While H1N1 certainly may be an eyeopener for parents and students, providing lessons on just how rampant infectious diseases can be in a school environment, flu viruses aren’t the only infectious diseases to be concerned about at school. Experts say that exposure to a variety of different infectious diseases in a school environment is inevitable, especially at the grade-school level.

The common cold, chickenpox, head lice, tuberculosis, mononucleosis (mono), and many other conditions can be expected in school environments. It’s important to be aware of the necessary actions to take to prevent the proliferation of disease in school. Consider these factors.

Teachers spend several hours per day with students and can typically be the first line of defense when an illness is suspected. They can view physical and behavioral changes that may indicate a student is not feeling well, especially when “symptoms” are compared against normal behavior for this particular student.

Signs of illness may include:
• Changes in appetite:The student may pick at food or want to avoid food all together.

• Behavior changes:Lethargy, irritability or lack of energy could indicate something is amiss.

• Skin color: Pasty skin color can indicate illness, as well as flushed skin. Eyes may also appear glassy or red.

• Fever: While teachers aren’t frequently engaging in personal contact with students, they may be able to detect a fever upon touching a student’s arm or hand. Hand-washing and use of hand sanitizers remains one of the best ways to reduce the spread and severity of diseases at school. Here are other steps students should take.

• A sick student should remain home from school until he or she is over the hurdle. While having a sick child home can be an inconvenience for working parents, it prevents other students from potentially getting sick.

• Students should not share eating implements, straws, etc. Saliva can spread any number of infectious diseases.

• Students should not share towels or other personal hygiene items after gym workouts. Also, it is safe to wear water shoes or some sort of flip-flop if using public school showers to clean off. The floor of locker rooms may be teaming with bacteria that could lead to foot fungus.

• Inspect children for head lice, especially if a case is detected at school.

• Teachers can offer a courtesy to parents when a contagious outbreak is detected in a class, such as posting a notice about strep throat, so they can choose whether it is safe to send kids to school.

• Students should be encouraged to eat healthy, balanced meals. A good diet can keep the immune system functioning properly to ward off common illnesses.

• Many schools mandate that students be up-to-date with required immunizations.

Ingredients…
• Hot dog bun (preferably whole grain)
• Whole Banana, peeled
• 2 Tablespoons of Peanut Butter
• Additional toppings for fun flavor such as jelly, mini marshmallows, raisins, coconut, etc.

Instructions…
Spread peanut butter inside the hot dog bun. Place the banana inside the bun as you would a hot dog. Add additional toppings as desired and enjoy!

Recognizing that, the National Afterschool Association (NAA) has identified several things parents should look for in an afterschool program to ensure kids will be well cared for and enjoy their time once the final school bell of the day rings.

Staff

The staff is very important when finding the right fit for your child’s after school program. One of the things parents must observe is the staff’s interaction with children. Before deciding on a specific program, visit each of those your are considering on a typical day to witness how the staff interacts with kids. The NAA suggests looking for specific things regarding the staff’s interaction, including whether or not children are treated with respect and allowed to voice their concerns or opinions; how well the staff knows the children in the program, including their interests and personalities; and the type of atmosphere the staff fosters for children, be it positive or negative.

Layout

The layout of an after school facility is an important consideration for parents as well. According to the NAA, a good facility will have plenty of open space for activities as well as a quiet area that allows kids to do their homework in peace.
The layout outside of the facility is something to consider as well. Kids need to exercise, and parents will want their kids to have ample outdoor space to play after a long day at school. Play equipment should be available, and that equipment should be new and not the product of neglect.

Activities

While structure is important for kids, it’s also important for kids to experience variety. When looking at a given facility, the NAA suggests looking at the program’s schedule of activities. A variety of available activities will lessen the likelihood of kids growing bored with a given program.
In addition, activities should be stimulating. Simply watching TV should not be acceptable. Rather, activities should be well suited to children’s interests and age-appropriate.

Miscellaneous

Other things need to be considered as well before parents can make a final decision on an after school program. One of those things is nutrition. Most after school programs will have snacks for kids. Are these snacks healthy? Is the staff willing to alter their snack items if parents object?
Another thing to factor in is the structure of the facility. An older building, for instance, might not be as safe, and it might also not have adequate ventilation, heating or light. Kids are typically more susceptible to illness than adults, so these are important considerations not to be taken lightly.

To learn more about after school programs, visit the NAA Web site at www.naaweb.yourmembership.com.

* Make a list and prioritize: The rooms that will be most visible while company is over are the ones that should taken care of first and foremost. These likely include the entryway, living room, kitchen and guest bath.

