Volume 26 Issue 5 April / May 2008

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Where to find…

Executive Board News 2-3

Committee Info/Updates

4-8

Around Town 8

Children’s Outings 9-10

Wellness Forum

11-14

Classifieds 14

Calendar of Events

15-16

Volunteer Form 17

Committee Chairs 18

Bargain Bonanza (continued on pg 4) On March 8th, 2008, Olmsted Falls had near blizzard conditions but still, the people came. I don’t know how people got out of their driveways that morning, but they made it to Bargain Bonanza – 2008! The parking lot was being plowed all day long, we had an occasional visit from a neighborhood dog, and still people came to the sale. For those who braved the weather, it showed us how important this sale is to our community and surrounding areas. I am tickled to report that our sale was a roaring success! Despite the weather, we did have a great turnout, although it was understandably lower than past years. Our net profit was almost $4,000! I can’t say thank you enough to all our member volunteers and husbands for their time and dedication to make this sale a great success! I also want to thank the school’s Builder’s Club and Boy Scout troops that hustled in the cold unloading items into the school Friday night. I would also have been lost without the never-ending help from the custodial staff: Chuck, Mike, and Mike. They seemed to magically have things set up exactly at the right time, and they were available at every moment they were needed. You guys were fantastic! Last but not least, I need to thank the Bargain Bonanza Committee and Joe Bertrand and family for your hours of hard work and preparation for this event – you deserve medals! We scrambled the few days before the sale to figure out if we could even continue with the sale given the predicted weather. Knowing that we are not always going to make decisions that will make everyone happy, we felt we had enough support from the school, staff, and our volunteers to move forward. We did have to make a few decisions on the fly during the sale because of the weather. Our charities were not able to make it to the school in the weather to pick up items, nor was the State of Ohio allowing rental companies to rent storage trucks on Saturday. We were in a bit of a jam until we got the help from the Middle School Principal, Mr. Kurz. He let us keep the charity items in the school until Sunday. I was very impressed with how much support we received from our volunteers and buyers when some

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� President—Melissa H Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for all your hard work on Bargain Bonanza. And what a Bonanza it was – complete with a blizzard! Thinking back to Saturday, I still can’t believe all the people that came to shop and how fun it was to be at the school that day. I really appreciate how everyone worked so well together. Everyone went the extra mile that day – our members, the school employees, and even the shoppers. It always impresses me how the Middle School cafeteria can be basically empty at 3:00 PM on Friday, then by 8:00 PM Friday night we are all shopping amid so much merchandise. I hope you scored great bargains. Thank you to all of you that worked so hard to make the weekend successful. Please complete the interest form for the 2008-2009 OECPTA year. It would be great to see everyone involved in something. Take a minute to complete the form and get it to me (email, mail, or at the April meeting). Hopefully, we will have the majority of the committees together before the start of the summer. Thank you for your continued time and effort and for all you do to make our organization great!

1st VP— Jodi D Happy Spring!! I hope you are all finding the time to get outside and enjoy the few warm days we've had. I just want to take a minute and remind everyone that now is the time to express your interest for next year. You may have seen the committee interest form floating around...make sure to fill one out. These are not binding agreements, they simply show us who might be interested in helping out next year. All of our awesome activities are planned by the committee...why not join a committee and bring your ideas to life. Joining a committee really is the best way to meet new people and make new friends! Thanks to all of the committees for the 2007 - 2008 year; we appreciate your time and hard work! What a great year!

