ReportWire

Tag: Schools

  • Parents Encouraged to Keep Kids Home if Sick With GI Bugs

    Parents Encouraged to Keep Kids Home if Sick With GI Bugs

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    Nov. 1, 2022 – Attention parents: If your child is showing signs of a stomach bug, do not send them to school or day care. 

    That’s the take-home message in a new CDC report, which found that nearly 90% of outbreaks of acute gastrointestinal infections in schools and child care settings result from person-to-person contact. 

    “Clinicians should encourage parents to keep children out of school for up to 24 hours after symptoms have subsided, as viral shedding may continue after symptoms stop,” says Janine Cory, a spokesperson for the CDC. 

    She also encouraged pediatricians to reinforce good hygiene habits with parents, including making sure children stay home if they are sick and that they wash their hands with warm water and soap, as most hand sanitizers are not effective against the germs most often linked to GI outbreaks in kids. 

    The report, published in the journal Pediatrics, was based on an analysis by CDC researchers and their colleagues of more than 4,600 outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis – what many people call a “stomach flu” – between 2009 and 2020. 

    Most outbreaks occurred in schools between October and March, and typically involved viral infections. Around 86% of all outbreaks in the study were linked to person-to-person contact. Roughly two-thirds of all outbreaks during the study period involved strains of norovirus or the bacteria species shigella. 

    Symptoms of norovirus infection include diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain, according to the CDC. Shigellosis, the infection caused by shigella, can cause bloody stool and diarrhea, high fever, severe stomach cramping and tenderness, and dehydration. 

    Schools and child care centers accounted for an average of 457 outbreaks and 15,779 cases per year during the study period. (The number of outbreaks plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic, as kids stayed home during lockdowns, according to the researchers.)

    While outbreaks in schools were significantly larger than those in child care centers, sickness in child care centers lasted longer. Outbreaks in schools lasted 9 days, on average, while child care center outbreaks lasted for an average of 15 days. Around 98% of outbreaks were to blame for at least one visit to the emergency room, the researchers report. 

    Bacterial outbreaks may spread more in child care facilities due to the presence of diapered children, poor hand hygiene, and the younger age of the children, the researchers say.  

    Tim Joos, MD, a pediatrician and internist in Seattle, says fielding calls about norovirus infections and shigellosis is a routine part of his day – particularly during the school year.

    “The phrase ‘something going around the day care’ is heard daily in clinics and emergency rooms,” he says.  

     “As practicing clinicians, we often get caught up with not seeing the forest for the trees. We are often seeing the individual patient’s needs but not the larger trends. Thanks to this study, we now have an overview of the landscape of gastroenteritis,” Joos says. 

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  • Tucker Carlson Incorrectly Claims CDC Mandating Kids Get Covid-19 Vaccine For School

    Tucker Carlson Incorrectly Claims CDC Mandating Kids Get Covid-19 Vaccine For School

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    Before you make a claim about what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is going to do, maybe, just maybe, you should look at what the CDC can and can’t actually do. On October 18, FOX News host Tucker Carlson claimed on a tweet that “The CDC is about to add the Covid vaccine to the childhood immunization schedule, which would make the vax mandatory for kids to attend school.” Yet, the CDC clearly states on its website that “State laws establish vaccination requirements for school children.” And the CDC, by the way, ain’t one of the 50 states in the U.S.

    On the tweet, Carlson included a video of himself from his FOX News show named after himself “Tucker Carlson Tonight” essentially making the same claim:

    As you can see in the video, Carlson began the segment with, “So here’s an amazing story that’s been effectively buried.” Whoa. Buried? By whom and for what reason? And buried in what? In cheese? Carlson did not really specify any of these but went on to say, “This week the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is expected to add the Covid-19 vax to the list of required childhood vaccines. If this happens, your children will not be able to attend school without taking the Covid shot.” The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is indeed meeting on October 18 and 19 in a virtual meeting that can be viewed on a webcast. The agenda does include a discussion about “Covid-19 vaccines in children.” The ACIP develops recommendations on the use vaccines that in turn are forwarded to CDC’s Director and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for approval. Once approved, these recommendations will be published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). The ACIP consists of public health, medical, and scientific experts external to the CDC.

    While Carlson may be a number of things, he is neither a medical, public health, or scientific expert nor a lawyer. A number of real medical doctors, scientists, and other relevant experts pointed out the clear problems with Carlson’s statement. For example, Peter Hotez, MD, PhD, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine, wrote, “Actually, the CDC clearly says that ‘state laws establish vaccination requirements’ and Fox News knows this. Guessing just another antivaccine dog whistle for their ratings,” in the following tweet:

    In his tweet, Hotez thanked @doritmi, who is Dorit Reiss, LLB, PhD, a Professor of Law at the University Of California (UC) Hastings School of Law and expert in these law-ish kind of things, for alerting him to Carlson’s claim.

    Later in his tweet thread, Hotez offered something that Carlson didn’t include in his tweet, verifiable official sources supporting what he was saying: links to CDC websites. Once of these websites clearly indicates that, “State laws establish vaccination requirements for school children. These laws often apply not only to children attending public schools but also to those attending private schools and day care facilities.”

    So does that make what Carlson tweeted a “swing and a mis,” as in misinformation? Well, Tara C. Smith, PhD, a Professor of Epidemiology at the Kent State University College of Public Health, used the word “misinformation” in the following tweet about Carlson’s tweet:

    So with a number of real experts out there who have had many research publications on vaccines and infectious diseases, whom did Carlson bring on as a guest? Well, he gave some air time to Martin Makary, M.D., M.P.H., a Professor of Surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and whose stated areas of expertise on the Johns Hopkins website are things like abdominal Surgery, advanced laparoscopy, bile duct surgery, pancreatic surgery, and various other pancreas and gall bladder related procedures.

    So did this air time turn out to be hot air time? Well, in the video, Makary made some pretty strong statements without providing much evidence to support them. For example, he asserted that “the CDC’s committee that’s voting, I mean, that it is essentially a kangaroo court, you have to be an official ‘card-carrying vaccine fanatic’ to be on that committee. If you are not then they are basically not going to accept that some vaccines are important and others lack the evidence to support broad distribution.”

    Wow. Presumably by “kangaroo court,” Makary didn’t mean a court of actual kangaroos, which would be weird and fascinating at the same time. Dictionary.com defines a “kangaroo court” as a “self-appointed or mob-operated tribunal that disregards or parodies existing principles of law or human rights, especially one in a frontier area or among criminals in prison.” Hmm, isn’t calling the ACIP a “kangaroo court” jumping like a kangaroo to conclusions about the ACIP without providing real supporting evidence? Makary also mentioned a German study without clearly describing the study, pointing out its strengths and limitations, or providing enough information so that viewers could find the study themselves.

    There certainly have been plenty of problems with the Covid-19 response from the CDC, the Biden Administration, and the Trump Administration. Throughout the pandemic, communications and policies have often been very inconsistent. For example, the CDC relaxed their face mask recommendations in the Spring of 2021 and then again in the Spring of 2022 despite scientific studies showing the value of face masks in preventing transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other countries like Japan maintaining greater face mask use. In both cases, Covid-19 surges in the U.S. soon followed. Plus, in a number of situations, the Biden and Trump Administrations could have done more to push Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna to publicly release more of their Covid-19 vaccine data earlier.

    But suggesting that the CDC will be somehow making the Covid-19 vaccine mandatory for all kids to attend school around the U.S. and calling the ACIP a “kangaroo court” would be leaping way too far in a way that may court even more problems for our society. It could leave the very wrong impression that the CDC is somehow a dictatorial organization when the opposite may have been the case during the pandemic. Public health experts and scientists have raised concerns that the CDC has continued to bend to political pressure and prematurely relax Covid-19 precautions. mandating alling the

    If Carlson is really interested in seeing real science drive pubic health decision making then why not have a panel of real relevant scientists on his show. Such a panel could then provide real scientific facts that discount what Carlson has asserted. They could even say things like, “by the way, did you actually look at the CDC web site that says what the CDC can and can’t do. It’s on something called the Internet.”

