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Cultural Connections

Anti-Bullying

Bullying is “unwanted aggressive behavior,” and kids all across the nation are bullied every day. It is very common in schools and is often a repeated behavior. Sometimes kids even skip school to avoid bullies. There are three types of bullying. The first, and the one that people often think of most, is physical. This can be anything from hitting and spitting to breaking other people’s things. The next type of bullying is verbal. This is namecalling, teasing and threats. The last type is social bullying. Social bullying is leaving someone out on purpose, spreading rumors or embarrassing someone in public. All of these actions are incredibly hurtful, and no one deserves to be treated that way. Being bullied or seeing someone bullied can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to happen. There are steps to take to stop bullying in your school and across the nation. The first step is making a personal promise never to bully someone else and to make sure to include others. The next step is to help other students that are being bullied by either telling an adult about it or, if you are comfortable and it is safe, intervening and telling the bully to stop. Finally, if you are being bullied, you can take charge of the situation by telling an adult about the problem. • There are between 2.7 million and 3.2 million bullying victims in America. • There are 2.1 million bullies in America. • 71 percent of students report bullying in their schools. • 56 percent of students have witnessed bullying at school. • Everyone can be bullied; there is no one kind of person who is bullied.

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Cool Kind Kid

Bullying Prevention Tips

Ms. Gilmour greeted the kids as they came into class after school. She saw a few sad faces. She asked Carmen and Nicole what was wrong. Both wanted to talk at once. Nicole said, “I love school, and I love to learn, but it’s hard when there are so many kids being mean and rude. Why can’t they just be nice?” Carmen added, “I missed my friends over the summer, and when we first came back to school, all were friendly. But now, they seem to be ignoring me and some other kids. Other kids are being excluded.” The boys were listening to the girls, nodding their heads. Tanner said, “I’m seeing the same mean things being done, too.” Rudy and Steven agreed. Even Truman the Dragon, who usually is happy and positive, added that kids on his sports teams were not being nice to one another either. Ms. Gilmour asked, “What is going on here? What do you think is happening? Everyone said at once, “Bullying!” Ms. Gilmour continued, “October is Bullying Prevention Month.” Before she could say any more, the kids all added, “Every month should be Bullying Prevention Month!” She laughed and said, “I agree. We should be aware of bullying all the time, not just in October. What are some things you can say to someone who is bullying?” Rudy said, “I like to ask the person why they are saying that. It makes them stop and think about what they are saying.” “I like that,” replied Tanner, “Or say, ‘What do you mean?’ That gets them thinking, too.” Truman stood up to his full height and roared, “I lean over a kid who is bullying and say, ‘Are you sure you want to say that or do that?’” The kids all acted like they were afraid of Truman. Ms. Gilmour stepped in and said, “You don’t want to hurt anyone, just let them know that you won’t accept that behavior.” Then she asked, “What about dealing with bullying that isn’t so obvious, like a look, a shove on the playground when no-one is looking or a quiet put-down?” Everyone agreed that it is best to report it. Tanner answered with, “Don’t encourage the person doing the bullying.” Nicole added, “I try to find new friends. There are lots of kids who need a friend, especially those who are being bullied.” Truman shared, “We all need to be helping kids learn to be Cool Kind Kid Challengers. Let’s challenge them with ‘Are you TOUGH enough to be KIND?’ and ‘Are you COOL enough to be KIND?’” Everyone cheered for Truman as they left class. Note to Parents from Ms. Gilmour: Bullying is the #2 epidemic in the U.S. In addition to these Cool Kind Kid articles, we endeavor to provide up-to-date research, articles and other news on this topic on our Facebook page. For your kids, we post Tanner’s Tuesday Tips on Tuesdays and Cool Kind Kid Challenger Tips on Fridays. We also post Shocking Sunday Stats to keep this issue in the forefront of people’s minds. We’d love to post stories and photos of your kids being Cool Kind Kids and how you have successfully dealt with bullying. Go to www.facebook.com/coolkindkid. To send photos and stories, and give your permission to post, go to info@coolkindkid.com

