December

Newsletter

2013

Principal Notes from Dr. Lewton

Dickinson Public School Long Range Facility Plan

Please read the Superintendent’s “Facilities for the Future” document and plan to attend the first of three

community meetings regarding this topic that will occur on December 9 at 7:00pm at Prairie Rose Elementary.

Holiday Greetings

Holiday Greeting to you and your family. I hope this holiday season you find extra time to spend with family

and those you love. The holiday time is a premier opportunity to spend time with your adolescent child.

Research shows that children who have a strong relationship with their parents or guardians have a more

successful education.

Second quarter midterms will be sent home with your child on December 2nd

. The end of the second quarter will

be January 10th

. Please take time to review your child’s academic and behavioral progress by logging onto

Powerschool. I also encourage you to contact teachers or myself if you have questions.

I would like to invite everyone to attend our band and choir concerts this month. The 7th

grade band and choir

concert will be on December 10th

at 7:00 p.m. The 8th

grade band and choir concert will be on December 9th

at

7:00 p.m. Both concerts are held in the Hagen gymnasium and are a showcase of musical talent.

School will dismiss on December 20th

at 3:20 for the Holiday break, classes will resume on January 2nd

. Once

again we wish you a Happy Holidays.

A MESSAGE FROM THE STAFF OF HAGEN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

It is important for students to have practice and skill reinforcement to retain the concepts taught at Hagen Junior

High School. It is this reason that we assign homework for students. We believe that students need to take the

responsibility of completing this homework by the assigned deadlines.

We also understand the busy lives all of us lead. For this reason we have worked to compress homework so

only the most important standards and skills are sent home as practice. Additionally, students have opportunities

before the school day starts to receive help on homework if needed. This can occur during home base time from

8:15-8:40. If at any time you have questions or comments you can call the school (456-0020) or find our emails

in Powerschool, which is our student management system. If you have lost your Powerschool username and

password, please contact the secretary.

Data has shown that we are seeing an increase in incomplete or late homework. We believe it is important for

the development of our students to be held accountable for homework completion. During the second semester

(2014), we will be holding students in school during our early out days on February 5 and April 2. Students

with late or missing work will be held at school from 1:30 until 3:20 on these days to have supervised time to

complete this work.

Counselor’s Corner Sarah Benson

Has your student been bitten by the homework lazy bug? Here are some helpful hints to keep your student on the right

track.

1. Log into PowerSchool regularly and check your student’s grades. You can also see what assignments are missing

or were late. If you forgot your password, call the office and we can get it for you! You can find the

PowerSchool link on our school website http://www.dickinson.k12.nd.us/hjh/ on the left hand side of the screen.

Using this tool, you can also find:

a. Attendance/Tardy Reports

b. Behavior reports

2. Does your student come home and tell you they have no homework but you aren’t so sure? You can see what

your student is doing in each class for the week on our website as well. Navigate to

http://www.dickinson.k12.nd.us/hjh/ and click on the “Staff” link on the left hand side of the page. Next, click on

“Weekly Lesson Plans” to see what homework was assigned that day and what is ahead in the weeks to come!

3. Most students have access to their core teachers in study hall. Be sure to remind your student to check out using

their planners for some one on one help!

4. Offer a reward at the end of the week for no late or missing assignments. It doesn’t have to be significant. Even

allowing your student to pick the meal or a special snack can do the trick!

5. Let your student know you care and you are there to help!

Midgets Apparel Dickinson Midgets apparel can be purchased at the activities office of Dickinson High School. Just stop by the office between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:00 pm Monday through Friday. Credit cards are not accepted.

Do you find yourself reminiscing about your years in junior high and then you break out the old yearbooks for a good

laugh? Treat your child to the same wonderful experience by purchasing an all-color yearbook for only $27! You may send

cash or check to school or for your convenience we have set up a link on the Hagen website so you can order by credit card

online. If you are not sure if you purchased a yearbook during registration please email Scott Miller at smiller@dpsnd.org.

