School Nurse List Serve

In class I had mentioned briefly that the school nurse list serve I had belonged to a few years ago was not very helpful. Well, old habits die hard. I looked for another list serve that might be helpful, but nothing showed up that would be as helpful in my day to day job as the ol' school nurse list serve. Some of the questions that nurses across the nation ask are pitiful, but some are interesting. It appears the nurse in charge of the discussion board, a university instructor, is more involved in providing helpful information and is even posting grant information from time to time! It is a little annoying to open up my computer on Monday mornings and having a ton of emails from school nurses all over the country, but it's not too bad. Generally speaking, I feel very fortunate to be in the district I am after reading some of the posts from the school nurses.

http://www.listserve.acsu.buffalo.edu/user/sub.html

Addendum: the website for the hp grant information is...http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/grants/us/programs/tech_teaching/index.html?jumpid=reg_

I'm sorry for any confusion.

Deb

Grants

I found three grants that I will review. I have to start be stating my IT person was not very helpful at all. He knew of only one grant and directed me to the ESD for help. I decided instead of asking anyone else, I would just research grants myself. True confession time...I found grants relating to health/PE promotion that I found very exciting, but there was no technology pieces attached to any of them. So, here goes the summaries on the technology grants I found.

1. Toshiba America Foundation Grants - This foundation stongly encourages projects by a single classroom teacher or a team of teachers for up to $1,000. All equipment must be primarily for student use. The website offers "Ten Tips for New Applicants" that explains criteria for the grant fairly well. http://www.toshiba.com/tafpub/jsp/forteachers/teachers.jsp

2. QWest Teacher and Technology Grants - This grant is encourages K-12 teachers to integrate technology into their classroom. The average grant award is $5,000 and the funds go directly to the teacher (One of the math teachers at WHS was awarded this grant a couple of years ago). Some of the elgibility requirements include that the teacher has at least 3 years of teaching and have not won a QWest grant in the past. Also included are step by step instuctions for applying for the grant(s). http://www.qwest.com/about/company/sponsorship/foundation/requestFunding.html

3. Hewlett-Packard Technology for Teaching Grant Initiative - This grant is for teachers ( a team of 5 full-time teachers) who teach k-12 in public schools. Some of the requirements are that the school have the infrastructure and technical support to maintain granted products. This is a large grant as it is at least $30,000. depending on the outcomes of the grant project, additional money may be awarded. The webpage goes into further detail for the requirements. http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/grants/us/programs/tech_teaching/2006_Tech_for_Teaching_RFP_K1

Technology Goal

Since I do not have a classroom, my technology goals are a little different than those of classroom teachers. My first goal is to get the KNOW HIV/AIDS lesson on line for grades 7-12. If we are going to be offering courses on-line, having a 3 day mini-unit available for students to use, minus the issues of who is going to teach it, will be a win-win for everyone. I would also like to have all of my parent corresponses (as many as possible) on line. Thirdly, I would like to work with health teachers to create lessons, using technology, if they would be open to that. We have great health teachers at WHS, and I think they would be very receptive to having a school nurse perspective on current health issues.

Debbie

Webquest 2

I came across this webquest and thought it would be fantastic, especially for boys who are sports fans. The premise of the lesson is that the student is on an airplane and meets a professional sports player. They strike up a conversation, and through discussion, the player will hire the student on a temporary basis as his nutritionist/conditioning coach. If the student's plan increases the players shape, the student will be hired permanately. This would be perfect for a health/P.E. class.

http://www.manteno5.org/webquest/high/Science/StrengthNutrition/strength.htm

Webquest

I came across a webquest site that would be very helpful for the ms and hs kids alike. Headaches are a common complaint across those ages, so this would be great lesson for them to investigate and maybe help them out.

