February. Table of. Contents: February k-8. is an interactive third alcohol. presentedd. The Partnership. learned in. class.

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1 Student Assistance Depart tmentt Newsletter Valerie Northey LCSW, LCADC, SAC and Megan Cirelloo Graduate Student Intern Franklinn Township Public Schools k-8 Connecting studentss and parents with Student Assistance Counselors February Issue 2016 Table of Contents: Monthly Theme: Happy y, Healthy Hearts The Truth About Vaping, E- Cigs and Hookah Pens/ Say No to Smoking Your Heart and the Cardiovascular System Second Hand Smoke Maze Studentt Assistance in Franklinn Township Schools Franklin Township schools have implemented various programs to support the February s theme of Happy Healthy Hearts. Franklin High School s REBEL Anti-Tobacco Club recently performed their first elementary school outreach program entitled Nic Nicotine & Friends" Puppet Show on January 16, This puppet show was presented to all of the 3rd grade classes at Hillcrest Elementary School. The puppet show is an interactive third grade prevention program, whichh focuses on the dangers of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. It also includes techniques on how to avoid negative peer influences regarding drug and alcohol use. There is another presentation scheduled for January 266 th, 2016 at Conerly Road Elementary School. REBEL will also host a Keep Your Heart Healthy Day on February 12,, 2016 during all lunch periods. Educational information regarding the dangers of Tobacco and free giveaways will be distributed to all students during their lunch periods. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America will hold a poster contest for fourth grade students. All health classes will hold a discussion centered on heart disease. Students will then create informative posters based on what they learned in class. Roesanne Cervelli MS, LCADC, CCS, CPS from The Central Jersey Family Health Consortium presentedd information on the dangers of Vaping and E-cigarettes to all Franklin Middle School Gym/Health classes. The students watched a documentary on vaping and then engaged in a discussion focusing on the unknown effects that vaping.

2 The Truth about Vaping, E-Cigs, and Hookah Pens Vapes are battery-operated devices that mimic smoking They include vape pens, e- hookahs, e-cigarettes, mods, tanks and personal vaporizers nicotine, it s hard to stop Nicotine can affect your heart rate and blood pressure. It can affect insulin levels too. It may lead to heart disease. They all give off a vapor, which is inhaled and exhaled like smoke Most have nicotine though some are sold as nicotine free Other chemicals in vapes may harm your health All vapes, even those with no nicotine, have other chemicals in the liquid and flavors. Many do not list their ingredients They are sometimes used to smoke marijuana oil or other drugs Nicotine is an addictive drug Once you start using These liquids have not been tested enough to know the health risks. You do nott know what you are inhalingg or how harmful it might be. Continued on page 4 Say No to Smoking From Pbs Kids If a simple "No, thanks" won't do the trick, here are some other tactics for turning down someonee who offers you a cigarette: 1. "I'm allergic to smoke." 2. "The smell of smoke makes me sick and I don't want to smell like that." 3. "My parents will ground me if I come home smelling like smoke." 4. "I know someone who died from smoking and I don't want to do it." 5. "I don't want to start because I'm trying to get my parents to quit." 6. "No thanks, I quit." 2

3 Your Heart and the Cardiovascular System from kidshealth.org Did you give your friends valentines and little heartever cross Keep Your Heart Happy shaped candies on Valentine's Day? Do you your heart when making a promise that you really, really mean? Or turn on the radio to hear a guy singing Most kids are born with a healthy heart and it's important to about his broken heart? keep yours in good shape. Here are some things that you can dyour heart is sort of like a pump, or two pumps in one. do to help keep your heart happy: The right side of your heart receives blood from the We see and hear about hearts everywhere. A long time body and pumps it to the lungs. The left side of the Remember that your heart is a muscle. If you want it to be ago, people even thought thatt their emotions came heart from does their the hearts exact s, maybe opposite because : It receives the heart blood from strong, you need to exercise it. How do you do it? By being beats the fast lu ter ungs when and a pum person mps it is out scared to the or excited. body. active in a way that gets you huffing and puffing, like Now we jumping rope, dancing,, or playing basketball. Try to be active know that emotions come from the brain, and in this every dayy for at least 30 minutes! An hour would be even case, the brain tells the heart to speed up. So what's better for your heart! the heart up to, then? How does it keep busy? What does it look like? Let's find out. Eat a variety of healthy foods and avoid foods high in unhealthyy fats, such ass saturated fats and trans fats (reading Working That Muscle the labelss on foods can help you figure out if your favorite Your heart is really a muscle. It's located a little to the snacks contain these unhealthy ingredients). left of the middle of your chest, and it's about the size of your fist. There are lots of muscles all over your body in your arms, in your legs, in your back, even in your Try to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each behind. day. But the heart muscle is special because of what it does. The heart sends blood around your body. The blood provides your body with the oxygen and nutrients it needs. It also carries away waste. Your heart is sort of like a pump, or two pumps in one. The right side of your heart receives blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs. The left side of the heart does the exact opposite: It receives blood from the lungs and pumps it out to the body. Avoid sugary soft drinks and fruit drinks. Don't smoke. It can damage the heart and blood vessels. So now you know that your heart doesn't look like a valentine, but it sure deserves to be loved for all the work it does. It started pumping blood before you were born and will continue pumping throughout your whole life 3

4 (Continued) Tobacco Facts Vaping will cost you money Some vapes are disposable so you have to keep buying them With others you need to replace the batteries, liquid, and chargers Is that really how you want to spend your cash? Vapes are designed to seem cool Really? There s nothing cool about risking your health Sweet flavors make it easy for young people to try Vape juice comes in flavors like bubble gum, chocolate and cherry Some have nicotine and some say they do not (so minors can buy them). For anyone interested in obtaining more information/ resources or seeking assistance navigating through personal, peer or family difficulties please contact Valerie Northey at Franklin Middle School, Room 100 H, and (732)) ext 217 or at vnorthey@franklinboe.org. I look forward to meeting with you! 4

5 February 2016