• We need our sleep. Children need 10 hours of sleep each night to be well rested and ready to do their best. Adult needs vary, but we shouldn’t shortchange our sleep either.
• Keep the lines open. As busy as we are, it is essential to be available when our children have something they need to talk about. Set up a code word, maybe something silly, like “banana” that your children or you could mention when there is something troubling them or you. Let your child know that the code is not to be used lightly—like when their sibling is bugging them. When they do call you aside for something serious, give them your full attention.
• Ditch the junk. We all need a minimum of five servings a day of fruit and vegetables, so stock up on fresh fruit and 100% fruit juice drinks. Avoid packing or snacking on cookies and high-fat snacks. Try pretzels or light popcorn.
• Move it. Go for family walks, runs, or sledding trips several days a week. Have a family fitness “club”, charting everyone’s progress on everything from shooting hoops to jumping rope.

Spring Vocal concert dates announced! Now that you have your 2008 calendars at hand, Mrs. Peterson would like to invite you to join Horace Mann students as we celebrate Minnesota's 150th birthday with music. Concert "dress" for students grades 1-6 will be a Minnesota-themed t-shirt: Vikings, Guthrie, Minnesota History Center Sites, SPCO, you name it. Yeah, Minnesota! Please set aside these dates:

• Grades 4, 5, 6 concert for parents/guests- Wednesday March 4, 8:45 a.m. (Dress rehearsal for students March 3 at 1:40 p.m.)
• Grades 1, 2, 3 concert for parents/guests- Wednesday May 7, 9:45 a.m. (Dress rehearsal for students May 6 at 9:45 a.m.)
• Kindergarten Musical for parents/guests 1:15 p.m. on May 20. (Dress rehearsal for students is Friday, May 16 at 1:15.)

Give Kids a Smile- Free Dental Care for Children February 2008   Minnesota dental professionals are concerned about the growing number of children who don’t have access to dental care. That’s why about 2,000 dental professionals will come together on Feb. 1 and 2, 2008, to provide free dental care to low income children in need. This special event is called “Give Kids a Smile” and is coordinated by the Minnesota Dental Association. The dental care will be available in community-based clinics and private practices in many locations throughout Minnesota. Here is more information: All patients must have appointments in advance and be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. After Jan. 1, 2008, parents may call United Way 211 (just dial 2-1-1) or 800-543-7709. Operators will have a list of participating dental offices and will be able to direct people to a location in their area. Parents will then call the dental office to schedule an appointment.

Services will vary from preventive care, which includes cleanings, sealants and fluoride treatment, to restorative care, which includes fillings. Information on specific services that will be provided on Feb. 1 and 2 will be outlined when an appointment is scheduled. Typically, clinics treat children ranging in age from 3 to 18. When calling for an appointment, parents should ask about any age requirements. Learn more at mndental.org.

Homecroft Closing Delayed The school district will take time January through March to discuss the closing of Homecroft and its impact on the schools and community. If the plan were to go through, it would mean an increase in enrollment at our school. There would be approximately 70 students in the Horace Mann attendance area. Some children would continue in the bilingual program relocated to Wellstone Elementary. Other children would choose magnet schools. Some would choose to attend our school. While we could not predict a change to enrollment, it is a factor that the Site Council and I would monitor as the school district comes to a decision. Currently our school is 9 students below projection. We have room for 24 students in 6^th grade. While first grade has high class sizes, other grades have openings. You can read more details on-line at http://www.twincities.com//ci_7755962.html or http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/12618806.html or http://www.startribune.com/local/east/12647001.html for more details on the district decision.

Family Volunteering: Simple Ways to Weave Service into Your Hectic Life” Dr. Jenny Friedman, founder and Executive Director of Doing Good Together, will be presenting at Horace Mann School on Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 7:00 pm.  Horace Mann is located at 2001 Eleanor Avenue.  The presentation is free and open to the public.  Please call to register at 651-293-8965.

Friedman will explain the unexpected benefits of family volunteering, a powerful, hands-on way to teach our children the values of kindness, compassion, tolerance, community responsibility, and good citizenship.  Discover dozens of practical and simple ideas for getting your family involved in community service work; environmental, social and political action; and charitable giving, and find out how easy it is to integrate this meaningful tradition into your busy life.  Also, hear about the “Doing Good Together in the Schools” initiative that was piloted in the Minneapolis area during the 2006-2007 academic year; it won the 2007 Minnesota State Service award, which recognizes exceptional programs and organizations that engage students in service.

Jenny Friedman, Ph.D., is founder and Executive Director of Doing Good Together and author of The Busy Family’s Guide to Volunteering (Robins Lane Press, 2003).  She is a national leader on the topic, recently cited in Better Homes and Gardens. Please RSVP to Judy Browne at 651-293-8965, extension 9008, so that we can ensure adequate seating.

Family Service Project Night To follow up from Jenny’s talk, the PTA is sponsoring a Family Service Project Night. Please save Friday, January 25 and watch for more details. This will be a free, fun, relaxed opportunity to connect with your children while doing something to help someone else. It will be set up similar to Make-It, Take-it Night, but we will be making it and giving it away. To volunteer or ask questions, please contact Sarah Johnson at smillerjohnson@hotmail.com or Chris Aerts at chrisbillaerts@comcast.net. Let’s do something good together!

Survival Guide for Parents of Gifted Kids The next support group meeting for parents with gifted students will be Monday, January 14 at 6:00 p.m. Mariana Tennyson will present a comprehensive overview of the gifted program. We will begin a book study of The Survival Guide for Parents of Gifted Kids: How to Understand, Live With, and Stick Up for Your Gifted Child! By Dr. Sally Yahnke Walker. Copies will be available for purchase at the meeting. Please RSVP to 651-293-8965, ext 305 if you are interested.