National Board Leadership Lanes Intro

Girl Scouts Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

By Girl Scouts
Sept 15, 2009

 

September 15 – October 15, Girl Scouts of the USA is proud to celebrate the diversity and rich culture of Hispanics, across America and beyond. During this month we pay homage to Latinos who honor their indigenous, Spanish and African roots.

Today more than 44 million people in the United States are of Hispanic origin, 270,000 of whom are young Latinas who proudly call themselves Girl Scouts. Through Girl Scouts, girls can not only earn patches for learning more about Hispanic heritage, they can also hold Quinceañera celebrations, attend leadership development training, and build the confidence and self-esteem to become the leaders of tomorrow.

Hispanic Heritage Month is the perfect time for girls of all backgrounds to come together to discover, connect and celebrate the Hispanic culture, as well as commemorate the amazing work that is being done everyday by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) with locations across the globe including places such as Spain and Nicaragua.

We invite you to celebrate with Girl Scouts as we strive to provide young Latinas—and every girl—with the leadership skills and opportunities so they can make a powerful, positive and profound contribution to their community—and to our world.

What Latina Girls Say About Leadership

 

Change It Up! What Girls Say about Redefining Leadership brings the voice of girls age 8 to 17 to the forefront on a broad spectrum of issues related to leadership: how they define it, their experiences, and their aspirations. (Boys were also included for comparison purposes.)

What follows is what Latina girls are clearly saying: We need to “Change It Up! (PDF) in how we define and think about leadership:

Insight #1
Girls are redefining leadership in meaningful terms

For Latina girls, preferred definitions of leadership imply personal principles, ethical behavior, and the ability to effect social change. Being a leader is important to 66% of Latina, 70% of African American, and 56% of Asian American girls compared to 49% of Caucasian girls. Nearly 90% of Latina girls want to be the kind of leader who stands up for her beliefs and values, brings people together to get things done, and tries to change the world for the better.

Insight #2
Self-Confidence + Skills = New Girl Leaders

Latinas report high self-regard on a number of leadership skills and qualities and are likely to aspire to leadership. The desire to be a leader is higher among Latina (50%), Asian American (59%), and African American girls (53%) compared to Caucasian girls (34%). Nine out of ten (90%) Latina girls agree that no matter who they are, girls can learn to be good leaders, and 79% agree that girls can be leaders whether or not they are in positions of authority.

Insight #3
Opportunities + Experiences + Support = New Girl Leaders

Families, particularly mothers, are a major positive influence on Latina girls’ leadership aspirations. So are their fathers, relatives, teachers, and friends. Three-quarters (75%) of Latina girls say their mothers encourage them to be leaders, followed by teachers (54%), fathers (50%), friends (48%), and siblings and older relatives (31%).

Latinas Leading Globally

Challenge

How do you talk with your friends about the dangers of Juvenile Diabetes—and

How do you talk with your friends about the dangers of Juvenile Diabetes—and the importance of exercise and eating right—when your 3,000 miles apart?

Opportunity: Girl Scouts Learn Locally, Lead Globally

The Girl Scouts of the Nassau County Council had become proud peer educators on the dangers of Juvenile Diabetes, a disease that affects three-million children and teenagers in the United States. Lisbeth, Andrea, Ashley, Jocelyn and other girls in the Council wanted to share information about Juvenile Diabetes—and the importance of exercise and good nutrition—with young people in Nassau County and throughout the world. But how?

Nassau County Girl Scouts: Reaching, Teaching and Transformation

The Nassau County Council launched a partnership with a WAGGS member organization, located in Lima, Peru. Using videoconferencing technologies and a chat room, Girls Scouts and WAGGGS members shared information about Juvenile Diabetes, Obesity and Hunger. The girls discussed how self-esteem, self-confidence, exercise and a good diet were important building blocks to living a healthy life.

The girls also discussed the similarities—and differences in their cultures. Their questions ranged from Jocelyn asking Brenda, a Peruvian Girl Guide, about her favorite role model (Brenda’s answer: Mother Theresa), to ho was the person some of the girls would like most to meet. Their answer: President Obama!

The Power of Partnership: Results

• Girls Scouts created an international forum connecting them with WAGGGS members.
• Girls Scouts educated their peers about juvenile diabetes and empowered them with information about living healthily.

