Welcome back everyone!  I hope you had a fantastic summer!  It’s hard to believe that school is already in session.  But here in California, I’m afraid we still have plenty of hot days ahead of us.

I was fortunate enough to spend the month of July at my cabin on Lake Superior in Northern Michigan.  They don’t recycle there as much as we do.  It’s not as easy for them as it is for us.  We are so lucky here to have the utility companies and the City of Burbank help us to make a difference.  And now with the Stevenson Green Team, we’re going to make it even easier for you to “Go Green!”  Contact Tiffany Bakas at tnt.illuma.net if you’d like to get more involved.

This article is going to be about water.  Looking out onto Lake Superior every day, I really thought about water.  Superior is the largest fresh-water lake (by surface) in the world. It’s one of the cleanest too.  But it is in danger.  The nitrate levels are rising. Over-fishing has become an issue. (I think that’s partly due to the amount my family eats when we’re there!)  Then there’s the temperature increase (Global Warming).  If trends continue, Lake Superior, which freezes over completely once every 20 years, could routinely be ice-free by 2040.  That’s not very far off.  And it’s a problem.

On a more personal note, I’m allergic to chlorine – and we have a pool. Chlorine contaminates the earth’s soil and water and it evaporates into the atmosphere where it eats away at the ozone layer. I’ve recently started looking into alternative ways make our pool cleaner and safer to swim in.  Not sure what I’ll go with yet, but here’s a list of what I’ve found in case you’re thinking about it as well:

• Salt Water:  Salt water or saline pools use small portions of salt to clean water through electrolysis. To some, this may not be the greenest optiondue to the fact that it still utilizes chlorine albeit in a natural, bacteria fighting, and non-threatening form.
• Ionization: Ionic pools use small amounts of metals such as copper andsilver to kill bacteria and stop algae growth.
• Oxidation: Oxidation pools use UV light or electricity to produce ozone, which disinfects the water.
• Sonic Waves: New sonic wave pools use specific patterns of sound waves to kill algae and contaminants.
• Natural Pools: Natural or green pools use external or internal plants to create mini ecosystems that enrich the pool water with oxygen, support beneficial bacteria that consume debris and contaminants, and deprive algae of nutrients.
• Natural Products: If you do not want to convert to a new system, one option is to use natural cleaning products such as PristineBlue and Natura Chemistry.

Another “type” of water I’ve thought about recently is “Greywater.”  That includes any and all wash water that can be collected – from showers or leaky faucets to when you empty out your partially consumed water bottle.  Here are some ways you can use “Greywater” in your home:

• While you’re waiting for the shower to heat up or daydreaming under the spout, place a big bucket in the corner to collect the extra runoff from going down the drain. Use greywater to hydrate your plants or lawn.
• If you plan on upgrading your home and are willing to make more of aninvestment, a greywater system is the perfect fit for an eco-homeowner.  State-of-the-art systems filter used water from the shower, bath and laundry and then reuse it in the toilet’s flushing system.

When emptying out your ice chest after a trip to the beach or camping, put it in your flowerbed.  You can try lowering usage in other ways too. Run the washing machine and dishwasher only when they’re completely full.  Don’t forget to change your sprinkler system timer too.  You’re allowed to water on Monday and Thursday for 15 minutes per zone.  And only late in the evening or at night.  Don’t hose down your driveway or sidewalks, sweep them.  We all must do our part!

I’m thirsty.  Gotta go.  Until next month, remember, it is easy being green!

Jennifer Jefferson

p.s.  If you’re interested, contact Tiffany Bakas to get involved with Stevenson’s first ever Green Team!  tnt@illuma.net

Welcome back Stevenson Families!

The staff and I are happy to welcome you to the 2009-2010 school year. The start of the year is always a busy time in our school, filled with the excitement and energy of students and teachers engaging in a new year of learning and discovery. It is important that every child is successful and the Stevenson staff is committed to that goal. If you are new to our school, welcome and please stop by to say hello.
Our PTA and booster association, Families for Stevenson (FFS) have a lot great activities planned for our school this year. To make them successful, we rely on the support and assistance of our parents. When you receive the calendar of events, start planning how you can get involved and help our school. Parents are a major part of what makes Stevenson so successful!
You may have noticed some changes in our teaching staff. Mrs. Torres is teaching Kindergarten in Room 8. Ms. Carrillo is in Room 7 and will be teaching Kindergarten and First grades. Mr. Sommerville took a leave of absence and we are fortunate to have Mrs. Rotunno who will be teaching first grade in Room 3 along with Mrs. Diamond who is in Room 5. Mrs. Baade has been assigned second and third grades. Mr. Lukehart will be teaching third and fourth grades. Mrs. Hill is now teaching fifth grade in Room 20. You will have an opportunity to meet your child’s teacher at Back to School Night on Wednesday, September 16th.
The goal of our school is to provide each student with a challenging and rigorous curriculum appropriate to his/her academic level. We believe every child will achieve academic success. To this end, every child will be provided with quality instructional experiences which recognize, support and maintain high expectations for all students.

