Dec. 15, 2007
A message from Jon Draud, the new commissioner of education
As I begin my tenure as commissioner of education, I wanted to introduce myself. I am honored to be your new commissioner and pledge to do my best to support the work that each of you is doing for your child’s education and for our schools.
Kentucky has made much progress since the inception of the Kentucky Education Reform Act, and I sincerely thank you for the hard work that has resulted in this progress. However, we must focus on the future and gather a sense of urgency about reaching proficiency by 2014 in order for all students to become well-educated, productive citizens. We can, and we must realize these great expectations for your child and the children of Kentucky.
The key to accomplishing these great expectations is the collaboration and cooperation of all education stakeholders. I am asking for your support as we travel this journey together.
You will be hearing from me in the future. Have a great holiday in the upcoming weeks! - Jon Draud
Winter Weather Safety Tips
Mother Nature has a mind all her own when it comes to winter weather, so it’s always best to stay cautious when it comes to wintry weather. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has some valuable tips on how to keep your children safe and warm during these times. For a full list of AAP recommendations, click here.
What to wear
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Dress infants and children warmly for outdoor activities. Several thin layers will keep them dry and warm.
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The rule of thumb for older babies and young children is to dress them in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions.
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Blankets, quilts, pillows, sheepskins and other loose bedding may contribute to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and should be kept out of an infant’s sleeping environment. Sleep clothing like one-piece sleepers is preferred.
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If a blanket must be used to keep a sleeping infant warm, it should be tucked in around the crib mattress, reaching only as far as your baby’s chest, so the infant's face is less likely to become covered by bedding.
Hypothermia
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Hypothermia develops when a child's temperature falls below normal due to exposure to cold. It often happens when a youngster is playing outdoors in extremely cold weather without wearing proper clothing.
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As hypothermia sets in, the child may shiver and become lethargic and clumsy. His speech may become slurred, and his body temperature will decline.
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If you suspect your child is hypothermic, call 911 at once. Until help arrives, take the child indoors, remove any wet clothing, and wrap him in blankets or warm clothes.
Frostbite
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Frostbite happens when the skin and outer tissues become frozen. This condition tends to happen on extremities like the fingers, toes, ears and nose. They may become pale, gray and blistered. At the same time, the child may complain that her skin burns or has become numb.
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If frostbite occurs, bring the child indoors and place the frostbitten parts of her body in warm (not hot) water. Warm washcloths may be applied to frostbitten nose, ears and lips.
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Do not rub the frozen areas.
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After a few minutes, dry and cover him with clothing or blankets. Give him something warm to drink. If the numbness continues for more than a few minutes, call your doctor.
Winter health
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If your child suffers from winter nosebleeds, try using a cold air humidifier in the child's room at night. Saline nose drops may help keep tissues moist. If bleeding is severe or recurrent, consult your pediatrician.
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Many pediatricians feel that bathing two or three times a week is enough for an infant’s first year. More frequent baths may dry out the skin, especially during the winter.
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Children 6 months to 5 years old should get the influenza vaccine to reduce their risk of catching the flu.
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Winter sports and activities
Set reasonable time limits on outdoor play to prevent frostbite. Have children come inside periodically to warm up.
Ice skating
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Allow children to skate only on approved surfaces. Check for signs posted by local police or recreation departments, or call your local police department to find out which areas have been approved.
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Advise your child to: skate in the same direction as the crowd; avoid darting across the ice; never skate alone; not chew gum or eat candy while skating.
Sledding
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Keep sledders away from motor vehicles.
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Sledding feet first or sitting up, instead of lying down headfirst, may prevent head injuries.
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Use steerable sleds, not snow disks or inner tubes.
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Sleds should be structurally sound and free of sharp edges and splinters, and the steering mechanism should be well lubricated.
Sun protection
The sun’s rays can still cause sunburn in the winter, especially when they reflect off snow. Make sure to cover your child’s exposed skin with sunscreen.
