Backpack Connection

Northside

Backpack

OCT. 2015

Connection

Empowering Kids with the right Halloween Costumes

HIGHLIGHTING NORTHSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS Connecting Our Families, Our Schools and Our Local Businesses In the Northside School District Backpack Connection

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Villa Named Northside’s Elementary Educator of the Year For the seventh consecutive year, Northside ISD can claim a Region 20 Teacher of the Year. The 2016 Region 20 Elementary Teacher of the Year is Teresita Villa, a fourth grade teacher at Kuentz Elementary School.

Villa will now move to the next level of competition and will vie to be one of six finalists for Texas Teacher of the Year, an annual competition organized by the Texas Association of School Administrators. The Elementary Texas Teacher of the Year and the Secondary Texas Teacher of the Year will be announced in October.

Villa was honored in March as Northside’s Elementary Educator of the Year. She is entering her 22nd year in teaching, with ten years in Northside.

Villa says that she feels honored and

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humbled to be selected for this award considering the vast number of outstanding educators in the region who dedicate their lives in promoting quality education.

“This recognition will truly invigorate me as I pursue my commitment to make an impact in the lives of my students and to create a world of difference in my community,” she said.

Education Service Center Region 20 includes more than 50 counties in San Antonio and surrounding areas.

More than 14 school districts submitted nominations for Teacher of the Year.

Recent honorees from Northside ISD include: Dr. Maricela Alarcon, formerly Burke Elementary School, now vice principal at Northwest Crossing

Elementary School, 2010 Region 20 Elementary Teacher of the Year, 2010 state finalist for Texas Teacher of the Year.

Daniel Leija, formerly Esparza Elementary School, now teacher at Behlau Elementary School, 2011 Region 20 Elementary Teacher of the Year, 2011 Texas Teacher of the Year.

June Shanahan, formerly Scobee Elementary School, now teacher at Los Reyes Elementary School, 2012 Region 20 Elementary Teacher of the Year, 2011 Runner-Up Texas Teacher of the Year.

Theresa Heim, Connally Middle School, 2013 Region 20 Secondary Teacher of the Year, 2013 state finalist for Texas Teacher of the Year.

Barbara Purkhiser, former Galm Elementary School, now teacher at Franklin Elementary School, 2013 Region 20 Elementary Teacher of the Year.

Christian DeBerry, Hobby Middle School, 2014 Region 20 Secondary Teacher of the Year, 2014 state finalist for Texas Teacher of the Year.

Distributed into the Backpacks of 48,000 Plus NISD Elementary Students

OCTOBER

Contributiong Writers Educate and Empower Kids Art Direction Susie Fluckiger Sales Audra Miller Megan Wilson Publisher BP PUBLISHING LLC

Villa Named Northsideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Elementary Educator of the Year

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10 Simple Tips to Prevent House Fires

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20 Ways to Compliment a Child That Have Nothing to Do with Appearance

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Free Meals for 49 NISD Schools

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Northside ISD News

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Preserving Your Childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dental Health

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8 Empowering Halloween Costumes

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Content for the Elementary School pages cotributed by each school. Backpack Connection magazines are published every six weeks during the school year by BP Publishing LLC. The advertisements in this magazine are paid for by the advertisers, which allows this magazine to be distributed free to the families of the HOHPHQWDU\ VWXGHQWV 8QOHVV VSHFLÂżFDOO\ QRWHG QR DGYHUWLVHUV products or services are endorsed by the publisher, BISD, or NISD, or any districts employees. Publishers (BP PUBLINGING LLC) are not responsible for omissions, errors or misinformation within this publication. All real estate advertised within this publication are subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act,which make it illegally to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings adverting are available on an equal opportunity basis. Reproductions of this magazine in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

ADVERTISING AND GENERAL INFORMATION Encouraging, Supporting and Loving the Children We Share...

BP Publishing LLC 209 Walnut Grove Rd. Boerne, TX 78006 MAIN (210) 367-3048 SALES (210) 310-6193

WEBSITE

www.backpackconnection.com Backpack Connection

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A home is often referred to as a safe haven. This month, make sure your home is protected from (and your family is prepared for) a fire. Here are 10 simple tips to help you avoid fires and reduce the risk of injury should one occur: 1. Smoke Alarms – Smoke alarms are widely available and inexpensive.

Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home and test it monthly.

2. Prevent Electrical Fires – Don’t overload circuits or extension cords. Cords and wires should never be placed under rugs or in high traffic areas. Check the fit of the plug in the wall outlet; if it fits loosely, inspect the outlet right away.

3. Keep Plugs Safe – Unplug all appliances when not in use. Use your senses to spot any potential disasters. If a plug is overheating, smells strange, shorts out or sparks, the

SpOt tHe Di ffeRence!

