Healthy People 2020
In 1979, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) created a program that develops decade-long initiatives to improve the health of U.S. citizens.
The framework for the next decade, Healthy People 2020, was recently released. Now, the focus is on objective development. The tentative objectives cover a wide array of health topics, including physical activity and fitness.
To learn more about this initiative or to get involved, please visit http://www.healthypeople.gov/HP2020/

Busy Time of the Year!

It is hard to believe we are almost finished with 2009! Students in Family Life classes have been participating in lessons that deal with responsibility (our character education word for December). Students have learned that being responsible means that you finish tasks when they are given to you. As we mature we need to take responsibility for our own actions, which helps to build our self-confidence.

Physical education classes have been playing volleyball and newcomb as we learn to strike without an implement in our hand. This helps to build our hand eye coordination. We also have learned how to play a position on the court and which position is responsible for a specific area.

REBEL 2 students are planning their lessons to teach to our 4th and 5th grade students. Please encourage your 6th, 7th or 8th grade students to participate in our REBEL 2 program. It is a great way to get involved in an extra-curricular club and both Warren Hills and Warren Tech have the REBEL program for their students. It is never to early to think of how it looks to be involved with school programs. Our next meeting is scheduled for January 12, 2010. We are always looking for new members.
Mrs. Hart and myself wish everyone a Safe and Blessed Holiday Season!

Cold and Flu Season

Help to prevent the spread of germs by washing your hands often. Here are some tips from our Family Life Classes:

When should you wash your hands?
• Before preparing or eating food
• After going to the bathroom
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has gone
to the bathroom
• Before and after tending to someone who is sick
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After handling an animal or animal waste
• After handling garbage
• Before and after treating a cut or wound


Family Life classes will discuss ways to show adults that they are responsible. Students will be working on responsibility activities designed to help them "own up" for their behavior. Someone with a strong self-confidence is willing to take responsibility for their actions.

Physical Education classes have finished the first round of rubric scores for archery. These scores will be combined with another round of rubric scores to determine who is eligible to try-out for the archery team. Reminder that there is an open gym 7:30 am - 8:10 am for students to get extra practice with archery. This is open to any 6-8 grade student.

GASO

Many of you may have seen the fence at the back of the school with the letters GASO written in plastic cups. The letters stand for the Great American Smoke Out which takes place on the third Thursday of November each year. This year GASO takes place on November 19, 2009. Students in our REBEL 2 program decorated the fence, produced buttons from our new button maker, and wrote a proclamation that will be read and signed at the November 19th Board of Education meeting. All these efforts are to inform our students about the hazards of smoking. We encourage all smokers to take a 24 hour break from cigarettes and hope that they will prove to themselves that they can do it and begin the process of quitting cigarettes all together. The REBEL 2 students are wearing GASO pins, and when someone approaches them about the button, they explain what it means and why we are participating. After explaining, REBEL 2 students may present the other person with a pin to wear also. The idea is to get our information to spread throughout our school!

Archery Rubric

All Students in grades 6-8 will be assessed with following rubric during the archery unit. The scores from this rubric will be combined with arrow scores to determine the students who will have the opportunity to try out for the archery team. Please understand that the team is not picked solely on how well a student shoots a bow. Their understanding, knowledge of rules and ATTITUDE are just as important as arrow score.

Application of Strategy:
10 Adjust shots effectively based on previous results
8 Attempts to adjust shots based on previous results.
6 Demonstrates little evidence of making adjustments.
4 Makes inappropriate adjustments.
2 Does not demonstrate this concept at all

Application of Rules:
10 Demonstrates proper and appropriate etiquette, scores each end properly, and shows no errors in equipment care and retrieval of arrows.
8 Demonstrates minor errors in etiquette, rules, scoring, and equipment use.
6 Demonstrates a general understanding, but needs assistance in applying rules, etiquette, use of equipment and scoring.
4 Consistently demonstrates incorrect application of rules, and scoring.
2 Consistently demonstrates incorrect application of rules, and scoring, and demonstrates a total disregard for proper etiquette.

Personal and Social Responsibility:
10 Demonstrates proper and appropriate team work; fulfills duties; demonstrates respect and self control. Follows all safety rules.
8 Follows all safety rules and functions within the team with self-control and fair play.
6 Maintains self control; follows safety rules; but inconsistent with fair play.
4 Needs reminders and encouragement from others to participate in a safe manner.
2 Disregards the concepts of fair play, team work and safety.

All students will be assessed for the current school year. Prior archery experience is not a factor in determining the state tournament team. Even though a student made the team last year, they are not guaranteed a spot for the current year. The physical education staff feels that this is the fairest way to construct a team. As always any questions please contact us.

Gymnastics Ends... Archery Begins

Our gymnastics unit will be finishing up the week of November 2, 2009. When we return from our break we will be introducing archery in physical education classes grades 4 - 8. Archers in grades 6-8 will be assessed with a rubric designed to show their knowledge of the sport and safety procedures along with their score. This rubric will be completed twice in physical education class and used to determine the students who are eligible to try out for our competition team. Grades K-3 will be concentrating on cooperative games. Our focus in class remains on NON-COMPETITIVE games and we organize activities so all students can find a level of success.
In family life classes we will be focusing on RESPECT as our new character education word for November.

Great Job Mr. "D"

It is hard to believe that the first marking period is almost over! That means it is time for Mr. Doniloski, Mr. D. to move on to another placement. He will be student teaching in a high school for the next 8 weeks. We all wish him well, he did an outstanding job at Oxford Central and all of us at the school will miss him. It is rare that a student teacher makes such an impact on a school, but Mr. D. made our school a better place during his short time with us. We know that he will be successful and we look forward to having him visit us. Mr. Nucsis and Mr. Egan will be continuing to work with us two days a week and will student teach when we come back from winter break.

We are starting gymnastics the week of October 19! During this time students are encouraged to bring in a change of clothes that will enable them to move freely. We will be working on our gymnastics unit until parent teacher conferences. In order to give the older students, grades 4-8, the opportunity to complete their contracts for gymnastics we will not be meeting for Family Life during gymnastics. We look forward to this unit every year and anticipate success for all of our students.