Check this out! We are organizing at Hagen Jr. High an Hour of Code before school and after school during the Computer Science Education Week: December 9-15, 2013. Students will have access to self-guided online tutorials to try out the basics of computer science code. Parents can participate too, at home or at work. Any students, girls and boys, who are interested in seeing what computer programming is can come to Mrs. Bonicelli's classroom, Room 5, before school, 7:15 or stay after school until 4:15 any day during the week of Dec. 9-13, and try it out. Check out this website for more information: http://csedweek.org

Important Announcements:

! Early Dismissal, December 4, 1:30 PM

! Soup Kitchen, December 5

! 8th Grade Band, Choir and Honor Choir Concert, December 9, 7:00 PM

! 7th Grade Band, Choir and Jazz Band Concert, December 10, 7:00 PM

! Student Council Convention, December 15-17

! NO School, Christmas Holiday, December 23 – January 1

! School Resumes, January 2

Notes from the Superintendent Notes from the Superintendent Web site: www.dickinson.k12.nd.us

December 2013

FACILITIES FOR THE FUTURE From May of 2009 to October of 2013 the Dickinson Public School District has enrolled 724 new

students into its schools. According to the Department of Public Instruction website, in the 2012-2013

school year there were 178 school districts in the State of North Dakota. The 724 students that have

enrolled in the Dickinson Public Schools represent more students in all but seventeen of the school

districts in North Dakota according to the 2012-2013 fall enrollment numbers.

In April of 2012 the construction process began on Prairie Rose Elementary. Prairies Rose opened in the

fall of 2013 as a K-4 building with 13 classrooms occupied by students. The original projection was that

the building would open with two classrooms for each of these five grade levels and occupy 10

classrooms. This school year the Dickinson Public Schools has experienced approximately an 11.5%

increase in enrollment. Due to this number the school district hired two additional elementary teachers

three days before the start of the school year.

These are just a few examples of the enrollment increase the school district has experienced in the past

five years. This enrollment increase presents implications for the future facilities of the school district. It

is important for the school district to actively address this issue and properly position the school district

for the future. A crucial component in addressing this issue is for the community to be actively engaged

in providing input to the school board about the future of the Dickinson Public Schools.

To provide an avenue for community input the school board recently approved a recommendation to

contract for the services of a long-range facility planning consultant. The school district has contracted

with the DLR Group to assess the facilities of the school district and review potential future facility needs.

Part of the process it to engage the community in this discussion and seek input into the future of the

school district. This will help to identify community sentiment about how the school district should look

in the next fifteen to twenty years. The first of three community meetings regarding this topic will occur

on December 9 at 7:00pm in Prairie Rose Elementary. The address for Prairie Rose is 2785 10th Avenue

West. It is the hope of the school board that community members will attend this meeting and be actively

engaged in the discussion. This is one of the most important discussions to impact the school district in

recent years and significant community engagement is crucial to crafting an effective plan for the future.

Please place this meeting on your agenda and plan to attend and participate in this discussion.

If you have any questions about this topic or any other issue in the Dickinson Public Schools, please do not

hesitate to contact me at 456-0002 or through email at dsullivan@dpsnd.org.

Douglas W. Sullivan, Superintendent

Dickinson Public Schools

701-456-0002

dsullivan@dpsnd.org

Notes from the Superintendent Notes from the Superintendent Web site: www.dickinson.k12.nd.us Diciembre de 2013

INSTALACIONES PARA EL FUTURO A partir de mayo de 2009 a octubre de 2013 el districto de la escuela pública de Dickinson ha alistado a

724 nuevos estudiantes en sus escuelas. Según el departamento del Web site público de la instrucción, en

el año escolar 2012-2013 había 178 districtos de la escuela en el estado de Dakota del Norte. Los 724

estudiantes que han alistado en las escuelas públicas de Dickinson representan a más estudiantes en todos

sino diecisiete de los districtos de la escuela en Dakota del Norte según los 2012-2013 números de la

inscripción de la caída. En abril de 2012 el proceso de la construcción comenzó por la pradera Rose elemental. Las praderas

Rose se abrieron en la caída de 2013 como edificio K-4 con 13 salas de clase ocupadas por los

estudiantes. La proyección original era que el edificio se abriría con dos salas de clase para cada uno de

estos niveles de cinco grados y ocuparía 10 salas de clase. Este año escolar las escuelas públicas de

