Author: Amy Hoekstra

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The Wolf Moon

Wolf MoonYes….our full moon this weekend is called the “wolf moon.”  This name comes from Native American stories of wolves howling at the biggest and brightest moon of the year.  The wolf moon is in fact 30% closer to us at this time…so the wolves howl for good reason!

The photo above was taken by a Andy Waller, a photographer that I follow on my 365 Project. More information can be found on the year’s biggest full moon on the Red Orbit site as well as the  National Geographic site.

I have been featuring the moon since it’s beautiful appearance over Georgetown in December.  During this month, we were graced  two full moons (one called a blue moon) and now we have the wolf moon of January!  I wonder what February will bring!

I also wanted to share beautiful photos of the full moon in Anchorage, Alaska and a great collection on Flickr.  Enjoy!

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Welcome to February

January flew by and seems like a blur to me!  The month of February opens up with Ground Hogs Day, settles in with  Valentine’s Day in the middle and wraps up just in time for Parent/Teacher Conferences (March 2-4).

I have kicked this month off with a new blog theme.  This theme allows more options in font selection, posts per page and pushes me to learn more about html code and css.

Remember that you can search for any post by typing a single word or phrase into the “search” tab to your right.  You can  scroll through the posts page by page (like a newspaper) at the bottom of this page.

Here’s to a great week ahead!

Feb 1 2010

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More on Lice…

Lice 2

We have received many questions via email, phone and office visits regarding our unexpected visitors, lice.  In an effort to provide as much information as possible and reduce anxiety about this itchy topic, I would like to share the following:

  1. We became aware of the lice outbreak at our school on Wednesday, January 27.
  2. If a child is found to have lice (school discovery or parent report), a notification letter is sent home that day with all students in that classroom.On Thursday, January 28, school personnel suspected head lice on another child.  We contacted parents and with their approval checked this child.
  3. We then used our investigative skills to identify areas where the lice could spread.  These areas led us to other children that may need to be checked.  All parents were then contacted by phone before we checked their children.

Please know that my primary goals are to focus on facts about head lice and the dignity, respect and honor of the children.  Because head lice creates an intense emotional reaction for parents, children and staff, it is very important that we handle this with sensitivity and normalcy…and a healthy dose of appropriate humor and lightness.

PREVENTION and EDUCATION are key.  On a prior blog post, I shared TRUTHS and TREATMENT details.  I received an email from Amy Steindler of LICE HAPPENS.  She wanted us to also keep in mind the following:

  • A live louse can only live about a day off a human head.  They need those blood meals and the temperature and humidity of a human head—they have evolved and adapted for those specific conditions.  We say that any louse found off a head is a dying louse—it’s just a matter of time.
  • Lice off a head are unlikely to mate or lay eggs—they can barely get around anywhere except on a head, due to the specialization of their claws.
  • Nits (eggs) are unlikely to survive as long as 10 days—even nits that are on a head have very little chance of hatching if they’re more than ½ inch from the scalp.  Nymphs, the newly hatched critters, need to be very close to a scalp, as they need their first blood meal very soon after hatching.

I will keep you updated as we work to get rid of our unexpected visitors!  Thank you for all you are doing to educate your children about prevention practices.

Your friendly principal and Lice Inspector General, Mrs. Reagan

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365 Project: A Year of Photos

One of my goals this year is to learn how to take better photos.  I have signed on to a project called the 365 Project.  There are many projects out there with the goal of taking one picture each day–but these involve more expertise in photography or deeper reflection about each photo.365 project

In order for me to accomplish this project with all my other interests, I need to be able to point, click, upload and post.  Along the way, I have been picking up tips about my camera–some I remember and some I don’t!  Amanda Troyer, a parent in our building, is also participating in this project.  On February 18, Amanda will also be hosing a “HOW TO TAKE BETTER PHOTOS” for anyone interested.  This will be held from 7-8:30 pm in the Georgetown Media Center.  If you are interested, register by completing this form:  PHOTO RSVP

You can watch my album grow by checking the slide show on the bottom left side of this blog.  And…with my camera in hand at nearly all times, you never know when I might snap a picture of you!

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Yes…we have head lice.

liceThis title will grab the attention of just about every reader out there.  I imagine our blog counter may hit an all time high with this posting!  We do have head lice moving through our building and we need your help.   Before I address the plan of attack, it is critical we have our facts straight.

TRUTHS about head lice:

  1. Medical term:  pediculosis capitis
  2. Louse = 1;  Lice = more than one.
  3. Lice DO NOT JUMP.  They crawl.
  4. Lice spread through close contact–hats, combs, brushes, etc.
  5. Lice can live 2-3 days off the body.
  6. Nit is the name for a louse egg.
  7. A louse will lay 6 eggs per day.
  8. A nit can live up to 10 days off the body.
  9. Lice are killed quickly with treatment.
  10. Nits require daily combing and inspection daily for  3 weeks.
  11. Lice do not discriminate.  They love scalps of all income levels, culture backgrounds and social economic status.