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    Bruce Y. Lee, Senior Contributor

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  • Joe Rogan Claims School Has Litter Box For Girl Identifying As Cat

    Joe Rogan Claims School Has Litter Box For Girl Identifying As Cat

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    Did this litter-aly happen? On the October 11 episode of his Joe Rogan Experience Spotify podcast, Rogan claimed that a school “had to install a litter box in the girls room because there is a girl who’s a furry, who identifies as an animal.” He went on to assert that “her mother badgered the school until they agreed to put a litter box in one of the stalls.” And in case you were wondering what one might do in a litter box, Rogan got quite litter-all by adding, “So this girl goes into the litter room or to the girl’s room and urinates or whatever — I don’t know if she poops in it, that’s pretty gross.” Later on, Rogan dumped even more on this, saying, “Use a [expletive] bathroom. It’s sanitary. It’s much better. Like, you want your house to smell like human pee?” Yeah, if this were indeed happening, then you’d think the local health department might have an issue with such arrangements. If this were happening, that is.

    So how did Rogan find out about all of this and what evidence did he provide to support this story? Well, apparently, according to Rogan, “My friend, his wife is a schoolteacher, and she works at” the said school. But Rogan did not give the actual names of the people involved or the name of the school or the location of the school. In fact, he didn’t give too many more details beyond what you can see in the video accompanying the following tweet:

    So essentially all Rogan left you with was this happened at my-friend’s-wife’s-school. Hmm, does that sound a little like the my-cousin’s-friend’s-balls-got-swollen-after-he-got-the-Covid-19-vaccine claim that Nicki Minaj had made about a year ago, which I covered for Forbes back in September 2021? It ended up being practically impossible to verify that ballsy claim since Minaj never really specified the name of the person who owned the testicles or made that person or his testicles available for interviews. Similarly, you’ve got to take Rogan’s story with a litter box full of salt until he provides more specifics that can allow everyone to actually double-check what he had said.

    During the episode, Rogan’s guest, Tulsi Gabbard, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Hawaii’s 2nd congressional district from 2013 to 2021, listened to Rogan’s catty story without really questioning any of the assertions. In fact, later in the episode, Gabbard said, “There are no boundaries anymore” to which Rogan responded with, “Right. The teachers in the school and the school itself should have said no to the parent.”

    Speaking of no boundaries, these days there seems to be no boundaries as to what personalities and politicians can claim on podcasts, radio, TV, social media, and other platforms without providing hard evidence versus hardly no evidence. Rogan hasn’t been the only person to make such litter box claims. Looks like a number of politicians have been littering the airwaves with such furry-ious assertions. In fact, Tyler Kingkade, an investigative reporter for NBC News, put together “a thread of the 20 politicians who’ve falsely claimed this year that schools are accommodating who kids identify as cats, putting little boxes on campus for them [sic],” in his words:

    That thread included statements from U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado), as you can see above, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia), as you can see below:

    Litter boxes in schools bathrooms and hallways could be health code violations. But again, where is the evidence that such accommodations are being made in schools. And where is the evidence that there is a “growing crisis” in schools of people identifying as cats using a litter box in a hallway, as a Tennessee state lawmaker claimed in the video accompanying Kingkade’s tweet below:

    There is certainly no shortages of crises in the U.S. right now, ranging from the Covid-19 pandemic to the obesity epidemic to mass shootings to pollution and climate change. With all that, this is what legislators are spending their taxpayer-supported time talking about right now? And, once again, where exactly is the evidence supporting such cat-astrophic claims?

    If you really think that schools are providing litter boxes and allowing kids to take dumps in them in an unsanitary manner, why not contact public health officials? Have them investigate and collect real evidence on what is really occurring. It should be too difficult to investigate. An investigator can ask, “Is that a litter box?” And then if so, “what is it doing in the hallway?” Let science lead the way on what to do. And if you truly believe that all of this has become a “crisis,” maybe commission a study on it. That way you can get enough data to determine whether any real legislative action is necessary and maybe even get it into the scientific litter-ature.

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    Bruce Y. Lee, Senior Contributor

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  • I Have The Right To Launches Nationwide Pledge to Support Students and Survivors of Sexual Assault

    I Have The Right To Launches Nationwide Pledge to Support Students and Survivors of Sexual Assault

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    Press Release
    –

    Sep 20, 2022


    WASHINGTON, September 20, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    In an exciting announcement and a first for the celebrated organization, I Have The Right To launches a nationwide pledge to ensure all students receive an education free from sexual assault.

    The I Have The Right To Pledge is for students, parents, educators, and community members to publicly commit to supporting survivors of sexual assault and to protecting young people from future assaults. All are invited to sign starting today.

    The Pledge is born from I Have The Right To’s work supporting and advocating for survivors of sexual assault following the 2014 assault of Chessy Prout, who co-founded the organization with her parents. 

    “The I Have The Right To Pledge is a public commitment to what we have known all along: that keeping students safe from sexual assault requires bold action from adults and from our institutions,” says co-founder Alex Prout.

    The launch of the Pledge comes ahead of I Have The Right To’s fifth anniversary and coincides with the launch of the organization’s new website. 

    “We take our mission seriously,” says I Have The Right To Executive Director Elizabeth Zeigler. “We are creating an ecosystem of respect and support for students and survivors. Our new website is one such space: a place where students, parents, and educators can find the information, support, and avenues of action they need to make a difference against sexual assault.”

    I Have The Right To was founded following the viral #IHaveTheRightTo social media campaign, in which millions of individuals made their own declarations against sexual assault, and following the release of Chessy Prout’s memoir by the same name. 

    Sexual violence is an epidemic among young people and in schools across the country. By the time students finish their education, 81% have experienced some form of sexual harassment. In middle school alone, one in five students experiences unwanted physical contact. 

    Once an assault happens, young survivors of sexual violence and their families face a cycle of shame, blame, and isolation. Worse yet, few perpetrators are held accountable. Out of 1,000 assaults, 975 perpetrators will walk free.

    Says co-founder Susan Prout, “We are working towards the day where we can look back and say ‘I can’t believe students used to be sexually assaulted and told to be quiet.’”

    To commit your name to ensuring all students receive an education free from sexual assault, sign the I Have The Right To Pledge today. You can also follow and engage with I Have The Right To on Instagram and LinkedIn.

    About I Have The Right To

    I Have The Right To is the hub for middle and high school students, parents, and educators looking for information, support, and avenues of action against sexual assault. 

    They provide actionable support and tactical resources to survivors of sexual assault and their parents and communities; curate curricula and training in partnership with middle and high school educators, administrators, and parents; and build online spaces that value and promote social and emotional education. Learn more at https://www.ihavetherightto.org.

    Source: I Have The Right To

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  • CT-Based Startup Creates HomeField – the First Fitness Platform for All Abilities

    CT-Based Startup Creates HomeField – the First Fitness Platform for All Abilities

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    Press Release
    –

    May 24, 2022


    GREENWICH, Conn., May 24, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    When one thinks of being inclusive, do they consider those with disabilities and special needs? This is the question Daniel Caridi, Co-Founder of HomeField, asks when sharing the company’s story. Several years ago, Caridi and his Co-Founder, Gage DeDominicis, started volunteering at a local gym teaching fitness to about five people with special needs and disabilities. Mondays and Thursdays quickly became the highlights of their week. Due to rising concerns about the pandemic, they turned to online classes. Just in their immediate area, classes skyrocketed to 80+ people engaged and working out. If they could have that kind of impact locally, imagine what could be done on a national scale. That’s when Daniel and Gage realized they were onto something.

    Their mission? To create a sustainable business that positively impacts the world. 

    HomeField‘s mission? To create fun and meaningful experiences that inspire inclusion and build trust together.

    It was then that the first online health and wellness platform designed for all abilities was born. HomeField.fit serves people with physical disabilities, special needs, older adults, and anyone who does not have easy access to fitness and wellness content that fits their needs. The platform offers 100+ on-demand classes as well as daily live stream classes in dance, martial arts, yoga, mindfulness and more.

    They hired international fitness guru, Billy Blanks Jr., to manage and build HomeField’s catalog of online classes as President and Head of Content. “I’m excited about working with a team that is dedicated to creating a wide variety of content that is fun, easy to follow, and most importantly inclusive to all levels of abilities and ages.” The company’s CEO, Liza Rivera Salta, brings over 30 years of business experience, coupled with a passion for serving the special needs community. “It’s a community environment. We’re all the same in that we want to work out, be fit, make friends and feel included- and I think that’s a key differentiation for HomeField,” Salta emphasized.

