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Check Out the latest on SLEEP |
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Start Later for Excellence in Education Proposal's web site, www.SLEEPinFairfax.org, provides information about the organization's efforts to get later start times at Fairfax County high schools and middle schools. The site contains information about the group and its mission, a fact sheet on adolescents and sleep, and a petition to sign for those supporting later start times at secondary schools.
SLEEP is a grassroots organization started by two Fairfax County parents concerned about the early start times of the county’s secondary schools. Years ago, a Fairfax County Public Schools Task Force studying school start times concluded that later start times would benefit adolescents. There is a large body of research which supports the Task Force’s finding, saying that teenagers’ natural sleep patterns make it difficult for them to go to sleep and wake up early. Currently, however, most county high schools begin at 7:20 am, and adolescents are often going to school sleep-deprived.
This matter touches all of our children. Learn as much as possible about it! SLEEP's web site is a great place to start. |
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Computer and Internet Safety |
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Jennifer Krell, School-Based Technical Specialist at Frost MS has kindly shared information on keeping our children safe when they use the computer, and we thank her for sharing her resources.
Here are Ms. Krell's charts and supporting information. Note that some of these documents are copies of web pages, and not all links may work properly.
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All Too Real a Problem for Our Children!
Thanks to a grant awarded to our school, the threat of inhalant abuse will have a new focus. At our April PTA meeting, Frost Safety and Security expert Shannon Shaner gave us a timely overview of both the threat and the focus.
Inhalant abuse is the deliberate inhalation by "sniffing" or "huffing" fumes, vapors, or gases from common household and commercial products for the purpose of "getting high."
There are literally hundreds of products that can be abused -- and lots of them can cause brain damage and/or death.
Over 2.1 million kids, ages 12 - 17, have used an inhalant to get high, according to the Alliance for Consumer Education. It's a problem in our community. What can we parents do?
Lots more information is available. Please try to check it out!
As the Alliance for Consumer Education points out, "According to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, 'if you talk to your kids about the risks of drugs, they are 36% less likely to abuse an Inhalant.' Parents can make a tremendous impact on their kids' choices by talking to them."
We parents all need to make that impact! |
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For Parents