See if you can spot the five differences between the two pictures.

Check your answers on page on page 13.

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Backpack Connection

appliance should be shut off immediately, then replaced or repaired.

4. Alternate Heaters – Make sure there is ample space around any portable heating unit. Anything that could catch fire should be at least three feet away.

5. Fire Safety Sprinklers – When combined with working smoke alarms, home fire sprinklers greatly increase your chance of surviving a fire. Sprinklers are affordable and can increase property value and lower insurance rates.

6. Create an Escape Route – Create and practice your escape plan with your family from every room in the house. Practice staying low to the floor and checking for hot doors using the back of your hand.

7. Position Appliances Carefully – Try to keep TV sets, kitchen and other appliances away from windows with curtains. If there is a wiring problem, curtains can spread a fire quickly. Also, keeping your appliances away from water sources (like rain coming in from windows) can help prevent wiring damage which can lead to a fire.

8. Clean Dryer Vents – Clothes dryers often start fires in residential areas.

Clean the lint filter after every load of clothes. Make sure your exhaust duct is made of metal tubing and not plastic or foil. Clean the exhaust duct with a good quality dryer vent brush to prevent blockage and check for lint build up behind the dryer at least twice a year.

9. Be Careful Around the Holidays – Keep holiday lights away from anything that can easily catch fire.

Check all lights prior to stringing them up and dispose of anything with frayed or exposed wires.

10. Conduct Regular Inspections – Check all of your electronic equipment and wiring at least once a month. This can really pay off.

20 Ways to Compliment A Child That Have Nothing To Do WIth Appearance

BY AMANDA GROSSMAN-SCOTT Do you ever find yourself gazing at a child with such adoration and all you can think to say is,“You’re so cute!”? It is important to let the children in your life know that you see them and value them for more than appearance; after all, appearance is not an accomplishment.

The point is “to recognize that selfesteem really, truly comes as the result of achievement—in the classroom, on the field, at the home…” (Drexler, 2012). It can be difficult, but not impossible, to notice more merited ways to compliment a child and help boost self-confidence. Here are 20 ways to compliment a child—that have nothing to do with appearance!

1. Tell her how creative she is when she makes up a story.

2. Tell him how kind he is when he shows how he cares for others.

3. Tell her how responsible she is when she takes care of herself, others, or toys.

4. Tell him how artistic he is when he shows you a drawing.

5. Tell her how happy it makes you to

spend time with her.

6. Tell him he is a good friend/son/ brother.

7. Tell her she is adventurous when she describes her day.

8. Tell him he is brave when he does something he is afraid to try.

9. Tell her how hard-working she is when she accomplishes a goal.

10. Tell him he gives the best hugs when you greet him.

11. Tell her she is smart when she figures something out.

12. Tell him he is clever when he solves a riddle.

13. Tell her she’s got a wonderful laugh.

14. Tell him he is a treasure when you talk of priceless things.

15. Tell her she is courageous when she stands up for others.

16. Tell him how talented he is when he sings you a song.

1 17. Tell her she is a great leader when she takes initiative.

1 18. Tell him he is trustworthy when he keeps a promise.

1 19. Tell her she is polite when she uses her manners.

2 20. Tell him he is a hero when he stands up to a bully Telling a child she is pretty or that h is strong is easy. Seeing your child’s he a actual successes is a benchmark of atte tentive parenting. Being a more crea ative parent takes practice and persev verance.

Be vigilant with your effort to b buoy up your child’s confidence and y your resourcefulness will benefit your c child in the long run.

www.educateempowerkids.org

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Thirty-nine thousand students at 49 Northside ISD schools will receive free breakfast and lunch this school year thanks to the federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act which will provide the financial support needed, according to Dr. Brian T. Woods, superintendent.

Starting the first day of classes, August 24, 2015, NISD schools that qualify under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) will provide breakfast and lunch to ALL children at no charge and eliminate the collection of meal applications for free and reduced-price meals.

“This approach ensures that students receive nutritious meals every day and reduces the administrative burden for qualifying students for meal assistance,” says Woods. “We are very happy to be able to do this for the students attending the qualifying schools because well-fed children learn better.”

Students who need assistance at the other 67 Northside schools may also apply for free or reduced price meals. For additional information, contact the NISD Free and Reduced Program Office at 397-4517.

