Thursday, December 17, 2009

Happy Holidays!

Second trimester classes have been off to a great start. It's hard to believe that Winter Break is already upon us. I hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday with their families!

As a reminder, the 8th grade "Food Pyramid Tracker" project is due the Wednesday after break. Several students have already turned their projects in but many have not.

The 7th grade students have their friendship essays due the Wednesday after break as well. Students got off to a great start on the papers in class but need to make sure they get completed!

Happy Holidays, See you in 2010!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

End of 1st trimester

The last day with first trimester Encore classes is Tuesday, November 24th. It has been a fun and exciting trimester and I have thouroughly enjoyed all of my classes. As a reminder, ALL late and missing work must be turned in by Monday to count towards grades!

I hope everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving break and I'm looking forward to meeting my 2nd trimester students.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

end of the trimester.... coming soon!

This is just a reminder... the end of the trimester is coming soon! Parents, please check your child's health grades. If there are any "zeros" that assignment is missing. With the end of the trimester rapidly approaching, it is important that all missing work is turned in!

Sixth graders are wrapping up the Body Systems unit. They will take their chapter test on Monday. We will continue on with a unit on puberty.

Seventh graders are working on a unit about relationship abuse and sexual harassment. They are learning what is appropriate in a relationship.

Eighth graders are beginning work in the "Gameplan" workbooks. Each student will get a workbook that they will have to complete assignments in. Parent involvement will be a part of this unit, so look forward to parent interview discussions!

Friday, October 23, 2009

AWARE next week

The AWARE program will begin in 8th grade health classes next week. The following is a statement from the AWARE program describing what the presentations will involve. If you were not able to attend the parent information evening, please email me and I will forward you more of the information that was presented!




What is AWARE?


AWARE, a comprehensive prevention program, is designed to provide middle/junior high school students with the information and resources they need to face tough relationship issues. Young people who are informed and educated are more likely to make healthy decisions, develop healthy relationships and postpone sexual involvement.

AWARE comprises five components hosted by three collaborative partners: Teen Parent Connection, the YWCA West Suburban Center, and the Robert Crown Center for Health Education.

A Parent Workshop is held in advance of the student
program. It is designed to educate parents about the
issues of teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections
and sexual assault.. Agency representatives describe
each component of the AWARE program, answer
questions and provide information on community
resources surrounding these issues.

Student workshops include interactive discussions with presenters from:

Robert Crown Center for Health Education focuses on the transmission, long-term consequences, and prevention of sexually transmitted infections.

Teen Parent Connection utilizes health educators and adolescent parents to share with students the long term realities of teen pregnancy and parenting. A Teen Parent Connection Health Educator focuses on decision making, healthy sexuality and the emotional and physical risks of early sexual activity.

YWCA West Suburban Center involves students in a discussion about sexual violence and how to recognize when a relationship becomes potentially abusive.

Each agency offers supportive services that complement the information provided to students and their parents. These additional services may be obtained by contacting the appropriate agency.

Monday, October 19, 2009

AWARE

Next Monday the AWARE program will start for students in eighth grade. Students will receive this presentation during their health class. If a student is not in health class they will be “pulled out” of their fifth or eighth hour class during one of the trimesters for this four day presentation.

There will be a parent presentation this Tuesday (October 20th) at 7:00 pm. Aspects of the sexuality education program will be discussed. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend! If you are unable to attend but would like the information , please email me and I will get it to you!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

mid-terms

It's hard to believe that first trimester is already half way over! Before we know it, it will be time to switch encore classes. 1st trimester health classes have been working hard and doing a fantastic job.

In sixth grade, we are continuing work on the physical health unit. Students have been learning about the importance of exercise and keeping their bodies fit.

Seventh grade students on the drug and alcohol unit. They turned in tobacco projects on Monday and did very impressive work.

