning schools. We will keep you updated with new information as it becomes available.

If the flu becomes more severe, we may take additional steps to prevent the spread, such as conducting active fever and flu symptom screening of students and staff as they arrive at school, making changes to increase the space between people, such as moving desks farther apart and postponing field trips.

For now we are doing everything we can to keep our school functioning as usual. Here are a few things you can do to help:

Teach your children to wash their hands
often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. You can set a good example by doing this yourself.

Teach your children not to share personal items
like drinks, food, or unwashed utensils, and to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues. If a tissue is unavailable, they should cover up their coughs or sneezes using the elbow, arm, or sleeve instead of the hand.

Know the signs and symptoms of the flu.
Symptoms of the flu include fever 100° or above, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache,
and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.

Keep sick children at home
for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or do not have signs of fever without fever-reducing drugs.
Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected.

Do not send children to school if they are sick.
Any children who are determined to be sick while at school will be sent home.

It is the current recommendation from the CDC that schools not be closed if a case of H1N1 influenza infection is confirmed. However, a school might be dismissed if there is a high rate of faculty or student absenteeism that interferes with the school's ability to function. By following the above items and getting the H1N1 vaccine when available in mid October, District Health Department #4 believes we may be able to prevent wide spread dismissals and suspension of normal school activities.

For more information about flu in our community, contact District Health Department # 4 at www.dhd4.org or call 1-800-221-0294. We will notify you of any additional changes to our school's strategy to prevent the spread of flu.

Sincerely,

James J. Hilgendorf
Superintendent J-L Area Schools

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Parents are a child's first and best teacher. They help the child develop a desire for learning and teach the basics of learning,
such as the letters, numbers and reading.

Your child's learning process begins with you reading out loud to your child.
Reading to your child is a great teaching tool and it strengthens the child-parent bond.

LAMPLIGHTERS is available to help you get your child ahead of the curve before entering kindergarten.

On the LAMPLIGHTER book shelf at the Lewiston Public Library there are books that provide information
on the how and whys of reading to children and how to develop your youngster into a learner.

Reading News
The Montmorency County Lamplighters are sponsoring a literacy initiative called Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. The goal of the program is to provide free books for all Lewiston area children who are under five years old. Call the school, or visit LAMPLIGHTERS

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Public Notification of Career and Technical Education (CTE) Opportunities

Johannesburg-Lewiston Area Schools offers Career and Technical Education programs at the high school. These programs are designed to prepare students for a broad range of employment and training services and are offered under the guidance of certified teachers. The following is a list of programs that are currently offered and the criteria for admission.
Program ....................................................................Admission Criteria
Business Administration..........................................No prerequisite
Construction Trades................................................No prerequisite
Drafting and Design Technology...............................No prerequisite
Family and Consumer Sciences.................................No prerequisite

All career and technical education programs follow the district's policies of non discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, gender, age, disability, height, weight, or marital status in all programs, activities, and employment. In addition, arrangements can be made to ensure that the lack of English language skills is not a barrier to admission or participation.

For general information about these programs, contact:
Mr. Rick Holt, Principal
Johannesburg-Lewiston High School
10854 M-32 East
Johannesburg, MI 49751
989-731-4420

Inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies should be directed to:
Mr. James Hilgendorf, Superintendent
Johannesburg-Lewiston Area Schools
10854 M-32 East
Johannesburg, MI 49751
989-732-1773

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