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/headaches


Debbie

Our family has started the skiing and snowboarding thing. It had been years since I have skied, but it's kind of like riding a bike, you don't forget. The only thing different is that I am not quite as daring as I use to be. Also, snowboarding was not as popular, either. I guess I'm getting older, but snowboarding does not appeal to me. All that sitting down in the snow and not being able to turn as tight I don't get. However, my boys think it is great. So Nathan, Adam, and Aaron snowboard and ol' mom and dad ski. Too bad it is such an expensive activity, but it is worth it. We are really looking forward to our Tahoe vacation next Christmas break. The plan is to hit the slops and enjoy the hot tub afterwords!

Christmas Memories

I cannot think of one specific Christmas memory that sticks out in my mind as being the "best". I had a great childhood and my parents always made Christmas a special time for the family. Besides Christmas shopping, there was always the decorating, the baking, the family get-togethers, the Christmas TV programs we gathered around to watch as a family, etc. My mom has been gone for a couple of years and had been sick for a couple of years prior to her passing. Christmas Eve Day is always a tough day for me now. Our family did our major celebration on Christmas Eve, so that meant that day was spent preparing for the event. That is what I did for many years. We still celebrate with extended family on Christmas Eve, bit it certainly isn't the same without mom. Now on Christmas Eve Day, my husband, sons, and I have created our own tradition. We decide as a family what movie to go watch at the theater, watch it, then head off to the family Christmas celebration!

MTV

I remember back in the early '80's when MTV first came out. The 24 hour music video station use to be a favorite to watch or just to have on as background music. Some of the videos use to be a little bit much, but nothing compared to what is on TV now. From the brief glimpses of the MTV of today, the two formats of the station seem totally different. Yes, I may seem uncool, but we have the station blocked on our TV at home. I came across this article that is a little more objective than my opinion of modern MTV, but found it interesting anyway.


http://www.NewsTarget.com/022343.html

Issue In Education - School Uniforms

I never gave much thought to school uniforms until I started working as a school nurse in the secondary setting of public schools. Well, well...I'm sorry if I offend anyone, but there are girls who just look like floozies! At least the high school this year the dress code is attempted at be inforced a little more. I feel bad for the male staff who are suppose to get after the girls whose breasts are half hanging out of their shirts. Then some girls want to know why the staff member is looking at their chest! I could only image how uncomfortable that would be for the staff person. As far as the boys go, I get tired of reminding them to pull up their pants. Remember the day when it use to be embarrassing if anyone saw our underwear? We are also starting to see the colored headbands with some of the kids. They are denying any "gang affiliation", but who knows? I guess I am sounding old and grouchy, but as far as I am concerned, bring the uniforms on!!!

www.ed.gov/updates/uniforms.html

"Aha" Moment

I'm still waiting to experience this with some of the students I see at school when it comes to changing health habits for the better. I'm still waiting to experience this with some adults as well. Many times I am asked for advice, but I keep waiting for those who ask to take me up on what I suggest. Maybe someday soon someone will take what I have to say at heart and when they really understand what I am talking about, they will experience that "aha" feeling.

Worst Jobs

Well, I can't say that I have had a "bad" job. There have been nursing jobs that I haven't liked, so I am really having to think about this. When I was in high school, I sarted working for an orthodontist and every summer when I came home from college, I would get to go back to my old job. The only job that comes to mind would be a temporary position I had in high school. For about two weeks one summer my best friend and I woked for some printing company and we had to stuff envelopes for mailers. Not only was it a all day long job, but we had to stand the whole time. No chairs/stools allowed.

I love Lake Tahoe! As I kid my parents took me there several times and that is when I decided this is my favorite place to be. John and I spent our honeymoon there and ended up buying a timeshare. We have vacationed in Tahoe many times and at one point we even thought about relocating there. This past summer we bought another timeshare week . Yipee! The day after we are done with our technology program, we are heading off to my little paradise. Then in December, we plan on using the additional week over Christmas break.