The eighth graders just started the Health Behavior Contract project. For this project, they decide on one area of their health that they would like to improve and choose something that they would like to turn into a daily habit. They will work on their health goal and monitor it for the next month. Hopefully all of the students picked something that they truly want to improve in their lives!

Friday, September 25, 2009

Lifeskills

Next week we are lucky to have Mr. Shilliga from the Township of Downers Grove presenting the Lifeskills program. The Lifeskills program is taught at all of the surrounding junior highs. It is a GREAT opportunity for students to learn skills for use in their every day lives.

The sixth grade program focuses on bullying. Students will learn what to do in situations where they are victims of bullying. They will also learn how to help friends and how to make sure they are not being bullies themselves.

The seventh grade program focuses on drug education. The presentation goes along wonderfully with the Lakeview drug education curriculum. The students will discuss what certain drugs do to the body. The focus will be on refusal skills and how to "Say NO."

The eighth grade program focuses on stress management and goal setting. Students will learn ways to relieve stress and how to prevent it from happening. They will also practice goal setting with an emphasis on preparing for high school.

The students should have a wonderful week! Please ask your child about the program and what they are learning :)

Monday, September 21, 2009

illness prevention

Thank you to Mrs. Heckman, our district nurse, for speaking to health classes about illness prevention this week!

With the flu season approaching and the recent spread of H1N1, it is important to follow the tips that Mrs. Heckman shared with our classes. She said that in order to prevent the spread of illness, we should all take the following steps:

-make sure to get enough sleep
-eat healthy foods
-wash hands with warm soap and water as frequently as possible!
-if you sneeze, try to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your arm
-throw tissues away as soon as you use them
-use hand sanitizer if you are unable to wash your hands with soap and water
-do NOT share any type of food or drink with others
-avoid touching your face at any time

I hope that students are able to follow these steps in order to avoid as much illness as possible!

Monday, September 14, 2009

Monday, September 14th

The school year is off and running! It's been a wonderful beginning of the year. Health classes are busy working and learning.

The sixth grade classes are wrapping up the Chapter one unit. They have focused on Stress, Mental health and decision making. They had their first folder check last week and will have their first test this week.

The seventh graders are wrapping up the first unit and will begin working on the tobacco unit. We will be watching several videos and learning all about what tobacco does to the body. Students will be completing a tobacco unit where they will have the chance to creatively share prevention information with other students.

The eighth graders are continuing work in the Nutrition unit. They have been working on a project where they are analyzing their own diets and level of nutrition. Many students have been surprised by how unhealthy they are! We are watching "Supersize Me" in class this week!

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Great Start!

The school year is off to a great start! I'm so happy to be back with all of my students. There's a lot of fun stuff going on in health class. All of the classes have grades available to view online.

A new thing we are doing this year is "Health Current Events." Students signed up for days that will be presenting. Below is a description of this activity:



Health information is constantly changing. It is important to keep current on news that will affect the health of ourselves and our families. This trimester, we will be sharing current health information with the class. Each student will be responsible for finding an article to summarize and share with the class. The following steps should be taken to complete this assignment:

1) Find a current health article! The article can be about any type of health information. Your article should come from one of the following sources: a newspaper, magazine or a reliable website such as cnn.com, chicagotribune.com or usnews.com
Be sure to cut out or print the article, it will need to be turned in with your summary!

2) Write a summary! The summary should explain what the article says, in your own words. You should be able to understand all of the words that you write in your summary! Please, don't write anything that you don't understand! In addition to explaining what the article is about, you should write a paragraph that explains your opinion on the topic. The summary needs to be typed (size 12, Times font, double spaced and at least 1 page long!)

3)Present your information to the class! You will be sharing your article and summary with the class on your assigned day. Make sure that you fully understand what the article is about so you can explain it to our class. Please keep your presentation to 2-3 minutes!

Monday, August 24, 2009

Welcome Back!

