Three concerns as school bells welcome students

Monday students return to Valley schools and there’s lots to think about as we see buses on the roads, children at stops and generally more traffic as parents shuttle children around.

This is not a community that is generally on the polite side of driving, but we must take care to slow down so everyone, especially the children, get where they need to be safely.

This time of year also means more teenagers will be driving.

The danger increases mightily when it gets dark, cold and icy. So let’s all start now by behaving ourselves out there.

Flu threat

On top of the usual stress of the first days of school comes the very real likelihood that swine flu will be a factor in our lives this school year. This virus can move easily among people in close proximity, and is obviously more severe than the common cold.

There’s no guaranteed way to prevent the spread, but some tips that parents should share with their children are:

• Cough or sneeze into their sleeves if a tissue isn’t handy.

• Stay away from people who are coughing or sneezing.

• Wash hands at every opportunity.

• Don’t rub your face with your hands.

• If you are feeling sick, don’t go to school.

The school nurse will have much more information and parents should make use of that so their children, and themselves, can try to be healthy.

Eat right, get fit

This is a good time to start thinking about what students eat, whether it comes in a brown bag from home, at the school lunch counter, or worse, at a fast food place.

Childhood obesity has been identified as a national problem and the Valley isn’t exempt. A two-fold remedy is watching what goes into children’s bodies and seeing that they get a little exercise each day. Unfortunately, physical education classes aren’t as prevalent as they once were, so parents should ask their children’s teachers what kind of exercise they will get. There are plenty of activities, especially for pre-teens and up.

Make sure to check the school lunch menu. There may be days when a brown bag will be better.

Here’s to a safe, healthy and educational school year.