    HomeField has also partnered with the Special Olympics of CT, Abilis, a few public school systems, and corporations. Individuals are encouraged to try the platform for free by signing up at www.homefield.fit. HomeField fits everybody and helps bring fun fitness to all by moving through barriers.

    For more information or to set up an interview, please reach out to our contact below.

    Follow HomeField: 

    Website:  www.HomeField.fit 

    IG: @homefield.fit     

    FB: HomefieldFit

    TikTok: homefieldfit

    Twitter: HomeFieldFit

    Press Contact:

    Name:  Liza Rivera Salta

    Email:   Liza@homefield.fit

    Tel:      203-952-9769

    Source: HomeField

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  • Strategies, Methods & Technology for School Districts Overcoming the Mental Health Crisis

    Strategies, Methods & Technology for School Districts Overcoming the Mental Health Crisis

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    Millions of children show signs of a mental health disorder. School districts play a distinct role in supporting children and their families with education and services necessary to thrive. Join a panel, sponsored by CrossTx, of leading mental health experts across America on Thursday, May 26 to learn more about sustainable strategies and pragmatic approaches school districts are taking to counter this mental health epidemic.

    Press Release
    –

    May 20, 2022


    PALM COAST, Fla., May 20, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The mental health crisis impacting school districts has only worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic. Join school districts around the country for an expert panel discussing this mounting crisis with real-world strategies, programs, and technologies that school districts embrace to promote healthy students and schools. In a collaborative effort, CrossTx and Flagler Cares invites Erika’s Lighthouse, Christine Ravesi-Weinstein, Perry Hilvitz, ED.D, and Flagler School District to discuss the current state of mental health in school districts, proactive measures that can be taken to improve student mental health, and additional supports available for children and their families. The free webinar will be held Thursday, May 26 at 12 noon Eastern. Register to learn:

    • The current impact of mental health challenges in school districts
    • Practical strategies and tools that school districts can implement to promote inclusive, healthy school culture
    • Once mental health issues are escalated to external providers, emerging approaches to close the loop of care for greater insight into student health and wellness
    • The journey of one school district to embrace technology to make significant strides to support students with mental and social concerns
    • Financing mental health initiatives in school districts (challenges and opportunities) using Medicaid and other vehicles to help ensure a dynamic and supportive environment
    • A vision for a healthier future for districts and students

    Each panelist brings expertise in their corresponding areas of expertise.

    • Perry Hilvitz, ED. D brings a wealth of information regarding the financing of mental health projects in school districts
    • Christine Ravesi-Weinstein, an Assistant Principal, has become a national thought leader sharing strategies and approaches focused on solving mental health challenges in school districts
    • Ilana Sharman, Director of Education for Erika’s Lighthouse empowers school districts with tools, best practices and supports based on the four pillars of support centering on classroom education, teen empowerment, family engagement and best practices for school staff.
    • Brandy Williams, LCSW from Flagler School District discusses the introduction of a best-in-class digital behavioral health network connecting the school district with key mental health providers across the state.

    Take away valuable insight about how some of the most advanced school districts are taking on the mental health crisis in our school districts.

    Join us to learn more from this valuable panel of speakers about employing emerging best practices and methods to more effectively manage the mental health crisis in school districts on May 26 at 12 noon ET.

    Register here

    Press Contact: Marketing@CrossTx.com

    Source: CrossTx

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    Categories:
    Healthcare Technology, Educational News, Education, Pre-School, School Libraries, Parenting, Children’s Issues

    Tags:
    behavioral health, Child, Children, depression, education, Health, Mental Health, School Districts, Schools, suicide, technology, teen, teenagers

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  • LiveSchool Publishes Major Survey of School Culture in US K12

    LiveSchool Publishes Major Survey of School Culture in US K12

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    LiveSchool surveyed over 1,000 educators across the US to understand the state of school culture

    Press Release
    –

    Apr 14, 2022


    NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 14, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    LiveSchool today announced the release of The School Culture Report, a comprehensive look at school culture trends across the United States based on a March survey of U.S. educators.

    Survey respondents represented 48 states and Washington, D.C., and included Principals, Assistant Principals, Deans of Students, Teachers, and Paraprofessionals. The survey explored educator perceptions of student behavior, school culture, and staff morale.

    “Our survey indicates how dire the cultural challenge is for schools. Educators are loud and clear that they need help addressing the underlying conditions in which students are learning,” says Matt Rubinstein, CEO and founder of LiveSchool, a school culture platform.

    Key findings include:

    • 68% of respondents cited student behavior as the top challenge facing their school.
    • Over 71% of teachers cited “disrespectful conduct” as the top behavior challenge. Another 61% cited social-emotional skills.
    • 57% of respondents expect behavior referrals to increase or significantly increase this year.
    • Teacher morale is at an all-time low: 99% of teachers ranked teacher morale as low. 72% of administrators ranked teacher morale low.
    • 80% of administrators cited school culture as their number one priority next school year.

    According to an Assistant Principal in Tennessee, “This year, we saw unprecedented behaviors which have given us insight into the goals we need to set for school culture next year.”

    The School Culture Report is available to access for free as of April 13, 2021. To read the full report, visit www.whyliveschool.com/school-culture-report.

    About LiveSchool

    LiveSchool is an education technology company headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. LiveSchool’s culture platform enables schools to reinforce their values, build positive relationships, and make school more fun for students and staff. The company serves over 1,000 K-12 schools in 48 states and 10 countries.

    Press Contact:
    Anna Murphy
    LiveSchool
    (503) 713-3917
    anna@liveschoolinc.com

    Source: LiveSchool

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  • ioAirFlow Announces New COVID-19 Risk Assessment Solution for Schools

    ioAirFlow Announces New COVID-19 Risk Assessment Solution for Schools

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    Canadian startup’s focus on air quality, COVID-19 transmission risk mitigation in response to international calls for better monitoring in buildings

    Press Release
    –

    Jan 18, 2022


    WINNIPEG, Manitoba, January 18, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    In response to the rapid spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, Canadian data intelligence company ioAirFlow is heeding the call from health organizations worldwide for better building ventilation monitoring to mitigate the transmission risk of COVID-19 in schools.

    Founded in 2016, Winnipeg, Canada-based ioAirFlow was launched on the premise of improving air quality, efficiency and performance gaps in commercial buildings. The company’s solution includes a rapidly deployable and affordable test solution that can run in virtually any building worldwide.

    Their most current building performance monitoring platform provides detailed and actionable analysis specific to CO2 monitoring and ventilation efficacity, with a focus on identifying areas of higher transmission risk of COVID-19 and other airborne infectious diseases.

    “There has never been a more critical time to improve air quality and reduce COVID-19 transmission risk”, said ioAirFlow CEO Matt Schaubroeck. “In North America, it is widely accepted that buildings and workplaces with poor indoor air quality accelerate the spread of airborne diseases like COVID-19 due to inadequate ventilation and outdated mechanical and HVAC systems.”

    Last month, a study from the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology indicated that “poorly ventilated school classrooms record up to six times as many COVID-19 cases compared with those which are regularly aired.”

    In response, major health and building standards organizations, including the Centre for Disease Control and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) have released international pleas for more trending and monitoring of ventilation, temperature, and humidity levels in schools and classrooms to mitigate risk of airborne pathogen transmission. 

    “We wanted to test our district’s schools to ensure that our space was safe for students and teachers”, said Tim Stefanishyn, Superintendent of the Whiteshell School District. “ioAirFlow’s data analysis allowed us to understand how the buildings’ ventilation systems were operating and what we could do to improve the indoor air quality of the spaces.”

    Since launching its platform in June 2021, ioAirFlow has been implemented in numerous buildings across North America, including a growing number of schools. The newest releases aim to enable buildings not currently equipped with permanent building monitoring systems to monitor indoor environmental quality and efficiency metrics and make smarter and safer building improvements. 

    “The lack of data available around air quality in schools is a significant barrier to having students and teachers back to a safe in-person learning environment”, said Albert Behr, industry-leading technology commercialization expert. “The solution developed by ioAirFlow is a much-needed technology application to bring reliable and affordable air quality data to buildings that desperately need it to navigate the realities of living in the COVID-19 pandemic.”

    About ioAirFlow

    ioAirFlow’s digital analysis platform identifies indoor environmental quality issues in commercial buildings including performance, energy efficiency, and air quality measurements. Using wireless sensors and a proprietary data analysis platform, the company identifies building problems faster and more accurately than manual energy audits, and at a fraction of the cost of permanent monitoring solutions.