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SCHOOLS THAT QUALIFY FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER THE FEDERAL HEALTHY, HUNGER-FREE KIDS ACT Elementary Schools Adams Hill Allen Boone Brauchle Burke Cable Carlos Coon Carnahan Cody Colonies North Driggers Esparza Fisher Glass Glenn Glenoaks Hatchett Howsman Mary Hull

Knowlton Leon Valley Linton Martin Michael McDermott Mead Meadow Village Myers Oak Hills Terrace Passmore Powell Rhodes Timberwilde Valley Hi Villarreal Westwood Terrace

Middle Schools Jones NAMS-North NAMS-South Neff Pease Rayburn Ross Rudder Zachry High Schools Holmgreen Center (DAEP) Holmes Jay Northside Alternative

This edition’s highlighted school

We Are Oak Hills Terrace Proud!!

Oak Hills Terrace Faculty and Staff Welcome Their Families Back to School by having a BBQ On Thursday, August 21st, students and their families had the opportunity to meet their teachers, find out about campus clubs and initiatives, and enjoy a hot dog!

This annual tradition has become a favorite for the staff at Oak Hills Terrace. Every year we

invite

the students to attend the “Meet the Teacher” event, but for the last few years, we have added the barbeque component and have had a wonderful response! This year, we had an even bigger turn out, due in part to the individualized phone calls that each teacher made to their students inviting them to the event! We take pride in building relationships with our families and felt that those phone calls were a great way to

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This edition’s highlighted school

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Preserving Your Child’s Dental Health hen it comes to caring for an infant, most parents are well aware of the need for routine pediatrician visits as part of their baby’s health care regimen. What’s less well-recognized is the importance that early and regular dental care plays. For optimal oral health, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that dental visits begin with the appearance of a child’s first tooth as an effective way to kick-start a lifelong program of preventive dental care.

“The ‘first-tooth visit’ lets the pediatric dentist check for proper oral and facial development, see if the teeth are growing in properly, and detect early tooth decay,” says H. Pitts Hinson, president of the AAPD. “It also gives the dentist a chance to walk parents through a complete program of home dental care for the child.”

Tooth decay, even in the earliest stages of life, can have serious implications for a child’s long-term health and well-being-and it’s becoming more of a problem every day. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention comparing the dental health of Americans in 1988-1994 and 1999-2002 found a 15.2 percent increase in cavities among two- to fiveyear olds. In addition, the U.S. Surgeon General has identified tooth decay as the most common childhood disease.

A possible contributor to this trend is the fact that only three out of five children visit a dentist at least once a year. While parents may avoid taking a child to the dentist to save money, studies show that children who have their first dental visit before age one have 40 percent lower dental costs in their first five years than children who don’t, making preventive care a sound health and economic decision.

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Without preventive care, the impact of tooth decay on child development can be striking. A study in Pediatric Dentistry showed that children with cavities were significantly more likely to weigh less than 80 percent of their

visit in an office designed for kids before the onset of any tooth problems establishes trust and confidence in dental care in children that can carry over into adulthood.

When do kids need orthodontic care? While there are some situations that can develop at age 7 that would warrant orthodontic intervention, most kids will not need braces until all of their baby teeth fall out, which is usually age 11 or 12. The goal of the orthodontist is not only to give your child a beautiful healthy smile that lasts a lifetime but to achieve it in the most efficient and convenient manner with the least amount of discomfort possible. That means selecting the optimum time to start treatment, time between appointments, and using the latest in orthodontic technology to minimize treatment times and discomfort.

One Baby Tooth + One Pediatric Dental Visit = Zero Cavities

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ideal body weight. Even more disturbing is evidence that the effects of poor oral health may be felt for a lifetime.

Emerging research suggests that improper oral hygiene may increase a child’s risk of having low-birth-weight babies, developing heart disease or suffering a stroke as an adult.

No one is better-equipped to care for primary teeth than pediatric dentists. Pediatric dentists complete two to three years of advanced training after dental school, preparing them to address the unique needs of infants, children and adolescents-including those with special health care requirements. Having the first dental

READING HOMEWORK TIPS FOR PARENTS

Have your child read aloud to you every night.

Choose a quiet place, free from distractions, for your child to do his nightly reading assignments.

As your child reads, point out spelling and sound patterns such as cat, pat, hat.

When your child reads aloud to you and makes a mistake, point out the words she has missed and help her to read the word correctly.

After your child has stopped to correct a word he has read, have him go back ...pause and ask your and reread the entire child questions about sentence from the beginning to make sure the characters and he understands what events... the sentence is saying

Ask your child to tell you in her own words what happened in a story.

To check your child‘s understanding of what he is read-

ing, occasionally pause and ask your child questions about the characters and events in the story.

Ask your child why she thinks a character acted in a certain way and ask your child to support her answer with information from the story.

Before getting to the end of a story, ask your child what he thinks willhappen next and why.

