Thanksgiving

The school year seems to be flying by faster than ever. It is hard to believe that we have completed a marking period and are finishing up conferences. As we try to keep up with the many things that occupy our busy lives, I always look at Thanksgiving as the time we are given to slow down, for even just a day or two, to reflect and to give thanks.

While many people are struggling this Thanksgiving, plagued by a down economy or the loss or threat of loss of a job, there is no better time to look past the challenges to discover that even in the toughest times, there are always blessings. While economic issues often lead to high anxiety, it also allows us to look past our "stuff" to find that there are much more important things for which we should be thankful.

Most of us have food on our tables. For those who don't, our local food pantry continues to be a bastion of light. Our own students have had the great opportunity to work with the food pantry, giving back to the community while learning that there are struggling people in our own township. As you eat dinner during the holidays, don't forget to give thanks and remember those who are going hungry.

Most of us have a warm coat to wear this winter. For those who don't, local organizations are stocking up on donated coats. Many of you contributed to our recent coat drive - parting with a coat that has been sitting in your closet so that someone may be warm this winter. As you put your coat on each cold morning, don't forget to give thanks and remember those who are cold.

Most of us have a home to live in. Throughout the United States, many people have lost everything, including their homes due to the economy. As you sit in your heated house this holiday season, don't forget to give thanks and remember those who are sleeping on the ground outside.

There are so many little things that often get overlooked because we cannot see through or beyond our stuff. As stuff becomes less available and far less important, it becomes easier to find what is really important. Those who have experienced a reduction in salary can still give thanks that they have a job. Those who see their child is not bringing home straight A's can still give thanks that they have a healthy child. Those who cannot buy the large flat screen television or laptop can still give thanks that they have their families intact. Those who have loved ones fighting overseas can still give thanks that they are alive and are willing to sacrifice for our freedom.

In 1789, George Washington gave the first Presidential Thanksgiving Proclamation. Since then, nearly every United States President has done the same. Take a moment to check out this link to see how our leaders have given thanks throughout the history of our great nation.

http://www.pilgrimhall.org/ThanxProc.htm

This Thanksgiving will be a tough one for many people. I encourage you though, to focus on what is good in your life rather than what is going wrong; focus on what you do have rather than what you don't have; focus on how your life may have become better due to the economy rather than how it has become worse. It is by giving thanks that we teach our children to help others, to cherish blessings and to have hope.  If anything positive can come out of the current recession, maybe it can be that we examined our lives to determine what is truly important.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Veteran's Day

Today, November 11, is Veteran's Day. 

Originally proclaimed at Armistice Day in 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson, the eleventh day of the eleventh month at the eleventh hour was set aside to remember those who served in World War I. 

In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11 as Veteran's Day, honoring all men and women who have served in the military.

Some facts about US Veterans:

• Over 48 million Americans have served in the military during war and peace since 1776
• There are currently about 25 million living veterans
• Over 155,000 veterans are currently homeless

Please take some time to give thanks to and for the many servicemen and women who have served and currently are serving our nation.

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.

Terra Cotta Warriors

As many of you know, our sixth grade social studies classes study world history.  Included in the curriculum is a study of ancient China.  Mrs. Miller, our sixth grade social studies teacher, wanted to let students, past, present and future, know about an exciting once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

A selection of artifacts from one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century, China's Qin Shihuangdi's famed Terra Cotta Army, will be exhibited at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C. from November 19, 2009 until March 31, 2010. The exhibit includes 20 Level 1 artifacts ( highest ranking in terms of rarity and value). This is the largest number of artifacts of this kind China has ever allowed to travel abroad.There will be 14 human based terra cotta figures, including a horse and two replica chariots ( the gold ones are forbidden to leave China).

The terra-cotta army of Qin Shihuangdi was buried to protect the emperor in his afterlife. It was discovered in 1974 and is still under excavation. Each year two million people travel to China to view the army. Woodglen School's sixth graders study Ancient China and this important treasure.

National Geographic Musuem
1145 17th Street NW ( at M Street)
Washington, D.C. 202-857-7588

You can find more information about this exhibit at the National Geographic website:  http://www.nationalgeographic.com/terracottawarriors/

Student Council Community Service

Today marks the start of the Woodglen School Student Council Coat Drive.  From now through November 20, students can drop off new and / or gently used coats in the main lobby.  Coats will be delivered to NJ Cares in Newark (http://www.njcares.org/). 

