
President
Andrea Kalvas
(440) 886-1371
Happy New Year to all! It’s amazing, the year 2000 is finally here! I remember, in high school, thinking about how old I would be in the year 2000 and thinking I would probably be married and have children. Now I can’t believe the years passed so fast and here I am right where I thought I would be. I guess I really am living my dream.
As I write this letter, I must admit, it’s not the New Year yet. The deadline to turn in information for the "Tricycle" is the last day of the month. Today is actually Dec. 28th, but since you’re reading this I’m assuming that all went well when the clock struck twelve.
My family and I had a lot of fun with Early Childhood PTA during the holidays. I hope you and your family took advantage of the fun things we offered. I would like to thank Joyce Hinkle for a fun December meeting. We all enjoyed our little Christmas "game night." Thanks also to Denise Peek, Debbie Napoli, and Joanna Lint for the fun holiday outings they planned.
I hope everyone will make their best effort to be at the January meeting. We have a really good speaker, Joe Dick, who will help us keep the humor in parenting. We also have some important business to take care of. We need a good turn out so please make plans to come. Remember, if Parma City Schools are closed due to bad weather our meeting will also be canceled.
Say "Yes2Kids" by spending a fun day playing in the snow with them and making a snowman.
1st Vice
Joyce Hinkle
(216) 524-2627
Happy New Millennium everyone! Hope your holidays were memorable. I enjoyed our group bingo games. Nicholas (that almost 5-year old boy hanging with me last month at the meeting?) had a blast choosing BINGO balls and calling out the numbers (are all first born children so theatrical?) Thanks to Robin and Donna too!!
After this month’s excellent speaker on Parenting, we will be meeting at a restaurant for Mom’s Night Out in February. Note the earlier start time--Tuesday, February 8th. I’m looking into Marco Polos on Rt. 21 (Brecksville Road) They offer a buffet menu for a set price . . . Details at the January meeting. Hope to see everyone out for a very informal meeting and a fun night of FOOD, FRIENDS, and FUN!
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Council Delegate
Cheryl Meriwether
216-328-9723
There is no information to report from the December 8, 1999 PTA Council meeting as it was the Christmas Lunch and no general meeting was held.
For those of you on-line check out
www.hungersite.com. All you do is click a button and a food donation is made to the needy by corporate sponsors. An easy way to do something good.![]()
"Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing
is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing."
Phyllis Diller
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Nutrition
Joyce Hinkle
(216) 524-2627
New year, new millennium, new diet? Like many others, you may be on the "let’s lose weight" bandwagon and heading to the gym more frequently for a healthier you in Y2K. I’d like to share with you the ADA (American Dietetic Association)’s position regarding high protein/low carbohydrate diets. (think Dr. Adkins Diet or Anti-Carbohydrate diets) ADA says "A high-protein diet doesn’t build muscle and burn fat as some people think. Only regular physical activity and training builds muscle strength! While athletes may need slightly higher levels of protein, diets that focus on protein-rich foods, such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and diary foods may be missing nutrients from fruits, vegetables, and gain products . . . Depending on the protein sources chosen, the diet may also be high in fat and calories since fat contains twice the calories per gram as protein and carbohydrate. Very high protein diets also can put a strain on the liver and kidneys. For those who do lost [weight], rapid weight loss may be water loss, no body fat . . .This diet plan isn’t a healthy eating plan for life-long health!"
So follow the food guide pyramid, increase physical activity, and stay away from fad diets!! (Stay tuned next month for more info on "how to sort out the good from the bad" when it comes to nutrition advice and diet recommendations" Eat smart ladies!!
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THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL
A weary mother returned from the store,
Lugging groceries through the kitchen door.
Awaiting her arrival was her 8 year old son,
Anxious to relate what his younger brother had done.
"While I was out playing and Dad was on a call,
T.J. took his crayons and wrote on the wall!
It's on the new paper you just hung in the den.
I told him you'd be mad at having to do it again."
She let out a moan and furrowed her brow,
"Where is your little brother right now?"
She emptied her arms and with a purposeful stride,
She marched to his closet where he had gone to hide.
She called his full name as she entered his room.
He trembled with fear--he knew that meant doom!
For the next ten minutes, she ranted and raved
About the expensive wallpaper and how she had saved.
Lamenting all the work it would take to repair,
She condemned his actions and total lack of care.
The more she scolded, the madder she got,
Then stomped from his room, totally distraught!
She headed for the den to confirm her fears.
When she saw the wall, her eyes flooded with tears.
The message she read pierced her soul with a dart.
It said, "I love Mommy," surrounded by a heart.
Well, the wallpaper remained, just as she found it,
With an empty picture frame hung to surround it.
A reminder to her, and indeed to all,
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ACTION NEEDED - HB 290 Seat Belt Primary Offense
The Seat Belt Coalition will be meeting with Representative Patricia Clancy on Tuesday, January 4 regarding HB 290. They have asked members of Ohio PTA in the Cincinnati area to contact her office and encourage her to vote "YES" on HB 290. Her phone number is: 614-466-9091.
Ohio PTA supports efforts that guarantee/promotes the safety of children. Making it a law for all children to be seat belted in the front seat of an automobile is a start. HB 290 would accomplish this. We also need to encourage the importance of all children being seat belted regardless where they sit in the car.
Thanks for your help!
Environmental
Cindy McGuire
(440) 845-9676
How Kids Can Help From A To Z
What sort of word do you want to grow up in? Do you want it to be one with clean water to drink, safe air to breathe, and a healthy environment with beautiful trees? If so, there are things you can do today that will protect your tomorrow!
