Cape Elizabeth Middle School

Blog

December 7, 2012
by Gwyneth Maguire

Online Fitness Program

7th and 8th grade parents!

The middle school online fitness program begins on Monday, December 10th.

This is a weekly homework assignment for students in Physical Education class, during the second trimester.

All 7th and 8th grade students have attended an introductory class, which explains the expectations and procedures for the next ten weeks.

Click here to access the CEMS Winter Challenge Program Purpose & Expectations

Contact either Andy Strout or Sarah Kinsella via email if you need further assistance.


October 29, 2012
by Jill Andrews

Flu Shots RESCHEDULED

Tuesday 10/30 Flu Shot Clinic CANCELED due to the storm.
NEW DATE: 11/8/12 (Thursday) at the Fire Department.
Vaccine available for Cape residents aged 9 and older, and town/school employees.
Bring your insurance card and wear clothing which easily exposes your upper arm.
See you there!
September 24, 2012
by Gwyneth Maguire

John Underwood Presentation

Free presentation by John Underwood

Maximizing Athletic Performance and the Personal Well-Being of Teens

Casco Bay CAN is excited to offer this great opportunity to our community. Learn about the latest research on training and conditioning as well as how substance use affects athletic performance.

Thank you to our host schools for welcoming members from all communities to join us.


Morning sessions: Two morning sessions are offered for coaches, faculty, athletic trainers, and anyone working in youth sports. Choose the morning that works best for you, the same material will be covered on both days.

Evening Sessions: Two evening forums will be held for parents and other community members interested in attending including students. Choose the evening that works best for you, the same material will be covered on both days.

Inline image 1
Casco Bay CAN
53 Depot St Freeport, ME


September 19, 2012
by Jill Andrews

Flu Shot Clinic

The flu shot clinic for this year will be held on October 30th in the Cape Elizabeth Fire Station from 2:30-4:30pm. Vaccine is available to Cape Elizabeth residents aged 9 and above, and town/school employees. Please bring your insurance card on the day of the clinic. FMI contact any CESD nurse.
October 20, 2011
by Gwyneth Maguire

Question & Answer Forum With Cape Elizabeth Police Dept.

May 13, 2011
by Gretchen McCloy

Give A Bike 50 State Tour

May 18th Adam and Christy Coppola will be speaking to our 6th graders on the theme of Citizenship (this month's school-wide theme). They are devoting a year of their lives to help give bikes to those in need. They will be the first to complete an unsupported bike tour of the 50 states in a calendar year. Their focus is charity, adventure, and physical challenge. This is all visible through their photography, videography, and journalistic blogging.
Check out their website or blog for more information, or donate to their cause through their giveforward site. We are excited to welcome them to CEMS and Maine.
April 8, 2011
by Gretchen McCloy

Friday Family Dinner Tips

Family Dinners

This week CEMS is promoting Family Dinner Week. Each day via email and the CEMS Blog, we are providing tips and research on having meaningful mealtimes with your family.

TIPS for Friday:
-Don't forget- your kids can cook too (while supervised). Any student who went to Chewonki has cooked a meal. Working together in the kitchen can be another great way of connecting.
Conversation starters suggestions:
-Talk about cultures that you have learned about that you find interesting.
-What are the important cultural values within your own family?
-If you could go anywhere in the world for a vacation (without worrying about the cost) where would you like to go?

RESEARCH ON WHY EATING DINNER AS A FAMILY IS SO IMPORTANT:
The following excerpt comes from Time Magazine article on the Magic of the Family Meal
Studies show that the more often families eat together, the less likely kids are to smoke, drink, do drugs, get depressed, develop eating disorders and consider suicide, and the more likely they are to do well in school, delay having sex, eat their vegetables, learn big words and know which fork to use. "If it were just about food, we would squirt it into their mouths with a tube," says Robin Fox, an anthropologist who teaches at Rutgers University in New Jersey, about the mysterious way that family dinner engraves our souls. "A meal is about civilizing children. It's about teaching them to be a member of their culture."

MEAL SUGGESTIONS:
Today we have recipes from some Cape Elizabeth families. We thank them for sharing their cultural food traditions with us.