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2nd VP – Cindy Z Congratulations to the February/March meeting winners for turning in their volunteer hour sheets: February March Rosalie P Brooke P

Kim C Tricia V Christine J Becky M

Again, THANK YOU, to every one of you who makes sure to turn in your volunteer hour sheets at every meeting or emails me your hours. Your cooperation and dedication help to keep this wonderful organization up and running! On another note, since this is our last newsletter of the year, I wanted to take a moment to thank my committee members for their hard work and dedication they put into this 07-08 OECPTA year. And a special thanks to those ladies who chaired and/or co-chaired the committees! (Leslie A, Kim C, Rosalie P, Traci M, Laurie D, Allison H, Jennifer M, Kim W, Amanda F, Julie C, and Denise M). Thank you for having the courage to take on the extra responsibility. I hope you found it not as intimidating as it sometimes may sound! I also hope you had a great time! Because that's a must! I hope to see you again in the fall! Until then, have a great summer. Make a memory with your family...and cherish it!

3rd VP – Lori L Thank you to Beth T, the entire Bargain Bonanza committee and our great volunteers for pulling off a Bargain Bonanza we will all remember! Thank you to everyone who dug themselves out of their driveways (or at least tried!) and made their way to the sale, which was fairly well attended despite the weather. While we can't brag about breaking previous revenue records, we can say our profit was a lot more than if we had canceled the sale! One comment from Beth after the Bargain Bonanza was that one of the most rewarding parts of her time as Chair was the great friends she made along the way. It is not too early to think about your involvement in the OECPTA next year. The Chairs for the Holiday Auction and Bargain Bonanza Committees lead our members on our most important fundraisers, which make it possible for OECPTA to have so many great activities. In addition to a valuable and rewarding experience, leading these and other committees is a great way to make new friends. Make sure you sign-up for your volunteer positions at our next meeting.

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Bargain Bonanza – cont’d of the rules were changed slightly in order to maximize the sale’s potential. We tried to sell as much as possible before the bag sale, and encouraged sellers to come and pick up their unsold items before the bag sale a few hours earlier than usual. We were able to email sellers from a computer at the school to communicate this, and we also had an OECPTA phone number that we changed several times during the sale to keep buyers and sellers updated on what we were doing. We were also glad to send everyone home on Saturday at 4:00 pm when the sale ended, and it was still light outside. We concluded clean-up and charity pick-up on Sunday. Not only was the Bargain Bonanza Committee wildly victorious in putting on this event, they also managed to stay under budget! Kudos to everyone on the Committee for a job well done! Thank you to everyone for another exceptional sale!

Moms & Couples The OECPTA year is quickly coming to a close, but we have two really great events left and hope you will join us! COOKING THYME (Westlake) – Thurs, April 17th 7:00 pm. Register now, pay later. Cost: $120, which is subject to a 10% discount if 8 or more register (meals and cost can be split between 2 people if desired). Includes 6 meals, chosen by you beforehand at www.cooking-thyme.com. Wine or other beverages can be brought to share. “TOUR of CLEVELAND” – Sat., May 17th, 7:30pm. Both buses are now full, but can be put on waiting list in case of a cancellation. For those who are registered, cost ($20) is due by April 1st (checks payable to OECPTA). Sign up for either of the above events by e-mail, phone (Dina B) or at the next general meeting. �

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�Service Thanks to everyone who donated items to the Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital Easter Baskets. We were able to donate close to 40 Easter baskets to the children at Rainbow. The number of donations shows how generous and thoughtful our organization is. If you have a formal dress (perhaps a bridesmaid dress) and looking for a place to donate it, you may bring it to the April meeting. We will donate them to the local organization My Fairy Godmother. My Fairy Godmother, Inc. collects gently worn formal dresses and sells them (for a nominal fee) to area teens for their formal dances. They are looking for dresses that are no older than five years. They also accept accessories, shoes, purses, etc. that may complement the dress. If you would like a receipt for your donation (since this is tax deductible) attach your name and address to your donation and a receipt will be mailed to you. If you have any questions, please contact Rachel O. At the April and May meetings, we will be collecting non-perishable canned goods for the SCAN Hunger Center. The SCAN hunger center provides food to families in Olmsted Falls as well as Strongsville, Brook Park, Berea, Middleburg Heights, and Columbia Township. If you are able, please help this worthwhile organization. In February alone, the center provided food to approximately 115 families. Many families struggle during the summer months to feed their families nutritious meals as the children are not receiving their lunch (and possibly breakfast) at school. Suggested donations include (but are not limited to) peanut butter, jelly, canned fruit and vegetables, spaghetti, tomato sauce, macaroni and cheese, cereal, freezer pops, crackers, paper products and laundry soap. If you have any questions about membership in this committee for next year please email Amy U. This committee presents a wonderful opportunity to show our children how we can help others in our community.

