Produced by J. Pettway, Media Specialist

J.E .BROWN M IDDLE SCHOOL

FEBRUARY 1, 2011 VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2

THE DOLPHIN DOSE

NEWSLETTER

He came back! During the 2009 –2010 school year, the man known for his public service, philanthropic efforts, and famous last words, ―I’ll be back‖ graced Brown Middle School with his presence. And, this year was no exception, California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger made good on his promise and came back via Georgia State University’s After School All-Stars program.

For a job well done and to receive a gift of benevolence on behalf of the entire program, five Brown Middle School superstars were selected to accompany Governor Schwarzenegger on a week long trip to Switzerland. Accompanied by Brown’s beloved, Mrs. J. Thomas and Mr. K. Esok-punwu, students Nadia Martin, Terrica Griffin, Yemaya Broadnax, Jakobi Baker, and Samuel Jones made the journey to say a heartfelt ―thank you‖ and accept a check for $1,000,000 on behalf of all After School All-Stars! That’s correct, six zeroes!

Each year, eighth graders across Atlanta Public Schools are assessed for their writing, use of conventions, and abilities to synthesize infor-mation seamlessly. From August to January students and teachers spend countless hours preparing for the one day on which they have an opportunity to show their peers, instructors, schools, and district representatives their accomplished creative writing skills.

While both teachers and students initially felt that the rigors or steps necessary to achieve their goals this year would be like any other, they were met with many surprises along the way. The first was the week long ‘ice-cation’ received at the beginning of this se-mester. The second however was a force to be reckoned with. Stu-dents decided to host a rap contest to show their skills before the big day. First place winners Furassa Rashid, Asia Moody, Zieere Issac, and Shaquala Wooten, also known as Skool Girls wowed the audi-ence with their fabulous writing ’rap’ skills. If their rap was any indi-cation of their written performance, we are in for a treat!

Extended “ice-cation” and enriched, accelerated instruction yields fabulous writing raps!

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Upcoming Events...

Art Exhibit February 2, 2011

Principal’s Roundtable February 4, 2011

Deficiency Notices February 4, 2011

Winter Break / President’s Day February 18—21, 2011

PTSA/ Black History Performance (6:00 PM) February 24, 2011

Men of Valor are on the M.O.V.E. and kicked off another anticipated award winning season with a 2nd place win in this year’s first com-petition. Way to go!

Congratulations to the BMS Boys Basketball team for an outstanding undefeated season!

Shout outs!

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Your year in Black History Have you ever considered what major events occurred the year you were born? Have you ever taken the time to research which African American pioneered an effort or cause five years ago? Ten or fifteen years ago? Find your birth year and explore Black History events that transpired the year you were born…

1997

(June 23) Betty Shabazz, widow of Malcolm X, died of burns sustained in a June 1 fire in her home

Singer, Michael Jackson was inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame.

Tiger Woods becomes the first African American to win the Masters tournament, as well as the youngest golfer ever to do so.

1998

DNA evidence was used to test the theory that Thomas Jefferson fathered the children of his slave, Sally Hem-ings -- most concluded that the DNA and other evidence confirmed the theory

(September 21) track and field great Florence Griffith Joyner died (athlete; first African American to win four medals in one Olympics; sister-in-law of Jackie Joyner-Kersee)

J.C. Watts, a Congressman from Oklahoma, becomes

the first African American to be elected to a position of

leadership in the Republican Party.

1999

Rosa Parks was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in USA after a life dedicated to fighting racism. She was a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement after refusing to move to the back of a bus for a white man to sit down in December 1955.This courageous woman was arrested and the Montgomery Bus Boy-cott (Alabama) followed. The

entire black community boycotted public buses for 381 days. Ultimately the case resulted in the United States Supreme Court ruling that segregated bus service was unconstitutional. She passed away on October 24 2005, at age 92.

Amadou Diallo, an unarmed African American man, is mistakenly shot and killed by four white policemen in New York City, raising a national furor.

A group of African American farmers wins a suit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture for dis-criminating against them in giving out loans and subsi-dies.