Our mission is: To ensure the learning success of all of our students and to inspire them to become productive members of society who take an active role in positively changing the world around them.

The partnership between the home, the school, and the child is a key factor in your child’s success in school. You are an important part of what makes Stevenson School so special.

Sincerely,

Debbie Ginnetti, Principal

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 4 main ways you and your family may keep from getting sick with the flu at school and at home:

• Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder; not into your hands.
• Stay home if you or your child is sick for at least 24 hours after there is no longer a fever or signs of a fever (without the use of fever-reducing medicine). Keeping sick students at home means that they keep their viruses to themselves rather than sharing them with others.
• Get your family vaccinated for seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu when vaccines are available.

Time: October 10th from 9.30am

Location: Stevenson Elementary

Stevenson PTA is committed to helping keep children, parents and our local community healthy throughout the influenza season.  That is why we are partnering with Flu Busters and Novartis Vaccines to provide convenient access to affordable influenza vaccinations for all members of our community.

Families should consider receiving an annual vaccination as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends that all children from six months to 18 years of age should be vaccinated against influenza.

For the 2009-2010 flu vaccination season, the cost of injectable vaccine for those who pre-register is $25 each, and a “walk-in” will pay $27.  More information and registration forms will be sent home in your child’s backpack soon.

Nancy Malone

During the registration process, parents/caregivers were asked to complete student information cards with contact information in case of an injury, emergency or illness.  Please be sure to keep the information on your child’s emergency cards up to date so that we can reach you.  Any changes can be made throughout the school year in the school office.

Sometime during this school year, vision and hearing screening exams will be performed by a School Nurse team on all students in grades kindergarten, 2^nd, 5^th, 8^th, 10^th and all new students entering the Burbank Unified School District.  In addition to these state mandated screening exams (E.C. 49452), a dental check and assessment of height and weight measurements will be conducted.

In the past, these routine exams have identified those students in need of further evaluation by their health care provider and parents/guardians have been advised to make appointments for the child (ren).  In many cases, these screening exams have identified findings during early stages of vision or hearing deficits as well as dental problems, thereby preventing additional complications and cost to the child and their family.

If you have any further questions, please refer to the 2009-2010 edition of the “Annual Notification to Parents/Guardians” distributed by the district to all students, or speak with me at the Stevenson Health Office.

Hannah Nunn, RN School Nurse

Classrooms are assigned. Pens and paper are packed. Homework for the kids has started. And parents have one bit of homework too! Now is the time to hop on the escrip and update your credit and debit card registration to be sure that it includes all the appropriate digits to earn money for Stevenson painlessly. And if you are just registering for the first time, it’s easy to do and takes only a few minutes of your time but means a great deal.

In 2008, Families For Stevenson organized the “Made In The Shade” Committee to make shady play areas a reality at Stevenson by Aug. 2010. The Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that 80% of lifetime sun exposure occurs during childhood — and that just one blistering sunburn can double the risk of getting melanoma later in life. So along with regular safe sun practices, join FFS in the efforts create a safer school environment.

The eScrip program is a primary source of funding for the endeavor. EScrip lets parents, teachers, neighbors and relatives earn money for the shade fund by registering grocery club cards, credit cards, select retailer cards and even ATM cards in the program. Retailers then contribute a percentage of the money spent on those cards directly to the designated efforts. And, it doesn’t cost the cardholder anything.

Loyalty cards at Vons stores and Macys can be registered to start earning today. And restaurants like Tequilas, Santa Fe Cafe, Priscilla’s, Burbank Bar & Grille contribute through the use of registered credit cards used at these locations. There’s even an eScrip Online Mall Store that can put money in the fund. You can sign up today and help contribute to these efforts. Log on to www.escrip.com and register your cards, with confidence that your privacy is completely protected. You will be asked to identify Families For Stevenson (141523068) as the group you want to support. Now is a good time to check your registration and update your cards.