* Focus energy on the guest bath: A guest bathroom or a first-floor powder room will be frequented by guests. Spend a good deal of your time making sure it sparkles. Few people want to make use of a dirty bathroom. Ensure there is fresh toilet tissue and that the soap dispenser is full of
hand soap. Place a few fresh towels on a hook. Wipe down the mirror, sink, floor, and toilet thoroughly. And don’t forget to lift up the toilet rim to scour hidden stains. Afterward, empty the trash pail and spray a little air freshener.

* Concentrate on the kitchen: The dishwasher can be a good place to hide dishes that may have piled up until you’re ready to run the load. Also, clear off the counter and empty the trash in the kitchen so everything is tidy and fresh. You may also want to put on a new tablecloth if the older one is stained or full of crumbs.

* Do a once-over: After you’ve cleaned and relaxed, walk through the rooms and spotcheck some items you may have missed. Remember, you’re more likely to notice things that are out of place. Guests won’t notice all of the miniscule things you observe.

* Check the air: Leave the home and come back in to see if there are any offensive odors. Fabric refresher sprays or a mild air freshener can take care of them. Keep a subtly scented candle lit for ambiance and to keep the air smelling nice.

For preschoolers about to enter kindergarten the feelings may be quite similar. They’re leaving behind the comfort of a routine and people they’ve grown accustomed to and must now move into the fast-track of elementary education.

School Starting Earlier
Kindergarten isn’t the first time youngsters are introduced to teachers and learning these days. Recent estimates say that at least one million children attend some form of preschool or education-based child care in the United States today. The National Institute for Early Education

Research at Rutgers University says that 75 percent of 4-year-olds are in pre-school. The rise in kids starting school earlier likely has something to do with the number of two-income households in most areas of the world. Today it has become increasingly difficult for the average family to live
comfortably on one salary. Therefore, preschools and daycare centers allow both parents to work.

Many centers have developed schedules and curricula so that children are not simply exposed to free-for-all play for the durationof the day. Some hands-on learning, craft projects, and preliminary lessons are also offered.

Easing the Transition
“When young children feel complex emotions like those entering kindergarten, they don’t know how to deal with them. Their parents need to guide them,” says Norma Richard, assistant professor of education at the National College of Education of National-Louis University in Illinois. “Be sure to tell your child, ‘You can do this!’” There are a number of factors that can help make young children feel more comfortable when attending kindergarten, and parents should lead the way.

1 . Program continutity: One way to ease the transition for children into kindergarten is to choose a pre-school that offers a similar curriculum to the kindergarten he or she eventually will attend. Program continuity keeps things familar for youngsters and allows them to reinforce lessons learned at age 3 or 4. Many preschools also offer kindergarten classes, so this could be a viable option and one that best addresses the continuity situation. If your center does not have kindergarten, see if pre-school teachers can converse with kindergarten teachers in the next school to offer information about what was taught and how your child was responding.

2. Talk to your child:Talking about what will be expected in kindergarten and “psyching” your child up for attending “big boy” or “big girl” school can go a long way toward boosting self-esteem. It can also take away that fear of the unknown. Mentioning a friend or a family member who has already attended kindergarten, one whom your child likes to emulate, can also make things seem less scary.

3. Mention the similarities of kindergarten and pre-school: There will be many activities that your child will still find similar in kindergarten. Most programs still focus on building upon a child’s sense of curiosity, physical learning, and problem-solving. Things learned in pre-school will only be enhanced in kindergarten and added to with more scholastic endeavors.

4. Reading and writing importance: Kindergarten lessons will more deeply explore your child’s understanding of vocabulary, letters and reading comprehension, even if he or she is not yet doing the reading. Picking up a book and reading with your child remains one of the best ways to prepare him or her for kindergarten. Children who love books and vocabulary will have a head start.

Metro Creative Connection 2009

T3 Experience: A retreat for your mind, body and soul. Natural extracts of tea tree oil, peppermint and lavender cool, invigorate. and leave hair smelling great. Features: Tea Tree Special Shampoo®, Tea Tree Special Conditioner®, Tea Tree Hair® and Scalp Treatment®, Tea Tree Essential Oil.

T3 Tension Tamer: Stressful days, sleepless nights, frenzied schedules. Soothe frazzled nerves and take comfort in some herbal relaxation with a serious dose of hydration. Features: Lavender Mint Moisturizing Shampoo™, Lavender Mint Moisturizing Conditioner™

T3 wi th a twist : Boost tired spirits and worn-down locks. This rejuvenating service adds volume and thickens every strand, leaving hair lush and manageable. Features: Lemon Sage Thickening Shampoo®, Lemon Sage Thickening Conditioner®.

