Husky Family Bulletin

Every February, people in the United States celebrate the achievements and history of African Americans as part of Black History Month.

In 1915, in response to the lack of information on the accomplishments of Black people available to the public, historian Carter G. Woodson co-founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. In 1926, the group declared the second week of February as “Negro History Week” to recognize the contributions of African Americans to U.S. history. Few people studied Black history and it wasn't included in textbooks prior to the creation of Negro History Week.

This week was chosen because it includes the birthdays of both Frederick Douglass, an abolitionist (someone who wanted to end the practice of enslaving people), and former U.S. president Abraham Lincoln. President Lincoln led the United States during the Civil War, which was primarily fought over the enslavement of Black people in the country. Many schools and leaders began recognizing the week after its creation.

The week-long event officially became Black History Month in 1976 when U.S. president Gerald Ford extended the recognition to “honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Black History Month has been celebrated in the United States every February since.

Black History Month was created to focus attention on the contributions of African Americans to the United States. It honors all Black people from all periods of U.S. history, from the enslaved people first brought over from Africa in the early 17th century to African Americans living in the United States today.

Among the notable figures often spotlighted during Black History Month are Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who fought for equal rights for Blacks during the 1950s and ’60s; Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American justice appointed to the United States Supreme Court in 1967; Mae Jemison, who became the first female African-American astronaut to travel to space in 1992; and Barack Obama, who was elected the first-ever African-American president of the United States in 2008.

Since the first Negro History Week in 1926, other countries have joined the United States in celebrating Black people and their contribution to history and culture, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Today Black History Month continues the discussion of Black people and their contributions through activities such as museum exhibits and film screenings, and by encouraging the study of achievements by African Americans year-round.

Since 1976, every American president has designated February as Black History Month and endorsed a specific theme.

The Black History Month 2023 theme, “Black Resistance,” explores how "African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression, in all forms, especially the racial terrorism of lynching, racial pogroms and police killings," since the nation's earliest days.

How this journalist risked her life to report the truth

Ida B. Wells was born into slavery in Mississippi on July 16, 1862, less than a year before the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 freed enslaved people. After moving to Tennessee when she was about 20, Wells began writing for Black newspapers, speaking out against segregated schools—which which forced Black children to go to separate schools—and other forms of discrimination in the southern states. But after a friend was killed by a mob of white people, Wells knew more had to be done.

For several months she travelled throughout the South, interviewing people and investigating records about similar attacks. Then she wrote and published the articles in a Tennessee newspaper that she co-owned. The articles told the truth about what was happening to Black people, but the stories made people angry. Some stormed her office and destroyed her press. Eventually Wells had to leave the South forever.

That dangerous experience didn't stop Wells from writing. After moving to New York City and then Chicago, she continued to report about discrimination against Black people, and her articles were read by people across the country. Using reporting methods that are still used today, she exposed conditions that African Americans were forced to live under. She died on March 25, 1931, but still inspires people to fight for change.

This award-winning book tells the story of the magic that happens at the barber shop. This book will be read in all classes. To help your child practice their reading skills, ask them to summarize the information in the story or “Tell all the important things that happened in the book”. You can also ask, “How are you like the character?”. These are common questions that we ask on reading assessments. Asking these questions about any fiction book will help with reading comprehension.

Our summer leaves have fallen and now it is time to share our love of the library. Every student had the opportunity to share what they love about the Horizon library. Some responses included their favorite book or character or how the library makes them feel about reading and the great choices they get to make.

Yearbooks are available to order online until February 28th.

Here is the link to order:

https://fs27.formsite.com/KIDSphoto/23YBmsd/index.html

We are looking for new Board members for next year! We would love to have PTA family events again but need parents to lead our board. Please email horizonelementarypta@gmail.com if you are interested! We will need a Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Our PTA has been run by teachers for the last five years and we would love to partner and hand it off to our amazing families!

