Seattle Schools Community Forum

From The Huffington Post : During the four-year study, researchers are working with hundreds of 10 to 18-year-olds who have trouble falling asleep and waking up. “Adults are good with eight hours of sleep, but because teenage minds and bodies are developing so rapidly, they should be getting about nine ,” explained Allison Harvey, the principle investigator in the study and a professor of psychology at UC Berkeley, to The Huffington Post.  During each semester of the ongoing study, researchers invite several dozen teens who suffer from sleep deprivation to a “slumber party” on campus. Teens are then paired with "sleep coaches" who monitor hormone levels and sleeping habits and patterns. The teens also attend workshops about habits to promote a good night's rest, including meditation, creating a tech-free zone and other methods outlined in the slideshow below. Harvey also hopes that with concrete results, researchers might have a s tronger case for p...

OSPI is apparently interested in your thoughts on a later start for high schools .  I don't believe they have the authority to order this to happen but that they are interested in finding out the depth of interest is a good sign. Weigh in at their Facebook page .

Tomorrow starts the Washington State PTA convention. It runs for three days but the voting sessions are all tomorrow night, Friday the 4th. The voting sessions start at 6:30 p.m. at the Doubletree Inn at Seattle Airport in SeaTac. If you are going, be sure you have your voting credentials signed by your PTA President. You will not be able to vote otherwise. Here is the voters guide that lists the resolutions to be voted on:   This May, voting delegates to the WSPTA convention will vote on one proposed amendment and three new proposals.  Arts Education in Public Schools and Washington State 5.3 Letter and resolution References Fact Sheet Alignment of Sleep Requirements for Optimum Health with School Start Times Proposal, rationale and references Subsidizing Certificated and Classified Staff Salaries Proposal, rationale and references Equitable Educational Opportunities Proposal, rationale and summary, impact statement, legislat...

FYI - Tomorrow, a rally and march for Trayvon Martin sponsored by the NAACP, Mothers for Police Accountability, American Friends Service Committee, and other activist groups.  Rally at 4pm Sunday the 25th Greater Mt.Baker Baptist Church, 2425 South Jackson Street March at 4:30pm to MLK Memorial Park, 2200 Martin Luther King Jr Way  Trayvon Martin was 17.   He had friends, was bright (but got in trouble for tardiness) and had a close-knit family even though his parents had divorced.  He had played football but quit.  He continued volunteering at the team's concession stand for months anyway.  Three weeks ago he was visiting his father's fiancee's home and went out to get some treats at a nearby convenience store. He was shot to death coming back home by a neighborhood watch guy.  So why bring this up here?  Because I've talked in the past about the need for teens to learn how to deal with police officers.  Things happen....

FREE LIBRARY CLASS SCHEDULE for parents and guardians Please join Lori Gradinger, MSW, Relationship and Communication Coach for the FALL 2009 Library Class Schedule, "Can't we all just get along?” Come once or as often as you would like! Each class is different and based on the needs of the parents and guardians who attend. How to CONSTRUCTIVELY TALK with your TEEN when the issues are: CONTROL * CONFLICT * CONSEQUENCES Oct. 7, 6:00 p.m. -7:45 @ Queen Anne Library Oct. 22, 7:00 p.m.-8:45 @ Mercer Island Library Nov. 4, 6:00 p.m. -7:45 @ Greenwood Library Nov. 10, 11:00 a.m.-12:45p.m. @ Mercer Island Library Dec. 9, 6:00 p.m.-7:45 @ Greenwood Library