Parent Group Our next meeting will be Wednesday, April 2nd at 7:00pm (PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE) at Panera (Great Northern). We will be meeting the first Wednesday of every month (same time and location for now). The group will be facilitated by Robin Scott, the school psychologist at Falls-Lenox. Again, the objective of this group is to provide a supportive environment where parents can share their thoughts, feelings, and information with others in similar situations. Please contact Robin (440-427-6432 or rscott3@leeca.org) or Laurie D for more information about the group. �

Historian Deadline to email your photos for the slideshow will be Thursday, April 17th! I will be collecting photos at the April meeting as well so that I can scan and return them to you that night if it is easier. We will be putting a slideshow together to show at our May meeting and would love to see you and your family participating in all the great OECPTA events held over the year. So please, take a moment to go through your pictures at home and send some along! Send photos to Cindy Z.

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Sunshine Committee Congratulations to the following members who welcomed the newest additions: Pina H, husband Brian, and big sister Mia, welcomed a baby girl, Jillian Rose, on February 12, 2008. She was 6 lbs, 11 oz, and was 19 inches long. Shannon N, husband John, and big brother Luke, welcomed baby girl, Lily Jane, on February 25th. She weighed 7 lbs, and was 18.5 inches long. Special Sunshine Wishes to: Allison H, whose son, Jack, had surgery. Deanna H and family due to daughter Ava's recent cancer diagnosis. Thanks to the following volunteers who helped make meals: Julianne A, Kim W, Megan C, Tami K, Sandra G, Claudia B, Tammy W, Leslie Z Of special note, I am simply amazed by the outpouring of volunteers that have emailed me with their willingness to help out the Harb family in their time of need. I just sat and watched the emails pour into my inbox! I am so proud to be part of such an organization of truly extraordinary people. As always, please email me if you know of any member who is in need of Sunshine services. Thank you!!! Amanda F

Children's Parties Attention all superheroes and princesses! Join the OECPTA for our last party of the year on Friday, May 16th at 6:00 pm. Our theme will be princesses and superheroes...let your little ones dress up in their favorite character (and you too!) and come on out for the fun. There are rumors of some special guests making an appearance at this party. Sign ups will be at the April meeting. Please contact Margherita if you have any questions

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Council Delegate At our last meeting, Mrs. Carol Rami (director of curriculum), discussed enrichment programs that are being offered in the summer. Some of the programs she had mentioned include: Summer Magic, Mad Scientists, Kids in the Kitchen, Math, Reading and Writing programs. Ages do vary for each one. More information will be available at the Olmsted Falls Board of Education.

Membership Our membership currently stands at 174 members. I’d like to thank everyone who continues to spread the word about OECPTA. Our PTA has so many new members this year; it has been wonderful meeting all of them. If you have any questions, please email Rosalie P.

OECPTA

General Meetings 2007-2008

April 10th 7:00 p.m. OF Middle School

Spa Night

May 8th 7:00 p.m. OF Middle School Officer/Committee

Recognition (and Reflections Participant

Recognition)

Programs subject to change. For the latest information from

OECPTA, log on to: www.ofcs.k12.oh.us

Newsletter Please note that this is the final edition of the newsletter for the 2007-2008 school year. Keep in mind that there will be no OECPTA newsletters mailed out over the summer months. The next edition will come out in August. Have a wonderful summer vacation and we will see you in the fall!