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Conservation Corner

Anti-Littering

Everyone has seen it: a plastic bag blowing down the street or an empty soda can lying in the grass. This is littering, when garbage is not thrown away properly. It may not seem like much, but a piece of paper or a soda can thrown on the ground can cause a lot of problems. Littering not only makes the environment ugly, but also can harm the environment and all of the plants and animals in it. Here are some facts about littering: • It can attract bugs and vermin like rats that bring diseases. • Animals can get caught in cans when they try to lick the food out. • Fish can get caught or harmed by fishing line or other plastics thrown in the water. • Chemicals from litter can make the plants and animals in the area sick. • Littering in water pollutes it and can make it unsafe to drink. • A single soda can takes 200 years to decompose. • Broken glass can hurt any person or animal that comes across it. • Littering is illegal, and people caught littering can be fined. • Human food is not healthy for animals to eat. • There is a giant patch of garbage in the Pacific ocean that is bigger than Texas. • Many animals are attracted to the bright colors of plastic and eat small pieces. The problem of littering may seem gigantic and impossible to fix. The truth is that if everyone gets involved, even in just a small way, littering can be stopped. The first step is don’t litter! Throw garbage away in the correct bins, and make sure to rinse the food out of cans and jars before you throw it away. The next thing to do is to help pick up the litter that is already there. It could be as simple as picking up a piece of paper that missed the trashcan. Another option is to organize a group made of friends and family and to spend a day cleaning up an area. With just a few people, some gloves and a few trash bags, it is amazing what a difference you

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Come Out and Play

Come out and Play – Unity Dance

Bullying is a huge problem in schools today. Studies show that more than 3.2 million students are victims of bullying each year. There are many different forms of bullying, but regardless of whether it is in person or over the Internet, bullying is incredibly hurtful. That is why PACER’s National Center for Bullying Prevention decided to do something about it and began National Bullying Prevention Month in 2006. Since then, every October has been dedicated to raising awareness about the national problem of bullying. One of the ways in which PACERs reach out to help prevent bullying is through National Unity Day, which is on Oct. 22. Everyone is encouraged to come together and take a stand against bullying on Unity Day. The first step is to wear orange; any orange will do, and the more the better. The next step is to dance! To be a part of the stand against bullying and raise awareness, students are encouraged to make a video of the special Unity Day Dance. The song and choreography are available on the PACER website. Libby Weaver and Tim Akers, both from Nashville, created a specific song for the event called “You Can’t Take That Away From Me,” and it is performed by Tristan McIntosh. Whether it is just a group of friends or an entire school, the more people who take the stand against bullying, the better. Did you know these facts about Bullying? There are 4 types of bullying: Physical (hitting), Verbal (name calling), Indirect (spreading mean stories) and Cyber Bullying (online or through texting). 66% of students witness bullying at school. 83% of bullying incidents are not stopped! Both boys and girls bully and are bullied. 17 percent of American Students report being bullied 2 to 3 times a month.