2000

(July) Venus Williams became the first African American to win the women's title at Wimbledon since Althea Gibson (1957-58)

Condoleezza Rice named as the next Secretary of State, the first African American woman to hold that position

After a massive protest rally and NAACP boycott, the governor of South Carolina has a Confederate flag on top of the statehouse dome moved to a less conspicuous place.

2001

Arkansas named a state holiday for Daisy Bates, the first state to name a holiday for an African American woman

Ruth Simmons, Brown University, became the first Afri-can American presi-dent of an Ivy League university

General Colin L.

Powell is appointed

Secretary of State by

President George W.

Bush.

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ice cream. If you're craving savory munchies, snack on baked tortilla chips instead of regular corn chips and pair them with salsa instead of sour cream. Or satisfy salt cravings with pret-zels instead of chips.

Read serving size information. What looks like a small package of cookies can contain 2 or more servings — which means double or even triple the amounts of fat, calories, and sugar

shown on the label.

Don't slip up after dinner. Evenings can be a tempting time to indulge in sugary, fatty snacks. If you're really feeling hungry, don't ignore it. In-stead, pick the right snacks to fill the hunger gap. Whole-wheat Treats to Try

Here are a few healthy snack-ing ideas:

Ants on a log: Spread peanut butter on celery sticks and top with raisins.

Banana ice: Peel several very ripe bananas, break them into 1-inch pieces, and freeze the pieces in a sealed plastic bag. Just before serving, whirl the pieces in the blender with a small amount of water or juice. Serve right away. Add berries for a different flavor or top with fruit or nuts.

Healthy ice pops: Freeze fresh, unsweetened 100% juice in ice pop molds or ice cube trays.

Whole-grain pita and hummus: Warm a pita in the oven on low, then cut it into small trian-gles. Dip it in a tasty, low-fat hummus. Hum-mus is available in yummy flavors like garlic and spicy red pepper. Hummus also makes a tasty dip for cut-up veggies.

Happy trails mix: Combine 1 cup whole-grain toasted oat cereal with ¼ cup chopped walnuts and ¼ cup dried cranberries for a healthy trail mix.

As with everything, moderation is the key to smart snacking. People who eat regular meals and healthy snacks are less likely to overeat and gain weight than people who skip meals or go for long periods with-out eating and then scarf down a large order of fries.

It's natural to feel hungrier at certain times — like between a long afternoon of classes and your swim meet. Knowing how much food your body needs to satisfy this hunger is critical. A handful of walnuts is great brain food before sitting down to do that math homework. But a whole bag won't help you add anything — except pounds!

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD

Between school, homework, sports, your after-school job, and hanging out with friends, it may feel like there's no time for healthy eating. And when you do stop to eat, it's probably tempting to go the quick and easy route by grabbing a burger and fries, potato chips, or candy.

But it is possible to treat yourself to a healthy snack. In fact, if you have a hectic schedule, it's even more important to eat healthy foods that give you the fuel you need to keep going.

Even if you take time to eat three meals a day, you may still feel hungry at times. What's the answer? Healthy snacks. Snacking on nutri-tious food can keep your energy level high and your mind alert without taking up a lot of your time.

Why Healthy Snacking Is Good for You

You may have noticed that you feel hungry a lot. This is natural — during adoles-cence, a person's body demands more nutrients to grow. Snacks are a terrific way to satisfy that hunger and get all the vitamins and nutrients your body needs.

But you need to pay attention to what you eat. Stuff-ing your face with a large order of fries after class may give you a temporary boost, but a snack this high in fat and calories will only slow you down in the long run.

To keep energy levels going — and avoid weight gain — steer clear of foods with lots of simple carbohydrates (sugars) like candy bars or soda. Look for foods that contain complex carbohy-drates like whole-grain breads and cereals and combine them with protein-rich snacks such as pea-nut butter or low-fat yogurt or cheese.

Judging Whether Snacks Are Healthy

Choosing healthy snacks means shopping smart. Be cautious of the health claims on food packages. Here are some things to watch out for:

Just because something is "all natural" or "pure" doesn't necessarily mean that it's nutritious. For example, "all natural" juice drinks or sodas can be filled with sugar (which is, after all, a natural ingredient) but all that sugar means they'll be high in calories and give you little nutrition. A granola bar is a good example of a snack that seems healthy. Although granola bars can be a good source of certain vitamins and nutrients, many also contain a great deal of fat, including a particularly harmful type of fat called trans fat. On average, about 35% of the calories in a regular granola bar come from fat. And there

can be a lot of sugar in granola cereals and bars. Check the Nutrition Facts label on the package to be sure.