    Source: ioAirFlow

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  • energyware™ Encourages School Leaders to Learn About the Benefits of Energy-Efficient Technology in Classrooms

    energyware™ Encourages School Leaders to Learn About the Benefits of Energy-Efficient Technology in Classrooms

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    The nation’s premier energy efficiency provider is raising awareness in school districts across the country for the betterment of generations of students in the years to come.


    SUNRISE, Fla., June 21, 2021 (Newswire.com)
    –
    energyware™, a leading national provider of energy-efficient technology, is encouraging school administrators and leaders from across the country to learn the important role that energy-efficient technology can play in modern classrooms. Efficient lighting has been proven to have a positive impact on school environments, as increased student performance has been found to have a direct correlation with proper lighting configurations.

    With energy-efficient technology in place, school districts in the U.S. have been able to cut down on student eye strain and headaches while increasing overall focus in the classroom. Studies have shown that environments with light-emitting diode (LED) lighting instead of fluorescent and/or incandescent lighting have enhanced students’ circadian rhythm, the internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. This cycle also plays a significant role in student performance and allows them to be alert throughout the academic school year.

    “This initiative is all about creating an environment that gives students the best chance of success in the classroom,” said Jake Jacques, CEO of energyware™. “By providing an environment where students have the greatest advantage in achieving success in academics, we are setting them up to prosper as they progress through life.”

    Jacques added, “Although proper lighting may seem like a small aspect to a physical school environment, the truth is that the benefits of proper lighting and energy-efficient technology extend not only to students’ academic performance but also to school district budgets. Schools can take the cost savings they get from energy-efficient lighting and reinvest them into educational resources and hiring more teachers. This can make a tremendous difference in the lives of students over time.”

    The cost savings accrued from the implementation of energy efficiency technologies have allowed schools the opportunity to reinvest into their infrastructure, teacher pay and education. The funds that have been saved from energy-efficient investments can be repurposed for campus improvements, funding new faculty positions and new programs within the curriculum.

    LED lighting systems have become a popular choice for thousands of schools in the U.S., as these components do not contain any harmful contaminants. Some compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) lighting products contain mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these components can be detrimental to the health of children and cause long-term side effects if exposed over time.

    In addition to the safety benefits, LED lighting has been proven to achieve consistent lighting performance compared to alternative options. Glares or flickering issues that are commonly associated with legacy lighting can negatively impact students and teachers, causing visual discomfort, pain and negative behavior. When students are unable to see the study material, find it difficult to concentrate, or have difficulty navigating the building, performance often drops across the institution as a whole. LED lighting resolves these issues entirely, while simultaneously improving focus.

    As the understanding of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other studying-related medical issues grows, student concentration becomes more and more critical in relation to academic achievement. LED lighting has shown to assist students during classes as it allows them to focus more effectively on their work. Increased concentration in the classroom ultimately results in increased levels of memory recall and full information comprehension.

    Learning environments that utilize LED technology reap the benefits of increased productivity. With studies having shown that cooler temperatures (4100K-5000K) can help with concentration on certain tasks and projects, teachers can take advantage of the flexible nature of LED technology by controlling the color temperature and dimming capabilities for optimal learning environments.

    To learn more about energyware™’s educational initiative regarding energy-efficient technology and the crucial role it plays in classrooms, please visit http://www.energywarellc.com.

    About energyware™

    A national provider of energy-efficiency technology, energyware™ eliminates the guesswork of energy efficiency by bringing engineers, designers, best-in-breed manufacturing and trained energy technology installers all under one umbrella.

    Contact Information
    morgan@newswire.com

    Source: energyware

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  • Helping Reopen Texas: New Biodefense Technology Plays Pivotal Role in Providing Cleaner, Viral-Free Indoor Air Across the State

    Helping Reopen Texas: New Biodefense Technology Plays Pivotal Role in Providing Cleaner, Viral-Free Indoor Air Across the State

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    Integrated Viral Protection (IVP) air filtration technology that catches and kills actual Sars-CoV-2 (virus causing COVID-19) instantaneously; installing in facilities throughout Texas this week

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Mar 17, 2021


    HOUSTON, March 17, 2021 (Newswire.com)
    –
    On the heels of Governor Abbott’s call to fully reopen Texas, Houston based, Integrated Viral Protection (IVP) is helping businesses do so safely, with the installation of the IVP Biodefense Indoor Air SystemTM – the only existing air filter system which can instantaneously catch and kill airborne COVID-19 (99.999%), other RNA viruses, and anthrax spores (99.98%) in a single pass. IVP’s core technology is a specialized heated filtration system, invented by Monzer Hourani, which meets ASHRAE standards and has been granted emergency use authorization by the FDA during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    IVP is playing an integral role in reopening businesses and keeping children in schools across Texas with deployments in over one hundred Texas school campuses to include Galveston ISD, Slidell ISD, Comal ISD, Banquete ISD and Houston ISD. The medical devices have been installed at schools across the US, including hot zones in Florida.

    Current installations include the Intercontinental Houston Medical Center, Baytown City Government, Fulton City Government, University of Houston, Texas A&M University, T-Mobile tower, St. Joseph’s Medical Center a Steward Health Care Facility, HotWorx gyms, the San Antonio Riverwalk, Texas Department of Emergency Management and Department of Public Safety, Rosewood Hotels, Hilton Hotels and more. The Texas Restaurant Association has endorsed IVP for use in Texas restaurants to get hospitality businesses back to work safely as well. IVP is installed in health care settings across the US to include over 100 hospitals and healthcare facilities, including COVID-19 specialty hospitals, neuro-psych facilities, rehabilitation hospitals and tertiary centers including University Hospital System. The device was recently installed to incarceration facilities in Michigan.

    IVP has deployed units to help keep Texans safe while returning to work and schools:  

    • George R Brown Convention Center, Houston
    • American Airlines Integrated Operations Center, Dallas
    • Texas Capital Bank Building, Richardson
    • And Agency, San Antonio
    • St. Paul Lutheran Child Development Center, San Antonio
    • T-Mobile Building, Houston
    • Moores Opera House, University of Houston
    • St. Joseph Medical Center, Houston
    • Wortham Center Theater, Houston
    • University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston

    “IVP is helping Texas safely reopen their economy with proven solutions that raise the quality of indoor air,” said Dr. Garrett Peel, IVP co-founder. “By following the CDC guidelines and providing clean, pathogen-free air in buildings, we are using science to engineer our way out of this public health crisis.”

    The system was designed by IVP founder and inventor, Monzer Hourani, who has a background in physics, science and engineering. The game changing technology works by forcing air through a heated filter that captures and kills contaminants, including airborne pathogens, instantaneously, without changing the ambient air temperature significantly.  IVP has been endorsed by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers as one of five top technologies in the world to combat COVID-19, and was recently named a top 25 Newsmaker of the Year by the Engineering News Record. The prestigious Newsmaker of the Year award will be announced April 8 at the ENR virtual conference. 

    The research was a collaborative effort led by Monzer Hourani, dating back to April 2020 with Texas Center for Superconductivity at the University of Houston, Galveston National Laboratory and Texas A&M University Engineering Experiment Station.

    About Integrated Viral Protection (IVP)

    Integrated Viral Protection Solutions, LP (IVP) was created by Monzer Hourani in April 2020, to respond to the COVID-19 global pandemic and to foster research, development, and deployment of technologies that offer biodefense solutions to mitigate transmission of biological threats in indoor environments. At the heart of this award-winning biodefense design is a proprietary heated mesh that works in conjunction with legacy air filtration found in HVAC systems. The resulting suite of products will offer proven in-line mitigation for the airborne transmission of COVID-19 indoors. This technology has been recognized by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers as a top innovation of 2020 for fighting COVID-19, and Hourani is recognized by Engineering News-Record as a top newsmaker.

    The Biodefense Indoor Air Protection System is first line prevention technology against environmentally (airborne) mediated transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). The heated biodefense filter can be retrofitted into commercial and home HVAC systems and/or deployed as a mobile unit equipped with powerful filtration capability. For more information, please visit www.ivpair.com.