Hello! My name is Andrea Conley and I am your child’s health teacher this trimester. As an encore teacher, I have the privilege of working with many students for all three years that they attend Lakeview. This is my seventh year at the school and I love it here! I am a graduate of the health education program at Northern Illinois University and have a Master's degree in teaching and leadership from St. Xavier University. In addition, I am very involved in extra-curricular programs at Lakeview.

Many parents and students have questions and concerns regarding the sometimes “touchy” issues that my class covers. You are welcome to review the health curriculum by going to: http://www.ccsd66.org/health.htm Additionally, your child will be responsible for keeping up with a class folder. Feel free to take a look in their folder at any time for an update on our class work. I encourage discussions at home regarding the subject matter we are covering in class.

My late work policy is as follows:
*1 day late = 25% off the grade
* 2+ days late = 50% off the grade
* Students have until the end of the lesson/chapter/unit to turn in the assignment at which point the grade will become a 0 if not turned in.

If you have any questions or would like additional information at any time during the trimester, please don’t hesitate to call or e-mail me. You can contact me at aconley@ccsd66.org or 985-2700 x5013. Also, check out my blog if you get a chance! I post important class updates and information weekly. My blog site is: www.lakeviewhealth.blogspot.com

I am looking forward to an excellent trimester working with your child!

Monday, June 1, 2009

Health 6/1

I would like to thank you all for a wonderful third trimester in Health class. You all adjusted well to the change in teachers and I am proud of the work you put forth in class. Keep a positive attitude and always think about the choices you make. Have a wonderful summer. Congratulations to the 8th graders on your graduation, good luck in high school!!

Mrs. Froats :)

Friday, May 22, 2009

Friday, May 22, 2009

It's hard to believe there are only two weeks left in the school year! Today, we completed the week long Life Skills program presented by the Downers Grove Township. Next week we will begin to wrap up our units and prepare for final tests/projects.

The sixth graders will spend the final weeks learning about the changes they will experience on the road to adulthood.

The seventh graders are completing the alcohol and drug unit. There will be a unit review day on Tuesday, followed by the test on Wednesday.

The eighth grade classes completed their personal 'Life Goals' list this week. Ask your child to share with you their list. Many students put a lot of thought into this 'goal setting' activity. Next week they will be working on the "Teen Parent: Real World" project. Students will gain an understanding of how hard becoming a parent can be!

Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!

Friday, May 15, 2009

Friday, May 15, 2009

We are very fortunate to have a guest speaker from the Township of Downers Grove presenting the Lifeskills program to all the Health classes next week. The Lifeskills program is taught at all of the surrounding junior highs. It is a GREAT opportunity for students to learn skills for use in their every day lives.

The sixth grade program focuses on bullying. Students will learn what to do in situations where they are victims of bullying. They will also learn how to help friends and how to make sure they are not being bullies themselves.

The seventh grade program focuses on drug education. The presentation goes along wonderfully with the Lakeview drug education curriculum. The students will discuss what certain drugs do to the body. The focus will be on refusal skills and how to "Say NO."

The eighth grade program focuses on stress management and goal setting. Students will learn ways to relieve stress and how to prevent it from happening. They will also practice goal setting with an emphasis on preparing for high school.

The students should have a wonderful week! Please ask your child about the program and what they are learning :)

Friday, May 8, 2009

Friday, May 8th, 2009

Health classes are going quite well and the students have transitioned well with me as their teacher. It has been a pleasure getting to know them on a daily basis.

Sixth graders will be completing the Body Systems unit next week with the final test on Friday the 15th of May.

Ask your seventh grader about the alcohol simulation activity we had in class today. Goggles were used to help the children simulate the affects of alcohol on the body while performing various activities. We will continue our unit of Drugs and Alcohol next week.