Skinny Dip: A fresh apple fragrance rejuvenates, while Super Skinny Complex tames frizz and smoothes even the most unruly locks into submission. Features: Super Skinny® Daily Shampoo, Super Skinny® Daily Treatment. Inner S t rength: Repair, rebuild, replenish. Make hair buff and beautiful from
the inside out with our exclusive Super Strong Complex. Features: Super Strong® Daily Shampoo, Super Strong® Treatment.

All About Hue: Sunflower extract provides a natural sunscreen that charges up you hair color and extends its life while increasing strength and elasticity. What a bright idea! Features: Color Protect® Daily Shampoo, Color Protect® Daily Conditioner, Color Protect® Reconstructive Treatment.

Thirst Quencher : Moisturerich nutrients repair from the inside out-leaving locks revitalized, manageable and super shiny. Features: instant Moisture® Daily Shampoo, Instant Moisture® Daily Treatment, Super-Charged Moisturizer®.

Serious Detox: Give your hair a break from the daily grind. Heat styling, chemicals, and environmental pollution put stress on your tresses. Features: Shampoo Two® with Shampoo Three®, The Detangler®, Hair Repair Treatment®. Rejuvenate your hair!

By: Gloria Garcia, Hair by GG & Co
Photo courtesy Hair by GG & Co.

For more information, visit http://www.GoSarpy.com.

DinoQuest, August 1 – October 31
Fontenelle Forest
Nature Center
1111 Bellevue Blvd. North, Bellevue

Step into a prehistoric forest with ancient creatures looming overhead, scampering in the underbrush and soaring in the sky.

Roam at your own pace along a stroller-friendly Riverview Boardwalk, where life-size dinosaurs greet you around every bend. You can also uncover bones at the Dino Dig, pull on a lab coat in the Paleo Lab, size up your step in giant dino footprints and explore Nebraska’s creatures of the past. Located
just four miles south of the Omaha Zoo – take Kennedy Freeway to the Chandler Road exit or take 13th street south to Bellevue Boulevard.

Papio Fun Park
210 East Lincoln St, Papillion

Speed along on a go-kart track, try 18 holes of miniature golf, shoot it out with your friends in the Laser arena, improve your skills in the batting cages, soak your opponents in the water war area, roast marshmallows or enjoy a picnic.

Tiny Town Village
I-80 exit 432, Gretna

Tiny Town Village is a totally unique kid-sized village…minutes west of Omaha. This recreational complex was built to provide a positive, fun-filled
atmosphere where children can feel safe and at home in “their” world. Explore interactive miniature houses, take a train ride, play in the watersplash
pad and more.

Walnut Creek Lake
8901 South 154th Street, Omaha

This recreational area features three miles of hiking and biking trails, a boat dock and ramp, picnic and playground areas, fishing piers, lake islands for fishing, wildlife management areas and a 3.5 mile equestrian trail. RV and tent camping is available seasonally.

Information provided by
Fontenelle Nature Association and Sarpy County Tourism.
Photo courtesy of Fontenelle Nature Association.

Put the dowel in the center. Wrap a pipe cleaner around the garland to attach it to the dowel.

Add a few drops of glue to keep the garland in place. Wrap the pipe cleaners tightly around the garland and the dowel. Repeat the process with the other pipe cleaner. Add glue as needed between the pipe cleaners to keepthem attached to the dowel.

Position the garland pieces so that it looks like a sparkler!

July 3rd - Omaha World-Herald Fireworks Night at Rosenblatt Stadium.

July 4th - Ralston Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks Display

July 17th - Gretna Days Celebration and Fireworks Display

July 17th-19th - River Fest 2009 in Bellevue

Makes 8 to 10 portions
• 8 sheets (about 13 by 14 inches each)
thawed frozen phyllo dough
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream
cheese
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups fresh blueberries, divided
• 1/2 cup strawberry jelly
• 1 cup whipped heavy cream or nondairy whipped topping

Preheat oven to 425 F.

For crust: Grease a 9-inch pie plate; set aside. On a flat surface, place one sheet phyllo (keep remaining phyllo covered to prevent drying out); brush with butter.

Top with another phyllo sheet; brush with butter. Repeat with remaining phyllo and butter to make eight layers.

Using kitchen scissors, cut layers into a 12- to 13-inch circle. Carefully press circle into prepared pie plate; gently fan edges. Bake until edges are just golden, six to eight minutes; cool slightly on a wire rack. Reduce heat to 350 F.

For filling: In a medium bowl with an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add eggs; beat until well combined. Fold in 1 cup of the blueberries. Pour into prepared crust.

Bake until set, 40 to 50 minutes. To prevent over-browning of crust, gently cover with foil the last 25 minutes of baking; cool completely on rack.

To serve: In a small bowl, beat jelly until smooth. Spread over cheese filling.

Arrange remaining blueberries on top in star shape. Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.

2009 Metro Creative Connection