Parents as Teachers USD 323 Rock Creek Schools

Parent Pages LATE WINTER– 2009

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 3

What Makes a Family Strong? Is it family unity? Beliefs that you share? Activities that you enjoy? Here is what a survey of over 2000 families said:

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Communication Families agreed that communication builds strength. Do you set a regular time to ‘talk’ each day—at the dinner table, at bedtime or during rides to school or the store?  Health For most families, health was a combination of physical, emotional and financial health. Set a budget and try to stick to it, eat healthier this year, exercise together as a family.  Time together Create a special ‘family time’ each week. Let family members help plan the activity. Maybe cooking

together, reading together, playing games.  Spirituality Families defined spirituality as ‘faith in a higher power’. Talk about spirituality and what it means in your life. Participate together in faith building activities.  Support In strong families, members ask each other for help and help each other out. Compliment other family members regularly. Go to their activities and show support.  Respect Families agreed that respect is an attitude and an action. The attitude is appreciating each family members special qualities and the action is behaving considerately towards all people.  Unity Strong families pull to-

Special points of interest:

gether. In good or bad times. Offer food or childcare to family members who are facing challenges. Include everyone in activities… all generations.  Cultural Traditions Every family has unique traditions. Families agreed preserving those traditions builds strength.

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Extended sense of Family For many people, family goes beyond those living in one house. Say thanks to those extended family members who have helped you out. Build a circle of support with friends, neighbors and family. Inform them of what is happening in your life. Finally… Write down YOUR family’s strengths..celebrate them!

Kansas Tobacco QuitLine: 1-866-KAN-STOP Call now to get help! www.fruitsandveggiesmor ematters.org (tips and recipes for getting kids to eat more fruits and veggies) Go RED for WomenFebruary 6th. Wear red to support the Heart Health for Women! Walk Kansas coming in March… watch for more information! Love and Logic classes coming this spring!

Healthy Family Resolutions for the New Year Time for new year resolutions, right! How about some healthy family goals for the new year… here are some ideas to get you started! Obviously some of these are a little old for toddlers and preschoolers, but you can modify the idea!

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We will get physical check-ups and follow doctor’s advice. We will exercise. We will walk, play, ride bikes or rake leaves together.

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We will plan healthy meals. (www.fruitsandveggies morematters.org)

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We will think about how we talk to each other.

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We will listen when someone is talking and give them our full attention. We will say encouraging things to one another especially on birthdays and holidays.

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We will turn off the TV, computer and phones during ‘family time’ like dinner. We will follow family rules—this shows respect to everyone in the family. We will show affection and give hugs and kisses and say ‘I love you!’

Make your family a priority in 2009 and have a wonderful year! www.everyfamilymatters.org

Inside this issue:

Preschool Screening

2

Ceramic Plate Painting 2 Playgroups!

2

Sippy Cups & Decay

3

Kindergarten Info

4

Free Dental Care

4

Recall Information

5

PARENT PAGES

Page 2

Playgroups and Paint a Plate Ceramics Activity Upcoming Playgroups and Ceramic Activity… Get your Calendar! January: Playgroup is a

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great place to

Friday-16thWestmoreland 10-11 a.m.

learn social 

Tuesday Evening-20thWestmoreland, 6:307:30 p.m.

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Friday-23rd– St. George. 10-11 a.m.

skills and interact with other children

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Wednesday Evening28th– St. George, 6:30 -7:30 p.m.

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Friday-30thWestmoreland 10-11 a.m.

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Friday-6th-St. George Playgroup 10-11 a.m

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Friday-13thWestmoreland 10-11 a.m.

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Tuesday Evening-17thWestmoreland, 6:307:30 p.m.

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Friday-20th-St. George, 10-11 a.m.

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Friday-27th– Westmoreland. 10-11 a.m.

February: 

Wednesday Evening4th-Paint a Plate at Rinda’s Ceramics in Wamego. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Details next article.

and adults!