The eighth graders experienced the AWARE program this week during class. Many mature topics were discussed and many questions answered. I encourage you to talk with your child about what they learned this past week in class. The Reproductive Systems test will be on Tuesday, May 12th.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

Hello, my name is Mrs. Kim Froats and I have had the privilege to work with your child the past 2 1/2 weeks. I will be covering for Mrs. Conley while she is on maternity leave through the remainder of the school year. Mrs. Conley welcomed home baby Luke Jonathan on April 19th!
As you may know, I was a classroom teacher prior to my four children being born. After many years as a stay at home mom I ventured back into teaching. I have been a substitute teacher in District #66 for 4 years and have been very welcomed by the Lakeview staff. I look forward to the coming weeks in Health class and the many great discussions that occur. If you have any questions or concern you may contact me at kfroats@ccsd66.org.
Have a great week!

Sixth graders completed the Fitness unit yesterday and will begin a unit of study on the Body Systems. The students have done a great job of maintaining their folders which are collected and graded every few weeks.

Seventh grade health class just began a unit of study on Drugs and Alcohol. Great class discussions have occurred on the affects and prevention of drug and alcohol abuse.

Eighth graders are beginning the Reproductive unit in class. We will spend the week learning about both the female and male reproductive systems in preparation for the AWARE program. The AWARE program will take place next week, May 5th-8th, during your child's health class.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Wednesday, April 8th

Good luck the rest of the trimester!

Tomorrow is my last day for the school year and I will be leaving for my maternity leave. Mrs. Kim Froats will be taking over for me for the remainder of the school year. If you have questions or concerns regarding health class, feel free to contact Mrs. Froats at: KFroats@ccsd66.org

Friday, March 27, 2009

Happy Spring Break!


I hope everyone has a wonderful, relaxing spring break!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

3/19/09

Third trimester health classes are in full swing.

The sixth graders are working on the mental health unit. They are getting the hang of organization and daily health class procedures. It has been great getting to know the new students in my class!

The seventh graders are wrapping up the first unit. They will be taking the chapter 2 quiz and will have their first folder check tomorrow.

Eighth graders are working on the nutrition unit. We are watching the movie "Supersize Me" this week.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Welcome to 3rd Trimester Health!

Dear Parents,

Hello! My name is Andrea Conley and I am your child’s health teacher this trimester. As an encore teacher, I have the privilege of working with many students for all three years that they attend Lakeview. This is my sixth year at the school and I love it here! I am a graduate of the health education program at Northern Illinois University and have a Master's degree in teaching and leadership from St. Xavier University. In addition, I am very involved in extra curricular programs at Lakeview.

Many parents and students have questions and concerns regarding the sometimes “touchy” issues that my class covers. You are welcome to review the health curriculum by going to: http://www.ccsd66.org/health.htm Additionally, your child will be responsible for keeping up with a class folder. Feel free to take a look in their folder at any time for an update on our class work. I encourage discussions at home regarding the subject matter we are covering in class.

My late work policy is as follows:
*1 day late = 25% off the grade
* 2+ days late = 50% off the grade
* Students have until the end of the lesson/chapter/unit to turn in the assignment at which point the grade will become a 0 if not turned in.

If you have any questions or would like additional information at any time during the trimester, please don’t hesitate to call or e-mail me. You can contact me at aconley@ccsd66.org or 985-2700 x5013. Also, check out my blog if you get a chance! I post important class updates and information weekly. My blog site is: www.lakeviewhealth.blogspot.com

Friday, March 6, 2009

End of 2nd trimester

Thank you to all of the second trimester health students for making this such an enjoyable trimester. I hope you had fun and learned a lot in health class!

I will look forward to meeting my new classes on Monday!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

2/18/09

It's hard to believe there are only two and a half weeks left in second trimester! We are starting to wrap up our units and prepare for final unit tests.

The sixth graders are continuing work on the body systems unit. They will have a chapter test and final folder check next week.

The seventh graders are currently working on alcohol and drug article review projects. They will be wrapping up the drug and alcohol unit and preparing for the unit test next week.