The coat drive is just one of the many community service projects that our student council will participate in this year. 

From November 30 to December 4, Woodglen students will be encouraged to "Feed the Pig" to support the NORWESCAP Food Bank (http://www.norwescap.org/).  Students can bring money and / or non-perishable food to fill the giant "piggy bank" in an effort to help fill the ever-decreasing shelves at local food pantries.  NORWESCAP is the major supplier of food for the Lebanon Township Food Pantry.

Speaking of the Lebanon Township Food Pantry, the Woodglen Student Council, under the supervision of Mrs. Suzette Dilzer, works with the Lebanon Township Food Pantry volunteers each month to help unload and stock the food that is delivered from NORWESCAP.  Our students have provided much needed "manpower" at the food pantry for the past two years.  In addition to helping the food pantry volunteers, this partnership has led to stronger relationships with students and the mostly senior citizen volunteers.

The Student Council, led by co-presidents, Jane Compton and Jane Hinkle, vice president, Cari Gadisch and treasurer, Colin Pfenninger, sponsors four major community service activities each school year (one per marking period).  The activities are chosen and implemented by the membership which is made up of students from grades five through eight.  

Please look for future community service activities sponsored by the Woodglen Student Council as these young people continue to make a difference!

Student Illnesses

The cold and flu season is upon us.  We hear this every year, but with all of the news surrounding influenza, H1N1 and "swine flu" it kind of takes on some new meaning.  Based solely on the number of memos we have distributed on behalf of the state, we all know that this is no ordinary cold and flu season.

Since school started this year, you have received information on how to avoid the flu, how to tell if you have the flu, what to do if you get the flu, and where to get a flu shot.  If you think you are getting inundated with this information, keep in mind, I get it twice - once directly from the Department of Education and then again at home from my children's schools.  It can be, to say the least, overwhelming.

In the end, there are some basic things that we all need to know, to be aware of and to do in order to keep our schools and our students as healthy as possible.

First, if your child is ill, please keep him or her home.  This is particularly important if he or she exhibits flu-like symptoms.  Please keep them home until they are better.  We've already had a few students return to school saying they weren't really feeling better but they wanted to come back to school. 

Second, encourage your child to wash his or her hands frequently.  Every one of our classrooms has hand sanitizer available.  Any time a student coughs or sneezes into his or her hands, he or she should be "cleansing."  Better yet, encourage your child to use a tissue or, better still, his or her sleeve when coughing or sneezing.   Check out this video:  http://www.coughsafe.com/media.html.  After using the restroom, he or she needs to wash his or her hands - yes, you need to remind them of this!  What seems to be obvious to adults in terms of hygiene, is not so obvious to 10 - 14 year-olds. 

You can find the latest information from the NJ Department of Education on the parent information page of our website:  http://www.lebtwpk8.org/.  While I know you probably feel that there's nothing more you can read about the flu and H1N1, please take a moment to review the information.  More importantly, take some time to remind your child about the simple things they can do to minimize the chances of getting sick this cold and flu season.

Halloween Candy

As you all know, Halloween is just around the corner.  While kids get excited about dressing up, nothing is more exciting that coming home with enough candy to send an 800 pound gorilla into a diabetic frenzy!  As parents, we face the daunting task of rationing the candy for our children - and ourselves!  Come on, admit it, you dip into the candy bags too!

Thanks to one of our families at Woodglen, there is a solution for all of that extra candy that you'd rather not have your kids devour before Thanksgiving.

SWEETS FOR SOLDIERS is a program that the Flatley family started last year.  They collect candy around Halloween time and send it to our troops serving overseas.  Through the Flatley's efforts, everybody wins - you don't have so much candy around the house, you get to support our soldiers - many who have been away from their families for a long time, and our brave service men and women get a well-deserved "comfort" treat.  In addition to candy, cards and notes are also accepted and sent overseas.

If you wish to participate in this program, you can drop candy, cards and/or letters off at Woodglen or Valley View School from October 29 to November 4.  The Flatley family has arranged for pick up at the schools and delivery to troops serving in the Middle East.  Collection boxes will be available in near the front lobbies of both buildings. 

Whether or not you choose to participate in this program, please take some time to remember those who are serving our nation.  There are thousands of American men and women serving in our military in order to preserve our freedom.  It is easy to forget their sacrifices now that they are not as much a daily part of the news as they were a couple of years ago.