Website Help us keep OECPTA's website up-to-date by emailing any updates, changes, announcements, or important dates pertaining to your event(s) to Denise at denise.mccray@cox.net. Keep in mind that it takes several days to post information on the website, so the sooner you turn in your request, the better! Don't forget to check us out at www.ofcs.k12.oh.us. �

Reflections This is a reminder that any child who participated in the Reflections Art Contest will be recognized at our May meeting. The children will be invited to attend the meeting, where they will receive a ribbon and a certificate of participation, as well as a goody bag. You may bring your camera if you'd like. Invitations will be mailed at the end of April. If you have any questions, contact Karen R.

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KIDDIE KLOSET Westlake ECPTA Saturday, April 5th, 2008 Westlake High School 8am-12pm SPRING CHILDREN’S SALE North Royalton ECPTA Saturday, April 5th, 2008 North Royalton High School Cafeteria 1 8am-1pm KIDS SALE North Olmsted ECPTA Saturday, April 5th, 2008 8am-12pm KIDS RESALE Brunswick ECPTA Saturday, April 5th, 2008 8:30am-1pm AVON LAKE KIDS RESALE – April 12th MEDINA KIDS SALE – April 19th

Safety Town Spread the word Safety Town registration is underway!!! We still have available spots in most classes. If you have not registered your child, please do so as classes are filling up quickly. Our student volunteer forms will also be available in the middle and high schools in April. Please encourage your older children, babysitters and neighborhood friends to help out. It is a great experience for them, and looks wonderful on their college applications! We are in need of volunteers this year to build some new moveable houses for the Safety Town village. We need these houses to be lightweight but sturdy. If you, or any handy family members, are looking for a great way to help out, please contact Kim W. Thanks!

Early Childhood PTA Exchange of Ideas We are finalizing all the details for the 2007-2008 Early Childhood PTA Exchange of Ideas. Please save the date for this motivational sharing session. Like always, we will have instructional and sharing sessions on a wide variety of topics that will be sure to familiarize your incoming board with the ins and out of the pta while inspiring your seasoned members with new and exciting ideas. If you or someone from your organization has an idea for the event or would like to facilitate a group discussion on a specific topic, please let us know. Instead of vendors, we are in search of individuals who might be interested in speaking or presenting at general meetings (ex-Terri Crane with her "How to Potty Train Your Child In One Day" book). If you know someone or had someone at one of your meetings, please feel free to pass along their information.

What: Early Childhood PTA Exchange of Ideas Host: Stacy Koneval Location: Fox Meadow Country Club When: Saturday, May 3, 8:30am Phone: 330-764-9216

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��We would like to start off thanking everyone for their support of our outings this year. Our team has worked very hard to plan outings that were both fun and affordable. This will hold true for our last set of outings, which you will find as an attachment with the newsletter. The deadline to sign up for the outings will be April 17th. We work very hard to put the sign up lists together and get them out to the person running the outings in a timely manner (we have to give counts for our events up to two weeks prior to the event). Therefore, we will no longer accept sign ups after the outings deadline. We have had a few issues with needing to cancel events, and not having a complete list of people to call because forms were turned in after the deadline. Also, not that it should be an issue again this year, but it may come up again next year, if the Olmsted Falls City Schools are closed, all outings for that day will be cancelled. So, please check your local news stations for up to the minute cancellations. Every attempt will be made to reschedule the outings on the same day of the week at the same time the outing was originally scheduled. In order to sign up for one of these events, please bring the attached registration form to the April meeting. It will need to be filled out and accompanied by one check for all events or exact cash for all events. The forms will also be available at the General Meetings. If you can’t make the meeting, please mail forms to Sherri K. It will be processed after those received at the meeting. For the events that have a maximum number of participants, they will be filled first come, first served, starting with those turned in at the meeting. All sign-ups must be received by April 17th – no forms will be accepted after this date! Thank you for your continued cooperation! Watch your e-mail, or check the website www.ofcs.k12.oh.us for last minute event sign-ups. We would like to give a big thanks to all our committee members who have worked so hard planning outings. They are: Amanda F, Joanna J, Kathy P, and Leslie Z. If you would like to help plan outings, please contact Becky C or Sherri K. Thank you. Have a great spring!