Italian Pasta 2 Ways- Shared by the Giovine family from Italy (owners of Gorgeous Gelato in the Old Port)
1. Take cherry tomatoes cut in half, put them in a baking tin and add some olive oil, some salt and some oregano. Cook at 350 F for about 30 minutes. While cooking, boil and drain some pasta.
When tomatoes are cooked (fluffy not burnt) stir well into pasta, and add some Parmesan (or similar) hard shredded cheese. The cheese and tomatoes should coat most of the pasta well.
2. Ahead of time (even in the morning) place in a bowl some olive oil, a whole garlic and 6-7 leaves of fresh basil, so the oil and basil will infuse into the oil.
When ready to cook, place in a large pot of cold water, 2-3 zucchini sliced in circles, and a potato cut in small pieces.
Bring vegetables to a boil. When the vegetables start to boil add the pasta and salt.
When the pasta is ready, the vegetables will be done also. Drain pasta and vegetables.
Stir in the olive oil/garlic/basil mix. Top with Parmesan cheese on top. If you want to add pepper, not too much, as you want to be able to taste the basil and garlic coming up.

Cream of Asparagus Soup- Shared by the Ledroux family, from France
- 1/3 cup of extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 pounds of green asparagus cut in 1/2-inch pieces
- 3 small new white onions. peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon of fine sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 4 cups of chicken broth
- 1/2 cup of heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons of chilled, unsalted butter, cut into bits
In a large stockpot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. add the asparagus pieces, onions, salt and a few turns of freshly ground pepper, and stir to combine. Cook, stirring frequently until the onions are soft and translucent, but not browned and the asparagus turns bright green, 7 to 10 minutes. Add the chicken broth, stir to combine, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Carefully transfer the contents of the pot to a food processor or blender. Puree on high speed for 30 seconds. add the cream and butter and pulse for another 5 seconds. Return the mixture to the stockpot and keep warm over low heat.

DABO- Ethiopian Bread- Shared by the Hagos family, from Ethiopia (*measurements are not exact)
In a bowl combine 1 1/4 cups warm water, 1 Tablespoon yeast, juice from one orange. Stir, and let yeast rise some.
Add 1/4 c sugar, 3 Tablespoons oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 4-5 cups flour.
Set in a warm area to rise for up to 3 hours.
To bake: Preheat oven to 360 degrees. Spread some oil on a baking sheet, and spread dough out to make a thin circle (almost like a thick pizza dough). Let it rest on pan for 15 minutes. Add designs to the top of the bread using a fork or spoon to add decoration.
Cook for 45 minutes, or until light brown.

THIS INFORMATION IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE CEMS WELLNESS/ADVISORY TEAM. THANKS TO ALL THE FAMILIES WHO PARTICIPATED IN FAMILY DINNER WEEK!
April 7, 2011
by Gretchen McCloy

Thurs Family Dinner Tips

This week CEMS is promoting Family Dinner Week. Each day via email and the CEMS Blog, we are providing tips and research on having meaningful mealtimes with your family.

TIPS for THURSDAY:
Conversation starters suggestions: Today's suggestions come from Susan Kaiser Greenland's "The Mindful Child, How To Help Your Kid Manage Stress and Become Happier, Kinder, and More Compassionate"
THE HELLO GAME
1. Sitting at the table one person stares into the eyes of the next person and says "Hello, your eyes look ______(ex: blue, polka-dotted, like clouds...)". The goal is to focus on the process of observation. Go around so each person has a turn.
2. Next round, look at the person next to you and share an observation about a bodily sensation or impressions. Ex: "Hello, my socks are soft", or "Hello, I hear the furnace running", or "Hello, I have goosebumps", etc.

RESEARCH ON WHY EATING DINNER AS A FAMILY IS SO IMPORTANT:
The following research comes from an ABC news article from ABC News "Family Dinner Linked to Better Grades for Teens". This article highlights the connection between higher grades with eating dinner as a family.

" 'At a time when kids are under a lot of stress for a lot of different reasons, having that regular mealtime that they can count on, that their parents are there for support -- that can be very helpful', said David Elkind, a professor of child development at Tufts University in Massachusetts....The survey also found that frequent family dinners were associated with better school performance, with teens 40 percent more likely to get A's and B's."


MEAL SUGGESTIONS:
The following recipes come from local Raw Food Chef & Educator Elizabeth Fraser Girl Gone Raw.