Dickinson han experimentado aproximadamente un aumento 11.5% en la inscripción. Debido a este

número el districto de la escuela empleó a dos profesores elementales adicionales tres días antes del

comienzo del año escolar. Éstos son justos algunos ejemplos del aumento de la inscripción que el districto de la escuela ha

experimentado en los últimos cinco años. Este aumento de la inscripción presenta las implicaciones para

las instalaciones futuras del districto de la escuela. Es importante que el districto de la escuela tratar

activamente esta edición y coloque correctamente el districto de la escuela para el futuro. Un componente

crucial en la dirección de esta edición está para que la comunidad sea enganchada activamente a

proporcionar la entrada al tablero de la escuela sobre el futuro de las escuelas públicas de Dickinson. Para proporcionar una avenida para la comunidad entre el tablero de la escuela aprobó recientemente una

recomendación al contrato para los servicios de un consultor de largo alcance del planeamiento de la

facilidad. El districto de la escuela ha contraído con el grupo de DLR para determinar las instalaciones

del districto de la escuela y la facilidad futura potencial de la revisión necesita. Parte del proceso lo para

contratar a la comunidad a esta discusión y para buscar la entrada en el futuro del districto de la escuela.

Esto ayudará a identificar el sentimiento de la comunidad sobre cómo el districto de la escuela debe mirar

en los quince a veinte años próximos. El primer de tres reuniones de la comunidad con respecto a este

asunto ocurrirá el 9 de diciembre en 7:00 P.M. en la pradera Rose elemental. La dirección para la pradera

Rose es 2785 10th Avenida del oeste. Es la esperanza del tablero de la escuela que los miembros de la

Comunidad assistirán a esta reunión y serán enganchados activamente a la discusión. Éste es una de las

discusiones más importantes para afectar el districto de la escuela estos últimos años y el contrato

significativo de la comunidad es crucial a hacer un plan a mano eficaz para el futuro. Ponga por favor

esta reunión en su agenda y plan para atender y para participar en esta discusión. Si usted tiene cualesquiera preguntas sobre este asunto o cualquier otra edición en las escuelas públicas de

Dickinson, no vacile por favor entrarme en contacto con en 456-0002 o a través del email en

dsullivan@dpsnd.org.

Douglas W. Sullivan, Superintendente Escuelas públicas de Dickinson 701-456-0002

dsullivan@dpsnd.org

Dickinson Public Schools

FOUNDATION NEWS Education is the Foundation for the Future

Issue 61 For information, call Karen Heidt at 590-0495. November/December 2013

Foundation Awards Scholarships The Dickinson Public Schools Foundation announced

the 2013 scholarship awards in May.

Michael Callahan Hockey

Scholarship – Jameson Gray was

awarded the Michael Callahan

Hockey Scholarship at the 2013

Dickinson Hockey Banquet. Jamison

is attending the University of May.

J ack Carlson

Memorial Scholarship – Maleah Leiss was

awarded the Jack Carlson

Memorial Scholarship at

the Spring Sports Awards.

The scholarship was

developed to continue Mr. Carlson’s legacy of

“making a difference in the lives of young kids.” This

is the tenth year of the $1,000 scholarship awarded by

the Carlson family to a Dickinson High School

graduating senior. Past recipients include: 2004-

Jeremy Burgard, 2005-Josh Krieg, 2006-Brittney

Uttech, 2007-Joan Selle, 2008-Skylar Beaudoin, 2009-

Challis Williams, 2010-Megan Michaelson, 2011-

Kara Froelich, 2012 – Dallas Zastoupil. Maleah is

attending Dickinson State University.

Cecil B. Risser Memorial

Scholarship – Austin Boepple

received the Cecil B. Risser

Memorial Scholarship. He is

attending Dickinson State

University and you can find him

working at the West River Community Center or the

DHS concessions.

The scholarship was developed in honor of former

DHS Principal Risser for his distinguished service and

contribution to the field of education. The scholarship

was established in 1972 by the family and a

scholarship was awarded through 1983.

Past recipients include: Lili Stewart, Nancy Sjursen,

Dan Thornton, LeeAnn Schneider, Kelly Hamers,

Eddie Kadrmas, Ann Kloster, John Wittmayer,

Michelle Fleming and in 2012-Amanda Stoltz.

In his memory, Patrick and Janice O’Neill, (both DHS

graduates) established the scholarship this year for a

deserving senior going into education. Congratulations

to the scholarship recipients!

The Dickinson Public Schools Foundation manages the

scholarship funds. If you are interested in establishing

a scholarship or donating to one of these scholarships,

contact Karen Heidt, Director of Development, at 590-

0495. Scholarship applications will be available from

DHS counselors in December.