Strongsville Recreation Center Address: 18100 Royalton Rd Strongsville, OH Date/Time: Saturday, April 12th 1:00–4:00pm Cost: $5 for adults (7 and up), $2 for ages 4-6, and 3 and under are free For more information contact: Leslie Z �

Playground World Address: 1014 Jaycox Rd. Avon, OH 44011 Date/Time: Friday, April 4th 10:00-11:00am Cost: Free, but you still need to register What’s included: Open play on various swings, slides, playground systems, and a whole lot more. Playground World is free for the general public on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays from 10am to 11am. For more information contact: Leslie Z �

Swings and Things Stearns Road, Olmsted Township Date/Time: Thursday, April 17th 6:30–8:00pm Cost: $4 per child ages 3 and up. What’s included: Each child will receive entrance into the Kids Corner, game room, and laser tag. Each child will also get 12 tokens for the game room. Minimum: 10 children Maximum: 25 children For more information contact: Kathy P �

Above The Barre Address: 1450 W. Bagley Road, Berea Date/Time: Monday, April 21st 11:00am Cost: $2 per child What's included: 45 minutes of dance and creative movement with ribbons, rhythm sticks, etc. Wear comfortable cloths with socks. Appropriate for ages 3 & up. Parent involvement is encouraged and probably required, depending on the temperament of your child. For more information contact: Sherri K

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NASA Visitor Center 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland Date/Time: Friday, May 2nd 10:00 – 11:30 am Cost: Free, but you still need to register What’s Included: A free, self-guided tour of the center followed by a video presentation in the auditorium. Must be a U.S. citizen and have driver's license at checkpoint For more information contact: Kathy P �

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*Just a reminder the Police Station Outing has been re-scheduled for April 30 at 11:00 and 6:30 please attend the session you originally signed up for.

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Cinnabon Southpark Mall Date/Time: May 6th at 6:30 pm May 9th at 11:00am Cost: $4 for both adults and children Max: 25 children What’s included: The children and adults will be able to make Cinnamon Sticks. The cost includes a milk and 5 Cinnamon Sticks. For more information contact: Becky C �

The Cleveland Indians Progressive Field Date/Time: May 25th Game time - 1:05pm Cost: $12 per ticket, children 2 and under do not need a ticket. What’s included: The Indians are playing the Texas Rangers. It is Family Fun day, so all children receive a gift at the door, and can run the bases after the game. The seats are in section 467 in rows A-E. Minimum: 15 tickets Maximum: 50 tickets For more information contact: Becky C

My Gym 25016 Center Ridge Rd., Westlake Date/Time: Thursday, May 15th 6:30-8:00 pm Cost: $6 per child What’s included: Supervised games, playtime, gymnastics, and more. Children 3 and over can be dropped off, but children under 3 must have a parent participate with them. For more information contact: Becky C

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, OH 44109 Date/Time: Monday, May 19th 10:00 am Cost: Free, but you still need to register Monday is free day at the zoo for Cuyahoga County residents. Just bring your driver’s license or Zoo Pass to get in free. Meet inside the front entrance of the Zoo. For more information contact: Amanda F �

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The Importance of Recycling – Compact Fluorescent Bulbs By Kristin P In this final article I’ve researched Compact Fluorescent Bulbs – I have not purchased any of these for my home yet, for several reasons. Mostly I wasn’t convinced that they would really be better for the environment. So I have some info to share on that topic. A bit about Compact Fluorescent light bulbs… Like many people, I was skeptical about the benefits of these bulbs, especially when I learned that compact fluorescent bulbs contain mercury vapor. I thought incandescent light bulbs must be less damaging to the environment. But I was surprised to learn that, despite the mercury factor, CFL’s are indeed better for the environment. You just need to be careful when using them in your home and when eventually disposing of them.