    For IVP contact:

    Lauren Velasco, lauren@commongroundpr.com; 847-567-4322
    Maggie Teson, maggiet@commongroundpr.com; 636-222-2927

    Source: Integrated Viral Protection (IVP)

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  • Parents Dust Off Their Hero Hats to Tackle Home-Schooling With Jaques of London by Their Side

    Parents Dust Off Their Hero Hats to Tackle Home-Schooling With Jaques of London by Their Side

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    With the country in another national lockdown, parents are feeling the pressures of home-schooling like never before. One Kent-based company, Jaques of London, has taken significant steps to support UK parents. Founded in 1795, this family-run business has lived through two World Wars and seen enough to know that, together, the British people can get through anything.

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Jan 15, 2021


    LONDON, January 15, 2021 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Over half of the nation’s parents have turned to search engines to seek guidance on key school subjects. Google data suggests that curriculum-related queries have increased by up to 398% since April 2019. This is a direct result of the pandemic having forced schools to close across the nation. Now parents are left frantically brushing up on ‘Fractions’ or ‘Flags of the World’ in a bid to help tutor their children at home.

    It comes as no surprise, then, that at the top of every parent’s wish list is access to reliable learning resources that kids want to do. An analysis of home-schooling during the coronavirus (published by the Office for National Statistics) found that 52% of parents have a child in their household who is struggling with home education, 77% of which is due to “lack of motivation”. This is where 8th generation Toymakers, Jaques of London, come in.

    At the beginning of January, Jaques of London launched their new initiative for 2021, ‘Mini Minds Hub’—where education meets fun! Throughout the next six weeks of national lockdown, the company will release free resources to millions of parents who desperately need new ways to make learning fun. The Jaques’ resources have all been designed by UK Teachers and stand to be a saving grace for many UK households. As committed toymakers, their legacy has teaching, education, and Montessori play wrapped up in a neat bow.

    Joe Jaques, Co-Owner of Jaques of London, said: “During these difficult times, we all need to do our bit to help each other. We aim to keep kids at the centre of everything we do, which is why we employ teachers to design our toys and why it seemed natural for us to now focus those efforts into making as many free educational resources as possible. For the past 225 years, our motto has been to ‘Teach the world to play’ and, given the current crisis, we now hope to ‘Teach the world to learn’ because learning should be fun first and foremost!”

    Though many classrooms have taken up online lessons to bridge the learning gap until school resumes, many believe that online learning cannot facilitate education in the same way. One Primary School teacher said: “Teaching the children online is a real challenge because every child learns at their own pace. Online learning has obvious limitations, particularly for younger children, as some children need face-to-face interaction to give them confidence. That’s why we urge parents to continue the learning at home wherever possible.”

    For parents who are searching for that helping hand, the Jaques’ Mini Minds Hub might be just the ticket. In one fell swoop, they have answered the call for credible, cost-free resources that keep children engaged and help to support all those hard-working Mum and Dad heroes. There is no sign-up or purchase required to grant you access—it has all been made available for anyone to enjoy. A quick browse on their website will show you a whole host of fun and informative worksheets that are printable at the click of a button—complete with low-colour versions to save parent’s pennies on printer ink! It is home learning made easy.

    Joe Jaques went on to say: “As a Dad of two, I know too well how problematic it can be to keep kids interested in learning—especially with all the distractions we have at home. Our newly launched campaign is where education meets fun. Parents will find free activities for kids, a reward chart to track development, and a certificate of completion to celebrate their progress. It’s essentially a home-schooling survival kit to reward kids for their hard work and to applaud parents for doing such a great job at assuming this new parent-teacher role!”

    As family figureheads up and down the country dust off their teaching caps and hero hats, in their corner is Jaques of London. With a band of UK Teachers behind them, Jaques of London aim to make a real difference in homes up and down the country by engaging children with the joys of learning and supporting parents during this historic time.

    Find out more at: jaqueslondon.co.uk/blogs/resources

    Press Enquiries: pr@jaqueslondon.co.uk

    Source: Jaques of London

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  • Tampa-Based Gator Co. Releases Instrument Covers for School Band and Music Education

    Tampa-Based Gator Co. Releases Instrument Covers for School Band and Music Education

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: Aug 24, 2020


    TAMPA, Fla., August 24, 2020 (Newswire.com)
    –
    In its commitment to help school band and music programs continue while adhering to health and safety standards, Gator Co. is now offering instrument and face cover solutions that follow recommendations from the NFHS (National Federation of State High Schools) study. Gator’s product designs incorporated the study findings and insights.

    Based in Tampa, FL, with offices and operations in Indiana and Nova Scotia, Canada, the Gator brand is a global leader and manufacturer of cases, bags, gear, stands, system storage solutions and accessories for the music, pro-audio, AV, DJ, event, and creative industries.

    “We wanted to be very thorough and thoughtful in our research and development, so we connected directly with NFHS on their scientific studies to ensure our product adhered to data-driven recommendations,” said Crystal Morris, CEO of Gator Co. “NFHS was very receptive and helpful in developing and refining our designs to create a high-quality, effective product that would be well-received and help ensure the health and safety of students and educators.”

    The instrument bell covers with a pocket for a replaceable MERV 13 filter (included) are made from a breathable, non-woven polypropylene fabric with little to no back pressure or acoustic loss during performance. The fabric and the filter are expected to greatly reduce the spread of aerosols. The bell covers are available in multiple sizes ranging from 4-32 inches in diameter to fit various instruments. 

    The instrument face masks are specially designed with a front flap opening for easy playing while staying safe and are available in youth and adult sizes.

    For orders or sales inquiries, please contact orders@gatorcases.com​ or 813.221.4191.

    Images and face mask size chart available in the Media Download Center below – credit Gator Co.

    For media inquiries, please contact marketing@gatorcases.com.

    Media Download Center

    Source: Gator

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  • International Association of Women Recognizes Regina Ferguson as a 2019-2020 Influencer

    International Association of Women Recognizes Regina Ferguson as a 2019-2020 Influencer

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    Regina Ferguson, Director at Strategos International, joins networking organization

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Aug 27, 2019


    CHICAGO, August 27, 2019 (Newswire.com)
    –
    ​The International Association of Women (IAW) recognizes Regina Ferguson as a 2019-2020 Influencer. She is acknowledged as a leader in risk management. The International Association of Women (IAW) is a global in-person and online networking platform with more than 100 local chapters, International Chapters in several cities in China and 1000+ in person and virtual events.

    “I’m pleased to welcome Regina into this exceptional group of professional women,” said IPDN President and IAW Spokesperson Star Jones. “Her knowledge and experience in her industry are valuable assets to her company and community.”

    For 16 years, Regina Ferguson worked for a large urban public school district, first as Operations Manager/Senior Paralegal for the inhouse legal services department for eleven years, and then appointed to be the district’s Risk Manager where she oversaw the safety program, all insurance policies, and district administrative policies for staff and student safety.

    After leaving the school district, Ms. Ferguson was approached by Strategos International, LLC, the vendor she worked with to establish safety procedures for student safety. “The owners of Strategos International asked if I would consider working as a Consultant focusing completely on the school division for the company. I already had a strong working relationship with everyone at Strategos International, and within a year my role evolved into a full-time position as Director of Public Schools Safety and Security Solutions,” she said. “I have been with Strategos International as a Consultant and full-time​ employee for two years, in addition to five years as a client.”

    In her current role, Ms. Ferguson works directly with schools and districts to conduct safety assessments, policy and procedure development, training related to active and unknown threats in the school and work place environment, bus safety and behavior pattern recognition training. “We also provide informational sessions for parents and community groups related to recognizing potential threats and how to proactively share those concerns to prevent a potentially hazardous situation in their local schools,” she added.

    “I enjoy working with people to see past their regular routine and understand that safety is everyone’s responsibility.  Safety awareness does not have to be scary; it can be empowering, making you feel you are in control of your own successes.” Ms. Ferguson continued. “Schools are welcoming environments and should be filled with the sounds of happy students; practicing a high level of safety awareness does not have to impact that positive experience.”

    Ms. Ferguson admits it can be challenging to change someone’s mindset from the nostalgic ideas of how things have always been done. “The rewarding part is when that person fully embraces all the necessary changes for a safe school environment and becomes the champion for all safety related topics,” she said.

    “I am here to share the school safety message with whomever will listen,” Ms. Ferguson said. “Every person either has a child in school, knows someone with a child in school or knows someone who works in a school. Because of changes in the culture and climate not only in schools but in our communities, safety training can begin at school but should be a skill that is taken anywhere and used at any given time and place. The hope is we never need to protect ourselves from an active threat. The goal is we all become educated to prevent the potential for a threat and, if one does occur, we not only survive but prevail.”