Holiday help is here
Want to know the most popular cookie choice for the holiday season? What’s the best DVD to give as a gift this year? Need ideas for stocking stuffers for that preschooler or teenager? Are you planning a trip and find yourself in need of travel games to help the time pass? What would make a great gift for that special teacher?
fun.familyeducation.com can help. This Web site is filled with lists of valuable holiday information including lists of top 10 holiday cookies, movies and video games that make great gifts, the best stocking stuffers (lists are also available based on age groups) and gift ideas for teachers.
You’ll also see the site’s list of top 10 Christmas movies for the family. Here’s the list, but to read more about each movie, click here:
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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
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Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (1970)
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A Christmas Carol (1984)
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How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
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A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
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It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
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Miracle of 34th Street (1947)
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The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)
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Little Women (1994)
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A Christmas Story (1983)
Younger children may be interested in “Dora’s Christmas,” “Elmo’s World – Happy Holidays,” “Barney’s Night Before Christmas” or “The Polar Express” while teenagers might want to check out “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”
There also are arts and crafts ideas at fun.familyeducation.com. Parents can show kids how to make beautiful and creative holiday ornaments or Christmas cards. Another good Web site for holiday craft ideas is Kaboose.com. This site has ideas for making Christmas hair clips, cards, gift tags and bags, and much more. To view the site’s holiday craft ideas, click here.
A festive season for everyone
Holiday traditions in Kentucky are no different than ones across the country. That’s not true, however, in other countries. This Christmas season, take some time to talk to your child about both our traditions and traditions of others as well.
- Scandinavian countries honor St. Lucia each Dec. 13. In these countries, traditionally, the oldest daughter in each family wakes her family members, dressed in a long, white gown with red sash and wearing a crown made of twigs with nine lighted candles. She is called “Lussibruden” (Lucy bride) for the day.
- Many Finns visit the sauna on Christmas Eve.
- Poinsettias were introduced to the U.S. thanks to Mexico when, in 1828, Joel R. Poinsett, American minister to Mexico, brought one home with him. By 1900, they were a universal symbol of the holiday in the U.S. In Mexico, piñatas are filled with candy and coins and hung from a ceiling. Children swing at the piñata until it breaks and everything falls out.
- In France, Christmas is called Noel.
- Italians call Christmas Il Natale, meaning “the birthday.”
- In Australia, the holiday comes in the middle of the summer. Traditional celebrations include family gatherings exchanging gifts with a hot meal, ham, turkey, pork, seafood or barbeques.
- Ukranians fix a traditional 12-course meal, and the family’s youngest child watches through the window for the evening star to appear. This is when the feast can begin.
- In Greece, many people believe in Kallikantzeri, goblins that appear to cause mischief during the days of Christmas. Gifts are usually exchanged on Jan. 1, St. Basil’s Day.
Click here to learn more about the history of Christmas.
Click here to learn about World traditions.
‘This year I resolve to…’
Once the Christmas holiday passes, most of you will be getting ready for the next one: New Year’s Eve. If you haven’t started already, lots of you will take a look at your life and start thinking about those New Year’s resolutions.
Some of the more popular ones are to lose weight, stop smoking, to be more organized or to get out of debt. While those are all worthy resolutions, consider these as well:
· Read more to your children or have them read to you. This is something you can do every day, even if it’s for only five minutes.
· Get to know your child better. Sit down and have a conversation together every day.
· If you want to lose weight, involve your child. Go for walks together or plan out healthy meals together.
· Be more active in your child’s school. You can be a chaperone for field trips or volunteer to read to classes. Ask your child’s teacher for more ideas.
Children can also be encouraged to make and stick to New Year’s resolutions. Here are some possibilities.
· Keep room clean.
· Avoid bickering and fighting with siblings.
· Cut back on time watching television or playing computer games.
· Help more around the house.
· Have better manners.
· Don’t talk during class.
· Finish homework on time.
eHow.com has advice for those of you looking to make resolutions you can stick to. The Web site’s advice includes:
· Be realistic by setting achievable goals.
· Describe your resolutions in specific terms. Instead of saying, “I don’t want to be lazy,” say “I want to exercise regularly” or “I want to cut down on my television watching.”
· Break down large goals into smaller ones.
· Aim for things that are truly important to you, not what you think you should do just because others expect it of you.
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