“Let Their Dreams Set Sail”
We are saying “Bon Voyage” this afternoon to our 8th graders who are participating in the 8th Grade Prom/Dinner Cruise in Panama City.  The buses will be sailing away from Griffin at 4:30 p.m. and arriving back at Griffin later tonight at 11:45 p.m.  Our students are excited about the evening aboard the Lady Anderson Yacht, the buffet, the music, the fun and the friends.  For those of us who are staying behind, we look forward to the pictures and the stories they will bring back!
 
Griffin donated 400 pounds of clothing to the people of Haiti this week through the Salvation Army/Red Cross.  As you know there is still need in Haiti, after the initial devastation.  We are proud of our students continued service to both their local community and their global community.  Thank you to all of those who made this possible, Ms. Thompson, Ms. Marshall, Ms. Ingram, Ms. Griffin, and our generous students and parents.
 
Gifted and Talented Information:
 The Leon County Schools’ Symposium for Parents and Teachers of Gifted and Talented Children will take place on Saturday, April 24th, from 8:30 to 1:00 at the Challenger Learning Center and at the Mary Brogan Museum of Arts and Sciences.  Student activities will be provided on a first-come first serve basis by Challenger and MOAS staff members.  Registration information for the symposium will be made available very soon.  Some of the sessions being offered include:
Additional information will be provided soon. Please direct questions to Kathy Corder.
 
Connect With Kids
This Week's Stories About Kids
  Error! Filename not specified.   Emotional Overeating
The First Lady of the land, Michelle Obama, is taking on the epidemic of obesity among America's children. She says it's a challenge for the nation, but it's also a perplexing issue for parents. Many experts say if a child overeats the first step isn't to find a diet...instead it's to find out why.
 
  Error! Filename not specified.   Signs of Suicidal Thoughts
If your teenager wants to sleep until noon on the weekend, maybe that's not such a bad idea. According to a new study from Columbia University, there is a connection between sleep and suicide. The study found that kids with a bedtime of midnight or later were about 20 percent more likely to be depressed and think about suicide than kids with a bedtime of 10 p.m.
 
  Error! Filename not specified.   Stress and Memory Loss
A new study of college kids that goes back over 70 years shows that students experienced far less anxiety in the 1930s, in the middle of the Great Depression, than they do today. According to the San Diego State University report...40 percent of kids are stressed out today, compared to just five percent in 1938. And the problem is ... anxiety just makes school performance all that much worse.
 
  Error! Filename not specified.   Swallowing a Foreign Object
The American Academy of Pediatrics says if you had to engineer a device to block a child's airway, the best design of all would be a hot dog. The Academy is now recommending a warning label on all packages of hot dogs. Choking is the leading of cause of injury and death for small children who don't understand the danger when they stick things in their mouth.
 
 
 
 
About Connect with Kids
CWK Network is an expert in producing innovative journalistic and educational content covering children and teens' issues. We offer more than 100 Connect with Kids programs for Elementary, Middle and High School students and their parents.
1-888-598-KIDS
 
This Week's
Character Connection
Updated weekly...click here for details.
 
Error! Filename not specified.
Inside Out: Real Stories About the Inner Choices that Shape Our Lives
A new book written by a teen for teens - and for the adults who care about them.  Will kids drink alcohol? Try drugs? Cheat to make good grades? Stand up for others...and themselves?  Who - not what - do they want to be when they
"grow up?"
 Teen author Chandler DeWitt shares an authentic perspective on today's teen dilemmas and decisions - and helps get the conversation started at home and at school.

Click here to preview a sample chapter and purchase.

$14.95 each
Quantity discounts available.
 
 
Griffin Parent Tiger Tips
KEEPING IN TOUCH -
Keep in touch with the school   Don’t leave it up to the school to let you know how and what your child is doing.  Stay aware of what your children are learning, what their assignments are, and how they are doing.  Make a point of visiting the school and talking with the teachers.  If you can’t visit, schedule a phone call.  Don’t wait until there is a problem.  Research on the performance of high school students has shown that parents who are consistently informed about their children’s progress can contribute to higher achievement. The partnership between parents and teachers is key to creating a climate at home and at school conducive to learning.
OFFER ENCOURAGEMENT -
Offer praise and encouragement.  Encourage your child to put in the time and effort to complete assignments and to work hard.  Encourage him to persevere.  Cultivate a warm and supporting home atmosphere while also setting and enforcing standards for school work.  Parents play a dominant role in influencing a child’s confidence and motivation to become a successful learner.  Parents should encourage children to complete assignments as well as introduce them to enrichment programs and outside experiences that will enhance their self confidence and broaden their interests.
 
 
Community Information
Publix has a new Diabetes Management System that provides FREE diabetes medication, online resources, and diabetic supplies. This could be a great blessing to those in our community who don't have insurance or find prescriptions unaffordable. Even if insured, this program is open to all. Share this info with others who may need it and check out the website:
http://www.publix.com/wellness/pharmacy/Publix-Pharmacy-Diabetes-Management-System.do