Sportsmanship

At Back to School Night, one of our parents came up to me to share something about our cross country team.  Now, to be totally honest with you, when a parent wants to share something about a sports team it usually isn't a positive.  I learned that during my years as a high school athletic director.  This time, though, it was different.

This parent wanted to tell me what she had witnessed during our cross country meet at Tewksbury.  She was so impressed that our runners, once they had finished the race, were cheering on members of the opposing team.  I was proud of both our kids and our coach.  That type of sportsmanship is something that coaches develop through both words and deeds.  At the same time, I was also a little saddened.  Not because of what happened, but because it is so rare.  Shouldn't that kind of behavior be the norm instead of the exception?

Coincidentally, a couple of days later, I ran across an article related to sportsmanship on the high school level.  Check it out here:  http://arkansasvarsity.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=992976
Once again, I was moved by a tremendous act of sportsmanship and saddened because it is seemingly so rare that it becomes part of the news.

These stories also reminded me of one that happened last year, as two college softball players carried an opponent around the bases so that the homerun she hit, her first, would count.  The move cost the team a victory in a conference game.  If you haven't seen this story, you can find it here:  http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/01/earlyshow/main4061276.shtml

In reality, I am sure that sportsmanship is alive and well in athletic programs around the country; we just don't hear about it enough.  If you turn on the television or go to a professional or major college sporting event, you'd probably think that my statement is incorrect. 

Sports at all levels must be about sportsmanship, even more than winning.  This statement comes from a person who hates to lose more than anyone.  Actually, I don't even think that I like winning all that much, I just really hate to lose.  If we don't teach our kids, though, at the youngest ages, that sportsmanship is paramount, they will never get it. 

Middle school sports, in particular, must stress process over outcome.  Doing things the right way - working hard, playing fair, and good sportsmanship - will ultimately lead to success both on and off the field.  Thanks to coaches like Woodglen's Jen McGuigan,  Cave City High School's Jon Bradley, Central Washington University's Gary Frederick and countless others at all levels of sport, kids are learning and displaying acts of sportsmanship that are supposed to define the games we play.

Next time you are at a game, keep that in mind when you or someone near you seems to have forgotten what it is supposed to be all about.

Back to School Night

Woodglen's Back to School Night will be held on Thursday, September 24.  It's hard to believe that we've already been in school for three weeks. 

Back to School Night begins at 7:00 pm in the gym.  All parents are invited to the gym for some brief welcoming remarks, information on the PTA and LTEF, and a slide show.  Once we are finished in the gym, all parents will report to homeroom (which is basically the same as period 1 with a few exceptions) to get schedules.  PLEASE BE SURE TO ASK YOUR CHILD WHO HIS OR HER HOMEROOM TEACHER IS BEFORE YOU COME TO BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT.  We will have homeroom lists posted, but knowing where you are going beforehand will save you a great deal of time and ensure that you get to class on time.  Late passes will not be issued for those who arrive late!

I hope to see you all at Back to School Night.  If for some reason you are unable to make it, please don't hesitate to contact your child's teachers with any questions you may have.  The best way to contact teachers is via email.

Constitution Day

Yesterday, September 17, was Constitution Day.  On this day we commemorate the signing of the Constitution of the United States of America by 39 of the 42 delegates at the Constitutional Convention.  Students participated in a variety of activities in classes yesterday.

After being signed, printed copies were sent to state legislatures for radification.  By June of 1788, the requisite nine states had ratified the Constitution.  Our constitution is the oldest and shortest of all written national constitutions.  Just four hand-written pages, the Constitution has produced the world's greatest form of government. 

Did you know? (from constitutioncenter.org)

• The US Constitution was prepared in secret, behind locked doors that were guarded by sentries.
• The originial Constitution is on display at the National Archives in Washington, DC.  When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, it was moved to Fort Knox for safekeeping.
• More than 11,000 amendments have been introduced in Congress.  Thirty three have gone to the states to be ratified and twenty seven have received the necessary approval from the states to actually become amendments to the Constitution.

Do you know what it takes to become a citizen?  Check out this link:

http://www.constitutioncenter.org/naturalization-test/

Back To School

Just a quick note to say welcome back to the new school year. The 2009-2010 school year got off to a great start. A couple of things to be aware of:

Woodglen school pictures - Wednesday, September 16
Woodglen Back to School Night - Thursday, September 24 @ 7:00 pm

Check back here (or subscribe) periodically for updates on what's going on at Woodglen School.