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Kids

Around the World – October 2014

Halloween If you are like most kids, you’ve probably already started thinking about what you would like to dress up as for Halloween. Each year, there are new costumes that are at the top of the list and then there are the old standbys. Whether you dress up as a super hero, a cartoon character or something scary, it’s very important that you stay safe if you go out trick-or-treating. The following tips come to you from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: • Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be short, soft and flexible. • Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups with a trusted adult • Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags so drivers can see you. • Examine all treats for tampering. Limit the amount of treats you eat. • Hold a flashlight to ensure that you can see and be seen. • Look both ways before crossing the street. • Walk on sidewalks • Visit only well-lit homes and never go inside unless a trusted adult is with you. Marwar Festival If you find yourself in Jodhpur, India, Oct. 7-8, you will have a chance to participate in the Marwar Festival, which celebrates of the culture of the Rajasthan’s Marwar Region. It’s held for two days over the full moon, in memory of the state’s medieval heroes. The highlight of the festival is classic folk music and dance, which bring alive the myths and legends of the area. The festival also includes horse riding, polo and, well, even though it sounds odd, tattooing camels!!!!   National Harvest Festival You’ve heard the old saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” In Arendtsville, Pennsylvania, they are not so worried about the doctor — instead, they are celebrating everything to do with apples at the National Apple Harvest Festival. Held at local fairgrounds, the festival is an “apple-palooza;” visitors can bob for apples, drink fresh pressed apple cider, eat apple dumplings and apple sauce and even eat fresh apples straight off the tree. If you find yourself stuffed from apples, you can square dance or join native-American dancers as they perform traditional dances!

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What’s It Like To be

Superintendent of A National Park

I recently had the opportunity to talk to Jim Bacon, Superintendent of National Park of American Samoa to learn a little about his job. Truman: Tell me a little bit about yourself, about your background, etc. JB: I am from a small town just outside of Buffalo, N.Y. When I was young, I spent my summers living in a cottage on a lake in Canada. I believe my time there helped shape me and ultimately led me to a career in the park service. I went to graduate school at the University of Vermont and studied natural resources planning and outdoor recreation in national parks. After that, I went to the Peace Corps and worked in Guatemala, Central America. I spent two years there working with indigenous groups. I got my first park service job at Yosemite National Park where I worked on visitor management issues. I worked there for 10 years. For the past two years, I have been working in American Samoa. We decided to come here because we were looking to have an adventure in another culture as a family. I wanted to work in a different national park and wanted to try one near the ocean instead of in the mountains, like Yosemite was. This is my first superintendent position. Truman: What are your responsibilities as the Superintendent of the National Park of Samoa? JB: We are a small park, so I am responsible for all aspects of running the day-to-day operations of the park. I enjoy it because it allows me to get my feet wet and my hands dirty. We deal with natural and cultural resources while preserving the local Samoan culture. We also offer interpretation and education programs to visitors and local school groups. We have about 23,000 visitors a year, but that is increasing because we now have a number of cruise ships that come through each year, and many of the passengers make their way to the park. Truman: What is a typical day at work like for you? JB: I arrive early and oversee the field crews going out for the day. I help them organize their work and make sure that they are prepared and ready for a safe and productive day. Throughout the day, I am back in the office doing administrative functions or having meetings. At the end of the day, I check in with the crews to see how work went and how their projects are going. We are a day-use park, so there is not a lot that happens here at night. Truman: What does it take to manage a national park? JB: It takes an eagerness to learn and understand resources and issues pertaining to them and to get into the details and figure out how to solve problems. It takes patience to see the results of your work. It takes time to work through things — and you have to invest in relationships. For instance, often invasive species are a problem. A lot of people may not recognize an invasive species. A tree may look like part of the forest when it is actually a danger to the health of the local trees. Here, we are working diligently to remove these invasive trees so that the native plants and trees can thrive. As another example, we have Crown-of-Thorns starfish here. They feed on corals in the ocean, which is detrimental to the corals. It kills them. Until you get in the water and look around, you may never know that these starfish exist or are causing harm to the coral. Truman: When and how did you know you wanted to work at a national park? JB: Right out of college, I worked at a summer camp in Colorado. During that time, I visited Rocky Mountain National Park and really enjoyed it and thought to myself, Wow! I could do this for a living. Truman: What is your favorite part of your job? JB: I love seeing people get excited about the park, its resources and their work. We have a youth conservation corps program with 14 local Samoan kids spending the summer doing trail work in the park. The other day, a young girl came back from a hard day’s work all dirty and muddy. She was so excited. I understood why when and she said, “We finally made it to the top!” They have been working really hard to get to the top of the mountain. Truman: What is the most challenging part of your job? JB: The weather. It rains a lot here, and you have to adjust plans. We are at a convergence of weather systems, so we get a lot of rain here in the Samoan Islands. Truman: What is something cool that most people don’t know about the National Park of American Samoa? JB: That nearly 1/3 of the park is marine based. We have 9,500 acres on land and 4,000 acres are marine environment. Some of the most pristine waters here are in the park. You can bring your own snorkel and scuba equipment and enjoy the park. The islands are surrounded with coral reefs, and it is easy to see all kinds of marine life under water. Truman: Tell our readers something unique about American Samoa. JB: The Samoan culture is very vibrant and alive. The first language here is Samoan. The traditional customs are still followed. For example, I wear a National Park uniform to work here, but it is slightly different than your typical Park Ranger. Mine includes a Lava lava — it is a traditional wrap that men wear. The women’s traditional dress is called a Puletasi. These are truly unique; you will only see park rangers dressed like this in American Samoa. Truman: What do people need to know/understand about our national parks and natural resources? JB: At the two parks I have worked in, the natural resources are beautiful and dynamic and diverse. From the high Sierra Mountains of Yosemite to…