Girl Scouts and Girl Guides shared information about the differences in their cultures.

Source: Girl Scouts

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? And if you are or were in the Girls Scouts, we would like to hear your story. dan@youngchronicle.com

Students From Washington State Make Law

By Zach Jones
Sept. 14, 2009

A group of fourth-graders at Wedgwood Elementary School in Seattle, Washington, recently got their first taste of politics. These students helped make a law that turned the Olympic marmot into an official symbol of their state.

Each of America’s 50 states has a set of official symbols, like birds, flowers, and slogans. One of these symbols may be an endemic animal, a type that lives in only one area. The Olympic marmot is named after its homeland, Washington’s Olympic National Park. This park is the only place these rare marmots live in the wild.

As a class project, students had to argue to lawmakers why the marmots should be recognized as a state symbol. Students e-mailed their opinions to lawmakers and later testified, or spoke, before lawmakers in the state capital of Olympia. They even appeared with Washington Governor Christine Gregoire when she signed the bill that turned their furry friends into an official symbol.

 

Law of the Land

In each state, a law must be passed to approve the naming of an official symbol. Wedgwood students would not have been able to name the marmot their state’s official endemic animal without help from the Constitution, which provided a model for state governments to pass laws. On Thursday, Americans will celebrate Constitution Day, when this important document was signed on September 17, 1787.

The Constitution spells out the U.S. system of government. It divides the government into three branches: executive, judicial, and legislative. The President is the head of the executive branch. The Supreme Court is the most powerful court of the judicial branch. Congress is the legislative, or lawmaking branch. It contains two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Constitution sets rules for making laws in Congress. A bill, or plan for a law, must first pass both the House and the Senateby a majority vote. The President has the option of signing a bill or vetoing (saying no to) it. If a bill is vetoed, it can still become the law of the land if Congress overrides the veto.

State laws come about in a similar way. As in Congress, the state of Washington has two groups of elected lawmakers to help create laws: the Senate and the Assembly. The Governor, who is the state’s elected leader, signs a bill into law only after both houses of the Washington Legislature vote to pass the bill.

With help from teachers, Wedgwood students asked State Senator Ken Jacobsen to write a bill to make the Olympic marmot their new state symbol. “I commend these fourth-graders for taking the time to learn about this state mammal and learn about the process of proposing a bill,” Jacobsen said.

State Law, State Pride

Students felt confident that the bill would pass the Legislature, but some lawmakers wanted first to focus on issues other than state symbols. “Maybe they just don’t like the Olympic marmot,” said 10-year-old Garrett Lawrence to The Seattle Times. Garrett is one of 50 students from Wedgwood Elementary School who helped persuade lawmakers to pass the bill.

Many people in the state were excited when Governor Gregoire finally signed the bill into law-especially the students who helped make it happen. “The whole school was abuzz,” said Kelly Clark, a teacher at Wedgwood Elementary School.

“It’s not every day kids make a bill and get this experience,” student Caroline Malone told The Seattle Times.

To celebrate the school’s success, Washington’s Secretary of State Sam Reed threw a party for all the students involved. All the kids wore marmot masks, and some even wore marmot costumes! But they were celebrating more than just the marmot. They were also joyful over the freedom kids have in the United States to participate in government

Source: Scholastic News Online

 

Editor’s Note: At left, the Olympic marmot (Steven Kazlowski/Science Faction/Corbis). At right, students who championed the “Marmot Bill” celebrate as Governor Christine Gregoire signs the bill into law (Courtesy Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture).

We would like to know what you think?  dan@youngchronicle.com

Soldier of the Week- Marine 1stSgt Donnie Brazeal

By Dan Samaria
Publisher/GCC
Sept. 8, 2009

Editor’s Note:
Hometown: Council Bluffs, Iowa
Awarded: The Bronze Star with ‘Valor’

It’s hard to imagine a man jumping on top of parapets to draw enemy rocket, grenade, and machine gun fire away from his buddies. But Marine 1stSgt Donnie Brazeal did just that in April, 2005 during what many say was one of the largest fire fights of the Iraq War.

Brazeal, now retired after serving 23 years in the Marine Corps, served four back-to-back deployments. One of his last deployments was to Iraq from January to September of 2005.

