PHOTO: Mileage Club Is Popular At King!

Students can choose to participate in the King School Mileage Club during lunch recess.  During this time, students walk or jog around the track and get a punch on their mileage club card (as seen below) for each lap completed.  When they fill up their card, Mrs. Arbour awards them with a mileage club token for their mileage club necklace.  Thank you to the King PTO for their support for this program!

Your Child Must Stay Home If They Are Sick - Swine Flu Update

As we prepare for winter break here is a brief update on flu activity in the Ann Arbor Public Schools.

There has been a decrease in the number of reported H1N1 flu cases over the past few weeks in Washtenaw County. As we monitor flu activity in our schools, we have seen a few schools with 10 – 14% rate of absenteeism due to flu illness. We have not reached the 30% absentee rate that has been seen in other districts across the state. Every week different schools are affected across the district. We have had suspected flu cases in most all of our buildings on a daily basis. Flu cases are monitored on a daily basis, and increased activity is reported to the Washtenaw County Department of Public Health. But while the news is good please know that flu activity in the schools is already higher than what is seen during the peak of many regular flu seasons. Almost all of the flu viruses identified this season so far are 2009 H1N1.

In the past, flu pandemics have been characterized by multiple waves. Scientists and doctors recommend H1N1 vaccination even if flu activity slows, as it could resume later in the season. It is very difficult to predict the severity of this flu pandemic. Timing is also uncertain. We know in past years seasonal flu does not peak in Michigan until January or February, but flu activity has occurred as late as May. So it is not known when flu activity will increase, when it will be most intense, what virus will circulate, or how long the season might last. This year we will have 2 different types of flu to deal with!

We encourage everyone to continue to take these everyday steps to protect your health:


1. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
2. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be used.
3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way
4. Try to avoid close contact with sick people
5. If you become sick with a flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone.
6. The CDC also recommends getting your seasonal flu shot, as well as the H1N1 shot.


Thank you for helping the Ann Arbor Public School community stay healthy!

King Of Hearts 5K This Weekend!!! - 10/25 @ 1:30 PM

The 6th Annual King of Hearts 5K Run/Walk is in 5 days... Sunday, October 25th at 1:30 at King!   Come participate in grade level dashes, run/walk with your family through King neighborhoods, enjoy good conversations with other King Families, and much, much more!

Pre-ordered race t-shirts & water bottles will be sent home with your child this week.  Remember that this is a family event -- all children must be accompanied by an adult throughout the entire event! 

If you haven't pre-registered, it's not too late.  You can register on Race Day for $10/family and the fee helps cover the various costs to host the race. 

 
Don't forget to wear your King of Hearts shirt on Sunday.  Looking forward to you joining us - all the cool people are going to be there so why not you?

  
And don't forget that we are still looking for foodstuffs to be donated (bagels, water, etc) by grade level!

  
Contact Kevin Behmer at kevinbehmer@sbcglobal.net for any further information or questions. 

Turkey Trot Time - Volunteers Needed

The Turkey Trot is a fun, healthy activity and everyone is invited to  walk, skip, hop, trot or run on the King playground track. This is a non-competitive event and parents are welcome to walk/run with their children. A schedule of when individual classes will 'trot' will be announced closer to the event. In lieu of a turkey, children will enter their name in a drawing to win prizes. 

 

2-3 parent volunteers are needed each hour in the gym to serve cider and donuts as the children come in from their 'trot'. Please call or e-mail Laurie Galia to volunteer, 996-9946 or lquain@umich.edu .

Fruit and Vegetable Snacks Only Please - Food Allergies

During the first four weeks of school we will be evaluating food allergy response plans for students with medically sensitive needs. During this time, please send ONLY fruit and vegetable snacks to school. This is necessary to be responsive to the increasing number of medically sensitive situations with which we are faced.

AAPS Wellness Policy: I also want to note the AAPS has a Wellness Policy that covers both nutrition education and nutrition standards. In particular, the policy states that foods of minimal nutritional value will not be served during the instructional day, including the meal service period.

