Getting Back into the Swing of Things...

Hi All!  I apologize for the delay between posts.  New schedules, new students, new responsibilities has led to a bit of an adjustment period for students and teachers alike.  But now, as we are firmly in the month of October, everyone seems to be rolling along nicely.  Let's take a look at some Review and Preview of events taking place here at Lake Country School.

Wildcat Wellness

Our Wildcat Wellness initiative is well underway.  There has been an added focus on the importance of Healthy decisions stressed to the students in both Health and PE to start out this year.  That said, there is still plenty of room on the Amy Mulrooney Fitness Track for students to log some laps during their recess.

Staff members are on the Wellness trail as well.  All staff members have come up with their own personal Wellness Goal that will help to motivate them to make positive choices in their lives.  Some of the goals include reaching a number of steps on their pedometers each week, continuing their yoga routine, getting more sleep at night, and choosing healthier snack options during the day.  Keep up the good work!

Run @ Work Day

On September 19th, Lake Country School once again participated in the 9th annual Run@Work Day sponsored by the Road Runners Club of America.

This from the RRCA website:

The goal of Run@Work Day and Run@ School Day is to encourage adults and children to get 30 minutes of exercise each day, in accordance with the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, either before work/school, during lunch, or immediately following work/school.  Run@Work Day also encourages companies to help employees schedule time for physical activity.  Incorporating exercise into one's daily routine can markedly improve one's overall physical health.

It was great to see so many staff members participate in this great event and for the students to encourage their teachers!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Take a look at the following statistics from www.breastcancer.org:

• About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
• In 2014, an estimated 232,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 62,570 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
• Breast cancer incidence rates in the U.S. began decreasing in the year 2000, after increasing for the previous two decades. They dropped by 7% from 2002 to 2003 alone. One theory is that this decrease was partially due to the reduced use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) by women after the results of a large study called the Women’s Health Initiative were published in 2002. These results suggested a connection between HRT and increased breast cancer risk.
• About 40,000 women in the U.S. were expected to die in 2014 from breast cancer, though death rates have been decreasing since 1989 — with larger decreases in women under 50. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advances, earlier detection through screening, and increased awareness.

When we wear a little pink in October, remember that it is more than just a "fashion statement."  Increased awareness has lead to decreasing death rates.  Let's keep that trend going and going!

Don't Let the Cold/Flu get You!

Cold and Flu Season is upon us.  Please remember the following tips to avoid the bug.

1.  Wash Your Hands - ALL THE TIME.
2.  Try to avoid close contact with those already sick.
3.  Keep your surroundings clean.  Regularly clean areas that are touched by many hands such as doorknobs and light switches.
4.  Get your Flu Shot.
5.  Don't touch your face.
6.  Exercise regularly.
7.  Eat healthy foods - lots of fruits and veggies to help build your immune system.
8.  RELAX - get plenty of rest.

Good Luck to the LCS Girls Basketball Teams!

Our 5th through 8th grade Girls basketball teams begin their league games next week.  Good Luck Wildcats!

Take Care!
JB

WELCOME BACK!!!

I hope everyone had a great summer!  It seems like just yesterday I was writing about the end of another school year here at LCS.  Today, I write about the start of a new, exciting one.

As always, this year begins with some changes.  There are new faces, new places, and new challenges for all of us.  What remains the same is the commitment to excellence from both students and staff here at LCS.  Nobody wants summer to end, but if it has to, at least it is Lake Country School that we are coming back to!

The "Old" and the "New"...

With the new year on the horizon, we have many exciting things in store.  We have the official launch of our "WILDCAT WELLNESS INITIATIVE,"  we have PROJECT LEAD THE WAY, we have this year's musical "BUGSY MALONE," we have new PBIS themes,
we have NEW IDEAS, NEW OPPORTUNITIES, NEW GARDENS, NEW CHICKEN COOPS, NEW FIRE PITS, and the list goes on and on...

What remains constant - in all that we do here at LCS - is that we do it WILDCAT STYLE!

Let's BE KIND to others.

Every time we encounter someone, we have a opportunity to impact their life in a positive or a negative way.  Let's spread positivity here at LCS.

Let's BE SAFE

Make good choices and good decisions.  If something that you are about to do doesn't "feel" right, it's probably not.  Choose a safer alternative.

Let's DO THE RIGHT THING

Our days are filled with choices.  Will you choose to do the next "RIGHT THING?"  Will you choose to do the next right thing EVEN when others are not looking?  Will you choose to do the next right thing even if EVERYONE else is not?  Hopefully, the answer is yes!

And let's not forget our Respectful Communication!
When someone asks you to...

"GIVE ME FIVE!"

1.  Put your EYES on the speaker!
2.  Close your LIPS!
3.  Open those EARS!
4.  Sit or Stand up STRAIGHT!
5.  Keep those HANDS and FEET quiet!

Finally, with a NEW YEAR comes an opportunity for NEW GOALS!

We talked a lot last year about the importance of "Goal-Setting" as a lifetime skill, and that it is a continuous endeavor that takes practice.

A few tips:

• Make your goal MEASURABLE!
• Make your goal REALISTIC!
• Make a PLAN to reach your Goal!

We will be talking a lot more about GOALS as the year goes on.  For now, we can all have the goal of making it through the first week of school!  I know we will do great!

Take Care!
JB

Summer is almost here!!!

Well, another year is almost in the books.  It is hard to believe, really.  Seems like just yesterday we were scrambling to get ready for the start of another school year.  Time sure does fly when you are having fun!

As we head into the summer months, I'd like to offer a few reminders...

1. Remember to SET GOALS and MAKE A PLAN to achieve them!

We talked a lot this year about the importance of "Goal-Setting" as a lifetime skill.  We even set some short-term and long-term goals for ourselves heading in to the Summer Break.  But remember, goal-setting is a continuous endeavor, and takes practice.  

A few tips:

• Make your goal MEASURABLE!
• Make your goal REALISTIC!
• Make a PLAN to reach your goal!

For example, we just finished our Spring Fitness Testing.  Most of you have set goals for yourself to work to achieve next year called "Benchmarks."  Say you were able to do 10 Perfect Push-ups this Spring.  Your goal for next year may be to reach 15.  So what do you need to do between now and then to WORK to achieve your goal?  Continue to eat healthy!  Exercise!   Practice Push-ups every day!  Make a plan and work to achieve that goal and before you know it, your Perfect Push-up benchmark will be 20!

2.  Make your MISSION to have GOOD NUTRITION - Even in the Summer!!!

Remember, the older you get, the more responsibility you need to take with your eating habits.  Practice "healthy habits" when it comes to your food choices.  Limit the amount of sweets, fast foods, and chips and get those fruits and veggies in your body too!

It's OK to treat yourself from time to time.  Just don't over do it!

3.  Have FUN!!!

Enjoy yourself this summer.  Get together with Friends!  Try something new!  Get outside and PLAY!  

Most importantly, remember to do all things WILDCAT STYLE!  

Be KIND, Be SAFE, and Do the RIGHT THING!