Your child is learning that a kind act is something they can do to help someone feel good. They can do a kind act by using their words to say something nice and encouraging or taking an action like making a card, helping parents at home or sharing with a friend in need. They’ll practice suggesting kind acts to do for people in different scenarios.

Encourage your child to think of a kind act they could do for someone, for example a sibling, grandparent, or neighbor. You can also model for them by reminding them of the simple acts of kindness you do for them everyday. Ask them to describe how kind acts can help them and others feel good.

The Dietary Guidelines recommend that people ages 2 years or older follow a healthy eating pattern that includes the following:

• A variety of fruits and vegetables.
• Whole grains.
• Dairy products (unless there are dairy allergies – similar dairy-free foods)
• A variety of protein foods.
• Oils.

Healthy eating can help individuals achieve and maintain a healthy body weight, consume important nutrients, and reduce the risk of developing health conditions such as:

· High blood pressure.

· Heart disease.

· Type 2 diabetes.

· Cancer.

· Osteoporosis.

· Iron deficiency.

· Dental caries (cavities).

· Schools are in a unique position to provide students with opportunities to learn about and practice healthy eating behaviors.

· Eating a healthy breakfast is associated with improved cognitive function (especially memory), reduced absenteeism, and improved mood.

· Adequate hydration throughout the day may also improve cognitive function in children and adolescents, which is important for learning.

· Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages among children and adolescents accounts for 10% of total caloric intake.

· Most youth still do not meet fruit and vegetable recommendations.

· Empty calories from added sugars and solid fats contribute to 40% of daily calories for children and adolescents—affecting the overall quality of their diets. Approximately half of these empty calories come from six sources: soda, fruit drinks, dairy desserts, grain desserts, pizza, and whole milk. Most youth do not consume the recommended amount of total water.

Meredith Macharia RN BSN ESA

School Nurse/Enfermera

At Horizon on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Jennifer Wietharn

Health Service Para Educator

At Horizon on Monday and Thursday.

Unfortunately, most American children spend about 5 to 8 hours on screens each day. Screen time can be habit-forming: Research shows that the more time children engage with screens, the harder time they have turning them off as they become older children. Plus, screen time has been linked to eating more, having trouble sleeping and poorer performance in school. Here are some ways to limit screen time.

• Make bedrooms “no screen zones.” Kids who have TVs in their rooms tend to watch about 1.5 hours more TV per day than those who don’t. Move televisions, computers, tablets, etc. into shared family spaces.
• Designate one or more days per week as “screen-free” days, where physical activity, reading and spending quality time together are prioritized.
• Set firm limits for using screens. For example, no video games on school nights or no electronic devices an hour before bedtime.
• Turn off electronic devices during dinner. Make use of the time together to talk about the day.
• Get active when you do spend time in front of the TV screen. Stretch, practice yoga, walk on a treadmill or lift weights. Challenge everyone to see who can do the most knee bends or leg lifts during commercial breaks.Create a TV viewing guide with your children, and teach them to schedule out the shows they would like to watch during the week. If you have TiVo or a DVR, record your child’s favorite shows and allow him or her to view them at specific times during the week.
• When your children’s friends gather at your house, limit the amount of time they play video games. After 20-30 minutes of playing, suggest that the children move on to something else that does not involve a screen, like playing a board game or physical game (including playing outside).
• Be a good role model and limit your time in front of a screen to no more than two hours per day, too. If your kids see you following your own rules and being active, then they’ll be more likely to follow your example.
• Make it a game! Place activity ideas in a jar. Whenever the family would typically be on electronic devices, pull an idea out of the jar instead and do it together. Find activity ideas in the Family Activity PointsGame On activity.
• Try new hobbies. Replace screen time with something more active, or join a club, discover a new talent, or sign up for a hands-on class at your local community center.
• Avoid leaving the TV on for background noise to reduce the temptation to be in front of the TV (if it is hard not having the TV on, try programming your TV to turn off automatically after a certain period. Or, play music or white noise as an alternative).
• Avoid using electronic devices as a reward or punishment. This makes screens seem even more important. Check out Healthy & Active Non-Food Rewards for other ideas.