What does this mean for you? I encourage families to consider healthy choices, such as non-food items, as part of birthday and classroom celebrations. Of course, there is no way to mandate this kind of thing, but I am very aware how important the promotion healthy choices to students has been to the MLK community. Some healthy food suggestions include:

• Fresh fruit and vegetables
• Yogurt
• Bagels with low-fat cream cheese
• Baby carrot and other vegetables with low-fat dip
• Fig cookies
• Animal crackers
• Baked Chips
• Low-fat popcorn
• Granola bars (but may contain allergens)
• Soft pretzels and mustard
• Pizza (no extra cheese)
• Pudding
• String cheese
• Cereal bar
• Single-serve low-fat flavored milk
• 100% fruit juice
• Flavored bottled water

My recent healthy discovery: While shopping recently (at Costco), I picked up a product called "Trio Bars." They taste good, come in a variety of flavors and contain no trans fat, no additives, no preservatives, no cholesterol, are Kosher, and have no gluten, dairy or wheat. If they sound interesting to you, you might enjoy them as a healthy choice.

Swine Flu Update: Letter from Dr. Roberts

This letter from Dr. Roberts will come home via backpack mail today as well . . .

May 1, 2009
Dear Ann Arbor Public School Parent and/or Guardian,

As the H1N1 Virus (known also as the Swine Flu) continues to be diagnosed throughout the United States there have been some concerns raised about students who may have recently traveled to Mexico.

We would like to emphasize that the Ann Arbor Public School district is working closely with the Washtenaw County Department of Public Health as well as advisories from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Department of Education. The district’s professional nurses are tracking and monitoring closely in the schools any students or staff with flu-like symptoms. As well, local medical professionals are following the protocols issued by the CDC and Public Health in reporting and examining people who come to them for their care.

The Washtenaw County Department of Public Health Department, the CDC or the Department of Education do not recommend that people who have traveled from Mexico be excluded from school unless they show symptoms of the flu. We are following the recommendation of the Washtenaw County Department of Public Health regarding the H1N1 virus.

We understand that enhanced media attention as well as the real medical concerns that have come with some of the confirmed cases in Mexico that there is a heightened alert about this flu. The Washtenaw County Department of Public Health has advised us that the most important steps to take are related to prevention.

• Stay home from work or school if you have a respiratory illness
• Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or otherwise appear ill.
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze by using a tissue or your sleeve/elbow. Dispose of the tissue promptly and carefully.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water. Alcohol based hand gels are also effective when used according to manufacturers’ instructions.
• Contact your physician if you are experiencing severe symptoms including cough, fever, fatigue, sore throat, chills, headaches, body aches possibly along with diarrhea and vomiting.

We will continue to update district families on any new information or updates we receive from the Washtenaw County Department of Public Health.

If you have concerns please contact your school principal or me.
Sincerely,

Todd Roberts
Superintendent

Swine Flu Update

This update regarding the swine flu went home today with all students.

What is swine influenza?
It is a respiratory illness that occurs in pigs and is caused by Type A influenza swine virus. Swine flu virus does not normally affect humans but in rare cases it can be passed from pigs to humans. The current strain is a new swine influenza virus that is passing from human to human.

What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to regular seasonal human influenza and usually appear within 1 to 7 days after being infected and may include:
• Fever (usually greater than100 F)
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Headache and muscle aches
• Extreme fatigue
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Most cases seen in the United States to date are mild but symptoms can be severe enough to require hospitalization. Flu-related complications can occur at any age; however, the elderly, people with chronic health problems, pregnant women and young children are much more likely to develop serious
complications after influenza infection.

How is it spread?
Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs. Human-to-human transmission of swine flu can also occur. This is thought to happen in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people, which is mainly person-
to-person transmission through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People with flu viruses on it and then touching their eyes, mouth or nose. You can not become infected by eating pork or pork products.

What is the treatment?
• Get plenty of rest.
• Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration (i.e., water, juice, and tea).
• Take non-aspirin medication for fever and body aches. Aspirin should not be used in children with viral illnesses since there have been casesassociated with the development of Reye’s Syndrome.
• Swine flu is susceptible to antivirals. Consult with your healthcare provider to determine if treatment with antiviral drugs is needed.