Be skeptical of low-fat food claims, too. If the fat has been eliminated or cut back, the amount of sugar in the food may have increased to keep that food tasting good. Many low-fat foods have nearly as many calories as their full-fat versions.

Whatever claims a food's manufacturer writes on the front of the package, you can judge whether a food is healthy for you by reading the ingredients and the nutrition information on the food label.

Smart Snacking Strategies

Here are some ways to make healthy snacking part of your everyday routine:

Prepare healthy snacks in advance. Did you know that you can make your own granola or trail mix? When you make something yourself, you get to control the ingredients and put in what's good for you! You also can keep plenty of fresh fruit and veggies at home to take on the go. Cut up melons or vegetables like celery and carrots in advance. Keep the servings in bags in the fridge, ready to grab and go.

Keep healthy snacks with you. Make it a habit to stash some fruit, whole-grain crackers, or baby carrots in your backpack or workout bag so you always have some healthy food nearby. Half a cheese sandwich also makes a great snack to have on standby.

Make it interesting. Healthy snacking doesn't have to be boring as long as you give yourself a variety of choices. Whole-wheat pretzels with spicy mustard, rice cakes with peanut butter and raisins, or low-fat fruit yogurt are healthy, tasty, and easy.

Satisfy cravings with healthier approaches. If you're crazy for chocolate, try a hot chocolate drink instead of a chocolate bar. An 8-ounce mug of hot chocolate has only 140 calories and 3 grams of fat. A chocolate bar, on the other hand, has 230 calories and 13 grams of fat. Substitute nonfat frozen yogurt or sorbet for

HELPFUL HEALTH HABITS…

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Parents’ Points…

It's a scene that plays out daily in homes everywhere. Kids come in from school and head straight to the kitchen looking for something to eat. How can you can make sure your child gets nourished but still has room for a healthy dinner? Read on.

Though kids need less frequent snacks as they get older, it's not surprising that most are hungry after school. Many kids eat lunch early — 11:30 or even before — and then have an afternoon of classes and maybe even an after-school activity before their next chance to eat. It's no wonder the snack food vending machine looks so appealing at the end of the day.

Depending on your child's age and after-school routine, you may not always be able to control what he or she eats in the late afternoon. But don't throw in the towel just yet. Take these steps to guide your child to good after-school snacks that will be satisfying and still leave room for a nutritious dinner.

Figure Out the Timing

Put yourself in your kids' shoes and consider their eating schedules on a normal weekday. Some younger kids may have a mid-morning snack, but most older school-age kids won't. Get the answers to these questions: When is lunchtime? What and how much do they eat at lunch? Do they ever skip lunch? Does the after-school program serve snacks? This will help you figure out how hungry kids will be when they get home.

You'll also want to think about what time you normally serve dinner. A child who gets home famished at 3 and eats a large snack probably won't be hungry if dinner is at 5:30. Likewise, it may not reasonable to ex-pect a child whose parents work late to go until 7:30 with nothing to eat since lunch. Think about your kids' schedules and plan accordingly.

Create a List of Healthy Options

Next, talk about which snacks kids would like to have at snack time. Come up with a list of healthy options together and be sure to include a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. While a slice of cake or some potato chips shouldn't be forbidden foods, such low-nutrient snacks shouldn't be on the everyday after-school menu.

If you can, take your kids along to the grocery store and spend some time reading the nutrition facts labels and comparing products. Pay attention to the amounts of protein, fiber, calcium, and other important nutri-ents, and don't miss the chance to talk about portion sizes. Together, choose snacks that are low in sugar, fat, and salt. Being involved in the process makes it more likely that kids will learn to make healthy food choices.

Make Healthy Snacks an Easy Choice

Don't expect kids — even teens — to cut up their own veggie sticks. It's just too much bother, especially when they're hungry. Kids are more inclined to eat what's handy. That's where you come in. Make healthy snacks easily available by packing them in their lunchboxes or backpacks or by having them visible and ready-to-eat at home.