Surprisingly, compact fluorescent bulbs are responsible for less mercury contamination than incandescent bulbs. The biggest source of mercury in our air and water comes from burning fossil fuels, such as coal, at utilities that supply electricity. Since a compact fluorescent bulb uses 75 percent less energy than an incandescent bulb and lasts six times longer, it actually creates far less mercury pollution in the long run. A coal-burning power plant will emit four times more mercury to produce the electricity for an incandescent bulb than for a compact fluorescent.

The amount of mercury in a CFL bulb is roughly 5 milligrams, or about an amount that would cover the tip of a ballpoint pen. The mercury can be either in vapor form, or in a bead the size of the period at the end of this sentence. No mercury is released when the bulb is intact or in use.

CFLs have a much longer usable life than incandescents, typically lasting between 6,000 and 15,000 hours, compared to 1,000 hours or so for incandescent bulbs. Recent modifications have improved both the light quality and versatility of CFLs -- many now give off a more pleasing "soft white" light and work in dimmable and three-way fixtures (which wasn’t the case with early versions of the bulb.)

Compact fluorescent bulbs will also save you money over the long term. The bulbs use between 60% and 80% less energy than their incandescent counterparts, making them a good way to cut energy use without having to make any radical changes. All of this adds up to a bulb that can save 2,000 times its own weight in greenhouse gas emissions.

What about breakage? Still, there is some concern about what happens if a CFL bulb breaks and that small amount of mercury is released. Even though the risk of mercury exposure from a broken bulb is small, it is best to avoid exposure to any mercury.

The EPA offers guidelines on how to clean up after a CFL bulb breakage. Briefly, EPA recommends that (1) you immediately open windows to reduce mercury concentrations inside your home; (2) you do not touch the spilled mercury; (3) you clean up the broken CFL glass carefully and immediately (but not with your hands or a vacuum cleaner), and (4) you wipe the affected area with a paper towel to remove all glass fragments and mercury. EPA further recommends that you place the paper towel and glass fragments in a sealed plastic bag and bring the sealed bag to your local Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Site, rather than throwing it in the trash. The clean-up process has multiple steps so I won’t include them here. I would recommend, however, that you click either of these links and read through the details, in case one of these bulbs breaks in your home or office. Remember, never use a vacuum cleaner to sweep up the remnants of the bulb, and ventilate the house before you do anything else! http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/index.htm#flourescent http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdch/CFL_Fact_Sheet_193840_7.pdf

(Continued on page 12)

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Recycling – cont’d In my house, I plan to start using CFL’s in light fixtures that are less likely to get bumped or broken, like in the garage, laundry room or over my kitchen sink. I would be hesitant to replace the bulb in my daughter’s room with a CFL, but I wouldn’t worry too much about putting CFL bulbs in more protected, out-of-the-way lighting fixtures.

What about disposal? It is important that you DO NOT toss your CFLs in the trash! Throwing them in the trash greatly increases the chance of the mercury vapor escaping upon breakage, first exposing you and then the air and then the water around the landfill to the mercury gas. So be careful with the bulbs, throughout their life span.

When CFLs are recycled, the mercury problem is avoided. We are fortunate that the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District has a program to collect compact fluorescent light bulbs (or ANY fluorescent bulbs from households, not businesses) from Cuyahoga County residents. County residents can recycle burned out CFL bulbs at the following locations. The bulbs are sent to a reclamation facility where the mercury is reclaimed and recycled.

North Royalton Fire Station 7000 Royalton Road North Royalton, 44133 (440) 237-4315 Drop-off Monday thru Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Westlake Fire Station 2110 Columbia Road Westlake, OH 44125 (440) 617-4128 Drop-off Monday thru Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (other times by request).