While the attacks were endless, one stands out from all the rest; insurgents hit Brazeal’s company, stationed at a combat outpost, on the morning of April 11, 2005. Brazeal said his reason for risking life and limb on that day was simple.

“Those are my sons,” he said, pointing to a group of sergeants and corporals who attended his award ceremony at the Naval Academy on January 27, 2007. “I was bringing young Marines home. We fought every day, and they (young sergeants and corporals from his unit) are the real heroes.”

“My father taught me never to run away from a fight, and my mother taught me to help my fellow man,” said Brazeal, who was raised in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

On April 11, mortar rounds were hitting within five to 10 yards of each other, witnesses said, which meant the attack was well planned. As the mortar shells, rockets and grenades rained down, the Marines found themselves being hit directly with machine gun and small arms fire.

Brazeal saw one group of Marines that was pinned down, and he and another Marine pulled out two anti-tank missiles and mounted the wall they had been using for a barrier. That maneuver drew fire on Brazeal, but allowed the other Marines to regroup and return fire.

Conventional weapons weren’t the only dangers in that pitched fight that lasted seven hours. At one point, a dump truck headed straight for the compound, and the Marines knew they were about to be hit by a suicide bomber. They stopped the truck, which exploded within 40 yards off their camp. Then came another vehicle, an ambulance loaded with explosives. And after that, a fire truck.

“They detonated a fire truck-full of explosives 75 meters away; it is a miracle it didn’t blow out our insides,” said Maj. Frank Diorio, who was a captain at the time and commander of the company.

The explosions flattened all of the buildings, Diorio said, and wounded some Marines, but they suffered no fatalities.

Perhaps the best testament to what Brazeal’s men thought of him was that two of the Marines in the April 11 attack, 1stSgt. John Harman and Sgt. Josh Hopper, who had just returned from a subsequent combat tour in Iraq, gladly gave up their first weekend home to travel from Jacksonville to Annapolis for the surprise ceremony.

“It was leadership from the front,” Harman said admiringly of Brazeal’s style. “That’s why the whole company loved him and Capt. Diorio.”

Brazeal was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor. His award citation noted that during one of the company’s many fire fights, Brazeal knocked Diorio to the ground and threw his body over his commander to protect him from enemy mortar fire.

“First Sgt. Brazeal is a Marine’s Marine; he is Gunny Highway times 10,” Diorio said referring to a Clint Eastwood character who fought at Heartbreak Ridge. “He feared his God, but that’s about it.”

Editor’s Note: Excerpts from article by Earl Kelly, Staff Writer; HometownAnnapolis.com, Jan. 28, 2007

• Hometown: Council Bluffs, Iowa
• Awarded: The Bronze Star with ‘Valor’

We would like to know what you think? dan@goldcoastchronicle.com

Source: Our Military

Wish of the Week – Jordan

By MWF/PIO
Sept. 11. 2009

 

 On the day that 14-year-old Jordan learned his wish would come true, his volunteer wish granters presented him with a hard hat and pronounced him the  honorary chairman of the bathroom construction. Jordan, who battles cerebral palsy, was overjoyed because he knew that a bathroom makeover would impact his life in so many ways.

For three exhausting weeks, CDC Builders were in Jordan’s Lauderhill house, toiling away. They replaced all the tiles on the floor and on the walls, moved the toilet to a more accessible location and added a grab bar. The shower was also moved and made bigger. An accessible jet tub was installed and grab bars were added for extra security. This tub will also help with his physical therapy. Even the old sink was torn out and replaced with an all-new, wheelchair accessible sink and vanity. Finishing touches to his dream bathroom include new lighting, mirrors, cabinets and handles.

By bidding farewell to his old bathroom, Jordan is enjoying a new sense of independence. He can now tend to his personal needs without assistance from his parents. An ecstatic Jordan said, “It’s not what I expected, it’s even better! The shower and all the new fixtures work perfectly.”

Wish Granters: Andrea Giraldo & Deirdre Trevett
Referred by: his mother
Sponsored by: Mark J. Gordon Foundation

Source: Make A Wish Foundation

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Patient of the Week – Helen Tully

By St. Jude/PIO
Sept. 10, 2009

Helen Tully
2 years old

Diagnosis:

Helen was discovered to have rhabdomyosarcoma in February 2008.