How is it prevented?
Prevention measures include:
• Stay home from work or school if you have a respiratory illness.
• Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or otherwise appear ill.
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze by using a tissue or your sleeve/elbow.
Dispose of the tissue promptly and carefully.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water. Alcohol based hand gels are also effective.
• Contact your physician or health care provider if you are experiencing severe symptoms including cough, fever, fatigue, sore throat, chills, headaches, body aches possibly along with diarrhea and vomiting.
• According to the CDC, the seasonal flu vaccine is unlikely to provide protection against the swine flu.


This fact sheet is for information only and is not meant to be used for self -diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation with a health care provider. For more information call your health care provider or call Washtenaw County Public Health at 734-544-6700.

Lice Check Videos

These might be helpful . . .

From Ann Arbor PTOC:

These two video links are helpful and good reminders for Lice Checks and Treatments:
http://headliceinfo.com/freemovies/flash/hltdlmovie.html
and
http://www.headliceinfo.com/freemovies/flash/nitcheck_demo.html

Jump Rope For Heart - 2/13

Mrs. Arbour, our wonderful physical education teacher, has again organized students to participate in Jump Rope For Heart.

In case you didn't know (from the Jump Rope For Heart website):
Jump Rope For Heart is a national educational fund-raising program that is sponsored by the American Heart Association and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD).

While participating at King, this program engages our students in a physical activity (jumping rope) with an option for raising funds to support lifesaving heart and stroke research. Students can ask friends and family for donations if parents feel it is OK. Either way, all students participate in physical fitness and better understand the value of community service.

This year's event will take place on February 13! I can't wait to see everyone jumping!

5K Thank Yous

We wanted to personally thank the following people for their help with the King of Hearts Family 5K last week: Padma Anupindi, Brenda Pontillo, Howard Hughes, Laura Boudette, Karen Schumacher, Qinhe Zhang, Michelle Barton, Hajeong Kim, Anna Lu, Kevin Behmer, Mike Restivo, DJamal Bouzit, Rachel Sabb (& family), Cynthia Gur-Arie, Tamara Seyhun, Nicole Wright, Emily, Steve Carrubba , Carolyn Herrmann, Lisa Kohn, Alena Stocking, Alfhildur Kristjansdottir, George Schumacher, Diane Fingar, Kevin Karr & the numerous others that we have forgotten to mention. Without your help, the King of Hearts Family 5K would not have been the success that it was.

THANK YOU!!!

-Susan Gechter & Christina Nedeltchev King of Hearts 5K Chairs

Healthy School News

Farm Fresh Fridays (FFF) are coming to an end! Our last FFF will be October 31, and what better way to end our harvest season than with acorn squash! The squash will be seasoned and roasted for our students to sample. This year we were fortunate to offer watermelon, peaches,cucumbers, baked potatoes, green beans, coleslaw, turnips, carrots, corn on the cob and grape tomatoes! All of these items were grown locally and some right in Ann Arbor. Each week the local farm is highlighted with a flyer containing nutritional information.

For a chuckle at home with your kids or to share with your school, visit: http://smallstep.gov/kids/flash/watch_tv_ads.html

Watch the 'bullseye' and 'grandpa' quick clip and I guarantee you will giggle - I did! Just how many healthy ads do you see on TV? Most ads are for fast food or junk food - not ads promoting fruit and vegetable consumption. Too bad! Don't forget to send fruits and vegetables for your child's daily snack - a good way to guarantee 5 a day OR 4 cups of fruits and vegetables!

Finally with the Halloween holiday approaching and bags of candy entering our homes and schools, suggest this tasty, healthy and nutritious option for your next school party - ORANGE SMOOTHIES! All you need are:

-Frozen peaches and or mangos (try Trader Joes)
-Low fat vanilla yogurt
-Orange juice or vanilla soy milk
-blender

Blend until desired consistency is achieved and enjoy! Serve with pumpkin muffins, here is a 'healthier" low fat version that I found
online.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Addictive-Pumpkin-Muffins/Detail.aspx

Try to make your party orange and black with as many healthy items as possible - opt for one sweet treat and lots of carrots, orange slices, black olives, pumpkin anything, mangos or peaches. Float cut up fruit in a ghoulish punch - green grape eyeballs and slimy kiwi are a big hit!