DHS Class of 1963 Donates to

Foundation The Central High Class of 1963 (now known as

Dickinson High School) held their 50 year reunion in

July. The Foundation hosted a luncheon at Hagen

Junior High in their honor with a 50’s theme. The

class sold plastic color changing Midget glasses in

order to raise funds to donate to the Dickinson Public

Schools Foundation. Thank you for your support!

DPS Employees Donate to Foundation Sixty-seven Dickinson Public Schools employees have

pledged $4,866 through the Foundation’s payroll

deduction program. Their donations will help support

the Foundation’s grant program. Thank you for your

support! Their support shows their commitment to our

students and “enhancing education” for our students.

Contact Information - If you would like to make

a donation, establish a scholarship, give a

memorial gift or discuss planned giving

opportunities, contact Karen Heidt, Director of

Development at 590-0495.

Dickinson Public Schools

FOUNDATION NEWS Education is the Foundation for the Future

Issue 61 For information, call Karen Heidt at 590-0495. November/December 2013

Foundation Awards $29,887 in Grants The Foundation awarded $29,887 in grant awards that

“enhance and enrich” education last spring.

Receiving grant awards were:

Roosevelt Elementary - 21st Century Readers - 15

iPads to help enrich their curriculum and improve

student reading, writing, spelling and other content

areas.

Hagen Jr. High Language Arts Department -

Nooks are N.O.W. – 60 Nooks for the Language

Arts department.

Dickinson High School Science Department – 20

Surface tablets for the DHS Science Department.

Elementary & Hagen School Counselors – iPads

& applications to support children with needs in the

areas of sensory processing issues, social anxiety,

Autism and ADHS and emotional and social

development.

The Dickinson Public Schools Foundation has awarded

$249,508 since the Foundation was formed in 1989.