Another place that I truly enjoy is Manhattan Island. It's very different than Lake Tahoe, but so much fun. Now, I don't think I could ever live there, but at the drop of a dime, I would be ready to go and visit again! My family and I vacationed back east last summer for the first time and we had a blast. We did the touist activities, but also did some exploring on our own. Visiting a place that I had only read about and seen in movies and on TV, it seemed almost sureal being there. Because it is such a big city, we just scratched the surface on places to see. I guess I will just have to go back again soon. Debbie

Hobbies

My first response to hobbies is "who has time for hobbies?" Between work, school, kids, church, etc. it is difficult to find any free time. I had a sewing teacher come to my house to give me a lesson. But as I write this, the sewing machine is where I left it and the project has not been started. The activity that I do everyday I guess would be my hobby is working out. It may come as a surprise since I don't have the body to fit the work-out schedule, but I lift weights 3 days a week and jog 3 days a week. Please note my weight lifting picture in the lower right corner :) I am proud to say that I have never been able to jog 5 miles before until now. My knees would hurt, but not anymore! It must be all that cod liver oil I take everyday lubricating my joints.....Not only do I like exercising, it is a great way to help me feel healthier. For now, this will probably be the hobby I participate in most. Sewing, Scrapbooking, gardening will just have to wait for later. Debbie

Issues in the Healthroom

I don't have a classroom, but I can comment on what I am seeing with the students who come to my office. More than medical issues, I am seeing more kids with mental health and family issues that are interfering with success at school. This year I am also seeing kids with what people are calling "school avoidance". These students usually complain of headaches and stomach aches and appear in the health room often. What I find even more interesting are some of the parents who enable this behavior by allowing them to go home at every whim. Taking this one step further, I know a parent who gets her son's nurse practioner to excuse all of his absences ( writes he had a "virus" or a sore throat or strained muscles, etc.). Sometimes it can be difficult to convince these students and parents that attendence is essential for school success.

New Interesting Technology

Hmmm...new, interesting technology...I'm barely getting this computer thing down let alone think of a new piece of equipment to try and learn. To be totally candid, I haven't even figured out all the bells and whistles on my cell phone! If I have to pick a piece of technology that I would like to learn about/have I guess it would be an iphone. This is because it would be my "all in one " piece of equipment.

The War

Sometimes the war does not seem real to me. I was speaking with the counselors at school not too long ago about this very thing. We came to the conclusion that since we, as civilians, have not had to personally sacrifice anything, it is easy for the war not to be part of our daily lives (my mother, who was a young lady during WWII, spoke of the rationing of certain groceries and items during that time period. Sugar, chocolate, coffee, and nylon is what I remember her mentioning. I even have some grocery ration coupons from the war that belonged to my grandparents). However, I do read in the newspaper the casualties and ask myself how much longer will this continue. It seems like this fighting has been going on so long it is difficult for me to remember when it even started. As far as if this is just war, I admit I waffle back and forth. Part of me feels we need to help our neighbor, even if it is on the other side of the world. The other part of me feels that we have no business being over there. Questions I ask are,"How do I support the GI's but not the war? Is this conflict really about oil? Why does it seem our government is not being truthful?" This situation is so much more complex than what I can articulate. What I do feel I can say with confidence is that I look forward to the day when our service men and women come home.

Here is a picture from last summer. You may wonder why I have those buttefly bandages on my nose, so I will tell you. We were having a wiffle ball tournament at out house. We had about 20 boys ranging in ages from 11-17 playing. During the whole tournament nobody got injured, but me (and I wasn't even playing). I tripped on the steps on our patio, hit the sliding glass door and then smacked the bottom frame of the glass. I did not break the fall with my hand as I had to protect my cup of coffee that I was toting :) I probably could have used a few stitches, but nurses don't always practice what they preach. I do have a little scar as a momento from the tournament of 2007.

After spending all day in class working on the computer I came home tonight, took a nap, and prepared dinner. Then I decided I just didn't have enough computer time today. It is 9:30 now and this is how I am feeling at the moment...