Cuyahoga County Board of Health 5550 Venture Drive Parma, OH 44130 (216) 201-2001 Drop-off: Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Bulbs can also be turned in at the Cuyahoga County Household Hazardous Waste Round-Up held twice a year at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in Berea and at many city service facilities. The next round-up will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

You also might be able to recycle the bulbs at home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s, although I have not verified this.

As always, thanks for reading my column. Enjoy your spring and summer!

For more information about compact fluorescent bulbs visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_fluorescent_lamp http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/05/ban_the_bulb.php http://www.cuyahogaswd.org/residents/hhwaste.asp http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070501/BIZ/705010304 http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/05/ask_treehugger_14.php http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads/Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf

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Health Column - May is National Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month By Molly H Sun exposure causes damage to the skin that accumulates suntan after suntan, sunburn after sunburn, and year after year. This damage can lead to wrinkles, freckles, age spots, cataracts, and even cancer. Greater than 90% of skin cancer is a result of sun exposure, with 1 million new cases of skin cancer per year and 20 deaths per day. Approximately 80% of sun exposure occurs before the age of 18. Research has shown that 1 blistering sunburn during childhood doubles your risk for developing skin cancer as an adult. Therefore, protection from the sun in childhood is essential to preventing skin cancer later in life. Sun safety tips:

• ***The American Academy of Dermatology recommends seeking shade whenever possible.

• Keep infants less than 6 months of age out of the sun. • If your child is less than 1 year of age and gets sunburn contact your child’s pediatrician.

Sunburns can lead to fever and dehydration. • Wear sunglasses with UV protection • Wear a wide brimmed hat. • Wear a t-shirt or other lightweight protective clothing. • Specifically avoid the sun when your shadow is shorter than you are tall (9 a.m. - 3 p.m.)

What Sunscreen should I use for my child if he/she is unable to avoid sun exposure? • Use SPF 15 or greater • Use sunscreens that protect against both UVA and UVB, look for the words BROAD

SPECTRUM on the label • Preferably use waterproof sunscreen • Use a SPF 15 lip balm • Zinc oxide is also a good sunscreen that can be applied as extra protection to the nose,

cheeks, ears, and shoulders (It is also a great diaper cream). • Chemical free sunscreens (made with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide) can be especially

useful for children sensitive to chemicals used in other sunscreens. Tips for proper use of sunscreen:

• Apply the sunscreen 30 minutes prior to going outdoors. • Reapply at least every 2 hours. • Apply sunscreen even on cloudy days. • The first time you use sunscreen on a child apply a small amount to the child’s back to

watch for a reaction. • Use a liberal amount of sunscreen with each application.

Lastly, there will be a free skin cancer screening clinic on May 12th from 9 a.m. –1 p.m. provided by Southwest General Health Center and a local plastic surgeon. For location and further details visit the Southwest General Health Center table at the Health and Wellness fair April 19th.

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Health Column - Sealants to Protect Healthy Teeth By Dr. Melissa A. Kronholz DDS www.olmstedfallsdentist.com

Our mouths have a natural flora of helpful and harmful bacteria. Teeth are covered with a film of plaque bacteria that utilize sugar and starch in foods to produce harmful acids. These acids attack and demineralize the teeth and cause enamel to break down and result in cavities. Fortunately sealants can protect the areas of the teeth most prone to decay from these acids and in turn, from decay.

Sealants are a preventive composite coating placed into the grooves of the posterior teeth. The sealant is a plastic resin material that bonds into the grooves of the chewing surfaces. This “seals” the biting surfaces from penetration of plaque and resultant harmful bacteria that can produce acids that demineralize teeth and can lead to a cavity.