The eighth grade classes will be taking the reproductive systems unit test tomorrow. Next week they will be working on the "Teen Parent: Real World" project. Students will gain an understanding of how hard becoming a parent can be!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

8th grade AWARE program

This week in health class, the 8th grade AWARE program will take place. Students will receive this presentation during their regular health class. If a student is not in health class they will be “pulled out” of their fifth or eighth hour class during one of the trimesters for this four day presentation.

During the four day program, several community agencies will present information on the topic of sexuality education. Topics addressed will include: Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Sexual Violence prevention, Teen Pregnancy and general decision making.

There was a parent meeting about the AWARE program that 8th grade parents were invited to in the fall. Aspects of the sexuality education program were discussed. If any parent would like further information about the program, contact Mrs. Conley.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Mrs. Conley 2/3/09

Lifeskills last week was a great experience for all of the health classes! This week we have gone back to the "regular" health curriculum.

The sixth grade classes are finishing a unit on fitness and overall physical health. They will be working on unit 5 study guides in class on Wednesday and should be prepared for a test and folder check Friday.

The seventh graders are continuing in the drug and alcohol unit. This week they are learning about the short and long term dangers associated with alcohol use. They will also be working on refusal skills.

The eighth grade classes have started the reproductive system unit. Next week we will have presenters from the AWARE program coming into our health classes.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Lifeskills Program 1/26-1/30

Next week we are lucky to have Mrs. Adelman from the Township of Downers Grove presenting the Lifeskills program. The Lifeskills program is taught at all of the surrounding junior highs. It is a GREAT opportunity for students to learn skills for use in their every day lives.

The sixth grade program focuses on bullying. Students will learn what to do in situations where they are victims of bullying. They will also learn how to help friends and how to make sure they are not being bullies themselves.

The seventh grade program focuses on drug education. The presentation goes along wonderfully with the Lakeview drug education curriculum. The students will discuss what certain drugs do to the body. The focus will be on refusal skills and how to "Say NO."

The eighth grade program focuses on stress management and goal setting. Students will learn ways to relieve stress and how to prevent it from happening. They will also practice goal setting with an emphasis on preparing for high school.

The students should have a wonderful week! Please ask your child about the program and what they are learning :)

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Conley baby #2


As many of you already know, I am expecting a new addition to my family in April. We are thrilled to have another baby on the way! Our second baby boy is due April 16th. I am planning on taking maternity leave beginning April 10th and will be returning in the fall of the 2009/2010 school year.

Check out the newest photo of our baby (26 weeks):

1/13/09

I hope IOWA testing is going well for all of the sixth and seventh graders! It is a crazy week this week but students are hard at work in health class.

The sixth graders are at work on the physical health unit. We are discussing fitness, hygiene and the importance of sleep. Students have been recording their sleep habits for the last few days. We will be taking a look at how students can improve their intake of sleep!

The seventh graders will be wrapping up the tobacco unit this week. They will be working on a tobacco project towards the end of the week. Their unit test and folder check will be on Tuesday of next week.

The eighth graders just completed the nutrition unit. They had their unit test yesterday and can expect their updated grades by Thursday. We are starting a unit on Death & Dying. We will be discussing how different cultures deal with the issues related to death. As an introduction to the unit, we are watching the movie: "Tuesday's with Morrie" in class this week. This is an excellent movie based off of Mitch Albom's non-fiction book.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Welcome Back!

Welcome back and Happy New Year! I hope that everyone had a wonderful, relaxing winter break! We are jumping right back into things in Health class as we continue on in second trimester.

The sixth graders are wrapping up a unit on Mental Health this week. They will have their first unit test at the end of the week along with a folder check. Everyone will receive a study guide and should be fully prepared!

The seventh grade students are starting the tobacco unit this week. They will be learning all about tobacco and what it can do to the body.

The eighth graders are finishing the nutrition unit. We will be discussing eating disorders and healthy weight loss this week. The nutrition unit test and folder check will be next week.