    In addition to her work with Strategos International, Ms. Ferguson is also a licensed Realtor in Missouri and Kansas working with her husband, Michael, at Michael Ferguson Realty brokered by eXp. The same enjoyment she has working with people translates in her work as a Realtor, and she finds great joy when clients find their perfect home.

    Education & Accomplishments: Master of Business Administration, Webster University; Masters of Legal Studies with Paralegal Certification, Webster University; Guest Trainer for the Missouri School Plant Manager’s Association Core Certification Safety Courses Sept 22-24, 2019; Presenter/Exhibitor at the Missouri School Boards Association Annual Conference Sept 25-27, 2019

    ​About IAW
    The International Association of Women (IAW) is a global in-person and online professional networking platform that provides women the forum, professional development and services needed to thrive in an interconnected world. Through 100+ local chapters, International Chapters in several cities in China and 1000+ in person and virtual events, members cultivate valuable connections, develop professionally, and promote themselves and their businesses. Founded in Chicago in 2017, IAW is a division of Professional Diversity Network, Inc., an online network tailored to provide diverse professionals in the United States with access to employment opportunities.

    Source: International Association of Professional Women

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  • AWC Detroit Celebrates National Reading Month With Westside Christian Academy

    AWC Detroit Celebrates National Reading Month With Westside Christian Academy

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    AWC Detroit marched into National Reading Month by sponsoring local author Cindy Orlandi’s visit to Westside Christian Academy on Tuesday, March 19. The visit is part of AWC Detroit’s advocacy program, “Driving Literacy in the D.” AWC Detroit’s advocacy program hopes to shine a spotlight on successful efforts to advance literacy in Detroit.

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Mar 23, 2019


    DETROIT, March 23, 2019 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Cindy Orlandi, a member of AWC Detroit and author of “Love is a Dog and Some Crayons…Weimaraner Coloring,” will be reading to Westside’s first graders alongside Bennie, her Weimaraner rescue therapy dog. Cindy Orlandi is a resident of Woodhaven.

    “It is a real pleasure to share my love of dogs and reading with the young students at Westside Christian Academy,” states Orlandi. “I hope my visit will inspire the children to read more. Westside Christian Academy has achieved amazing success in getting the majority of students to read at grade level.”

    Henry Wells, Ph.D., director of Westside Christian Academy, speaks to the school’s success:

    “Nearly 80 percent of our first, second and third graders’ reading scores are at grade level. Any child who is not at grade level at the end of the school year is placed in the reading remediation program ‘Beyond Basics.’ We attribute our success to a small student-teacher ratio and the supportive atmosphere of the school. We are honored to have extraordinary teachers like Lucinda Washington, who holds a master’s degree in Early Reading Education, to be teaching in our lower school.”

    Detroit’s Westside Christian Academy’s success rate is remarkable when considering that in 2018, Detroit Public Schools ranked last in the nation on standardized test scores, with only 5 percent of fourth graders demonstrating proficiency in reading and 7 percent in math.

    Deniella Ortiz-Lalain, president of the AWC Detroit, says that as professional communicators, AWC members understand the vital link between literacy and success.

    “Our chapter is making a commitment to promote literacy,” she said. “Our group recognizes the impact that the literacy crisis is having on the citizens of Detroit. It’s our hope that we can shine a light on programs that are making a difference in our community.”

    Additionally, AWC Detroit will be conducting a book drive with students at Walsh College on behalf of Westside Christian Academy in conjunction with Orlandi’s visit in April. Driving Literacy in the D is the heart of AWC Detroit’s advocacy program. Members are encouraged to participate and bring their unique skills to the program.

     # # #

    The Association for Women in Communications (AWC) Detroit Chapter is dedicated to advocating for women’s needs and honoring communication excellence. Established in 1938, the chapter supports the advancement of members by connecting women from a diverse range of communications professions. AWC Detroit provides professional development, volunteer enrichment opportunities, and insightful programs on hot topics and leading trends in communications.

    For more information contact: Melinda Kollins at melinda.kollins@gmail.com.

    Source: Association For Women in Communications – Detroit Chapter

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  • Children’s Learning Adventure Offers Colorado Parents Free Child Care Options as Strikes Spread

    Children’s Learning Adventure Offers Colorado Parents Free Child Care Options as Strikes Spread

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: Apr 24, 2018


    SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 24, 2018 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Schools are closing throughout the U.S. as teacher strikes continue to grow. Colorado is the latest state in which teachers are planning a walkout to protest teacher pay and school funding. The walkout is set to take place later this week, as several Colorado school districts have announced that they will be closed during this time. Children’s Learning Adventure is offering drop-in care and other various programs to help families who are in immediate need of childcare during this time.

    In an effort to relieve some of the stress caused by the strike, Children’s Learning Adventure is waiving its registration fee and all first-time families will receive their first day free (based on enrollment availability).

    Affected families can enroll at one of Children’s Learning Adventure’s three Colorado locations. Locate a center near you here.

    – Thornton
    – Centennial
    – Parker

    Children’s Learning Adventure’s School Age curriculum assists students with team building and character development through meaningful activities to ensure students develop pro-social behaviors to be successful in life. The School Age programs offer enrichment for Before and After School, Summer Camp, and Holiday Camp. Programs feature an environment that combines freedom and structure with the right mix to inspire, while assuring the student’s safety. Children’s Learning Adventure offers an After-School Homework Club, to provide teacher assistance and a structured environment for students to complete daily assignments.

    Children’s Learning Adventure’s curriculum ensures daily exposure to STEAM-based learning through multiple learning environments. They have created specialty classrooms including: Culinary Creations – a specialized commercial kitchen where students explore a passion for cooking; Imagination Island – a dramatic play town where students share and develop interpersonal skills; Laboratory Lagoon – a dedicated math and science environment designed to encourage questioning, experimentation, and scientific discovery; Reading Reef – a complete library that instills the love of reading with an extensive collection of literary interests; Nature’s Nook – an outdoor classroom to provide your child with hands-on experiences that lead him/her to a greater understanding of nature and all it has to offer; Picture Paradise – a live TV studio, complete with its own news desk and professional TV cameras. These are just a few of the specialty classrooms that encourage students to develop new skills. Students begin the day in their academic homeroom, then explore subjects further in specialty classrooms. Each specialty classroom is dedicated to a specific subject so students are given the opportunity to predict, implement, and discover new ideas.

    Children’s Learning Adventure’s programs include infant, toddler, preschool, pre-kindergarten, advanced pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, after school, extracurricular classes, school breaks and summer camp. Early childhood education is critical in the development of a child’s mind, each program is created specifically to maximize learning for the age range. Math, science, and language concepts repeat every six weeks incorporated in the monthly themes within the Lifetime Adventures® curriculum. To learn more about Children’s Learning Adventure call 844-330-4400 or visit www.childrenslearningadventure.com.

    For More Information Please Contact:

    Kyle Greenberg
    Creative Manager – Children’s Learning Adventure
    ​kgreenberg@childrenslearningadventure.com
    480-315-7970

    Source: Children’s Learning Adventure

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  • CSBA Calls on Legislature to Fund Public Schools at the Average of the Top 10 States

    CSBA Calls on Legislature to Fund Public Schools at the Average of the Top 10 States

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    California districts to adopt CSBA resolution to fund public schools at national average by 2020 and average of top 10 states by 2025

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Jan 8, 2018


    SACRAMENTO, Calif., January 8, 2018 (Newswire.com)
    –
    ​​As part of its ongoing work to ensure that all students benefit from the resources needed for a high-quality education, the California School Boards Association is calling on the Legislature to raise school funding to the national average by 2020 and to the average of the top 10 states by 2025.

    “There was an era when California’s public education system was the envy of the nation and our schools were as well-funded as any in the country, but for decades now, California schools have been asked to do more with less,” said California School Boards Association President Mike Walsh. “It’s time we reverse the trend of shortchanging public schools and provide full and fair funding for all students, so they have the resources needed for success in college, career and civic life.”

    California can’t expect to maintain its leadership position when it’s failing to invest in its future and languishing near the bottom nationally in school funding. Now is the time to reclaim California’s place as a beacon of opportunity and commit to full and fair funding for all public school students.