In good health,
Susan Aaronson
susaaaro@umich.edu

Thirsty? Order a King School Water Bottle!

Reusable, recylable (#2), BPA free water bottles for sale! King School water bottles will soon be available. Order your water bottles today on the King of Hearts 5K registration form! You may order water bottles without registering for the 5K. Check out the logo on the water bottles on posters at King School. Delivery of water bottles will take place on or before October 17.

Please contact Susan Gechter at susbg@comcast.net with any questions.

Drop Off Status: Very Good

Drop-off today was very good. To have a GREAT drop-off, please
remember:
1. Pull forward as far as possible in the load/unload zone. This
lets more cars enter the drop-off and reduces congestion.
2. Try to arrive so your child will be in school by 8:48. We're
getting better in this area. Eleven cars arrived after the 8:48 bell
today. Two days ago it was 22 cars. Nice job!

An observation: There are LOTS of families choosing to walk to
school. I LOVE IT! It sends a great message to our kids when we
encourage healthy choices like walking to school.

Fruit and Vegetable Snacks Only Please - Food Allergies

During the first four weeks of school we will be evaluating food allergy response plans for students with medically sensitive needs. During this time, please send ONLY fruit and vegetable snacks to school. This is necessary to be responsive to the increasing number of medically sensitive situations with which we are faced.

AAPS Wellness Policy: I also want to note the AAPS has a Wellness Policy that covers both nutrition education and nutrition standards. In particular, the policy states that foods of minimal nutritional value will not be served during the instructional day, including the meal service period.

What does this mean for you? I encourage families to consider healthy choices, such as non-food items, as part of birthday and classroom celebrations. Of course, there is no way to mandate this kind of thing, but I am very aware how important the promotion healthy choices to students has been to the MLK community. Some healthy food suggestions include:

• Fresh fruit and vegetables
• Yogurt
• Bagels with low-fat cream cheese
• Baby carrot and other vegetables with low-fat dip
• Fig cookies
• Animal crackers
• Baked Chips
• Low-fat popcorn
• Granola bars (but may contain allergens)
• Soft pretzels and mustard
• Pizza (no extra cheese)
• Pudding
• String cheese
• Cereal bar
• Single-serve low-fat flavored milk
• 100% fruit juice
• Flavored bottled water

My recent healthy discovery: While shopping recently (at Costco), I picked up a product called "Trio Bars." They taste good, come in a variety of flavors and contain no trans fat, no additives, no preservatives, no cholesterol, are Kosher, and have no gluten, dairy or wheat. If they sound interesting to you, you might enjoy them as a healthy choice.

Food Allergy Forum - 5/8 @ 7 PM, Forstythe

FACT (Food Allergy Children’s Team) and AAPS present a forum for the Ann Arbor community to discuss and learn about food allergies.

May 8, 2008
7-8:30pm

Forsythe Middle School Media Center
1655 Newport Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
(734)994-1985

6:30-7:00p
Enjoy refreshments, educational displays and on-the-spot training on how to use an EpiPen or Twinject.

7:00-8:30p
Dr. Marc McMorris Scientific causes, and increase in prevalence

Dr. Harvey Leo Allergists and parents working with schools to develop safer environments and social independence for students

Parents Explore a day in the life of a family coping with food allergies

School nurses Adapting to the changing workplace and learning place, developing safer environments

Panel for Q&A Parents, doctors and nurses answer your questions

8:30-8:45p
Stay for conversation, questions, displays and EpiPen training!
Community Educational Forum: Food Allergies
Understanding the world of food allergies.
It affects us all!

Contact for questions:
Regan Dahle, Coordinator of FACT (Food Allergy Children’s Team), 313-570-6204
Marcia White, School Nurse, AAPS, pager: 817-3691

Parents Helping Girls Figure Out Friendships

The Strong Moms, Strong Girls program is dedicated to promoting healthy female relationships by educating girls, women and the community about relational aggression (RA).