Let Your Child Paint a Plate! We will be having our annual ‘paint a plate’ activity at Rinda’s Ceramics in Wamego on Wednesday evening, February 4th from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

their name and date (if desired) to make a lovely keepsake for yourself or a grandparent for valentine’s day. The cost includes the plate, all paints and glazes and the Rinda has all sorts of plates and firing process. The plates sizes to choose from varying in will be a shiny gloss when price from $6.50 to $15 for varifired and will be available for ous items. Your child will paint pick up at the studio the folan item using hands, brushes or lowing week. a combination in the colors you select. When finished you or If you want to participate Rinda can fancifully apply with your child, please email

[email protected] or call 785-313-0342 so Rinda can be sure to have enough product in stock and to plan adequate seating. Please contact Dena by Friday, January 23rd if you intend to participate. Directions. On Kaw Valley Road (Wamego Middle School Rd) go to Neff Road and turn west. Travel about 1/2 mile. Studio on left (S) past row of cedar trees. Call if you need more help.

Painting my Plate!

Preschool Screening in Alma A free pre-school screening will be held at the Peace United Church of Christ in Alma on Friday, January 23rd. Children will be tested in six areas: concepts, hearing, vision, language, motor

skills & social skills. The screening takes approximately one hour. To set up an appointment, please call the Special Services Cooperative at 456-9195. If you are in-

terested in your child attending pre-school as a peer/role model, you should call and see if they need to attend this screening or a screening at a later date.

Sip All Day Get Decay– Sippy Cup Concerns They were designed to be a stepping stone from baby’s bottle to a drinking cup. Now we know about some hidden dangers relating to their improper use. Sippy cups mean less mess and fewer spills. They come in bright colors, unbreakable plastic, play music and even have weights in the bottom of the cup to prevent them from falling over. These wonderful inventions have some hidden dangers all parents will want to be aware of….sippy cups can lead to serious tooth decay. The spout of a sippy cup allows juices or milk to flow directly to the front teeth, bathing them in fructose or lactose. This sugar from fruit juice or milk combines with the bacteria in a child’s mouth to form acid. This acid is what causes teeth to decay. If a sippy cup is used for milk or ½ cup of 100% juice at meal time, decay is reduced. During mealtime, saliva or spit production is higher. This keeps decay at a minimum by natural rinsing of the mouth and reducing acid levels. When choosing your child’s sippy cup, chose one with No Valve! Cups with valves encourage sucking, which is the same as using a bottle. No spill cups are simply bottles in disguise. The purpose of a sippy cup is a transition from sucking to sipping, as well as the convenience of fewer spills. The best use of a sippy cup is for fluoridated water. In warm weather, or when the child has had a meal, snack or medicine, it is good to rinse the mouth with water. Just as adults now carry water when outside or riding in a vehicle, children can use a sippy cup with water for their hydration. When should a child with special health care needs start using a sippy cup? “When I sit up, I can use a sippy cup.” Some children with special needs may need assistance to sit up. Another sign that your child is ready for a sippy cup is when he or she starts reaching for things. Choose two handled cups when baby is first starting to use a sippy cup. When should children stop using a sippy cup? As your child gets older, encourage using a regular cup. Fill the cup with a small amount of water, first. This will reduce the size of a spill and teach them to look into the cup first, before attempting a sip. Never allow a child to walk around the house or yard with a sippy cup, they can fall and cause injury to their mouth, eyes or face. By age two, your child is may be ready for a child size open cup. Oral Health Kansas 800 SW Jackson, Ste 1120 785.235.6039 (p) [email protected] Topeka, KS 66612 785.233.5564 (f) www.oralhealthkansas.org *******************************************************************************************

Konza Kids in Westmoreland is once again offering a K-6 (all day!) Spring Break program called, Half-Moon Investigations. Kids will do art, theatre, science, cooking, computers, reading, and have a whole lot of fun- but this year, it will all have a mystery theme. Cost is $50 for the week, and students must bring a lunch. Contact Miss Theresa at 785-457-3637 or [email protected] to find out more!

