The holiday season does not have to be a burden on the enviroment. With a little effort and imagination, we can celebrate the season and the planet!

Five Tips for Sustainable Gift-Giving:

Gifts of service require little or no use of natural resources and can be very personal and memorable. Try gift certificates for a massage, music lessons, childcare, car wash, pet service, yoga or a manicure/pedicure.

Giving the gift of an experience can bring fun and memories that can last a lifetime. Tickets to a show, concert or sports event. A family membership to the LA Zoo, The Autry Museum or LACMA.

The gift of history. Value and appeal don’t always have to mean “new and shiny.” Antiques and collectibles have value as well as the added appeal of history. And because they’re “re-used,” there’s no impact on the environment. Take a walk through Magnolia Park. You’re bound to find something!

Homemade is heartfelt. Your time and energy, and culinary skills are just as valued as that store-bought gift which they may not really even need! The gift of food is personal, easy on the environment, and not likely to go to waste. Bake a selection of holiday cookies or a pan of lasagna, put together a wine and cheese sampler on a nice platter, or how about a gift card to a local restaurant? The possibilities are endless!

Give the gift of giving. Last year, I sent money to the Jimmy Carter Foundation in my
sister’s name. I could choose how I wanted the money spent and it came with a nice card. She loved it! www.cartercenter.org
Give a membership to the California State Parks Foundation.
www.calparks.org/JoinToday
Help to make another family’s holiday a happy one and adopt a family through the Burbank Tempory Aid Center.
burbanktemporaryaidcenter.org
The Seva Foundation uses your donation to perform the service you select. Their “Gifts of Service” program includes restoring sight to blind people, clean healthy water, and education.
www.seva.org/site/PageServer?pagename=gos2008_home
Something a little closer to home – donate to the Friends of the LA River (FOLAR). They’re a non-profit organization founded to protect and restore the LA River. I recently went on a private tour with the founder and it was incredible! We were stunned by the history and beauty of the river and are intrigued thinking about what it could be again.
folar.org

Remember, it IS easy being green! Happy Holidays!

by Jennifer Jesperson

Dermatologists, like myself, are alarmed by the epidemic of skin cancer that we’re seeing these days. Studies have shown that overexposure to the sun during childhood is a major risk factor. We owe it to our kids to provide them with the tools and the motivation to protect themselves so they won’t end up with skin cancer later in life.

The volunteers of Families For Stevenson deserve recognition and high praise for their tireless work to raise the funds and organize the installation of the new shade structures. But, it’s not possible to cover the whole playground so what else can you do to reduce your child’s risk of developing skin cancer? Let’s review a few simple sun safety tips.

Cover Up
Think of long clothing as “sunscreen that you can wear.” Skin that is covered by ordinary clothing is usually quite well protected from the sun. Most long clothing is designed to keep us warm. The challenge is to find pants, and long sleeve shirts with a collar, that are loose fitting and well ventilated so they remain comfortable even in hot weather. Provide your child with a long sleeved “playshirt” for outdoor activities at school. It can be quickly slipped on over a tee shirt and, if desired, it can be removed upon returning to the classroom. Because sunscreen lotion is not needed on areas covered by clothing, covering up can be very cost effective. This is especially true for water sports, where a rash guard style swimming shirt is much more efficient than coating the entire upper body with sunscreen.

Wear a Hat
In the past, hats were prohibited at school but not any longer. Children should be strongly encouraged to always wear a broad-brimmed, sun-protective hat for outdoor activities. Watch for a hat to be added to the school’s spirit wear soon.

Seek Shade
For something like playing soccer, shade is essentially impossible. But, teach your child to search (when feasible) for a shady area in which to play or congregate.

Protect the eyes
Sunlight can damage the eyes as well as the skin. Sunglasses with UV protective lenses can be worn for most outdoor activities except contact sports. As you know, sunscreen can really sting if it gets in the eyes. If you choose sunglasses that are wraparounds or that have wide temples, they will cover the skin adjacent to the outside corner of the eye, as well as the eyelids. This will alleviate the need to apply sunscreen too close to the eyes, reducing the likelihood of eye irritation.