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Intergovernmental and Interagency Affairs, Educational Partnerships and Family Involvement Unit, Homework Tips for Parents, Washington, D.C., 2003.

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8

EMPOWERING HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

BY AMANDA GROSSMAN-SCOTT I went to my local Halloween costume store with my kids recently. (Huge mistake—just take my advice and don’t do it! Order online or make it easier on yourself!) I told my daughter I thought she should be something besides a princess or a witch this year.

“Don’t you want to be something different?” I asked.

“Like what?” she wants to know.

“I don’t know. A hero?” I’m thinking Amelia Earhart. Rosie the Riveter. She’s thinking Cat Girl.

“How can she possibly fight crime in that tight suit?!” I point out. She rolls her eyes at me. When did my 6-year-old learn to roll her eyes at me?

I notice nearly ALL the costumes in the Halloween shop, even the ones meant for little girls, are really sexualized. How are these going to help young girls develop self-worth or worth in anything besides their developing bodies?

I tell my daughter we will have to find a costume somewhere else. We head over to the boy’s section to shop for my sons.

Ugh. Seriously? Do they have to put fake blood on everything? Even if the school allowed them to carry a fake weapon with their costume, would I feel comfortable letting my sons tote around a bloody hatchet? And is it really necessary to stuff the chest and arms to make huge muscles? Is there nothing more to being a super hero than pectorals and biceps? It’s no wonder boys can struggle with low selfesteem when they have these unrealistic role models beginning at a young age.

This could go on forever. It’s indicative of the time we are living in, I know. But I’m still disturbed by it! So I searched for costumes that were more original and less sexualized, less hyper masculine and less violent. Here are some ideas I came up with.

Costumes from Other Cultures.

This is an opportunity to learn about another culture and pick a fun costume. Think about the things your kids have studied in school or will be

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studying this year. How about a Native American tribal costume or a Spanish matador? An Indian Sari, a Mexican Mariachi costume, or an African caftan. So many options here.

REAL Action Heroes! How about a modern day soldier, a firefighter, police officer, astronaut, or spy? What does your child want to be when he or she grows up? Their future aspirations could provide inspiration for his or her costume.

Animals. I long for the days when my kids were cuddly dragons and sweet little sheep! If your kids are still small (or easier to persuade than mine) animal costumes are fun, non-sexual or hyper-masculine and easy to put together–add ears and tail and you’re done!

Everyday Heroes. Doctors, nurses and dentists perform small miracles for us every day. Why wouldn’t our kids want to emulate them? Or how about someone who works behind the scenes like a zoo keeper or chemist?

Historical Figures. Your daughter may not have the desire to dress up as Betsy Ross or your son as George Washington but there are plenty of adventurous historical characters who might be fun. Amelia Earhart, Rosa Parks, Sally Ride and Jane Goodall are

examples of brave women of history.

William Wallace, Albert Einstein, and Nelson Mandella are admirable men to emulate.

Storybook Characters. Robin Hood and Red Riding Hood were both storybook characters who cared for others and acted bravely in their stories.

Great examples!

Everyday People. Grandma, business people, chef, teacher, Mom or Dad. These people are unsung heroes in their own right.

Positive Pop Culture. There are positive role models in our current culture who might provide inspiration for a costume. Oprah, Condoleeza Rice, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey; Presidents Obama and Bush and journalists who put themselves in danger to tell the truth for starters. Choose wisely!

My daughter settled on a Spanish matador costume. It covers her, it’s cute, and she’s also learning a little something about another culture. Not everything has to be a lesson, I know, but Halloween doesn’t have to be an exercise in “how much can I get away with?” either. If we help them to choose wisely, Halloween can be a time when our children decide to pick Halloween costumes that boost their self-worth instead of costumes that make them wish they were someone else. www.educateempowerkids.org

Fun Fall Activity A recipe for candy apples made with corn syrup and brown sugar.

Ingredients: Â&#x2021; FXSV OLJKW EURZQ VXJDU SDFNHG Â&#x2021; FXS ZDWHU Â&#x2021; WDEOHVSRRQ OLJKW FRUQ V\UXS Â&#x2021; WHDVSRRQ OHPRQ H[WUDFW Â&#x2021; DSSOHV ZLWK sticks Preparation: Combine brown sugar, water and corn syrup in a small, deep saucepan. Stir with a wooden spoon to blend; place over medium high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil and continue cooking, without stirring, until the mixture is 290° on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat and measure in lemon extract. When the mixture stops bubbling, put the first apple in the saucepan. Place apples on a buttered pan or buttered aluminum foil to solidify. To solidify quickly, immediately submerge the coated apple into ice water, then let drain on a dampened towel and place on the buttered pan.

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