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 3

Page 4

Fingerplays are Fun! Hibernation Song Sung to “Are You Sleeping” Bear is sleeping, bear is sleeping. In a cave, in a cave. I wonder when he’ll come out? I wonder when he’ll come out? In the Spring. In the Spring!

A Chubby Little Snowman A Chubby little snowman had a carrot nose (make fist and hold in front of nose) Along came a bunny (make number two sign with fingers and hop hand along) and what do you suppose? (shake finger at child)

That hungry (rub tummy) little bunny, looking (put hand like shading eyes from sun and looking far off) for some lunch. Ate that snowman’s carrot nose (hold fist in front of nose and with other hand snap at nose/fist like eating) Nibble, nibble, CRUNCH! (grab other hand over fist solidly as you say CRUNCH) Fingerplays are great ways to teach language

Kindergarten Round-Up Information A reminder to all parents or guardians who will have a child eligible for Kindergarten during the 2009-2010 school year: St. George Kindergarten Round-Up Info: April 2 from 9:00-5:00 April 3 from 8:30-10:50 Contact Lynn at 494-2482 or

[email protected] f or information. Birth certificates and records of immunizations will be requested at Round-up. Westmoreland Kindergarten Round-Up Info: There will be a Parent Meeting on Monday, April 13th at

6:30pm. All parents should plan to attend. Kindergarten Roundup will be held Thursday, April 16th from 8:0011:30am. Please contact Kindra at (785) 457-3462 or [email protected] g , to have your child’s name placed on the list.

Free Dental Services –February 20-21 This is a project of the Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation Kansas Mission of Mercy Where: US National Guard Armory (721 Levee Drive) Manhattan, Kansas

When: February 20-21, 2009 Services Include:  Fillings  Cleanings  Extractions Who: Everyone No Eligibility or Income Requirements

How: No Appointments First Come, First Served Children and Adults Time: Doors Open at 5:00 AM

FREE DENTAL SERVICES!!!

as little children love the repetition and rhymes! They will ask to do it again and again!

rock Creek Parents as Teachers

Parents as Teachers USD 323 PO Box 70 Westmoreland, KS 66549 Phone: 785-457-3462 Fax: 785-457-3701 E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

We’re on the Web! www.rockcreeks chools.org

RECENT RECALLS  Top Goods Trading Recalls Flashing Pacifiers Due to Choking and Strangulation Hazard (http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09089.html)

 Stork Craft Recalls More Than 500,000 Cribs; Mattress Support Bracket Failures Create Risk of Entrapment and Suffocation (http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/ prerel/prhtml09/09093.html)

 TDI International Recalls Toy Cars Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard (http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09091.html) To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/ cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov. or call (800) 638-2772 to find out more about these or other recalls.

Your Baby Was Born to Learn

How Parents as Teachers Helps Parents as Teachers (PAT) is a free parent education and family support program that serves families throughout pregnancy through the age of three that reside in the Rock Creek district.

A PROVEN PROGRAM WITH PROVEN RESULTS Since the mid-1980’s, 13 independent outcome studies have researched the impact of Parents as Teachers on more than 16,000 parents and children. The findings show the following results:

Parents as Teachers parents:

 Engage in more language and literacypromoting behavior with their children.

 Are more involved in their children’s schooling.

Parents as Teachers children;

 At age 3 are significantly more advanced in language, social development, problem solving and other cognitive abilities than comparison children.

 Score higher on kindergarten readiness tests and on standardized measures of reading, math and language in first through fourth grades. What Parents as Teachers offers:

 Personalized home visits with a certified parent educator, who brings activities and educational materials to the home to share with

the parent and child.

 Family Playgroups and group activities where families can learn new information, help their child learn to play with others and share stories with other parents.

 Regular developmental screenings to make sure children don’t have any undetected learning problems.

 A resource network that can help parents find services in their community, if needed, that are beyond what PAT can do. If you or a friend is interested in enrolling in PAT in the Rock Creek district, call 785-457-2800 or email Dena at [email protected]