Peterson Elementary School students pledge to STAY DRUG FREE.
They found a fun way to send an important message during Red Ribbon Week.
Students and staff had themed dress up days:
- Western Wear Monday: "Don’t get roped into drugs;"
- Red, white and blue Tuesday: "I vote to be drug free;"
- Crazy hair and socks Wednesday: "From head to toe, I’m drug free;"
- Thursday hats: "Put a Cap on Drugs;"
- School colors Friday: "Our School is drug free."
Red Ribbon Week takes place every year from October 23-31 and is recognized at all schools.
This year's theme is: SEND A MESSAGE. STAY DRUG FREE.
Students from Merced City School District are learning to appreciate nature!
All 4th graders recently had the opportunity to visit Yosemite National Park, courtesy of the nationwide Every Kid in Park initiative.
They gazed at Half Dome, learned how El Capitan was formed, how snowmelt feeds Yosemite Falls and to appreciate the culture of the Ahwahneechee tribe that once called Yosemite Valley home and still uses it for cultural ceremonies.
Many of the students encountered wildlife.
Some of them came within 30 feet of deer and watched patiently as the animals grazed, snapping pictures with their smart phones.
Guides took them on educational hikes to Lower Yosemite Falls for a lesson on hydrology and geology.
Now they know where the water comes from that is used by farmers on the Valley floor to irrigate the crops they eat.
The children also trekked through a meadow in Yosemite Valley, where they learned how the animals, plants, water and soil all coexist.
They also got a kick out of the way Ponderosa Pine tree bark smells like vanilla.
UC Merced students studying to become park rangers, visited schools to give 4th graders lessons on the importance of preservation and conservation of national parks, both before and after the field trips.
Every Kid in a Park provides a free pass to all 4th graders in the country, so they can experience and learn to appreciate the natural beauty of the millions of acres of national parks, set aside for all to enjoy.
For more on Every Kid in a Park, click here.
Third graders from Merced City School District are learning about where their food comes from and healthy eating habits!
All schools recently participated in Farm 2U at the Merced County Fairgrounds.
They saw livestock up close and heard presentations on various topics from members of the agriculture industry.
The students had a blast with this hands-on experience!
Students at Fremont Elementary School in Merced are benefiting from quality time with male role models on campus.
The children spent part of their day with their own fathers and other men who they can look up to, who were invited to ‘Eat and Run!’
It is a special occasion where staff members invited fathers and other gentlemen from the community, to have lunch in the cafeteria and then join them for a game of soccer on the playground.
Third grader Joshua Paredes spends time playing soccer video games.
“When I was little I always watched games about soccer,” Paredes said.
He was very excited to play the game in person, with the group of dads and ‘dads for the day,’ like Ruben Rodarte.
Rodarte is a member of Yosemite Church and said it is very rewarding to spend time with the students.
He does not have a child who attends Fremont but still wanted to give back.
“I am aware that a lot of the young men and women don’t have fathers in the house and I didn’t either so when I heard about the opportunity to just come and share some time with these kids I couldn’t pass it up,” Rodarte said.
School administrators are impressed with the turn out.
Their goal was to get 100 men to take part.
They ended up with a whopping 182 men and 3 women participating.
California Highway Patrol Officer Aldo Garcia said a role model is extremely important in a child’s life.
“Being that role model for the children who don’t actually have that role model and getting that confidence there, that’s great,” Ofc. Garcia said.
Students from third through fifth grade participated in the fun-filled event.
Volunteers included Merced firefighters, police officers and Merced City School District staff taking on the role of ‘dad for the day.’
Merced City School District takes a proactive approach on mental health.
Thursday was World Mental Health Day.
Counselors at Rivera Elementary School in Merced City School District, talk to students about emotions and how to handle them.
Students are greeted when they come to campus every day, with a fist bump, handshake or hug from staff members.
They practice breathing techniques every morning.
Conscious Discipline, Positive Behavior Intervention System and Safe Spaces for kids who are just having a bad day and need a little help getting through, are just a handful of tools used.
All of this is geared towards getting students in the zone, so they can learn!
"Emotion is part of being a human. It’s normal to feel sad. We all have good days, we have bad days but we have to know how to self-regulate,” said school counselor Alejandra Ramirez.
If something is stressing you out, take a minute and breathe.
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