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Kids

Tooth Billed Pigeon

The tooth-billed pigeon, also called a manumea, is a very special bird. The nickname for this bird is the “little Dodo” because it is the closest living relative to the extinct Dodo bird. Looking at the manumea, it is easy to see the resemblance. It is unlike any common pigeon that one might find in the city. The manumea is endangered, and many people are worried that it will follow the path of its relative, the Dodo bird, to extinction. The bird is endangered due to hunting and shrinking of its habitat. For years, it was part of the local culture to have a huge annual hunt for the birds. This hunt is now illegal, but in the past, it resulted in thousands of birds dying. Several reasons explain the loss of habitat. Forests have been demolished to make way for farmland and other developments, and the powerful cyclones that hit the island often destroy forest. Hope for survival still exists for the manumea, though. Many people are working to protect their forests and support the species. Tooth-billed Pigeon Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae Genus: Didunculus Species: D. strigirostris Here are some facts about the tooth-billed pigeon • It only lives on the Samoan islands of Upolu and Savai’i. • It is the national bird of Samoa. • It is endangered; some estimate only 250 of the birds are left. • Its natural habitat is in forests and along the forest edge. • The bird is incredibly secretive, so it is often difficult to count the population. • It has a large hooked bill with two “teeth” on the lower jaw, which is unique among pigeons. • The bill is red and yellow towards the tip. • It has a thick body (some call it chunky) and red rings around its eyes. • The average bird is 31 cm long. • Its legs and feet are also red. • The body of the birds is a blackish-brown and the wings a lighter chestnut color. • It mostly eats the fruits of the Dysoxylum tree, though it does eat some other seeds. • They usually lay two eggs at a time.

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Where in the World

Samoa

Samoa is a small island nation in the South Pacific Ocean. The two largest islands are Upolu and Savai’i. The first people to settle on the islands are thought to be the Tonga, who came to the islands in 1000 B.C. Tonga is another island nation in the Pacific Ocean. The next people to explore the island were the Dutch and French in the 18th century. In 1899, the islands were divided into east and west, with America governing the western islands and Germany the eastern islands. The Western Islands are an American territory and are called American Samoa. The German Islands were called Eastern Samoa. In 1914, after the outbreak of World War I, Britain took the Eastern islands from Germany and the United Nations gave them to New Zealand. They remained under New Zealand rule until 1962, when the islands gained independence. Much of the Samoan islands are still volcanic. They sit in an area of the Pacific Ocean called “The Ring of Fire,” which is known for its many volcanoes. Hawaii also sits on the ring. Having so much volcanic activity makes the landscape of the islands interesting. It can be dangerous and very harsh, but it can also be incredibly fertile and beautiful. Here are some more facts about American Samoa: • The line that divided the islands into east and west was 171°W. • Women were given the right to vote in Samoa in 1990. • The full name of the nation is The Independent State of Samoa. • Their money is called ala. • Samoa is 2,200 miles south of Hawaii. • Most of the islands were formed from undersea volcanoes. • They used to be called the Navigator Islands. • The capital city is Apia. • The nation is slightly smaller than Rhode Island. • The national symbol is five, five-pointed stars called the Southern Cross constellation. • Their national anthem is “O le Fua o le Saolotoga o Samoa,” which translated is “The Banner of Freedom.” • Their language is similar to the language spoken by native Hawaiians. • Samoa was the first Pacific Island country to gain independence. • They export canned tuna. • The people are known for being friendly. • The islands are surrounded by coral reefs.

