News Bulletin

January 2014 Bridgeport Child Development Center A program of One Hope United 3053 S. Normal Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616 312.842.5566

Monthly

Healthy Lifestyles Curriculum

OVERALL HEALTh EXERCISE NUTRITIon EnVIRonMEnTAL SUSTAInABILITY

Sniffle or Sneeze? No Antibiotics Please!

CDC advises parents about colds, flu and antibiotics Source: www.cdc.gov

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has news for parents this cold and flu season: antibiotics dont work for a cold or the flu. Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses. And colds, flu and most sore throats are caused by viruses. Antibiotics dont touch virusesnever have, never will And its not really news. Its a long-documented medical fact. But tell that to parents seeking relief for a childs runny nose. Research shows that most Americans have either missed the message about appropriate antibiotic use or they simply dont believe it. Its a case of mistaken popular belief winning out over fact. According to public opinion research, there is a perception that antibiotics cure everything. Americans believe in the power of antibiotics so much that many patients go to the doctor expecting to get a prescription. And they do. Why? Physicians often are too pressured for time to engage in lengthy explanations of why antibiotics wont work. And, when the diagnosis is uncertainas many symptoms for viral and bacterial infections are similardoctors are more likely to yield to patient demands for antibiotics. Risk of antibiotic-resistance The problem is, taking antibiotics when they are not needed can do more harm than good. Wide spread inappropriate use of antibiotics is fueling an increase in drug-resistant bacteria. And sick individuals arent the only people who can suffer the consequences. Families and entire communities feel the impact when disease-causing germs become resistant to antibiotics.

The most obvious consequence of inappropriate antibiotic use is its effect on the sick patient. When antibiotics are incorrectly used to treat children or adults with viral infections, such as colds and flu, they arent getting the best care for their condition. A course of antibiotics wont fight the virus, make the patient feel better, yield a quicker recovery or keep others from getting sick. A less obvious consequence of antibiotic overuse is the boost it gives to drug-resistant disease-causing bacteria. Almost every type of bacteria has become stronger and less responsive to antibiotic treatment when it really is needed. These antibiotic-resistant bacteria can quickly spread to family members, school mates and co-workers threatening the community with a new strain of infectious disease that is more difficult to cure and more expensive to treat. According to the CDC, antibiotic resistance is one of the worlds most pressing public health problems. Americans of all ages can lower this risk by talking to their doctors and using antibiotics appropriately during this cold and flu season.

Four Components of the

Children and adults with viral infections recover when the illness has run its course. Colds caused by viruses may last for two weeks or longer. Measures that can help a person with a cold or flu feel better: Increase fluid intake Use a cool mist vaporizer or saline nasal spray to relieve congestion Soothe throat with ice chips, sore throat spray or lozenges (for older children and adults) Viral infections may sometimes lead to bacterial infections. Patients should keep their doctor informed if their illness gets worse or lasts a long time.

Healthy Tips

Your TRUSTED PARTNER IN EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION

Classroom Stories
Children learned the count and compare the number of their family members. They drew their family trees and learned to write their family names. We also learned the importance of making smart choices when eating snacks. At the end of the study, we made fruit salad while singing the Fruit Salad song, by The Wiggles.

Room 5 has been learning about different families in the community and learned how unique each family is.

The stu dents in Room 4 continue to discover new things about trees such as, do animals really stay inside trees during cold

weather? Also, the children are excited about getting a tree just like the story Pablos tree and have been giving the teachers ideas of what they would like to place on the tree. We also had the opportunity to paint to do leaf rubbings and continue to explore more about the trees we see outdoors. This month, we focused heavily on high-frequency words and writing to convey meaning in Room 1. For our Literacy Night on Nov. 27, we invited parents to learn more about the Creative Curriculum and how the literacy activities are implemented in the classroom. In Room 1, parents were able to observe their child write names and high-frequency words in shaving cream, identify letters and their sounds during a phonics game, and sing our Jolly Phonics letter sound songs. We have learned so much this month and cannot wait to add to our list of words we can write and read!

Tell Your Friends About Us!

We would like to thank you for all of your wonderful words of praise about our center to your family and friends! Our program continues to grow through your referrals. Because of this, we are pleased to announce the Refer-A-Friend incentive program. Heres how it works: 1. You tell a friend about our program. 2. Your friend calls us and provides your name as the referral source. 3. Your friend enrolls his/her child(ren) in the program. 4. You receive $25 after the child is enrolled for three months. (1 incentive per family referred).

Greetings from School Age!

The School Age teachers have been working hard helping the students with homework. We understand the importance of the children completing homework accurately, and it shows! More than 70% of your children were on the High Honor Roll last quarter, and the progress reports show major improvements this quarter. We are looking forward to a funfilled winter breakfull of science experiments, arts & crafts and performing arts.

