Merced Police officers are spreading the holiday spirit.
Black and white patrol cars pulled up to all 18 campuses in Merced City School District, looking for students on December 13, 2019.
These students are on the nice list. One child from each school, was nominated by educators to go on a $150 shopping spree at Merced Mall on Friday.
Students arrived by police escort and even had the opportunity to turn on the sirens as they rode in the front seat with their assigned officer.
After taking a photo with Santa, they each hit the mall, in search of everything on their wish list.
Many of the students decided to spread the holiday spirit and buy gifts for their siblings and parents.
The students were picked for various reasons.
Some had perfect attendance or just work hard in school.
Others have gone through challenges in their young lives.
Spending the day with a police officer, who they can look up to, is a rewarding experience.
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Every third grade student in Merced City School District now has their very own dictionary.
It's all thanks to a very generous contribution from Merced Rotary.
Rotary members traveled to each campus to distribute the new dictionaries to the approximately 1,200 third graders this week.
Merced City School District thanks Merced Rotary for the thoughtful gifts and for promoting literacy.
Family Writing Project
WHO: Merced City School District Families (19 spots available. First come, first serve.)
WHAT: Families will spend time talking, brain storming, creating written stories and celebrating publication.
WHEN: January 21
WHERE: FERC classroom and lab at Clark Pre-school (E Street access.)
WHY: “To ignite and inspire creativity and imagination in kids of all ages.”
HOW: Call MCSD’s State and Federal Programs department at 209-385-6664 to register by January 21.
Is your child vaping?
Merced City School District is warning parents about a public health crisis.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 47 people have died from vaping, as of December 4, 2019.
But how do you know if your child is putting themselves in danger?
Colorful, fruity candy: this is what poison looks like.
“Those sweet flavors are what the kids are going for, in particular, middle schoolers," Merced City School District Nurse Evelyn Egger says.
Smoking an e-cigarette is known as vaping or JUULing.
It's the process of heating up cancer causing chemicals and inhaling them.
It's happening all over the country, including right here in Merced City School District.
Can you tell this is a vaping device?
This was confiscated from a student at a Merced school.
It's designed to blend in with your child's school supplies.
These other devices look like flash drives.
And because vaping is so new, doctors don't even know what all of the long term effects are.
“And so now they’re finding out that in the actual vapor or it’s truly aerosol, there’s tin, there’s zinc, there are all sorts of pollutants, things that are toxic to people," Nurse Egger says.
The developing adolescent brain can be harmed by the nicotine in e-cigarettes.
The lining of the lungs can be damaged by the chemicals that are heated up by the batter-powered device.
“And a lot of them just recharge them, not necessarily with a coil or a battery charger like you have for a phone although those will do it. They also can plug them into their laptops and charge them that way so be on the lookout for you know cords or any kind of an electronic apparatus or items that you don’t recall seeing before,” Nurse Egger says.
Signs your child could be vaping, include moodiness and anxiety, "A dry cough, like you’d see in a cigarette smoker, complaints of shortness of breath, but also what happens with them if they’re getting too much nicotine, is they’ll get gastrointestinal symptoms. They’ll feel sick to their stomach. Have that conversation and that’s kind of the first thing because the kids aren’t going to bring it up," Nurse Egger says.
Worst case scenario: vaping can kill.
Talk to your child about the risks.
Don't wait until it's too late.
Educational materials:
Share the warmth from head to toe!
The Warm & Fuzzy sock and beanie drive is underway at all Merced City School District campuses,
now through December 13, 2019.
Donate new socks and beanies (child and adult sizes needed) at your school’s front office.
Make a difference this holiday season.
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