Here are some photos from our Giving Tree launch at OWOS and our NPFH coalition's booth they had our OWOS:
Giving Tree is an opportunity to purchase Christmas gifts for families at OHE who are in need. If you would like to sign up to purchase a gift for someone, click on this link and sign-up:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1G1LmrK4CRLcYkog_tJS1KkzDKxBMdTySgHV7T2IpMJE/edit?pli=1#gid=2
Please bring any gifts you purchase to the front office, unwrapped, by Monday, November 30. Please also be sure to tape a note with the ornament number you selected and your name on it, so we can sort them into the right families.
Personal Safety
Last week and this week I went to all PK- 5th grade classes to give the required Personal Safety lesson. This can be an uncomfortable topic for some, probably more so for the parents than the kids, but it is a very important lesson. We would all like to think that bad things can't happen to us, or to our kids, but we know that is unfortunately not always the reality, so it is important to be as educated as possible on some of these more difficult topics. The lessons are delivered in an extremely age-appropriate way and you should have seen the books they made come home and the letter to the parent. In PK- 3rd grade classes, we read, I Can Play It Safe, which was followed up with either the booklet called, "Very Important People"(PK-1) or "Good Touch, Bad Touch" (2nd-3rd). Knowing that kids know how to keep themselves safe makes me very happy. In 4th-5th grades (I will still be finishing up with 5th grade next week), we read Not In Room 204, followed up with a worksheet on stranger danger and information about personal safety.
Please go over the booklets with your children at home and review with them who they can go to if they are ever hurt or touched inappropriately by someone. Knowing it is okay to talk to you about these things makes it easier for them to come to you if something bad does happen. Here are a few statistics to help you to realize the importance of talking to your children about what to do if anyone ever touches them in their private areas:
- Experts estimate that about 1 in 10 children are sexually abused before their 18th birthday.
- Youth are 2.5 times more likely to be raped than adults.
- 35% of child victims are 11 years old or younger.
- 9% of all 10-17 year olds receive unwanted sexual requests while on the internet.
- 23% of all 10-17 year olds experience unwanted exposure to pornography.
- 80% or more of child sexual abuse incidents happen in isolated one-on-one situations.
- 90% of children who are victims of sexual abuse know their abuser.
- 10% or less of children who are sexually abused are abused by a stranger.
- 60% of children who are sexually abused are abused by people the family trusts.
These statistics come from "Darkness to Light's Stewards of Children." You can find more information about them and sexual abuse at this website: http://www.d2l.org/site/c.4dICIJOkGcISE/b.6035035/k.8258/Prevent_Child_Sexual_Abuse.htm#.VItS2NLF9Qg
This information is not meant to scare you, but just to help you be more aware of the reality that this type of abuse does occur and many times it can be people you know and have earned your trust, but have no idea are doing this. If children learn at an early age what to do if this ever does happen, we can help to ensure their safety.
Sorry for the lengthy blog this week, but I had to play catch up, since I wasn't able to complete my blog the last couple of weeks! ;-)
I hope you have a wonderful weekend and a fabulous Thanksgiving next week!! :-)