    Vernon M. Billy, CSBA CEO & Executive Director

    “Our members are charged with providing a 21st-century education that prepares a diverse student population for an increasingly competitive, global and technological society. Yet, the funding from the state is inadequate for this task and just a fraction of that offered by some peer states,” explained CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy. “California can’t expect to maintain its leadership position when it’s failing to invest in its future and languishing near the bottom nationally in school funding. Now is the time to reclaim California’s place as a beacon of opportunity and commit to full and fair funding for all public school students.”

    Despite boasting the sixth-largest economy in the world and the highest gross domestic product of any state, California ranks at or near the bottom nationally in nearly every measure of school funding and staffing. Under the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), revenue for K-12 schools has only recently returned to 2007 levels, meaning funding has not substantially increased, on an inflation-adjusted basis, for more than a decade.

    In order to meet the growing needs of California’s 6.2 million public school students and address the financial challenges faced by rising costs, CSBA has developed a Full and Fair Funding Resolution for adoption by its nearly 1,000 member school districts and county offices of education. The resolution highlights the threat that underinvestment in schools poses to our communities and calls on the State to meet its responsibilities to today’s students and to California’s future.

    In the 1970s, California ranked in the top five nationally in school funding; currently, California is 41st and trails the average of the top 10 states by almost $7,000 in per-pupil funding, depriving students of critical opportunities for academic, social and emotional development and essential preparation for a rapidly changing economy.

    CSBA is a nonprofit association representing nearly 1,000 K-12 school districts and county offices of education throughout California.

    Contact: Troy Flint / Senior Director Communications / (916) 669-3246 / tflint@csba.org

    Source: California School Boards Association

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  • Private School Looks to Balance the Scales With College Access Initiative; Makes Long-Term Investment in Underserved, High-Achieving Public School Students

    Private School Looks to Balance the Scales With College Access Initiative; Makes Long-Term Investment in Underserved, High-Achieving Public School Students

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: May 18, 2017


    North Hollywood, CA, May 18, 2017 (Newswire.com)
    –
     After years of research and preparation, Campbell Hall has launched the Campbell Scholars Program, a tuition-free academic enrichment and college access program designed to support underserved, high-achieving students who aspire to be the first in their family to graduate from a four-year college. The program, which recently completed a 3-year pilot phase, extends the core resources, learning philosophy, and opportunities of the independent school experience to students enrolled in under-resourced schools through continuous, year-round enrichment and mentoring programs from 7th grade through college graduation and beyond.

    It is well understood that first-generation college aspirants face an exceedingly difficult path to college graduation. While researchers and policy-makers have sought to understand this gap in educational attainment, private independent schools have quietly shown success in preparing low-income first-generation students for college. One school, Campbell Hall, a K-12 private school in North Hollywood, has committed to deepening its impact to underserved children by sharing its college preparatory capacity with its broader community.

    “It’s time independent schools looked beyond their gates to forge partnerships that impact our community at large.”

    Eileen Powers, Director of Public Partnerships, Campbell Hall

    “We are a selective independent school, but that doesn’t mean we are closed off to our role in the broader community,” said the Rev.  Julian P. Bull, headmaster, Campbell Hall. “Our school’s mission implies a public purpose, and Campbell Scholars is an example of how private schools can serve the public good.”

    The independent school experience serves as a completely different learning context for Campbell Scholars, all of whom are enrolled in Title I schools. In small class sizes and long-term relationships, students grow their cultural capital and social-emotional skills, areas of emphasis that today’s under-resourced public schools are not properly resourced or incentivized to develop.

    According to John Rue, Campbell Scholars program director, none of the parents in the program have graduated from college, and a significant number have not graduated from high school. “We work closely with each family to offer support, explain choices, and answer questions at every point along the college and career pathway,” said Rue. “It’s what we do in our program, but like most of our program’s components, it’s inspired by the college preparatory work we do at Campbell Hall.”

    The first three years of the Campbell Scholars program focuses on preparing middle school students for rigorous, college preparatory coursework in high school. Once students complete the Summer Enrichment phase, they matriculate into the College Access Program to help prepare them for college and beyond. Once in college, the program will continue to support students through academic counseling and internships.

    Gwen, a Campbell Scholar who is thriving in the program, states, “What I love most about Campbell Scholars is the fact that I’m being surrounded by other kids who want to go to college, have a career, be successful, and do something with their lives, just like me.”

    “There are few responsibilities more important and more complex than educating children,” said Director of Public Partnerships Eileen Powers. “It’s time independent schools looked beyond their gates to forge partnerships that impact our community at large.”

    Source: Campbell Hall

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  • Pfister Energy Installs Solar for First Net Zero Energy Maryland School

    Pfister Energy Installs Solar for First Net Zero Energy Maryland School

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    Rooftop and Ground-mount solar part of overall renewable energy package for Wilde Lake Middle School.

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Mar 13, 2017


    Baltimore, Maryland, March 13, 2017 (Newswire.com)
    –
    ​​Pfister Energy, a national commercial solar installer, was chosen by Howard County Public Schools to help create the first net zero energy school in Maryland, Wilde Lake Middle School. To achieve net zero energy, a building is designed efficiently to reduce energy usage, then utilizes renewable energy to produce enough energy to meet its annual consumption requirements.  

    With Howard County’s goals in mind, Pfister Energy designed, engineered, and constructed rooftop and ground mounted solar systems, placing each panel at optimum tilt for maximum sun absorption and output.

    William Cole, President of Pfister Energy of Baltimore noted, “Pfister Energy presented unique qualifications, bringing over 10 years of commercial solar experience that evolved from a 100 year old commercial roofing company.  Our expertise in roof integrated solar as well as our experience in ground mounted solar was the winning combination that Howard County was looking for.”

    The new solar arrays are expected to produce over 826,000 kWh in the first year and more than 19 million kWh over a 25-year period.  Wilde Lake Middle School’s solar plan was specifically designed to work with additional renewable and energy management solutions (natural daylighting, geo thermal, lighting and building controls) creating a “stackable energy” approach that will offset power consumed on-site and therefore, eliminate the need to buy electricity from the grid. 

    The new school is nearly 30,000 square feet larger, expected to house 49% more studeMr. Cole concluded, “Statistics show the buildings sector is the primary energy consumer in the U.S. With growing concerns about the stability of our energy grid, fluctuating energy prices, and the impact on our environment, targeting this sector for net zero energy design is the key to minimizing the nation’s energy requirements. We are honored to have been chosen to work on the Wilde Lake Middle School project and are eager to share their story to educate and inspire others.”nts, and use 50% less energy than the old location.

    Mr. Cole concluded, “Statistics show the buildings sector is the primary energy consumer in the U.S. With growing concerns about the stability of our energy grid, fluctuating energy prices, and the impact on our environment, targeting this sector for net zero energy design is the key to minimizing the nation’s energy requirements. We are honored to have been chosen to work on the Wilde Lake Middle School project and are eager to share their story to educate and inspire others.”

    About Pfister Energy, Inc.

    Founded in 2005, Pfister Energy provides turnkey renewable energy systems for commercial, industrial and institutional facilities, with an emphasis on building-integrated applications.  Pfister develops innovative power solutions and energy efficiency measures for clients across a number of industries. The company’s services include the design, procurement, installation, commissioning and maintenance of photovoltaics, solar thermal, LED lighting, natural daylighting, wind power, solar lighting, green roofing, geothermal, rainwater harvesting and fuel cell systems. As a total solutions provider, Pfister Energy offers customized alternative energy systems and assists clients with financing and implementing the latest renewable and energy efficient technologies.

    Source: Pfister Energy

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  • SnackSafely.com and Partners Launch Free-From Sample Program for Schools

    SnackSafely.com and Partners Launch Free-From Sample Program for Schools

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    Program introduces free-from alternatives to teachers, school nurses, cafeteria planners, administrators and PTAs


    New York, NY, February 7, 2017 (Newswire.com)
    –
    ​​​​​​​​​SnackSafely.com, publishers of the Safe Snack Guide – a resource used by thousands of schools and tens of thousands of parents nationwide – announces the launch of an exciting new program to introduce allergy-friendly alternatives to traditional foods often consumed in classrooms and cafeterias.

    Conceived together with Enjoy Life Foods – the leading brand in the Free-From category – the program provides free samples, coupons, and offers for products delivered to teachers, school nurses, cafeteria planners, school and district administrators, and PTA representatives.

