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News You Can Use December 2007

Posted by usnl in : November 2007 Edition, News You Can Use , trackback

Cambodia School Project
          Many families show their appreciation to P.C. faculty and staff by giving gifts around the holiday season.  Although we are appreciative of such gestures and expect no gifts, we respectfully ask that if it is your inclination to give a gift, consider giving to the Cambodia school project this year in honor of that special teacher or staff person.  As part of our stewardship efforts, the entire K – 12 community is working to support two schools in rural Cambodia to which we have connections through the organization American Assistance for Cambodia.  As part of the Rural School Project, our goal is to raise between $4,000 - $7,500 to help improve these two schools.  The projects in which students have expressed interest include funding a full-time trained English/computer teacher, providing school resources like books and computers, and supporting a “Victory” vegetable garden which would provide nutritious school lunches for students.
          If you would like to donate to our efforts on behalf of the Rural School Project, please send in a check made payable to Penn Charter.  Also, note who the gift is honoring.  We will make sure that that special person receives a card noting that a gift has been made by you in their honor to the Cambodia school project.  Send donations to Beth Glascott and also direct any questions to her.

End-of-Trimester Attendance Reports
          Included with your child’s grade report is an attendance report.  If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s trimester 1 absences or tardiness, please contact Bridgette Bonner-Fennal, in the Upper School office, in writing.  It is much easier to correct attendance errors now; please do not wait until the end of the school year to request changes.  Remember that attendance is part of your child’s permanent record and both excused and unexcused absences and lateness are listed on your child’s transcript.

Mid-year Assessments for 9th & 10th Grades
          Following a review of the mid-year assessment process for 9th and 10th graders, we have decided to cancel mid-year assessments this year.  The Department Chairs Group - which is, as the title implies, a working group comprised of the chair of each academic department - reviewed the relevant data for the two years during which we administered these mid-year tests. It was the sense of that group that the positive aspects of the mid-year assessment process, which include students getting more practice on large, cumulative traditional assessments or becoming more familiar with the format and language of these types of tests, did not outweigh the challenges. The group identified those challenges as:

Additionally, the grade data from the mid-year assessments did not definitively show that taking these tests helped to improve student performance on final exams.  Before the winter break begins, Upper School teachers will announce to 9th and 10th grade students that we will cancel the mid-year assessments scheduled for January and February 2008. Our cumulative final exams are a more traditional type of assessment; we will continue to administer those final exams, and to provide preparation for the tests so students can achieve success.

Keeping Healthy This Winter
          Cold and flu season has begun.  It’s 6:00 am.  Your family’s morning routine is in full swing.  The mad rush to pack lunches, gather books, brush teeth and make the bus or car pool on time has begun.  However, your son is not looking, nor feeling, quite well.  The morning routine comes to a screeching halt!
          Here are some quick guidelines to help you determine if your child should attend school: 

The presence of many children with fever, nausea, vomiting, coughing and malaise interferes with the educational objectives of the school.  The acutely ill child also has difficulty concentrating and cannot possibly benefit from his or her day of school.  There is also an increased risk that other students and faculty may contract your child’s illness.
          The best advice to keep your child healthy during cold and flu season is to ensure that they receive adequate rest, eat nutritious meals, practice good hand-washing techniques and stay home when not feeling well.  Grandma’s chicken soup may help too!

Debbie Foley, RN, MSN, CPNP
School Nurse

Adolescents & Medication
          In recent years there has been increased awareness and information regarding adolescent use of prescription and non-prescription medications for purposes other than prescribed or intended.  We felt it was important to provide some basic factual information to families.
          According to SAMHSA (Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration) abuse of prescription and non-prescription medications is on the rise in the adolescent population — specifically methylplenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine (Adderall and Dexedrine).  Young people, all across the country, are obtaining these medications from friends and classmates.   Why are ADD/ADHD prescribed medications being abused?  The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration states that “these medications are sought after by individuals who want them for their psychoactive effects: to get high, to stay awake for extended periods of time to study or party, to lose weight or to mix with alcohol or other drugs to enhance their effects.”
          In accordance with the Penn Charter Policy on Alcohol & Other Drugs, no student is permitted to carry or administer prescription or non-prescription drugs while here at school.  The exception to this policy is emergency medications such as epi-pens for severe allergic reactions and metered dose inhalers for asthmatics.  All other necessary medications are required to be logged into the Health Office and administered by the school nurse. Any student who is found to be sharing or selling prescription medications is in violation of the school’s drug and alcohol policy, as well as breaking the law.
          We believe it is important to be clear about the policies and consequences around the issue of all medications, but this is, first and foremost, an issue of student health and safety.  For those students who are accurately diagnosed and follow the prescribed use of these medications, they can be beneficial.  But for students who abuse these types of medications, the health consequences can be serious. Our hope is that you will take the opportunity to discuss this timely issue with your son or daughter.  Any parents or students who have questions or concerns regarding this information should contact one of us.

Elizabeth Coombs, School Counselor
Debbie Foley, School Nurse
Travis Larrabee, Dean of Students

Our New Format
            We hope you find this new newsletter format as easy to use as the old paper newsletters.  In addition to the main newsletter, you will notice tabs for Division Details and Educational Links: