Winter 2011 newsletter!

Click on these JPEGs to read the latest Kids on the Block Awareness Program Puppeteer Newsletter!

Kids and unhealthy drinks

This is a very interesting read on how beverage companies have not decreased marketing exposure to youth for sugary drinks (and in fact, it nearly doubled from 2008 - 2010). Overall, it says, "sugary drinks are the top source of calories of calories in teens' diets."

Additionally, remember that many fruit drinks (which are often viewed as being a healthier choice) can contain just as much sugar and calories as a soda.

Check this article out for alternatives to soda and sugar-filled fruit drinks for your children:
Beverage Companies Market Unhealthy, Sugary Drinks to Children and Teens

Effecting change in bullying.

This is an interesting blog post from the New York Times that follows a study on bullying. http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/14/what-works-to-end-bullying/

The author makes some very good points:

• Along with changing how to deal with being bullied, we also need to change how the bullies deal with themselves. We need to show how socially unacceptable it is to be a bully, not go along with it out of fear or wanting to be popular.
  
• Bullying sticks with you into adulthood. It's not just something you have to "get through" as part of being young. It's unlikely you'll just forget about it later.
  
• Many youth who are bullied are too ashamed to tell their parents or a trusted adult, so the bullying stays unnoticed.
  

Check out the full study here. What do you think?
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/images/10/10/findings.from.the.wheatley.school.pdf

Check it out!

Have you "liked" us on Facebook or Twitter yet? Kids on the Block Awareness Program features up-to-date news articles, tips and videos on helping kids grow up to be healthy and safe.

Come check out our latest post - a video series from Sesame Street on addressing bullying at an early age. Add us at: "Kids on the Block Awareness Program - Impact NW" or click on the icon on the side of this page!

It gets better.

Read this well-written piece about the importance of getting involved in bullying prevention. Bullying can be stopped, it can be uncovered and it can be helped. It gets better.

Ending Bullying: A Community Obligation

And if you haven't seen these videos from the White House, please watch. Very powerful:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/it-gets-better

Ending Bullying: A Community Obligation

Bullying Prevention in Our Schools - A Community Forum

Kids on the Block Awareness Program will host a table tonight at the Bullying Prevention in our Schools Community Forum, taking place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Gresham High School. Come visit us and take part in some great sessions!

Hanif Fazal (an award winning youth empowerment advocate) will speak from 5:45 to 6:15 p.m. and break out sessions are from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. and 7:15 to 8 p.m. Topics included are:

• Cyberbulling
• Psychology of Bullies and Victims
• Legal Rights and Resources
• Strategies for Parents
• Strategies for Students
• Student Panel
• School Policies

For more information, check out the program here:
http://www.gresham.k12.or.us/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=244661&sessionid=23c67bd0092cdf9db1bd09153e689f78

Kids on the Block Awareness Program will host a table at the Gre

Parents: Read these tips for healthy eating!

Don't Let the French Fries Win - How to Get Your Kids to Eat Their Veggies

Happy 2011-2012 School Year!

The Kids on the Block Awareness Program is moving full speed ahead to perform in elementary schools across Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas and Clark counties with the start of the new school year. (If you'd like to schedule a performance, please see find more info here.)

Kicking things off this year were some really great performances last night and today we'd like to share!

Puppeteers Rachel and Nancy performed the Healthy Choices show today at the Multisensory Learning Academy in Fairview. They talked to 150 students, grades K-2, about how to choose the right food and exercise to help them grow. The students had a ton of questions and shared what they were doing to take steps toward being healthy! 

Puppeteers Bob and Nancy performed their very first Kids on the Block show ever yesterday at Buckman Elementary's Back to School night. They were a fantastic duo, teaching children about how to stay away from bullies and what to do if they've been bullied themselves. More than 60 kids, grades K-3, watched the show and many of them eagerly asked questions afterward.

Check in again soon for more updates and resources from the Kids on the Block Awareness Program. In the meantime, go ahead and "like" us on Facebook to help get the word out about our educational performances! 