Due to a state mandate, Horizon Elementary will provide free meals for ALL of the students attending school without collecting applications beginning in fall 2022. A school’s qualification for the program, Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), is based on the percentage of families with students attending that school who participate in state-funded assistance programs such as SNAP, WIC, etc.

Are you living in or moving to a temporary place due to loss of housing or economic hardship? Did you know that if where you are staying is not fixed, regular and adequate, you may qualify for extra support from your school?

Students have a right to finish the school year at their school of origin. Contact your school if you think you might qualify for services. Learn more about the McKinney-Vento program here.

Free legal services at the village on Casino Road.

Every First and third Friday of each month.

3-5pm

For more questions call

425-540-7399

Registration is open for the free, virtual Spring 2023 Parent Leadership Training Institutes in English and Spanish. Classes begin Saturday, February 25th and continue every Thursday from 6 pm to 9 pm and every Saturday from 9 am to noon. Parents learn leadership and public speaking skills and how to understand and navigate systems. They develop a community project to benefit their schools or communities.

Graduation will take place on Saturday, May 20th at the Washington State Capitol. Participants must be able to attend the first two classes on Saturday, February 25th and Saturday, March 4th. Graduates are eligible to receive 5 elective community college credits.

Classes fill very fast, please register now!

wafamilyengagement.org

In this class, we will learn to prevent and treat childrens' behavior problems and promote their social, emotional, and academic competence.

We appreciate your interest and have great news to share! This workshop is now available in a hybrid format. We are pleased to announce that you can participate in this workshop In Person or Online!

• Come hungry! A complimentary meal is provided at every one of our in-person workshops.
• No way to commute? Not a problem! We offer free van transportation to and from your home.
• Bring your family! We have free childcare for the duration of each workshop.
• Take home a themed giveaway and certificate of completion to show for your work.

Enroll at:

https://tinyurl.com/CoHEventbrite

OR

Text us at: (253) 293-5771

For more information about our program and team, visit: https://www.housinghope.org/college-of-hope

Any child who attends school in Snohomish County or the Northshore School District and requests help qualifies for Clothes For Kids. Clothing is distributed from early August through the end of May.

• Open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10-12 and 1-4
• No appointment needed
• Valid ID, proof of address, and proof of dependents required to register
• Families can shop every 3 months free of charge
• Registered families are provided each shopping experience with the following new or gently used items (size 2T-Adult only, no baby clothes):
• 5 Tops
• 3 Bottoms
• 1 Coat
• 1 Pair of shoes
• 3 Pairs of socks
• 3 Pairs of underwear
• 1 Hygiene Kit

Contact@stjosephshouse.org

1925 4th St, Marysville, WA, United States, Washington

Operation School Bell, sponsored by the Assistance League of Everett, provides clothes to any K – 9th grade child enrolled in Snohomish County schools. If you need this service or know of someone who does, please contact our Family engagement Liaison. We have applications in the Main Office!

Deleonvillatoroig@mukilteo.wednet.edu

425-366-3015

• Feb. 3: No School, teacher work day
• Feb. 13-17: Random Acts of Kindness Week
• Feb: 20: No School, Presidents Day
• Feb: 21-24: Mid-Winter Break

*Este boletin tambien puede leerse en Español, solo haga click en "Translate" en la parte de arriba de la pantalla.

Mukilteo School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Coordinator and Title IX Coordinator Simone Neal (425-356-1319), nealsr@mukilteo.wednet.edu, Section 504 Coordinator Lisa Pitsch (425-356-1277), pitschla@mukilteo.wednet.edu, and the ADA/Access Coordinator Karen Mooseker (425-356-1330), moosekerkw@mukilteo.wednet.edu. Address: 9401 Sharon Drive in Everett, WA. Inquiries regarding ADA/Access issues at Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center should be directed to Wes Allen, Director (425-348-2220) allenwr@mukilteo.wednet.edu. Address: 9001 Airport Road in Everett, WA 98204.