Gifts to the Foundation Cecil B. Risser Memorial Scholarship – Patrick &

Janice O’Neill $500

In Honor of Diane Sams Birthday – By Frank &

Louise Pearson

In Honor of Frank & Louise Pearson’s 67th

Anniversary – By Diane Sams

In Honor of Eileen Johnson, Carla Schafer, Craig

Johnson – Don & Bonnie Ficek

Donations to the Foundation

Laurine Engel Trust, DHS Class of 1963, John Wilz

Shawn & Laura Leiss, Jan Fields, Selle Dental, PC

(Brent & Shannon Selle), Leota Pearson, Walmart,

Jim & Rosie Perdaems, Nancy Johnson, Kris & Alan

Fehr, Ben Frank, B & K Electric, Frank & Louise

Pearson, Bosch Lumber, Dennis Meschke, Garrett &

Duffy Nodland, Kohler Communications (Dennis &

Kathy), J.M. Pavlish, Karen Heidt & Family, Ken &

Lee Steier, Steier Oilfield Service, Hulsing &

Associates, Mary Massad

2013 Mystery Dinner Theater Sponsors – Leslie

Ross, Health & Wellness Chiro, West Dakota

Veterinary Clinic, Dickinson Dental Center, Fisher

Sand & Gravel Co., Dominoes Pizza, High Plains

Dental, Eagles Club, ND Pharmacy, Inc., Kirkwood

Bank & Trust, Coca Cola Bottling Co. of Dickinson,

Steier Oilfield Service, Dickinson State University,

Kohler Communications, Guy & Sandy Moos

Memorials Gifts- In Memory of Charles & Margie Krahler – By Jim & Becky

Meduna, Dot Martinson

Agnes Doherty (Jim Glasser’s mother) – By

Vince & Pam Reep

Neil Ableidinger – By Debby Thompson

Lee Leiss – By Jim & Becky Meduna

Dennis Johnson – By Jim & Gloria Ciavarella,

Scott & Tammy Meschke, Jan Fields, Jerry & Lori

Krieg, Ray & MaryPat Bruels, Blair & Jan Bauer,

Debby Thompson, Gordon & Sandee Schnell,

Boyer Family, Don & Bonnie Ficek, Rosie

Perdaems, Larry & Gayle Selle, Albert & Donna

Wolf, Deb & Gary Conlon, Rosie & Jim

Perdaems, Sara Binstock, Jane Cornell

Leila Olsson – By Debby Thompson

Audrey Baird (Ellen Getz’s mother) – By Scott &

Tammy Meschke, Roosevelt Staff, Debby

Thompson, James Peters

Helen Van Hasset – By Hagen Staff

Ken DeLap – By Debby Thompson

Nathan Howard (DHS Class of 1969) – By Deb

& Gary Conlon

Athena Stewart – By Debby Thompson

Johanna Njos – By Debby Thompson

Magdalena Knopik (Colette Klewin’s mother) –

By Debby Thompson, Hagen Staff, Roosevelt

Staff, Deb & Gary Conlon, Sara Binstock

Eleanor Ott – By Hagen Staff

Dorothy Herberholz (Carla Fettig’s mother) –

Deb Thompson, Jim & Becky Meduna

Kevin Theurer (DHS Class of 2011) – By Deb &

Gary Conlon

Alice Huber – By Hagen Staff

Anton Helfrich (Sharon Hansen’s father) – By

Jim & Becky Meduna, John & Dot Martinson

Alice Stranik – By Debby Thompson

Keith Thompson – By Jim & Becky Meduna

Thank you for your gifts to the Foundation!

© 2013 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated

December 2013

Being able to write well will help your child in all her classes — and it can prepare her for college or a career when she’s older. Share these ideas for practicing writ-ing skills.

Connect with your reader Encourage your tween to think

about her audience, or who she’s writing for. If she’s creating a family newsletter to share with faraway relatives, she should con-sider what kind of information they would be interested in. For example, they might want to hear about her band competition or her baby brother’s latest milestones.

Offer opinionsReviewing products and services lets

your middle grader practice writing an “argument”— something she’ll need to do in her classes. When she tries a new face wash or bike repair shop, she could write what she liked and didn’t like about it, and why. Then, she can post it on a site such as amazon.com or yelp.com. Note: Remind her not to use her real name or other identifying information.

Quiz yourselfWhen your child reads a textbook, encourage him

to quiz himself periodically. This helps him keep track of how well he’s under-standing the material. After he finishes reading each section, he can ask himself questions based on the subheadings or boldfaced words. (“What are concurrent powers?”) If he doesn’t know the answer, he should reread that part.

Photo-in-a-jarYour tween can give presents to teach-ers, relatives, and friends without spending a lot of money. For each gift, have her put a photo into a clean, empty glass jar and add a special message and small decorations. For instance, she could write “You rock!” and include pebbles along with a pic-ture of herself with a favorite teacher.

An important infl uence You may be surprised to know that parents are the biggest influence on how children view underage drinking. Your tween cares what you think (even when he doesn’t show it), so it’s best to share your views early and often. In fact, experts suggest having a conversation with your child as early as age 11 — then bringing up the topic on a regular basis.

Worth quoting“Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius.” Pietro Aretino

Just for fun

Q: What has 50 feet and sings?

A: The school chorus!

Tips for strong writing

Seasonal family fun

Write with othersYour child may need to write collabora-

tively when she does a group project. For instance, classmates might write different sections of a report, give each other feed-back, and discuss changes. Suggest that she write a story with friends using a free site like google.com/docs. That way, they can read, comment on, and edit each other’s work in real time, which can be both fun and creative.

Your tween may be more excited about par-ticipating in family outings if he has a say in what you do. This winter, consider letting him take the lead with these suggestions:

■ Ask him to list things he would like to do together. Examples: Attend the community pancake breakfast, shop for holiday gifts, go sledding. Then, choose an item from his list each week.

■ Appoint your youngster to be your family tour guide. Let him pick places to take visiting relatives or look into out-of-town activities if you’re traveling. He might find a light display, a town parade, or an orchestra concert, for instance. Tip: He can check town or county websites or tourism bureaus for ideas.

ShortStops

Hagen Junior High School

© 2013 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated

To provide busy parents with practical ideas that promote school success, parent involvement,

and more effective parenting.Resources for Educators,

a division of CCH Incorporated128 N. Royal Avenue • Front Royal, VA 22630

540-636-4280 • rfecustomer@wolterskluwer.comwww.rfeonline.com

ISSN 1540-5540

O U R P U R P O S E

Middle Years December 2013 • Page 2

Words. What your tween says can have a big impact on others, so remind him to choose his words carefully. If a basketball teammate misses a free throw, he could compliment him on the shots he did make rather than making him feel bad about the one he missed. Try role-playing at home so your child can practice com-

ing up with kind responses in various situations.

