1. The Cougar Den at Forge Road Volume 5, Issue 6, February 2016 From the Principal’s Desk Since we are right in the middle of Winter, we will be challenged with periods of snow, ice, wind and extremely cold temperatures. Therefore, it is important that your child is equipped with a jacket, hat, & gloves, so they are warm until they enter the building. Along these lines, please do not have your child dropped off at school before 8:30AM if they are a walker or car rider. We will not be able to bring them into the school before this time, and do not want them braving the elements for a long period of time. As always, if the weather is too extreme for outdoor recess, we will have recess indoors. Weather information, including two-hour delays, can be obtained through our AlertSolutions system, text messaging, and email. Information will also be made available by visiting the district website, As a back up plan to these forms of communication, it is always a good idea to listen to local radio stations and/or watch local news channels. If at anytime, you have questions or concerns about how to obtain school information pertaining to delays, closings or the weather forecast, please contact Forge’s School Office. As a reminder, we know this time of year brings colds, coughs, and the flu. If your child becomes ill and must stay home, please call our school prior to 8:45AM. You may leave a message if you do not reach our attendance clerk. Then, once your child returns to school, please send a hand written note that is signed confirming your child’s absence within 3 days of their return to school. If your child is sick 3 or more consecutive days, please make sure a doctors excuse is handed in that covers the complete dates your child was ill, not just the day the child was seen by the doctor. Stay warm, stay safe, and think Spring! - Mr. Hale FORGE CARES Forge students and staff collected 338.6 pounds of food to donate to the Palmyra Caring Cupboard with our Caring Tree, during the holiday season. This was a just portion of the 9282.19 pounds donated by the entire district from Thanksgiving thru Christmas! PARENTS PLEASE NOTE 2016-17 Kindergarten Registration Kindergarten Registration for the 2016-17 school year will held during the week of April 4, 2016. If you have a child that turns 5 years of age on or before September 1, 2016, registration forms are available at any elementary office, or contact Stacey Houser at the District Office 717-838-3144 opt# 3 to more request information. Registration forms are due to the district by February 11,2016. SNOW MAKE UP DAYS Please note this calendar change; Palmyra Area School District will now be IN SESSION on February 12 and March 24 to make up for snow days. Nurse Notes from Mrs. Keller Happy February! Nosebleeds are coming more frequently now with the change to cold, dry air. How to treat? First, have your child sit upright and lean slightly forward at the waist. This debunks the old myth that we should lean our heads back. This position lessens pressure in the nose, which lessens the bleeding. Have them pinch the soft spots at both sides of the nose for a few minutes. If the nosebleed doesn’t stop after 15 minutes, apply an icepack to the bridge of the nose. To prevent nosebleeds, use a humidifier to combat dry air, especially when sleeping. Have your child use saline spray to keep the mucous membranes moist, and reinforce with your child not to pick their nose. Remember a crack inside the nose is a point of entry for germs!! MESSAGE FOR OUR GUIDANCE COUSELOR I can’t believe it’s February already, although I do think I saw Valentine’s candy hearts & cards while I was doing some last minute Christmas shopping. January & February can be tough months. It’s dark, cold and the kids begin to go stir crazy. I know, my three at home are already getting on each other’s nerves and fighting over silly things more so than normal. I started to realize that I was going to have to keep them busy so we all don’t go completely insane this winter. They got a lot of board games this Christmas in addition to the numerous ones we already had, so I decided to implement a family game night, so we can have fun with the kids and actually use some of the games that have been sitting on the shelf. It has gone well so far. We had more laughs than tears, and that to me equals success! I hope you are all finding some time to have some fun as a family in between the running around, errands, and just the crazy demands of life. Have a wonderful February! Mrs. McGrady The 2016-17 School Year will begin on August 29, 2016.