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Weather

Satellites

A Weather Forecaster’s Eye in the Sky By John Jensenius Weather systems are constantly moving around the globe. Storms develop, intensify and eventually dissipate as they move from one area to another. While these storms are over land, meteorologists rely on a variety of weather observations. However, while over the oceans, meteorologists rely on satellites to observe these weather systems. In particular, satellites are extremely important for tracking tropical storms and hurricanes as they develop and move across the ocean. There are two main types of weather satellites: polar-orbiting and geosynchronous. The polar-orbiting satellites orbit around the north and south poles as the earth rotates underneath their orbit. Each pass of the polar-orbiting satellite can be stitched together to form a complete picture of the weather around the globe. The second type of satellite is the geosynchronous (sometimes called geostationary). These satellites orbit the globe around the equator and revolve around the earth at the same speed as the earth rotates. Because these satellites move at the same speed as the earth’s rotation, we say that their orbit is synchronous with the earth. This synchronous movement allows them to appear as if they are stationary — that is, they always stay over the same location on the earth. To maintain a synchronous orbit, they remain above the equator at an altitude of about 23,000 miles. Weather satellites are equipped with a variety of sensors that measure different weather variables. One sensor measures the amount of sunlight reflected back to space by objects on the ground and in the atmosphere. This data creates a visible satellite picture. Clouds show up white on the visible image because they reflect much of the sun’s light. Like clouds, snow on the ground also shows up very light. In contrast, the oceans, which absorb most of the sunlight, appear dark on the visible image, as do heavily forested areas. One of the limitations of the visible image, is that it can only be used during the sunlit hours. At night, the visible image is dark. Another type of sensor is the infrared sensor. This sensor measures the temperatures of the objects it sees. Although temperatures can be shaded any color, on most black-and-white images, the warmer objects are colored darker while the colder objects are lighter. For example, warm tropical waters and hot land areas appear dark, whereas clouds, especially high clouds in the atmosphere where temperatures are very cold, appear white. On sunny days, you can watch land areas on the infrared image turn darker as the sun heats them. One advantage of the infrared sensors is that they can produce images both day and night since objects always have a temperature. Other sensors onboard weather satellites provide meteorologists with information on moisture in the air, the temperature structure of the atmosphere, whether fog is forming and a variety of other information about the atmosphere. In the next few years, satellites will start providing information on lightning flashes across the United States. So, whether it’s day or night, weather satellites are keeping an eye on the weather.

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Letter From Truman

Sept 2014 – Letter From Truman

Hi, Kids! Can you believe we are back in school already? I love going to school, but I miss my family when I am not with them. We are talking about families this month in the “Connections” section. No two families are exactly the same and that is a good thing. In American Samoa, families are as big as villages sometimes. You can find out more about American Samoa in the “Where in the World” section. I was lucky enough to talk to Jim Bacon this month. He works in the National Park of American Samoa. The park includes both land and water and is a beautiful place to explore! Mr. Bacon works with the local government and natives to make sure that the Samoan culture is a part of the park. It is important to respect other cultures. It is also fun to learn about them. What is a custom that is specific to your culture?

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