If you're at home after school, your youngster might enjoy helping you make a creative snack like ants on a log (celery topped with peanut butter and raisin "ants"), egg boats (hard-boiled egg wedges topped with a cheese sail), or fruit kabobs. Older kids may enjoy a fruit smoothie, mini-pitas with hummus dip, or whole-grain crackers topped with cheese and pear slices.

Older kids often like making their own snacks, so provide the ingredients and a few simple instructions. If dinner is just around the corner, consider allowing a "first course," such as a small salad or side vegetable while you finish preparing the family meal.

For those nights when dinner is hours away, you could opt for a more substantial snack such as half a sand-wich or a quesadilla made with a whole-wheat tortilla, low-fat cheese, and salsa warmed in the microwave. Nothing too complicated, though. A good snack should take more time to eat than it does to prepare!

If your child goes to an after-school program or to a caregiver's house, find out if snacks are served. If so, what's typically offered? If you don't like what you hear, suggest alternatives or just pack an extra snack your child can eat after school. Easy-to-pack snack options include trail mix, nuts, low-sugar whole grain cereal, whole-grain pretzels or crackers, fresh or dried fruit, and cut-up vegetables.

What if your child comes home to an empty house? Again, the best strategy is to leave something healthy front and center on the kitchen counter or in the refrigerator. A hungry child, like a hungry adult, is likely to take the path of least resistance.

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD

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BROWN’S BOOK BEAT!

6th Grade

Found

In this survival story set in the

near future, four orphaned and

unwanted

children

come to-

gether

when an

abandoned

baby needs

their care.

In the cit-

ies, work-

ers sit in

front of

computer

screens

and earn

minimal wages. The streets are

inhabited by wanderers who

steal and scavenge in order to

survive. In the ravaged country-

side, a few lost souls roam, liv-

ing in caves and abandoned

structures. Ren, the child of a

computer worker, is sent away

because her mother can no

longer support her. Alone and

frightened, she soon meets

Brocket and Lil. This unlikely

young trio takes on the responsi-

bility of caring for an abandoned

baby whom they name Found.

They discover an enemy in the

form of a crazed woman who

seeks to take Found away from

them. Their lives are further

complicated when the infant be-

comes seriously ill. This is an

interesting story, but the un-

knowns are many. How did the

world get to such a low point?

What hope do these vagabond

children have beyond their own

intrepid resourcefulness?

7th Grade

Found

Raspberry Hill, 13, loves money.

She sells clearance holiday candy

and pencils, and keeps her lunch

money rather than eat. She

hoards every dime she can gather

and hides her cash in her room.

Greed drives her and is more im-

portant than friends, boys, or her

mother's love. Ever since her fa-

ther got involved with drugs and

she and her mother lived on the

streets for a while, cash makes her

feel safe. She and her mother now

have a

place

of

their

own,

but life

in the

pro-

jects is

hardly

ideal.

Every-

body

has

prob-

lems:

Mai

Kim,

with her mixed heritage; Ja'nae,

whose mother deserted her; the

bothersome neighbors, Check and

Shoe, who help drug dealers in

order to eat. When Raspberry's

mother finds her stash, she thinks

it's stolen, and throws it out the

window. Everything else-furniture,

dishes, and clothes-is stolen from

their apartment and the teen and

her mother are on the street

again. Raspberry then has to face

the questions in her life and work

with her mother toward possible

solutions.

8th Grade

The Bully

A new life. An new school. A

new bully. That's what Darrell

Mercer faces. Darrell is small for

his age, almost a social runt.

When his mother gives him the

news the two of them will be

moving from his home in Philly

to the foreign land of Bluford

High, Darrell realizes his life is

changing and there is nothing

he can do about it. Soon after

the big move, Darrell finds him-

self on the brink of utter devas-

tation as he is not only bullied

by the cruel Tyray Hobbs, but

also becomes a social outcast.

With his life spinning out of con-

trol, Darrell finds himself facing

a difficult decision. Should he

succumb to the unfortunate fate

as class loser, or should he take

control of his own destiny and

make the change he wants so

desperately to see?