Actions. Suggest that your middle schooler keep his eyes and ears open for people who need help. He might get a library book from a high shelf for a younger patron or offer to feed the neighbors’ cat when they’re out of town. Doing kind acts, whether large or small, will make him feel good about himself and encourage him to be kind in the future.

One thing at a timeIf your child surfs online or texts

while doing homework, it will take her longer to finish—and she probably won’t learn as much as she would otherwise. Help her stay focused with these tips.

Know the factsTweens may believe

multitasking doesn’t affect them because “everyone” does it. But research shows that our brains work more efficiently when we concentrate on one thing at a time. Suggest that your middle grader time herself doing five math prob-lems while multitasking and then time herself for the next five with electronics turned off. She is likely to see a difference.

Set aside timeWhen your youngster has to create

flyers for a club event or write a student council speech, encourage her to devote a period of time to doing only that. She can avoid the temptation to multitask by putting away her cell phone and closing social media apps or sites on her tablet or computer.

Kindness, inside and out

Encourage your middle grader to choose kind thoughts, words, and actions. He’ll feel good about himself and make life pleasant for those around him. Here’s how.

Thoughts. Ask your child to pay attention to unkind thoughts — and try to change his thinking. For instance, if he catches himself thinking, “My sister is so slow!” he might switch it to, “She likes to take her time.” This may help him feel kinder and more patient.

My daughter always says I’m embarrassing her. What can I do?

You’re not alone. Middle graders are concerned about what other people think of them, and they want their own identity and space as they become more independent. Because of all this, it’s common for them to claim their par-ents are embarrassing.

Try to notice what makes your child self-conscious and to avoid those things when possi-ble. Maybe she doesn’t

It’s freezing!My son Andrew complains every winter about

the cold. This year, I remembered that his science teacher mentioned taking advantage of the weather to do experiments at home. I checked the materials she had sent and suggested that Andrew try one on the freezing point of liquids.

So on a day when the temperature dipped below freezing, he put equal amounts of soda, water, milk, and orange juice in separate plastic or paper cups and set them outside. He predicted the order in which they would freeze and checked them every 5 minutes to record the results. Next, he experimented with how salt affects the freezing point by letting the cups thaw and then adding a teaspoon of salt to each one. He was pretty surprised to find out the difference salt made.

I’m not sure Andrew will ever love the cold weather, but at least the freezing tem-peratures have given him a chance to learn about science!

“That’s so embarrassing…” want you calling her by a childhood nick-name or using tween slang in public, for example. You might also limit physical affection in front of others. Perhaps you could wink and say, “Good luck,” instead

of hugging her before a game.

Even though your daughter’s attitude may be hurtful at times, remind your-self it’s not per-sonal — it’s just another stage in her growth.

Parent to

Parent

Q&A

© 2013 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated

™Healthy Ideas for Middle and High School Students December 2013

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Sure, good nutrition and regular exercise will keep your child fit. But did you know they also help build strong bones?

During the tween and teen years, bones finish developing, becoming strong and dense — and ready for a lifetime of use! Guide your youngster toward keeping her bones healthy with these ideas.

Get enough calciumKids ages 9–18 need about 1,300

milligrams of calcium each day. Good sources include fat-free milk and low-fat yogurt (both about 300 mg per cup) and cheese (about 300 mg for 1 1–2 oz. ched-dar). You can also add calcium to your child’s diet by buying calcium-fortified orange juice and bread. Tip: Vegetables contain calcium, too. Every little bit counts — raw cabbage has 34 mg per cup, and 1 cup broccoli contains 42 mg, for instance.

Mix in weight-bearing exercisesBones need exercise to stay strong,

just as muscles do. Your youngster

Pick a cardFor a fun workout, have

your child name an exercise to go with each suit in a deck of cards

(diamonds = sit-ups, hearts = jumping jacks). Then, take turns drawing a

card and doing the exercise the number of times shown. Example: Get a 6 of diamonds, do 6 sit-ups. See how fast you can get through the deck!