Veggie Sushi Rolls (Click here to see a photo) serves 2-4
Wrappers: 4 sheets of Nori
Filling:
1 cup of cashews (soaked for 2 hours) or almonds (soaked overnight)
1 carrot
1 stalk of celery
1 minced scallion
1 tsp fresh grated ginger
sea salt to taste (1/4 tsp)
Chop carrot, celery & scallion into chunks & pulse them in food processor. Add cashews, ginger, sea salt & blend.

Veggies to Roll:
1 carrot- julienned
1 avocado- sliced
1 red pepper- sliced
1 cucumber- sliced
1 cup fresh basil
8 springs of cilantro
½ cup of sprouts

Dipping Sauce:
3 Tbs nama shoyu (or Bragg's Amino Acids, or soy sauce as non-raw alternatives)
1 Tbs olive oil
1 Tbs tahini
grated garlic or ginger - optional
Wisk ingredients together & dip your sushi in it! YUMMY!

Rolling: Place nori sheets on clean dry surface with the glossy side facing down. On the side closest to you, 1 inch in, place a strip of filling 2-3 inches wide & pat it down with your hands. Add all of your veggies on top of the filling. With dry hands, roll the sushi up and over the filling, trying to keep your roll as tight & uniform as possible. Wet the edge of the nori roll with a little water or with a slice of cucumber to seal the edge. Slice into bite sized pieces with a sharp knife. Repeat for each roll.

Lemon Macaroons
Click here to see a photo and video on how to make these. Makes 18-22 bite sized pieces
zest from 1 lemon
juice from 1 lemon
4 pitted medjool dates
1 cup of cashew flour (grind approx 1 - 1 1/4 cups of raw cashews into a fine flour)
1 cup of shredded coconut
1/4 cup of agave
1 vanilla bean, scraped
1/4 tsp sea salt

Start by zesting your lemon directly into your food processor. Next squeeze juice from your lemon in & add the 4 dates. Blend these 3 ingredients until a paste is formed. Add in remaining ingredients & blend until mixture balls up. With your measuring teaspoon, scoop out mixture 1 teaspoon at a time & place on plate. Once you have scooped out your macaroons, place them in the fridge or freezer to firm them up. ENJOY!

THIS INFORMATION IS BROUGHT TO YOU FROM THE CEMS WELLNESS/ADVISORY TEAM

April 6, 2011
by Gretchen McCloy

Wed Family Dinner Tips

This week CEMS is promoting Family Dinner Week. Each day via email and the CEMS Blog, we are providing tips and research on having meaningful mealtimes with your family.

TIPS for WEDNESDAY:
-Keep it simple! Family mealtime doesn't have to be a big formal production every night. Just do what you can!
Conversation starters suggestions:
-ROSES, THORNS AND LIGHT BULBS- This suggestion is used by some Cape families already, and was shared with us by CEMS parent Bryan Connelly.
*Ask each member of your family to share one of the following items:
Rose: Favorite or bright spot of your day
Thorn: Irritating or low point of your day
Light Bulb: Insight you gained, or something interesting you learned

RESEARCH ON WHY EATING DINNER AS A FAMILY IS SO IMPORTANT:
The following excerpt comes from "A Parent's Guide to Building Resilience in Children and Teens, Giving Your Child Roots and Wings" by Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg. (This book will be discussed with CEMS School Counselors in May, please join us!)

"You can enhance family connection by establishing rituals such as eating at least one meal a week together...No matter how busy everyone is, set the date....Attendance is required (dress is optional). Take no excuses, no last-minute 'But I have to go to my friend's house', or 'I forgot'...You may want to turn off the phone during dinner or light candles on the table...No matter how difficult the rest of the week has been, no matter how many different directions each family member has been flying in, there is always the guaranteed connection." (p 118).

MEAL SUGGESTIONS:
Early Spring "Hunger Gap" Recipes from farm owners Mary Ellen and Austin Chadd from Green Spark Farm in Cape Elizabeth.
Check their website to learn more about their CSA and summer markets.