To learn more about RA please attend . . .

Parents Helping Girls Figure Out Friendships

Hosted by the:
Dicken Elementary School PTO
2135 Runnymede Blvd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Wednesday, April 23, 2008 @ 7 PM

You can also check out their website at:

http://strongmomsstronggirls.org/

Green Team Challenge #3

Challenge #3

We're on a roll now... Hopefully you have tried to do challenges 1 and 2 by now. If not, it's not too late. Eliminating catalogs from filling up your mailbox and recycle bin can be remedied by going to www.catalogchoice.org. Also, we suggested that you try changing a light bulb or two to fluorescent ones to save on electricity.

Now for challenge # 3... Turn off the water when you're not using it. This means, don't just let it run while you're brushing your teeth, for example. Also check for leaky faucets that drip all day and night long. A fast dripping faucet can leak 20 - 30 gallons per day. A slow leaking faucet wastes 5 -10 gallons per day. In the worst case, this means almost 11,000 gallons a year! There's people in the world crying out because they need water! So why let it go wastefully down the drain? Be more GREEN, and except the challenge to be a water waste watcher!



Contest Rules for Green Team essay writing

1. Write an essay / poem about how to care for the environment. (see example poem below).

2. Make sure to put your name, grade, and class on your essay / poem.

3. Put your essay / poem in the envelope outside Mrs. Knorr's room.

4. Turn in your essay / poem by April 17.

5. Poems must be at least 1 paragraph, and essays must be 3 paragraphs or whatever fits on 1 page.

6. Kindergarten and first graders are allowed to do pictures with a sentence under them.


Example poem: The things I've heard, the things I've seen, to imagine them all turning green. I say that if we continue being fair, the earth will be saved for people whom we care. Baily Williams, Mrs. Higgenboggin's class


Winning poems will be displayed on Earth Day!

AAPS School Cafeteria Survey

The Ann Arbor Public Schools is interested in hearing from you about changes you’d like to see in the cafeteria menu items served in our school breakfasts and lunches. Input from this survey will be used when menu changes are considered. Thanks for your input!

Click here to start the survey!

Jump Rope For Heart Success!

This year, through the efforts of Mrs. Arbour and MLK families and students, King School raised over $8000 for Jump Rope For Heart. You'll remember that last school year, King School was recognized as the most improved school in Michigan after improving 525% from 2005-06 to 2006-07. Nice job, everyone!

In case you didn't know (from the Jump Rope For Heart website):
Jump Rope For Heart is a national educational fund-raising program that is sponsored by the American Heart Association and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD).

While participating at King, this program engages our students in a physical activity (jumping rope) with an option for raising funds to support lifesaving heart and stroke research. Students can ask friends and family for donations if parents feel it is OK. Either way, all students participate in physical fitness and better understand the value of community service.

Meat Recall FYI

Dear AAPS Parents and Guardians,

This past weekend the USDA issued a recall on meat products that were distributed as a commodity item through the United States Department of Education’s school lunch program.

The Ann Arbor Public Schools does have some of this meat product (beef patties and taco meat) in our possession but it has never been served to any student in this district.

On January 30th the USDA informed food service providers across the nation, including Chartwells the AAPS food service provider, to place a hold on this meat. Immediately Chartwells employees marked the meat “DO NOT USE” and stored it in freezers until further notification. With the recall issue this weekend the meat will now be gathered and placed in a separate freezer away from all schools until the supplier picks it up for disposal. Since this meat was a commodity product many districts across the nation have some supply of the product.

The safety of our students is our number one priority. Chartwells is in full compliance with government safety and sanitation codes and regulations as well as local health codes. In addition Chartwells practices a sophisticated food safety, sanitation and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point program that assures quality service. Chartwells will continue to monitor the situation for any further instructions from the USDA.

For further information you may refer to the release from the Secretary of the USDA concerning this recall: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Recall_005-2008_Release.pdf.

Sincerely,

J. Todd Roberts, Ed.D
Superintendent