Apple chipsTry this clever way to add more fruit into your teen’s diet. Help him cut two apples into thin slices using a knife or a food processor fitted with a slicer. Lay the slices in a single layer on a baking sheet, and sprinkle with a mixture of 1 tsp. sugar and 1 tsp. cin-namon. Bake at 200° for 2 1–2 –3 hours until crisped.

A recent study found that kids who are in

shape get higher grades. They also have better memory, concentration, and other skills that help them suc-ceed in school. Tip: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that tweens and teens get at least 60 minutes of exercise each day.

Just for fun

Q: What do snowmen eat for breakfast?

A: Snowflakes.

Smart about soup A soothing bowl of soup is just the thing to

warm your tween up in winter. Use these strate-gies to make sure his bowl is good for him, too:

● Look for broth-based soups instead of creamy ones. Cream-based soups usually have more fat and calories. For example, vegetable minestrone soup is lower in fat than cream of mushroom.

● Choose canned soups with less sodium. Be sure to read the labels to compare, as brands and varieties can vary greatly. If you’re making your own soup, cut the salt in half. As your child gets used to less salt, he won’t notice the difference.

● Add in vegetables. Your teen could stir cooked carrots and celery into canned chicken noodle soup or mix cooked zucchini slices and corn into homemade tomato soup, for instance.

Did You Know?

Better bonesFASTTAKES

builds up her bones every time she uses her whole body to exercise. That means activities like walking, jogging, dancing, jumping rope, and playing tennis are all great for bone health.

Cut out sodaWhen your tween has soda, it’s often

in place of calcium-rich milk. If she drinks soda frequently, it may be easier for her to cut back gradually. Say she normally has two sodas a day — she could exchange milk for one soda at first and eventually substitute water for the second one.

Note: Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol both weaken bones, giving your teenager another good reason to stay away from both substances.

Hagen Junior High School

© 2013 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated

O U R P U R P O S ETo provide busy parents with practical ways to promote healthy nutrition and physical activity for their children.

Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated

128 N. Royal Avenue • Front Royal, VA 22630540-636-4280 • rfecustomer@wolterskluwer.com

www.rfeonline.comTeen Food & Fitness™ is reviewed by a registered dietitian. Consult a physician before beginning any major change in diet or exercise.

ISSN 1935-8865

December 2013 • Page 2Teen Food & Fitness™

Try these yummy recipes for healthier holiday desserts.

Gingerbread1. Beat together 1 cup molasses, 8 oz. nonfat sour cream, 2 tbsp. melted but-ter, 1–4 cup brown sugar, 1 egg, 1 tbsp. ground ginger, 1 tsp. baking soda, and 1–2 tsp. salt. Add in 1 cup each whole-wheat flour and all-purpose flour. 2. Pour batter into a greased 8-inch square pan, and bake at 325° for 55 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Lighten up holiday desserts

a certain number of min-utes each day or biking a new mountain trail.Review progress. Suggest that he look over his jour-nal weekly to pinpoint what’s going well or what he could change. If he

notices that he runs farther in the morning than in the

evening, for example, he might adjust his workout routine to fit in more morning runs. Applaud success. Congratulate your child when he meets his goal or reaches a milestone (lifts heavier weights, runs a 5K race). Let him know you’re proud of him, and encourage him to keep up the good work!

Start a fi tness journal

Here’s an idea for motivating your teen to exercise: Have him keep a fitness journal. These steps can help him get started.Find a system. Discuss the best way to record his physical activity. He may prefer writing in a small notebook, texting notes to himself, typing in a computer file, or using an app.Track efforts. Each time your youngster works out, he should record what he did along with the number of repetitions or the length of time (examples: 15 bicep curls, soccer drills for 30 minutes). Tip: Recommend that he set goals, such as exercising

Boys and body imageQ: My son, Trevor, keeps saying he wants to look like the bulked-up

actors he admires. How can I help him see that these images aren’t realistic?

A: Begin by pointing out that these stars have a whole team of profes-sionals to help them appear a cer-tain way. And the pictures he sees in magazines are probably airbrushed — that’s not how they look in real life.

Then, focus on how your son can eat nutritiously, avoid junk food, and exer-cise regularly to stay in shape. Another idea is to suggest that he choose a differ-ent role model, such as a favorite coach or uncle. He might ask that person what he does to keep healthy, and perhaps sometimes they could even work out or play basketball together.

Cold-weather hikes can be just as thrilling as warm-weather hikes. Consider these suggestions.