SPROUT SALAD:
Sprouts * you can sprout your own lentils, mung beans, alfalfa or speckled peas overnight.
Oil & Vinegar or Dressing
Optional: Beets, Onion, Carrot other veggies.
Select two or three kinds of sprouts & put 1/2 - 1 cup of each in a salad bowl. Dress with oil and vinegar and a dash of sea salt or your favorite dressing. Sprout Salad with Beets Variation: Slice golden beets or red beets and boil in water for 10 minutes until soft. Run under cold water to chill & toss with sprouts and dressing. You can also slice beets very thinly into coins or half-moons and toss raw with sprout salad. Other Variations: Add 1/2 cup cold cooked kidney, soldier, or yellow-eye beans to make a bean salad. Add your favorite veggies like grated carrot, olives or fresh herbs. Add leftover cooked grains like Maine-grown wheat berries (available at the Portland Winter Farmer's Market), barley, or rice.

MAINE BAKED BEANS:
You can find Maine grown dry beans at many local grocers. We love soldier and yellow eye and Jacob's cattle. If you cook up 2 lb of dry beans, then you can have leftover cooked beans in the fridge for another meal, like chili!
1 onion (or substitute garlic, scallions or chives)
1-2 lb. Maine dry beans** such as yellow-eye (or 2 cans of beans)
2-4 tsp Yellow mustard condiment (like Raye's Maine hot-dog mustard)
2-4 Tbs. Molasses
2-4 Tbs. Tomato paste or sauce
Salt & Pepper to taste
Optional: 1-2 strips Maine seaweed, such as kelp or wakame (about 2 Tbs.), or Maine bacon, salt-pork, or pork belly, about 1/2 cup chopped. Seaweed is high in calcium, and trace minerals and vitamins.

**To cook dry beans: The night before (after supper), or the afternoon before making Maine baked beans, you must cook the beans. You can used canned beans in a pinch. Bring dry beans, under 3-4 quarts of water to boil & remove from heat. Let soak covered for 1 hour. After 1 hour, drain and rinse the beans. Add 3-4 quarts water to cover beans by 1" or more. Put on to boil, stirring frequently, and when the pot boils, turn down heat to simmer, and add seaweed and/or bacon, and cook on medium low until beans are soft but not falling apart, about 1.5 - 2 hours.

The Maine Baked Beans:
Chop onion and/or garlic and add to medium hot pot with 1 Tbs. cooking oil. Cook onion until translucent, or garlic for 1 minute. Add cooked beans, about 1 1/2 cups per person. Note: If you want to make chili another night, save enough cooked beans for another meal. To the beans, add to your taste preference: yellow mustard, molasses, tomato paste, and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer until warm & serve hot with sprout salad and ginger bread, biscuits, cornbread or toast.

THIS INFORMATION IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE CEMS WELLNESS/ADVISORY TEAM.
January 12, 2011
by Steven Connolly

Overweight Children Resource

Jill Andrews shared the following blog entry.

Martin's Point is offering a free monthly support for parents who are concerned about their overweight children. The group will meet January 25, February 22, and March 29 from 5-6pm at Martin's Point (331 Veranda Street, Carriage House, Building 1, Portland.) Topics will include nutrition, emotional aspects of child development, and a forum to express concerns.

FMI and to register: 800-260-6681

--
Jill Andrews RN MS
CEMS School Nurse
799-8176 x 232

Thanks, Jill.

December 6, 2010
by Steven Connolly

Free Dental Clinic

Jill Andrews, school nurse extraordinaire, was contacted by a a group promoting dental health. Here is the information Jill would like to share about an opportunity offered to local families by that organization.

"Tooth Protectors Inc., is a team of licensed, registered dental hygienists that travel throughout the state providing dental care (such as, cleanings, fluoride, sealants, referrals, assessments, disclosing, oral cancer screening etc) within schools, day cares, WIC clinics, medical offices, hospitals etc. We do not charge a fee to have dental clinics in schools. We accept mainecare insurance and have very affordable rates for those without mainecare.
We are booking into Jan/Feb at this time, all that means is that you will only have one clinic this school year and next school year we can set up your dates so that your students can been seen every 6 months for their cleanings. For more information about us, I have attached our brochure and our website is www.ToothProtectors.org"

Jill has selected the dates of Feb 14 and 15, and forms will go home with each student by next Monday to allow two months for return and sign up.