A
dopt a stream, part or roadside to clean up and keep beautiful.B
ring your lunch to school in a lunch box with reusable containers.C
are for toys so they will last longer.D
onate clothes that you have outgrown to a needy person or someone smaller than you.E
ncourage others to join you in collecting glass, newspaper, cans, and plastic containers to be recycled.F
latten empty cans, boxes, and other containers so they don’t take up so much space.G
et in the habit of turning off the water when you brush your teeth. Turn it on only to wet your brush and to rinse.H
elp save paper by always using both sides.I
nsist on buying products in recyclable containers.J
og, walk, skate, or ride your bike from place to place to save energy.K
eep a jug of fresh water in the refrigerator so you won’t have to run fresh water to get it cold.L
ook for the recycled symbol on products you buy.M
ake note pads from used pieces of scrap paper.N
ever litter. Always put your trash in a trash can and recyclables in their bins.O
pen the blinds in the winter to let in the sun for warmth. Close the blinds in the summer to keep out the warmth.P
lant a tree to stop soil erosion, give you shade, and give birds a home.Q
uit buying products that have a lot of packaging wrapping.R
educe the amount of water you use to keep clean. Take showers, not baths.S
ave energy by asking your parents to turn down the thermostat. A few degrees will save a lot of energy.T
urn off lights if you are the last person to leave a room. Turn off appliances if you are not using them.U
se products made to be used many times, such as sponges or cloth towels instead of paper towels.V
alue and appreciate the environment. Realize that you can make a difference, and be proud of your contribution.W
atch what you pour down the drain. Hazardous waste can get into ground water and pollute your drinking water.e
Xamine labels before using products. Certain household cleaners can be dangerous.Y
earn to do what you can to help the environment. Grow up to be an adult who takes an active interest in the future.Z
ip to close doors and windows if they are opened when the heater or air conditioner is on.![]()
Second Vice
Laura Ponikvar
(216) 573-1518
Happy New Year! Hope everyone had a safe and joyous new year celebration. Looking into the new year for our Early Childhood PTA we all know of the money woes. How do we quickly make $2500 to satisfy the budget and make "everyone" happy and have "everyone" participate? That is the question of the month. The craft show was a bust. Countless hours were spent on the phone and also contracts sent out. Yet, there were not enough crafters to hold the show. Then we decided to go forward with the kids konnection. The decision was perhaps not thought out enough on my part and how much time was going to need to be put into it and not just by a handful of people but by everyone. The clock is ticking now and we are looking for those contracts of people wanting a table. Right now while I type this the calling committee is working on finding out how many contracts are expected in at our January meeting.
It is important for everyone to attend the January meeting to give their voice in the future monetary matters of our unit. A few voices have expressed to me their opinions and perhaps a few voiced theirs to other members but these things need to be discussed at our meetings. Your voice is important.
Joyce, 1st vice, has a wonderful speaker slated for our January meeting so it will be nice to see everyone at this important meeting.
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Please save Campbells Soup Labels, Box Tops, and Supermarket Receipts
Campbells, Chef’s Kettle, Franco-American, Goldfish, Healthy Request, Home-Cooking, Pace, Pepperidge Farm, Prego, Simply-Home, Spaghettios, Swanson, V8, and V8 Splash.
Please save box tops from all General Mills cereals and the following products: Golden Graham Treats, Gushers, Fruit by the Foot, Fruit String Thing, Fruit Roll-ups, Bugs Bunny & Friend, Trix Fruit Snacks, Scooby Doo Fruit Snacks, Shark Bites, Dunkaroos, Lucky Charms Fruit Snacks, Hawaiian Punch Fruit Snacks, Yoplait Trix Multipack Yogurt, Gogurt, Yoplait Yumsters, Yoplait Multipack Original Yogurt and all Lloyds Barbecue Buckets.
All box tops will be worth $.10 this year. Trix Yogurt has double box tops this month.
Please save all receipts from TOPS Supermarkets, Giant Eagle will start 10/10/99, please save receipts through 2/26/2000.
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Kids Konnection
January 22, 2000
10a.m.-4p.m.
Valley Forge High School
Parma Early Childhood PTA, Normandy Cluster present "Kids Konnection," a gathering of child care providers, preschools, classes, toys, and more. Everything under one roof. A special kids resale spot will also be highlighted.
Preschools and child care centers are invited to set up a table to advertise their programs. Bring coloring sheets for the kids or plan something fun to show. Space will be available for various children's programs to demonstrate.
Tables are available at only $30 for exhibitors and $15 for resale tables.
Only one exhibitor will be permitted from the various "party" sale companies.
Deadline January 7, 2000
Questions/Contract Call: Laura Ponikvar (216) 573-1519
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School Readiness
Cindy McGuire
(440) 845-9676
Reading is part of a total language development and includes:
To learn to read, children need self confidence. Living each day in a happy, friendly school or home, gives the child a feeling of belonging, of being accepted, and a confident, positive self.
To learn to read, children must have developed a speaking vocabulary. Children must have a good model who uses words carefully, explains objects and experiences, helps the child listen and listens to the child. Children need to talk, to talk they need to be heard.
To learn to read, children need to have been allowed to think, to figure things out, to be independent and to have had big physical experiences. When a child tries hard to build a big house with blocks, he/she is thinking and getting physical experience. Making mistakes helps children learn; errors are expected in new learning. Building, running, interacting, and having rich, active playtime leads children to reading.
To read, children need to want to read. They need to see adults using books, they need to look through books, they need to examine and discuss pictures. They need to practice their own expressive abilities. All of these—the development of the mind, the language used by the child, the physical development of the body, positive attitudes and feelings and the social behavior of the child will make him/her the reader we want them to be.
Middleburg Early Education Center
Bonnie Chojnacki & Lynn Figaro
Happy Holidays to Everyone!!