    We’re excited to launch a program to introduce schools to allergy-friendly alternatives that can be enjoyed by a wider community of children.

    Dave Bloom, CEO, SnackSafely.com

    The program features products and offers from Enjoy Life’s robust allergy-friendly portfolio of cookies, snack bars, seed and fruit mixes, and more, as well as WOWBUTTER Safe-For-School Soybutter, MadeGood Granola Bars, and Skeeter Nut-Free Snacks. All are peanut and tree nut free and free of other common allergens depending on the product.

    “An estimated 5.9 million children in the US are coping with food allergies, an average of two in every classroom,” says Dave Bloom, CEO of SnackSafely.com. “Many, my daughter included, have been excluded from participating in school activities because of their allergies. We’re excited to launch a program to introduce schools to allergy-friendly alternatives that can be enjoyed by a wider community of children.”

    “At Enjoy Life Foods, inclusion is one of our core values, but we understand that navigating a special diet at school can be restrictive to children across the nation,” said Joel Warady, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Enjoy Life Foods. “That’s why we’re proud to partner with SnackSafely.com on this widespread program that not only makes safe allergy-friendly foods available for the growing number of kids with food allergies, but gives parents, teachers, and everyone that plays an integral role in our children’s education peace of mind.”

    School/district employees and PTA representatives responsible for children with food allergies are encouraged to visit schoolsamples.snacksafely.com to learn more about the program and sign up.

    Manufacturer participation in the program is limited to those that have been accepted to the SnackSafely.com Manufacturer Partnership by agreeing to disclose detailed information regarding the processing of 11 allergens during the manufacture of each of their products. Membership is free to companies of all sizes.

    Note: These products may not be suitable for every child with food allergies. Always consult with the parent or caregiver before giving any food to a child with food allergies.

    About SnackSafely.com

    SnackSafely.com provides straightforward, actionable information to improve the lives of the 17 million Americans suffering with food allergies. We strive to eliminate anaphylaxis by leveraging our on-line properties to educate, advocate, and connect the allergic community with products and services that help toward achieving this goal.

    The firm employs a proprietary platform designed to foster greater transparency in food manufacturing with regard to allergens. Manufacturers join the SnackSafely.com Manufacturer Partnership at no cost by disclosing how 11 allergens are processed during the manufacture of each product, and in return receive free listings in the Safe Snack Guide and Allergence – our allergen product screening service. All companies large and small are encouraged to join the Partnership, which currently comprises over 60 manufacturers. To learn more, visit us at snacksafely.com.

    About Enjoy Life Foods

    Enjoy Life Foods is the leading brand in the growing Free-From category, featuring a robust portfolio of Certified Gluten-Free and Non-GMO Project Verified products that are free-from the eight most common food allergens, identified as milk, eggs, fish, crustaceans, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans. Founded with the goal to create great-tasting, allergy-friendly foods, the Enjoy Life line includes cookies, snack bars, chocolate bars, baking chocolate, baking mixes, seed and fruit mixes, plant-based protein-infused ProBurst Bites, and lentil-based chips called Plentils, all available in natural and conventional grocers and mass retailers throughout the United States and Canada. Enjoy Life’s mission and brand promise is to deliver safe, better-for-you products free-from the top eight food allergens, but not free-from taste so everyone can Enjoy Life to the Fullest! To learn more about Enjoy Life, visit www.enjoylifefoods.com, ‘Like’ us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter or Instagram.

    About WOWBUTTER

    WOWBUTTER is the only peanut free & tree nut free spread with a taste & texture just like peanut butter that all kids already know & love!  Taste testing has shown this #1 kid preferred peanut free spread successfully satisfies the taste needs and nutritional requirements at the same time.  WOWBUTTER is nutritionally better than traditional peanut butter containing complete protein and is naturally a source of Omega-3.  Awarded a prestigious National Parenting Product Award in 2016, WOWBUTTER is fast becoming a new food staple for schools, camps and daycares across the country! For more information, please visit www.WOWBUTTER.com or email us at info@wowbutter.com.

    About MadeGood

    MadeGood® prides itself on providing families with a portable snack, packed with nutrition and flavor. The MadeGood Granola Minis and Granola Bars come in five delightful flavors and make the perfect anytime pick-me-up at school or on the go.

    Made in a dedicated nut free facility, MadeGood products are free from the following eight common allergens: peanut, tree nuts, wheat, dairy, egg, soy, sesame, fish and shellfish, so parents and teachers don’t need to worry about serving or enjoying them. They are also organic, gluten-free, Non-GMO project verified and contain the nutrients in one full serving of vegetables. Visit us at madegoodfoods.com and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/madegoodfoods

    About Skeeter Nut Free Snacks

    Skeeter Snacks, LLC was founded by two best friends frustrated by the lack of great tasting and safe snacks for their nut allergic children.  The company’s mission is to create products that are loved by all and help provide a safe and inclusive environment for people with nut allergies.  Skeeter Nut Free offers delicious and wholesome peanut and tree nut free products that can be enjoyed with any meal or as a snack.  All Skeeter Nut Free products are made in a dedicated nut free facility with an audited nut free supply chain and each production run is tested internally and by third parties before being released for distribution.  Skeeter Nut Free products meet the nutritional requirements of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act for inclusion in school nutrition programs as a whole grain and are served in schools across the country.  Skeeter Nut Free can also be purchased online, in retailers, and is offered as a complimentary snack on JetBlue Airways.  For more information, please visit us at skeeternutfree.com/schools/ or on Facebook at facebook.com/skeeternutfree.

    Media Contact
    ​Debra Bloom
    347-915-4777
    ​press@snacksafely.com

    Source: SnackSafely.com

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  • Sunrise Hitek’s Rugged Laptop Case Helps School Laptops Last Longer

    Sunrise Hitek’s Rugged Laptop Case Helps School Laptops Last Longer

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    Sunrise Hitek’s Rugged laptop Case offers a variety of features that help protect the laptop long-term. The main protective feature is the always-in design with cooling technology https://www.sunrisehitek.com/product/rugged-laptop-case.

    Press Release
    –

    Aug 24, 2016


    Chicago, IL, August 24, 2016 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Technology items such as tablets and laptops are becoming more and more prevalent in schools. While they are great classroom tools, they are also a large expense, and it makes sense

    for schools to do all they can to prevent breakage. According to a Huffington Post article, kid’s damage to electronic devices have cost families 2.8 billion in 5 years, and that was back in 2013! The article goes on to discuss the importance of cases for these products: “backpacks are particularly unforgiving to tablets. Screens often get crushed by books, or the corners get dinged when a bag is dropped or stepped on” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/03/electronic-devices-damaged-by-kids_n_3862321.html.

    Received Chromebook cases. They were just as described. A good product & we were very satisfied with our experience & would recommend you to others.

    John M, Crown Point, IN

    Sunrise Hitek’s Rugged Laptop Case offers the ultimate in laptop protection. The rugged laptop case is made of durable ballistic nylon on a rigid frame. Its “always-in” design with proprietary Cooling Channel™ technology allows the computer to be used without being removed from the case https://www.sunrisehitek.com/product/rugged-laptop-case. The “always-in” design is so special because it enables the laptop to stay in the case at all times, preventing a myriad of damages that could potentially occur such as dropping or cracking of the screen. Sunrise has received many testimonials to the quality of the case including this one: Received Chromebook cases. They were just as described. A good product & we were very satisfied with our experience & would recommend you to others.

    ~ John M., Crown Point, IN

    About Sunrise Hitek

    Sunrise Hitek’s üuber store, formerly known as iGear, is a leading maker of protective gear for Apple’s iPad. The brand changed to üuber when the company starting developing cases for other devices, such as the MacBook, Chromebook, and Samsung devices. Sunrise Hitek Group, LLC, owner of the üuber brand, also operates Sunrise Digital, a leading digital printing company based in Chicago. As a G7 Qualified Master Printer, Sunrise is uniquely qualified among protective gear makers to offer a wide array of customization options, ensuring the most consistent and accurate color reproduction. Sunrise is an Inc. 5000 company established in 1988 and employs the most advanced equipment and technology, such as G7-certified HP Indigo and UV flatbed presses, and digital die-cutting, to create best-in-class products. A privately-owned enterprise, the company is based in Chicago and sells products worldwide.

    Source: Sunrise Hitek Group, LLC

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