Official Publication for the Norwalk Community School District [
Norwalk Warriors
Page Eight N/Warren Town and County News +
Garrett Hosts Norwalk Students
Rep. Julian Garrett (R-Indianola) recently hosted 5th-grade students from Lakewood Elementary in Norwalk
at the State Capitol. Rep. Garrett is pictured here with the students and their instructor, Matt Ramthun. Photo
submitted.
LAKEWOOD STAR READERS
Pictured, left to right: Carson Elbert - 4th grade, Katie Johnson - 4th grade, Vanessa Hautekeete - 5th grade,
Abbie Davitt - 5th grade, Eva Newland - 5th grade, Cody Hargin - 3rd grade, Owen Arnold - 3rd grade and
Alyssa Wolff - 3rd grade. Not pictured is Svetlana Ilnitsky - 4th grade. Photo submitted.
These students were Lakewood Star Readers which was awarded to the top three student readers in each grade
level. Each one of these students read at least double the amount of books expected to be read each school year.
Lakewood Elementary School Librarian Abby Hanson said, "I am very proud of each of these students, as they
most definitely exceeded our expectations!" They were celebrated by being invited to a pizza party at the end of
the school year and each. one was able to choose a free book to start them into their summer reading.
"I am also very proud of those students who met the goal of reading 20 books during the school year, "Hanson
said. "These students seemed to have a great time celebrating at their grade level Bowling Party that took place
the third week of May. I want to encourage these same students, as well as the others that didn't participate, to join
in on the fun next year," Hanson concluded.
Phipps To Participate In Wartburg Project
Mitch Phipps, Norwalk, college faculty and staff, clude With a poster session
will develop his leader- Participants will hone in which students present
ship skills and devise a tearn-building and leader- their projects.
community service project ship skills on campus and Participants success-
at Wartburg College's during a trip to Chicago to fully completing their
High School Leadership • work with children atprojects and portfolios will
Institute (HSLI), June 9-15 Holy Family Lutheran receive 3.5 semester hours
inWaverly. School. of transferable college
The ninth annual HSLI Phipps will raise moneycredit for Wartburg's "El-
program willhave partici- to help build a recreation ements of Leadership"
pants from six states, in- center in Norwalk. course and will be eligible
cluding Iowa, Minnesota, Students will constructfor a $1,000 renewable
Wisconsin, Illinois, Colo- a reflective portfolio on scholarship to Wartburg.
rado and Oklahoma, service and leadership af- During the past eight
mentored by eight Wart- ter the completion of their years, 130 students have
burg students as well as project. HSLI will con-particiPated in the pro-
gram and 57 matriculated
to Wartburg, including 11
who later served as HS, LI
program mentors.
When glass breaks, the
cracks move faster than
3,000 miles per hour.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
OVIATT ELEMENTARY I
By Rodney Martinez, Dean of Students
Planning for the Worst, but Hoping for the Best
You never know if your home will ever be threat-
ened by fire, weather, or other disasters, in addition,
who knows if you will ever get separated from your
children in a crowd? To be prepared, it is vital that you
and your children know exactly what to do in emer-
gency situations and have the p!ans in place to react
quickly and calmly if something serious happens.
Play it by the numbers.
Even preschoolers can learn to dial 911 --although it
is essential that children know to only dial it in cases of
emergency. Children also need to have accessto home,
cell and work numbers for parents, caregivers and
trusted neighbors. Post a list in your kitchen where they
can see it. Give copies to their teachers and school,
childcare providers and other emergency contacts.
Plan it out.
Create and rehearse your family's escape plan to be
used in case of a fire or other home emergency. Make a
game of practicing exactly what to do, timing your chil-
dren to see who follows the plan and gets out safely
fastest. Be sure to include a secondary plan in case the
first exit is blocked or unsafe.
Have the right supplies.
One of the best "be prepared" lists is available
through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's
website: www.ready.gov. In addition to checklists for
adults, the site includes terrific, non-threatening games
for children to play to learn what to do in cases of emer-
genc like an emergency supply kit scavenger hunt.
Your local Red Cross and fire departments also can be
great emergency-planning resources.
Check your equipment.
Make sure your home's smoke detectors are always
in working order and that your fire extinguishers have
not passed their expiration date and are easily acces-
sible. Get drop-down window ladders if your apartment
or bedrooms are not on the first floor.
Who to trust?
Children can get separated from their families at any
time--at a big public event, in a crowded store, or on a
family outing. Teach them to stay where they are and
not to go wandering off to try to find you. Little ones
should be taught to just have a seat on the ground and
start calling out, as loud as they can, "Mommy" or
"Daddy" --or whatever they call you. If they are sepa-
rated from you for a long period of time, tell them they
should inform a safe adult--a mother with children, a
police officer, or a security guard--that they are lost.
A snapshot could be a lifesaver.
Keep a current picture of each of your children with
you at all times; Not only will the photosbring a smile
to your face, they could be essential to helping locate
your child quickly if you get separated.
Memorize the essentials.
Even young preschoolers can learn their first and last
names and kindergarteners should have memorized
both their address and their parents' full names before
their first day of school.
Be aware of the school's plans.
Every school should have an emergency plan in place.
Ask to see a copy. Make sure that they rehearse emer-
gency response situations with students--from fire
drills to tornado or hurricane plans.
Talk it out.
\
Some parents do not want to talk about the possibil-
ity of an emergency because they are afraid of alarming
their children. Nevertb, eless, discussing it ahead of time,
when it is just ~ "what if" situation, not only will help
them know what to do, it will help them cope with the
Concluded p. 9