January Focus: Staying Healthy This Winter www.everydayfamily.com

6 Ways to Keep Your Kids Healthy this Winter As winter arrives, you may be dreading the colds, flu, and general icky-ness, that seems to accompany it. Here are six tips to help you and your children stay healthy this winter. Wash Your Hands: The CDC estimates that children with proper hygiene miss 2.42 days of school each year, while children who do not practice proper hygiene miss 3.02 days a year. Teach your children to wash their hands well, and often. This includes before and after meals, after coughing or sneezing, after using the restroom, and when they come home from school. You can also use alcohol-based wipes or gels when a water source is not readily available. Keep Warm: Make sure you and your children are dressed appropriately for the colder weather. Jackets, gloves, and hats are all important clothing pieces to protect against the elements and keep your body in tip top shape. Eat Well: Make sure your children get well-balanced meals. Give your family the vitamins and minerals they need, so their bodies have the energy to stay healthy. Sleep: Sleep is one of the most important things we can do to give our body a leg up against sickness this winter. Each member of your family should get at least 7 hours of restful sleep each night, more for your younger children (10-13 hours). Food Safety: As you prepare your holiday meals, wash your hands often when handling food. Keep any raw meats, poultry, and eggs away from food that is ready to eat or already prepared. Invest in a quality food thermometer to check the temperature of all of your cooked meals, make sure they are at least at the proper eating temperature. Do not use the same knives, cutting boards, or utensils to prepare raw foods and ready-to-eat foods. Quarantine: If you still get sick after taking precautions, quarantine the family members. Do not allow your children to return to school until they are 24-hours free of fevers or vomiting. Wipe all surfaces with disinfectant, as well as washing clothing and bedding in hot, soapy water. Consider getting your children a flu shot this year to give you a leg up against sickness.

We encourage parents to take some time and volunteer in your childs classroom. We know most parents work during the day, but there are still things that you can do at home to help in your childs classroom. Talk to your childs teacher and ask for a list of things that you can do at home, and then pick activities that fit your schedule. Parent Handbook review: Now that winter is here, I would like to send a little reminder regarding emergency closingsIf the Chicago Public Schools are closed due to weather related issues, then our center will also be closed. Notification to parents will occur by media announcements that are used for the School District. Regards, Norma Moore, (Director)

Policy Committee and Parent Committee

All parents are invited to participate in the Parent Committee meetings which are held monthly. The President, Vice President and Secretary are elected annually by the parents to provide the leadership for these meeting. This year please help me congratulate the Bridgeport Child Development Center 20132014 Representatives: Ms. Maria Infanite, President Parent of Robert and Amelie (Preschool) Ms. Yan Zhen Liu, Vice President Parents of Alice Kong (School Age) and Gordan Kong (Preschool) Ms. Ou, Zhuan Xiao, Secretary Parent of Renee Huang (Preschool) In addition to the Parent Committee we also have a Policy Committee Representatives that are elected each year to participate in One Hope Uniteds Head Start Program. Let us also congratulate this Representatives: Ms. Maria Infanite - Parent of Robert and Amelie (Preschool) Ms. Lisa Xiong - Parent of Kyle Chen (Preschool) Ms. Eun Jeong Kim - Parent of Paul Kwon (Preschool) Notes from our Nov. 26, 2013 Parent Meeting: We would like to thank all the parents who took the time to participate in our Parent Meeting on Nov. 26, 2013. During this Parent Meeting, Mr. Henny Wong from Childrens Dental World located in the Bridgeport Community presented an Oral Health Workshop to our parents. Mr. Wong discussed the following: proper way to care for childs teeth, gingivitis, tips on preventing dental disease and about the amount of sugar we eat daily. Earlier that week, Mr. Wong made a visit to all the classrooms at the center. During that time, he spoke to the children about oral health and the importance of brush their teeth daily. Each child received a free special gift bag, courtesy of Childrens Dental World. We truly appreciate the collaborative effort and our partnership with Childrens Dental World.

From the Desk of the Director

Dear Parents, Happy New Year! We are looking forward to kicking off the New Year with a great start! The classrooms are always working on great art projects, so please take some time to check out the classroom walls where we display all of the childrens masterpieces. They are very proud!

Calendar
January 2014
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Monthly

1 New Years Day - Center Closed

2 After School Program Attends Center for Full Day 9

3 After School Program Attends Center for Full Day 10

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21 20 Martin Luther King Day Center Closed

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24 Full Day for School Age

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28 Bridgeport I Monthly Parent Meeting

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