Sand in the City 2011!

Check out some photos on our Facebook page from this year's Yoshida's Sand in the City presented by Pacific Power! (Thanks, Sue Cocking!) Go here for more: http://on.fb.me/qemoTZ

Bullying prevention

Summer tips to stay away from bullying! 

Effects of bullying

Bullying Scars May Last a Lifetime, Experts Say - US News and World Report

Summer 2011 newsletter!

We've posted the Kids on the Block Awareness Program Summer 2011 newsletter! Check it out for updates on your favorite puppets and puppeteers. Click on the "newsletter" tab above or go here. 

Enjoying the sun!

Last week, a few Kids on the Block puppeteers got together to catch up, have fun and hang in the much-awaited sun. Let's hope it comes back soon!

Our volunteer puppeteers are what makes this program so successful! If you're interested in being a puppeteer or know someone who would be a good fit, find out more at the Impact NW website here.

Talking about gangs

Recently, our Kids on the Block Prevention Program at Marysville Elementary hosted Rob Ingram, director for Portland's Office of Youth Violence Prevention. Kids on the Block program supervisor Lynette Jelinek introduced him by reviewing some of the things the students had already learned about gangs and bullying.

Rob spoke to fifth and seventh grade students about how to stay away from the dangers of gangs, drugs and violence. The students had a ton of great questions and learned a lot about what a gang is and isn't, what to do if you're recruited into a gang, and how to keep your distance from going down the wrong path.

As you might know, Portland's gang activity is becoming more of an epidemic. News stories about gang violence like this one and this one are popping up all over the place. As a community, we must stop gang violence and make the choice to stay away from it.

For more information on preventing gang violence, visit:

Tips to stay away from gangs

More tips to stay away from gangs

DoSomething.org

National Gang Center.gov

Move your body!

Did you hear about the new video Beyonce has out? It's all about moving your body and making healthy choices! Check out Let's Move for more information on how to get up and have fun!

Now watch this video and dance along!

Saying NO to gangs!

A Portland man named John Canda is helping to keep kids safe and gangs off the streets by urging parents and the community to start paying attention! Being in a gang leads to nothing but bad things - like getting arrested, getting hooked on drugs or even getting killed.

Portland gang outreach worker urges parents, community leaders to stop gang violence

According to The Oregonian article linked above, "Gang violence response team officers have been called to crime scenes 27 times this year, compared to 20 by the end of April 2010. Last year, the team had 93 call outs for gang-related violence, up from 68 in 2009."

These numbers are really sad. This is why Kids on the Block is teaming up with Marysville Elementary School to educate students about bullying and gangs, and how to stay away from them. With our Prevention Program, we are helping kids become strong leaders instead of future gang members. Did you know that by age 8, bullies are six times more likely to be convicted of a crime by age 24*? By tackling these problems now with the right tools, we're helping to prevent violent and illegal behavior down the road. 

Do you know what to do if someone recruits you into a gang? Read this flyer and share it with your parents to find out more:
http://www.co.washington.or.us/Juvenile/Gangs/upload/ParentsGuide-EN-2.pdf

*Kaiser Family Foundation

Stop bullying!

We wanted to share these two videos that point out how bullying is NOT cool. If someone you know is being bullied, if you're being bullied or even if you're the bully, please report this to an adult. Keep reporting it until something is done. No one deserves to be bullied, ever.

Having fun at KidsFest NW!

Last weekend, Kids on the Block hung out at KidsFest NW and it was super fun! We rode around in go-carts, saw wild animals and listened to music! We also performed a few shows on making Healthy Choices and handed out stickers at our Impact NW booth. Here are some fun photos we wanted to share with you.

This is Brenda and Muffy, next to the information station.



Here is Mike and his good pal Lynette, having a great time!

Here is Nam, handing out flyers and buttons!

Welcome!

Welcome to the Kids on the Block Awareness Program blog!

Here, you'll find contact information to write letters to the kids, updates, resources and more! We're excited to keep in touch with everyone online - we hope you like it!