The ACTION PLAN:

  1. DO NOT PANIC.
  2. Do not PANIC YOUR CHILD.
  3. Check your child’s hair immediately and carefully.  If you find lice, determine a treatment plan by calling your doctor.  Notify the school.  CLEAN all surfaces that your child would come into contact with:  sheets, pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, clothing.   Keep your child home until there is no evidence of lice or nits.  School procedure:  Lice Protocol
  4. Even if your child is lice free, please wash ALL winter clothing with hot water and dry in hot dryer.
  5. Educate your child to not share hats, scarves, brushes, etc.  Keep hats, mittens, scarves in backpacks at school.
  6. Monitor your child for excessive scratching of head.

We have two kind, sensitive and careful school nurses lice inspectors (Mrs. Reagan and Mrs. Ripley) who are training any interested, willing fellow inspectors!  Know that if we suspect your child has been exposed to head lice or is showing signs of head lice, we will check privately and in a very dignified way.

Links to videos you may or may not find helpful:

Lice Crawling

Lice Truths

Identification

I want to end with an educational and humorous video on this rather itchy topic.

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The Golden Hat

Mrs. Reagan took pictures of me in my golden hat.  I asked her to put these on the blog.  She said she would if I wrote a story about the hat.  Here is my story:

The Golden Hat

by Hayden, Mrs. Greenlund’s Room


I got a golden hat from Party City.

They have Irish hats and lots of different hats, too.

I picked out the golden hat and golden glasses.

My brother Maxx picked out a black hat and a golden cane.

golden hat

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Love My Surfin’ Dog

cooper typingWhile reading Love That Dog to the second grade classes at Georgetown,

I have been asked to share stories Sillyabout my own dog, Cooper.

Many children have asked if I have tried to teach him anything other than the

usual tricks like sit, stay, come and fetch.

I share with them that my dog training techniques go far beyond this and extend into the world of surfing the

waves and the web.  Check out my surfin’ dog, Cooper in these two photos.

*Note: This post was special request by my 2nd grade fan club.

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Love Those Second Graders

Love that dogEach year, the incredible fabulous team of second grade teachers allow me to sneak in on their read aloud time.  I share one of my most favorite books in the whole wide world, Love That Dog, by Sharon Creech.    This book happens to be one of my favorites because:

  1. Sharon Creech is on my top ten author’s that I love list.
  2. Dogs are on the top of my pets that I adore list.
  3. And I happen to have an addiction to brownies…particularly when I am reading books.

If you have never read this book, check it out of the library and read it.  If you don’t have time for this, find a second grader from Georgetown and ask them to give you a book talk.  Maybe they will share a brownie with you, too!  Thank you Mrs. Greenlund, Mrs. Quigley, Mrs. Huizenga and Mrs. Kuieck for sharing your brilliant second graders with me!

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District-Wide Information for PK and K Enrollment

Kindergarten Enrollment Information:  From the District Website
Kindergarten enrollment forms will be available at any of our Hudsonville Public School elementary buildings beginning January 25.  We encourage any family with a child turning five years of age on or before December 1 of 2010 to enroll.  Please fill out the forms included in the packet and return the completed information to any elementary school or at one of the Kindergarten Round-Up meetings.
  • Completed enrollment form K Registration
  • Copy of your child’s birth certificate (must be certified with a raised seal)
  • Health appraisal form which includes dates of immunizations and vision testing (this form must be turned in no later than August 27, 2010) Health Appraisal

Kindergarten Round-Up meetings will be held for parents on Tuesday, March 9.  The meeting will offer parents information in preparation of your child entering Kindergarten  Overview K current or Pre-Kindergarten Overview PK current in the Fall.  The locations and times of the meetings are as follows:

Alward Elementary – 10 a.m. OR 7 p.m.
Bauer Elementary – 7 p.m. only
Georgetown Elementary – 7 p.m. only
Forest Grove Elementary – 7 p.m. only
Jamestown Elementary – 10 a.m. OR 7 p.m.
Park Elementary – 7 p.m. only
South Elementary – 10 a.m. OR 7 p.m.

Due to larger turnouts for our evening Round-Up meetings the past few years, we decided to offer a day time Round-Up meeting in three locations.  We encourage parents from other buildings to attend those locations if the day time meetings work best for you.  The same information will be given at each location.  Please drop off your completed enrollment information to your child’s school.  Screening is required for children turning 5 years old between June 1 – December 1, 2010.  Appointments can be scheduled when you turn in your child’s enrollment form.

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Hey there, Dads…WE NEED YOU!

If you are a dad of a  child at Georgetown and have wondered how you can volunteer at school, we have fatherthe opportunity for you!  Jeff Wressell has organized a volunteer program called D.E.S.K (Dad’s Empowering Super Kids) and this will kick off in partnership with our  Bustin’ Through Books program.  The philosophy of DESK can be found here:  Dad’s Vol Program

Please consider participating in this opportunity!  We would love to have you participate and be present in the school.

To find out more about the program, visit BUSTIN’ THROUGH BOOKS.

To volunteer, complete this survey:  DADs WHO BUST THROUGH BOOKS