Use sunscreen
For areas not covered by clothing, sunscreen provides a reasonable alternative for protecting the skin. It’s important for the sunscreen to block both bands of ultraviolet light, namely UVA and UVB. By the summer of 2012, sunscreen manufacturers will be required to perform a new test on their products. If the sunscreen passes the test for filtering out both bands of UV, it will be labeled “Broad Spectrum.” Starting next summer, only buy products with the “Broad Spectrum” designation. I advise using an SPF of at least 30. To achieve the labeled SPF in actual use, it’s necessary to apply the product generously or liberally. For adequate protection with a spray sunscreen, be sure to spray it on heavily, rub it in well, and then apply a second coat. Teach your child the proper technique for applying sunscreen because teachers cannot be expected to assist.

Take vitamin D
Our skin will manufacture vitamin D when exposed to sun. But that same sun is the cause of skin cancer. So, we need a safer alternative and we do have one, namely an oral vitamin supplement. Children should get 600 IU of vitamin D per day. Vitamin D supplements are available over the counter and are sold as liquid drops for children who cannot swallow a pill.

Communicate
Help your child understand why sun safety is so important. With frequent reminders, encourage all of the sun safe steps described here. And of course be your child’s sun safety hero by protecting and preserving your own skin.

Jeff Ashley, MD
Dermatologist
President, Sun Safety for Kids
info@sunsafetyforkids.org

Dear Stevenson families, teachers, staff and administration …

That Time Of Year

That time of year’s come ‘round again,
So I wish you all the best.
The joy that comes from knowing you
Makes me feel that I’ve been blessed.

So I’ll share with you my feelings
At this special time of year:
May your holidays be a delight,
Filled with happiness and cheer.

Happy Holidays!

Dear Stevenson Families,

Our Red Chair 10-week dance program is approaching its final weeks and your children will be presenting what they have learned at a special Families for Stevenson Recital “When You Dance Upon a Star” on Wednesday, December 14th. There will be two shows, 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., featuring different classrooms at each performance. More information will be coming home soon.

As we look ahead to the New Year, Families for Stevenson is very excited to be bringing an after school choir program to Stevenson Elementary. This 13-week program will be open to Stevenson students from 3rd through 5th grade, for a nominal fee. To showcase their talents, the choir will be performing at the Stevenson Talent Show and also at Stevenson Rocks. Registration forms will be available in December.

In closing, we would like to thank all of our Stevenson families and sponsors for their support this year. We look forward to an amazing 2012 with many more great things in store for our kids.

Happy Holidays!

Renee Kregler and Emma Clarkson

We are very excited to announce that we have been successful in our grant application to Burbank Arts For All. Families for Stevenson will match the $1,000 provided by this wonderful organization. The money will allow our principal and teachers to purchase prints, books and music to support the development of their Fine Arts Friday curriculum.

Each month this program brings a new artist or composer to life for all our students. The supplies being purchased are essential to its success.

Burbank Arts for All and Families For Stevenson are proud supporters of Fine Arts Fridays and our Stevenson students.

To find out more about Burbank Arts for All visit their website: www.burbankartsforall.org

After exceeding our Donation Drive goal, Families for Stevenson was able to thank our school community by holding a school-wide party.

Students enjoyed field games, art and music during their lunch time. As an extra treat we handed out cookies to all the kids.

The FFS board would like to thank everyone who supported the drive for their generosity. You really are making a difference in your school. We would also like to thank all the parents who volunteered at the party. It was tiring but great fun. Visit page 5 to see how you can volunteer.

If you would like to make a donation there is still time. Visit: www.stevensonpirates.net/donate/ Making a donation on behalf of a loved one would make a great gift for the holidays.