Friday Focus

Personal hygiene items are desperately needed by the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Join our school in collecting items to help them.

Print out 2-page flyer...

Hurricane Relief

Please join us in reaching out to our fellow Americans so devastated by this unprecedented national disaster. We are partnering with Adventist Community Services Disaster Response (ACS) to provide personal care kits to those Hurricane Katrina survivors in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

You Donate and We'll Deliver!
ACS Disaster Response needs items to assemble for personal care kits to distribute to Hurricane Katrina survivors.

Here's a list of items that you can donate:

• towels
• toothbrush
• toothpaste
• nail files
• washcloths
• disposable razors
• soap
• shampoo
• shaving cream
• band aids
• hair combs/brushes
• new socks
• new underwear
• feminine products

You may bring your your donated items to our school by noon on September 16.

Additional information about how ACS Disaster Response is meeting the needs of the survivors can be found on their website:

Link to communityservices.org...

Walk-a-thon Change

Due to the upcoming PGA tour in the San Francisco Bay area, we will need to change the date for our annual Walk-a-thon. Lake Merced has been reserved and our 13th annual Walk-a-thon will take place on Sunday, October 16. Registration begins at 8:00 am. The walking begins at 9:00 am. Lunch will be ready around 11:30 am.

This annual event is our main fund raiser for our school. Your support of this big event is greatly appreciated. Watch for packet to be sent home later this month.

Photos of last year's Walk-a-thon...

What Strengthens Self-Confidence?

Parents do make a difference in building their child's self-esteem. A concerned parent asked, "I want my child to know how wonderful he is. Besides telling him that, how can I build his self-esteem?"

Although maybe you've never asked that question aloud, you no doubt have thought about it. How do I foster my child's self-esteem?

True self-esteem comes when children understand their positive strengths and build on them. As kids become successful, they work harder to enjoy and improve their talents. Here are some ways you can help:

• Describe what you see. "Your picture has wonderful color combinations. You're a great artist!"
• Remind your child of past successes. "Your teacher told me about the amazing drawing of a horse you did last month."
• Describe how your child's skill affects others. "Did you see Grandma's face when she opened the painting you made for her birthday? She loved it!"
• Let your child overhear positive comments. "Grandpa, you have to see what Leo made for Grandma. It's beautiful!"
• Give your child a chance to be the expert. "Mrs. Brown called about art class. She wants you to help another class with an art project next week."

Additional information about building your child's self-esteem and all other kinds of parenting concerns can be found online with the link below:

Link to www.keepkidshealthy.com...

Interim Reports

Interim reports are being sent out this weekend. You can expect yours to arrive either in the mail or brought home in your child's weekly folder.

Interim reports are sent home during the middle of the quarter and provide families with a quick snapshot of how their child is progressing at school.

Please sign and return the report to your child's teacher. Please feel free to add your comments in the space provided. Or perhaps you may want to schedule a short, informal conference with your child's teacher.

Interim reports provide families with an overview of how their child is currently performing in at school. Thanks for your continued support at home. It does make a difference.

Academics from School Bulletin...

Students Need Parents Who Are Consistent

Discipline works best when parents have the respect of their children. One good way to earn your child's respect is to be consistent.

Consistent parents:

• Don't need many rules, just a few important ones. They do not bend the rules according to the situation.
• Have a united front. Even if they are single parents, there may be other adults who are part of their child's life. If they forbid a certain TV show in their home, then Grandma should know that the child is not to turn it on when she is visiting. Two-parent families should set rules and work together.
• Mean what they say. Avoid empty threats such as, "Maybe you'd like to go off and live by yourself, young lady."
• Follow through. If they promise they will do something with their child, they do it. If they tell their child a consequence is coming, the child receives it.
• Help children follow through. "We agreed you would mow the lawn before you went off with your friends today. I want us to check the lawn together before you head out."

Consistency is a key to parenting your children. Consistent parents share several characteristics that help them earn their child's respect.

See "Friday Focus" article index...

Help for Katrina's Victims

Hurricane Katrina packed a mighty wallop when it hit the Gulf Coast of the United States last week. New Orleans, Biloxi, and many smaller venues in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are still reeling – and will be for months to years. The tragic stories of lives lost in the storm are heartbreaking. Nobody can estimate the damage to homes and businesses, infrastructure and jobs.

"Nightmare!" screamed one headline. Hundreds to perhaps thousands are believed dead. Search-and-rescue crews have had to bypass dead bodies in their scramble to try to save people who climbed trees, took shelter in attics, or sat forlornly on the roofs of destroyed houses.

There has been amazing heroism. Neighbor rescued neighbor. Stranger saved stranger. Police, firefighters, EMTs, volunteer workers – they have pushed their bodies beyond all reasonable limits. They have risked life and limb. And they have made a difference by rendering aid and saving lives.

On Wednesday of last week, bus convoys began moving some 25,000 evacuees from New Orleans to Houston. The famous Astrodome – not used for professional sporting events for years now – will be their temporary shelter! It has been cleared of events through December in expectation of being used that long.

The same series of events also brought out the very worst in others. Young and old roamed streets in order to loot stores! They weren't breaking in for bread or canned goods. They were trying on clothes and shoes on sidewalks and toting away television sets and computers. When an astonished reporter stuck his microphone in the face of one of them, he stopped for an interview. "You have to know how wrong this is!" he said. The looter grinned. He made some lame comment about how anybody else would do the same thing. I think not!

You and I must do more than alternately feel grief and express outrage. Each of us must find a way to help. Your company may create a relief fund. Perhaps your church will take a special offering to get relief supplies to people who are suffering. If not, pass the hat yourself. Or just give some money through a favorite charity or relief agency. But do something. And do it quickly!

If you've ever been given a helping hand and offered a glimmer of hope in a dark time, you know how critical it is. If you remember a time you needed help and none was offered, you know even more about what a critical moment this is!

No one really loves God who ignores the needs of our hurting neighbors.

--Rubel Shelly