Helen’s Story:

When Helen was born in 2007 in Latvia, she was a happy, healthy baby. Just eight months later, in February 2008, her mother, Andra, noticed a bruise on one of Helen’s buttocks. Concerned, she took her daughter to the pediatrician, who dismissed the bruise as nothing more than the result of Helen rolling over on a toy. But when a pea-like lump appeared overnight, and the bruise continued to spread, Andra took Helen to another doctor. He performed an ultrasound, and the results it revealed were devastating. Baby Helen had tumors on her pelvis. A follow-up MRI confirmed the presence of tumors, and surgery was scheduled for a week later.

Andra e-mailed a family friend in the United States to explain that she might be hard to reach for awhile because Helen was ill. The friend requested that she e-mail him Helen’s scans so that he could share them with friends of his who were physicians. He called Andra back quickly, and his advice was alarming. The physicians had reviewed the scans and felt that surgery would be dangerous. They recommended that Andra and her husband, John, bring little Helen to the U.S. for treatment, and one of the hospitals they recommended was St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Andra and John searched online for the best options for Helen’s long-term treatment. St. Jude kept coming up, and since John had family in the area, they decided that St. Jude might indeed be the best place for their baby. Their doctor provided a referral, and the next few days were a whirlwind as the family prepared to travel to Memphis.

At St. Jude:

At St. Jude, doctors determined that Helen suffered from rhabdomyosarcoma, the most common, aggressive soft tissue tumor in children. Because of the size of Helen’s tumor, she could not undergo surgery right away. Doctors started her on a 54-week chemotherapy treatment plan. After her first two rounds of chemotherapy, Helen’s tumor had shrunken about 60 percent, much to her family’s delight. Helen later underwent surgery to remove the tumor, and radiation. Today, her scans show no evidence of disease.

“If we had not come to St. Jude, I don’t think Helen would have celebrated her first birthday,” Andra said. “In Latvia, we don’t have the medicine they have here. At St. Jude, the doctors and nurses are so wonderful, they care so much. We know Helen is getting the best possible care. Whatever the children want or need, whether it is ice cream or an MRI, they get. It’s amazing.” Helen is finished with treatment and returns to St. Jude every three months for checkups. She loves music, dancing and playing with her older brother, Martin.

Source: St. Jude

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Kids Talk About Stress

 

By D’Arcy Lyness, PhD
Sept. 13, 2009

 

Every kid (and adult) worries and feels stressed out sometimes. But what do kids do about it? We wanted to find out, so we asked 875 kids ages 9 to 13 to answer some questions about stress.

First, we let kids choose from a long list of stuff that might worry them. The top five things kids said they worried about were:

1. Grades, school, and homework — 36%
2. Family — 32%
3. Friends — 21%
4. Brothers and sisters — 20%
5. Mean or annoying people — 20%

 

Then we asked kids what they do during those times when they feel stressed or upset. Here are the top things kids said they do most often. (Kids who answered could say more than one thing, so these add up to more than 100%.)

         Playing or doing something active — 52%

         Listening to music — 44%

         Watching TV or playing a video game — 42%

 

That’s good news. Playing, listening to music, watching TV, or playing a video game are often good things to do if you’re stressed out. You get a chance to think about something else. Being active — like running around, playing a sport, or riding your bike — may be the best choice of all of these. Why? It’s a good way to let out some of that energy that builds up when a person is frustrated, mad, stressed, or upset. Plus, exercise releases chemicals in your brain that help improve your mood.

 

 

What Else Do Kids Do?

Here are some other ways kids said they often deal with feeling upset:

 

Talk to a friend. Right on! Friends can be good listeners and might know just what to say to make you laugh or feel a little better than you did before. Sometimes you might want to talk to a parent or another grown-up, too.

 

Try not to think about it. If it’s just a little thing that got you stressed, this can work fine. Sometimes it’s best not to let a little thing bother you. But if it’s a bigger problem, not thinking about it is probably not the best choice. It can be OK to take a break from worrying or stressing out about something, but pretending like it’s not a problem isn’t a good idea. Why? Because nothing changes and the problem might stick around — or get worse.