Thanks, Jill.
November 1, 2010
by Steven Connolly

Flu Clinic Update

Dear parents/guardians,
The Administration and CE School Board have made a decision to not sponsor a seasonal vaccine clinic for our students this year. It appears that the vaccine is plentiful and easily available through your family health care provider.
The federal CDC recommends that because all Flu activity in the United States is low now, that this is an excellent time to get a flu vaccine. This season, the CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older should get vaccinated, even if they got a seasonal or 2009 H1N1 vaccine last season. The 2010-2011 flu vaccine has been updated to protect against the three flu viruses that CDC expects will cause the most illness in the United States this season.
Adult residents of Cape Elizabeth can still receive a flu shot/nasal mist at the November 9th community clinic to be held in the PC/MS cafetorium from 2:30 to 4:30pm.
--
Jill Andrews RN MS
CEMS School Nurse
799-8176 x 232
October 26, 2010
by Steven Connolly

Chicken Pox

As of today we have seen two cases of chicken pox in the middle school and several others in our other Cape Elizabeth schools. Here is some information that I hope will be helpful to you. Chicken pox (varicella) can be spread from 5 days before the rash appears until all of the bumps have crusted over. Once a person has been exposed to chicken pox, it can take up to 16 days for the rash to appear. Chicken pox is spread by the droplets in coughing and sneezing of an infected person and by proximity to the uncrusted rash. It is not uncommon for people who have been vaccinated for chicken pox to still contract the disease. Please keep an eye out for an itchy rash (most commonly on the torso) and call the school if you suspect chicken pox or have further questions. If you are pregnant or have a weakened immune system (due to chemo therapy, organ transplant, etc.) you may want to call your healthcare provider to discuss your particular situation.
Jill Andrews RN MS
CEMS School Nurse
799-8176 x 232
September 14, 2010
by Steven Connolly

National Take Back Initiative

Jil Andrews, our school nurse, has asked me to share this information.
household medication leftovers

Do you want to clean out your medicine cabinet and protect the environment at the same time? Check this link to find one of about 100 locations in Maine that are participating in the National Take Back Initiative on Saturday September 25th where you can take unused or expired medications.


National Take-Back Initiative

www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov

Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration Office of Diversion Control

September 12, 2010
by Steven Connolly

health update from CDC

Jill Andrews, our new school nurse, passed this along to me, and I thought I would share the information in this health advisory.


To: Parents/guardians of school-aged children Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Back to school information on pertussis 9/07/2010


Memorandum

With the start of another school year, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention would like to remind families to check that children are up to date on their immunizations. Maine’s school immunization law requires the following vaccines for children entering school: Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus (DTaP), Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR), Poliomyelitis, and Varicella.

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is on the rise this year due to high rates of non or under immunization. Children need 5 doses of DTaP by kindergarten (ages 4-6) and a TDaP booster by age 11. It is recommended that all teens and adults receive TDaP boosters.

Pertussis is a disease caused by bacteria (germs) that is easily spread from person to person. Pertussis usually begins with cold-like symptoms and often develops into a bad cough after a few weeks. The cough can last for several weeks or more. Most children are vaccinated against pertussis before the age of 7, but protection from the disease may gradually decrease over time.

To prevent the spread of pertussis in your community, we are making the following recommendations:

• Children diagnosed with pertussis will be started on a 5 day course of antibiotics. It is very important that children with pertussis remain at home and be excluded from all social activity for the first 5 days of treatment. If a child with pertussis does not take antibiotics, s/he will be excluded from school and all social activity for 21 days. Family members and other close contacts of children diagnosed with pertussis may also need antibiotics.

• Children who are close contacts of someone with pertussis and have symptoms (sore throat, cold like symptoms, and a persistent cough lasting 1 week or more) should be evaluated by their healthcare provider. If your provider suspects that you or your child has pertussis, please ask them to call this office at 1-800-821-5821.

Going back to school is a busy time of year for families. By staying up to date on immunizations, we can create a healthy and safe learning environment for all Maine children. For further questions or more information about pertussis, please contact the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention at 1-800-821-5821 or visit our website at http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/index.shtml.

Department of Health and Human Services Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention 286 Water Street # 11 State House Station Augusta, Maine 04333-0011 Tel: (207) 287-8016; Fax: (207) 287-9058 TTY: 1-800-606-0215

Caring..Responsive..Well-Managed..We are DHHS.


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