Indications for sealants present when teeth have deep, narrow pits and fissures that retain plaque and food debris even after oral hygiene procedures. High cavity rate on chewing surfaces�of teeth is another indicator. Sealants are recommended because children have difficulty keeping these deep grooves clean, especially when sticky foods are consumed. Sealants are placed once the molar teeth are fully erupted, which is usually at six years old for the first molars and at twelve years old for the second molars.

Sealants are applied to teeth after the surface is cleaned. The sealant is placed into the grooves and photopolymerized to form a hard protective, biting surface. Sealants hold up well under normal chewing forces and should last several years until better hygiene is achieved.

Sealants in conjunction with good oral hygiene, i.e. flossing, and brushing with a fluoride toothpaste, are effective in preventing decay. Preventive measures as these result not only in a healthy dentition but also a healthy mouth.

TWO TICKETS AVAILABLE for: The Kenny Chesney Poets and Pirates Tour Also performing: Sammy Hagar, Keith Urban, LeAnn Rimes May 24th @3:30pm - Cleveland Browns Stadium Section 112, Row 3, Seats 7 & 8 Each ticket is $99.50 plus fees = $122.50 each Please call Melissa Pirnat at 440-236-8195 or email: melissa.m.pirnat@clev.frb.org if interested!

Early Childhood Education teacher looking for a summer babysitting/nanny position. Part-time/Full-time. Certified in CPR, life guarding, and swimming instructor. 2007 graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College. References available. Please contact Sarah Anders at 440-371-3015. �

FOR RENT: GIANT WATERSLIDE Great for outdoor parties and BBQ’s

• $50.00 per day • Electrical and Hose hookup

required • Holds up to 400 lbs &�2 riders

For more details, contact Jill Mader at 440-427-0047

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Olmsted Early Childhood PTA

Volunteer

Hours

Please mark the hours in the appropriate column for each hour of time spent helping in any category each month.

Month Service Hours Legislation Ways & Means

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

January

February

March

April

May

TOTALS 0 0 0

Category Descriptions:

Service Hours: Anything you do to help with OECPTA, including but not limited to: Organizing a party, buying supplies, shopping for supplies, baking food, shopping for the food, making phone calls, organizing an outing or project, attending general or board meetings, setting up or cleaning up after a PTA event, making a meal for Sunshine, etc. Legislation: Writing or contacting legislators, time spent voting on school levy or bond issues, reading related articles in newspaper or on the internet. Ways & Means: Working on Fundraising projects in ANY way-attending meetings, making phone calls, driving to pick up or drop off donations, time spent volunteering at fundraiser, attending fundraiser, preparing for and shopping for refreshments, etc.

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OECPTA Newsletter

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

If you have received this newsletter in error, please mark “Return to Sender” over the address label and mail. If you need to update your address with OECPTA, please contact Membership.

We’re on the web! Visit us at www.ofcs.k12.oh.us.

2007 – 2008 OECPTA Committee Chairs/Co-chairs Bargain Bonanza – Beth T Children’s Outings – Becky C and Sherri K Children’s Parties – Deanna H Heritage Days – Tricia V and Leslie A Historian – Leslie A Holiday Auction – Danielle V, Patty V, Tricia V Hospitality – Sandra C Legislation – Julianne A Membership – Rosalie P and Kim C Moms & Couples – Tricia V and Dina B Newsletter – Laurie D and Traci M Playgroups – Denise M Programs – Jennifer M and Kim S Publicity – Allison H and Jennifer M Reflections – Karen R Safety Town – Kim W Santa Services – Leslie Z Scholarships – Jennifer F Scholastic – Megan L Service – Kristie P Sunshine – Amanda F and Julie C Website – Denise M Wellness – Danielle V ����

Did you know …

• PTA is the Nation’s largest Child Advocacy Organization?

• The National PTA is composed of 6 million volunteers in 23,000 local units?

• PTA is run and led by volunteers?

• PTA is open to any adult who cares about children and our schools?

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