 

Try to work things out. A great idea! What could be better than trying to solve the problem? Even if you can’t solve the whole thing, with help, maybe you can start solving some part of it.

 

Eat something. Not such a good idea. Food’s fine when you’re truly hungry. But if you use food to help you feel better, you might eat more calories than you need and gain weight. It also doesn’t solve whatever problem upset you in the first place.

 

Lose my temper. Oh, dear. It’s OK to feel angry, but losing your temper and yelling and screaming is never a good idea. It also doesn’t help solve your problem — and can make matters worse.

 

Feel bad about myself. Oh, dear — again. Everyone has troubles and problems — that’s perfectly normal — but sometimes kids blame themselves for the troubles they have. They might feel guilty, embarrassed, or ashamed if they’ve done something they know is wrong, or if they didn’t do well. But don’t let yourself get stuck in the mud of bad feelings. After all, you’re still learning, like everyone else. By working through troubles, often with help from others, you can find your inner strength. When this happens, you’ll feel better about yourself and will be more optimistic the next time you have a problem. Try to forgive yourself for whatever went wrong. Then try to fix the problem or do better next time. Ask for help with this part if you need to.

 

Talk to a parent. A super idea! Kids should know they don’t have to face their problems alone. Parents love you and often have good ideas for how to solve a problem. Even if it’s a hard problem to solve, just talking to a parent can help you feel better.

 

Keep it to myself. This is sometimes OK, sometimes not OK. Kids deserve some privacy and don’t need to tell the whole world about what they’re feeling. But keeping a problem to yourself can lead to trouble. If no one else knows about it, no one can help you.

 

Cry. This is always sad, but not necessarily a bad thing. Everyone cries sometimes — boys, girls, teenagers, parents, teachers, and even the toughest person you know. Crying is a way to release the tension and upset feelings inside. But too much crying can be a problem if it keeps you from getting control of yourself and trying to figure out what to do next. In other words, there’s a time to cry and there’s a time to get busy!

 

Some Kids Hurt Themselves
By now, you can see that some ways of handling stress are better for you than others. Sadly, some kids said they hurt themselves when they are feeling upset. About 25% said they banged their head or another body part or did something like biting themselves, cutting themselves, or pulling their own hair.

Kids usually do this because they get so angry or upset that they don’t know what to do. They might feel mad or frustrated and feel like taking it out on themselves. It can be an impulse — something a person does almost without thinking. You probably already know that this doesn’t solve the problem. Even worse, a kid could get injured.

If you’ve ever hurt yourself, try taking these steps next time instead.

       Talk to a parent.

       Call a friend.

       Drink a glass of water.

       Take a shower.

       Go outside and play.

       Watch TV.

       Play with a pet.

       Draw, scribble, or color designs on paper.

       Rip up some paper.

       Listen to music that will shift your mood. 

If you know someone who hurts himself or herself when upset, tell a grown-up so the kid can learn how to stop doing this.

Sometimes, kids have seen adults take their anger out on themselves or on someone else. Of course, they shouldn’t — but sometimes grown-ups make mistakes, too. When adults yell or scream or hit a wall, they set a bad example for kids who need to learn to control their own tempers. Kids might imitate adults who do this and not realize there are other ways to cope with stressful feelings. The good news is that adults can learn new things, too. It’s never too late to manage your temper.

 

Parents Can Be Key

Only about 1 in 5 kids said they talk to a parent when they’re upset, but a whopping 75% of kids said they’d like their parents to help them in times of stress. Here’s how kids said parents could help:

       Talk together.

       Help them feel better, like with a hug.

       Give them attention; do something together.

       Help them solve the problem.

       Stop yelling.

       Don’t make them feel worse.

       Help get their minds off the problem.

       Pray with them.

Sometimes parents might feel like kids don’t want them to get involved. That’s why it’s good to talk to a parent — even if all you want to say is that this problem is going on and that you’d like to try to solve it on your own. More often, you might want your mom or dad to offer ideas or at least a little encouragement.

You can return the favor by being extra nice to your mom or dad the next time he or she is feeling stressed out. You could draw a card, give an extra hug, or clean your room without being asked. Then your parent may be too surprised to feel stressed!

 

What’s a KidsPoll?