Choose a routeA beautiful iced-over waterfall or a gor-

geous valley view gives your tween or teen something to look forward to and enjoy along the way. Ask her to search online for a hike with an interesting destination.

Dress in layersTo stay comfortable, suggest that your child wear layers and take along a hat and

gloves. When she gets warmer, she can remove a heavy jacket but still have a lighter one underneath. Hint: Have her carry a backpack with room for the layers she sheds.

Go for a challengeAs your youngster gets more comfortable on trails, encourage her to choose ones

that are longer or have more hills. Or she could do intervals by walking faster for 10 minutes and then more slowly for 5 minutes.

Q&A

Enjoying winter hikes

In theK tchen

ACTIVITYCORNER

Chocolate pudding1. In a saucepan over medium heat, whisk together 1–4 cup sugar, 1–4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 tbsp. corn-starch, and 2 cups skim milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly until thickened. 2. Remove from heat, mix in 2 tsp. vanilla, and divide into four bowls.

3. Refrigerate until firm. Garnish with orange slices or berries.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 7 Girls BB@

Horizon

8 Girls BB vs.

Horizon

4

Early

Release

at 1:30

5 6 7th & 8th

Girls BB vs.

Mandan

Gymnastics –

Home

7 Girls Dance

@ Mandan

8 9 8th Grade

Music

Concert

7 Girls BB @

Wacther

10 7th Grade

Music

Concert

11 12 13 Girls BB

Tourney TBD

Gymnastics—

Home

14 Girls BB

Tourney TBD

Wrestling @

Bismarck

15 Student

Council @

Bismarck

16 Student

Council @

Bismarck

17 Student

Council @

Bismarck

18 19 20

Last Day

of School Gymnastics

@ Valley City

21 Girls Dance

@ Bismarck

Wrestling @

Minot

22 23 24 25 Christmas

26 27 28

29 30 31 Jan 1 Jan 2

Return

to

School

Hagen Jr. High School Activity Calendar

December 2013

DECEMBER 2013 MENUMonday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

2 3 4 5 6BKFST: Cereal, Toast BKFST: Breakfast Pizza BKFST: Cereal, Toast BKFST: Caramel Roll BKFST: Cereal, ToastChicken Noodle Soup Chicken Patty Sausauge Hamburger or Cheeseburger Taco Salad on Chips, SalsaChicken Strips Bun Pancake Oranges Romaine Lettuce, CheeseCold Peas Pears Bananas French Fries TomatoesBananas Special Beans Yogurt Broccoli Black BeansMilk Baby Carrots Tri-Tators Tomato Slices Apples

Milk Milk Milk Milk

9 10 11 12 13BKFST: Cereal, Toast BKFST: Yogurt BKFST: Cereal, Toast BKFST: Fresh Fruit BKFST: Cereal, ToastChicken Nuggets Tomato Soup Chicken Quesadillas Pizza Casserole Sloppy JoesMashed Potatoes and Gravy Grilled Cheese Romaine Lettuce Dinner Roll OrangesPeaches WGR Bread Cheese, Tomatoes Mandarin Oranges Grape TomatoesBroccoli Mixed Fruit Black Beans, Baby Carrots Corn, Cauliflower CauliflowerSpecial Beans Celery Sticks, Baby Carrots Apples Milk MilkMilk Milk Milk Ice Cream Cup

16 17 18 19 20BKFST: Cereal, Toast BKFST: Uncrustable BKFST: Cereal, Toast BKFST: Muffin BKFST: Cereal, ToastSpaghetti with Meat Sauce Hot Hamburger with Gravy Cheese Pizza Turkey Sandwich CorndogsBreadstick Mashed Potatoes Breadstick, Marinara Sauce Romaine Lettuce, Baby Carrots PeachesPeaches Dinner Roll Bananas Mixed Fruit Green BeansCorn Corn, Grape Tomatoes Broccoli, Cauliflower Milk YogurtMilk Oranges Milk Cookie Milk

Milk

23 24 25 26 27

NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL

30 31 1-Jan 2-Jan 3-JanBKFST: Breakfast Pizza BKFST: Cereal, ToastCheese Pizza Chicken Nuggets

NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL Breadstick, Marinara Sauce Waffle FriesMandarin Oranges PearsCold Peas CornMilk Milk