To get this information about kids and stress, we conducted a KidsPoll. This means we asked an equal number of boys and girls a bunch of questions about stress. They answered the questions on handheld data devices while visiting these health education centers and children’s museums:

       HealthWorks! Kids Museum — South Bend, Indiana

       Health World Children’s Museum — Barrington, Illinois

       Poe Center for Health Education — Raleigh, North Carolina

       Robert Crown Center for Health Education — Hinsdale, Illinois

       Ruth Lilly Health Education Center — Indianapolis, Indiana

       Susan P. Byrnes Health Education Center — York, Pennsylvania

A poll, like the KidsPoll, gives researchers a bunch of information to look at. Instead of knowing how just a few people feel, they know how a lot of people feel. They can look at the way the entire group answered. They calculate how many — or what percentage — answered “yes” to this question and “no” to that one. Polls give us clues about how most people — not just the ones who answered the poll questions — feel about certain issues.

We’ll be conducting more KidsPolls in the future to find out what kids say — maybe you’ll be part of one!

Source: Kids Health

 

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Behind Scenes: U.S. Open’s Arthur Ashe Kids Day Event.

byJacqueline Minogue
Sept. 10, 2009

 

“Rain, rain go away…” that is all I could think about as I arrived at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York, on Saturday. I was there to cover Arthur Ashe Kids Day. The morning activities had already been already canceled. I did not want the stadium concert to be canceled also. Kids Day is the official kick off of the U.S. Open tennis tournament. 

As I walked in the drizzling rain to the press gate, I also realized I did not look my best. All my worries disappeared though once I entered the media center. The place was packed, hectic, and buzzing with excitement.

Press officials explained to reporters that once we entered the dining room where the celebrities were waiting, we would only have a few minutes to get our interviews and photos. In other words: HURRY!

As soon as it was my turn, I raced over to American Idol Jordin Sparks. She recognized my red Scholastic Kids Press Corps shirt. “I used to love reading Scholastic Books!” she said. I literally only had a few seconds with her before the handlers told me to finish up. It was like “speed interviewing”!

Despite the rush, I managed to talk to rising musical stars Justin Bieber and the members of Honor Society. But I missed a lot of the others, like Will Ferrell and the tennis pros, because they had to leave to get ready for their big performances.

I went out to the stadium to see the show and discovered that the rain had stopped! Almost the entire stadium was filled with kids and their families. Everyone danced and sang along with the concert and enjoyed seeing the favorite tennis stars goofing around on the court.

As I was walking out of the stadium after the show, I asked some of the kids what they thought of the day. They loved it!

Then I spotted #3 seed Rafael Nadal walking into the stadium. I ran over to see if I could ask him some questions. He just took my notepad and signed it! I realized he was wearing headphones and couldn’t hear me. He didn’t realize I was a reporter and he was gone before I could explain.

Next, I saw retired tennis great Jimmy Connors. He was in a hurry and wouldn’t talk, but was nice enough to pose for a picture.

Even though the day was gloomy, the stars shined brighter than ever! It was a great day to be a Scholastic Kid Reporter.

 

Editor’s Note: PHOTOS: (TOP) Kid Reporter Jacqueline Minogue with members of the singing group Honor Society; (MIDDLE) Jacqueline with rising singing sensation Justin Bieber; (BOTTOM) Rafael Nadal signs an authograph. (Photos courtesy Jacqueline Minogue)

We would like to know what you think?dan@youngchronicle.com

 

Source:  Scholastic News Online

McGruff Safety Tip: Safe Shopping

McGruff and Scruff
Sept. 13, 2009

In 1974, a neighborhood crime watch group was organized in South Dade County. Citizens met with their local law enforcement departments to ask what they could do to help the police apprehend a rapist terrorizing their community. From this first informal meeting, communities and law enforcement began to work together to keep neighborhoods safe and free from crime. An organization was formed, and Citizens’ Crime Watch of Miami-Dade County, Inc. (CCW) was registered as a 501(c) (3) non profit organization. Today, over 1,600 neighborhoods participate in the crime watch concept.

In 1979, the crime watch concept was introduced into the public school system at one school. Because it succeeded in curbing school crime, the Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) requested we, CCW, expand its student crime watch program from one school to include all public schools in the county. Since that time, Youth Crime Watch of Miami-Dade (YCW) has functioned as an allied program of the public schools.

Methodology The public school system contracts with YCW to educate and train students in violence and crime prevention strategies. Children also learn that good citizenship and personal responsibility include watching out for family, friends, schools and community. YCW maintains a presence in all M-DCPS.

The foundation of the YCW program is built upon a “school safety survey” which is administered at the school during the first few months of the school year. It asks respondents to rank their particular safety concerns – those issues which they believe have the potential to cause harm to themselves or their schoolmates. YCW students, student advisors, and our staff are then enlisted in the effort to resolve those issues impeding the safety, health, and education of young people. The results of the survey are prioritized and comprise the core content of the YCW program.

The YCW program is structured to teach leadership skills to students who volunteer to learn about school safety. While they learn how to keep themselves safe, they also learn public speaking, critical thinking, leadership, and other skills that will serve them into their adult lives. This, in turn, reinforces their self-esteem and promotes positive involvement, again curbing misbehavior, crime and violence in the school.

I’m McGruff the Crime Dog – world famous for my advice on how to stop crime before it happens, and for my great sense of humor. But seriously, my job is to help people, especially kids, learn how to be safe and make their neighborhood safer. Something else you should know about me is that I go all over the country to talk to people about how they can take a bite out of crime. So if you see me in your town, come on up and say hi. You can recognize me by my tan trench coat – I never go anywhere without it.

This here is my nephew Scruff. He helps me show kids how they can stay safe. Scruff’s a good pup but sometimes gets himself into a bit of trouble. Lucky for him he’s got a good memory – eventually he remembers the right thing to do to get out of trouble. Want to know more about me and Scruff?

You can read more about yours truly in the story How McGruff Became the Crime Dog, and you can read some of Scruff’s adventures in these comic books.  

Today we will talk about: Safe Shopping

 

People shop more at this time of year than at most other times. When you’re out with your family or other trusted adults, you can help prevent crime by making sure you remember a few important tips. Have your parents or guardians read this page with you and talk about it together when you’re done.

• Keep careful track of all your bags and other packages. If you leave one behind, it could get stolen.
• Tell a security guard or someone who works at the store if you see a bag or package that doesn’t seem as if it belongs to anyone.
• Be sure not to buy more than you can carry safely; it’s very hard to walk when you can’t see. If you need to buy a lot in one place, divide it up with the rest of your family, or see if someone who works at the store can help you carry it to your car.
• Know your home phone number and address, and your parents’ work and cell phone numbers, or write these numbers on a card and carry it with you.
• Have a plan if you get separated from your parents. Know where to meet them and how to get in touch with them if you can’t find them.
• Be careful of strangers. If someone you don’t know offers anything to you or asks you to go somewhere with him or her, run away and tell your parents or a trusted adult immediately.

Keep these tips in mind and have fun shopping with your family. To learn even more, go to strangers and other dangers and holiday fun. You can also play these great games:

• Stranger Danger
• Help Scruff Bake Cookies

Source: McGruff

 

Editor’s Note:  We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Teaching Classmates About Food Allergy

by Alexander
Sept. 13, 2009

 

 

 

Dear Alexander,

(Q) I’ve tried to explain food allergies to my classmates, but they just don’t care to understand. How can I show them how serious food allergies are?

(A) You have a few options. Have you shown them any of the Alexander, the Elephant Who Couldn’t Eat Peanuts videos? Your classmates would enjoy these animated stories about a friendly, young elephant who can’t eat peanuts. Some of the Alexander videos even have interviews with real kids who have food allergies!

There are also Alexander storybooks that a parent or teacher could read to your class. These storybooks cover a wide range of topics and can help show just how safe you have to be all the time.

Asking your teacher, the school nurse, or the principal for help is another good way to get your classmates’ attenion. Your safety is very important to these adults, so they would be great advocates. Sometimes, classmates won’t listen unless an adult is the one talking.

Whatever you do, I’m sure that with enough work, your classmates will understand the importance of food allergies.

Good luck!

Your friend,

Alexander the Elephant

 

Editor’s Note: The information above is not designed to take the place of a doctor’s instructions. Patients are urged to contact a doctor for specific information regarding guidelines for care.

We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Source: Food Allergy

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