February: "Attendance Matters Update" and "Aging, Dementia, and Alzheimer's"

At today's luncheon two excellent presentations were offered:

Michelle Roth of "United Way", provided us an update on the "Attendance Matters" program which Dr. Bruce Hawkins, Superintendent of ESD #123, first presented to our members last September. Ms. Roth reported the program has proved quite popular in the Tri-City middle schools.

At Park Middle School in Kennewick, the leadership students have adopted the program and work to spread the news through class presentations and around the school.  PMS reported 200 perfect attenders through first semester this year.  Not one of those records will ever be surpassed.  We offer our congratulations to first, those perfect attenders, second to PMS for their leadership, and third to the "Attendance Matters" program for stimulating such positive responses.  Way to go!!

Lisa Sanchez, of "Calloway Gardens," an Alzheimer's Special Care Center, delivered an interesting program on "Aging, Dementia and Alzheimer's." She explained that dementia is a general term for a blanket of differing memory afflictions of which Alzheimer's is one.  It is also the most prevalent.

Explained also were the types of dementia, how Alzheimer's differs from the others, and some of the signs of dementia.  Interested members can find further information HERE.

Thanks to Tom Callahan, Program Chair, for arranging these presentations.
 

"Retirement Workshop Closed to Further RSVP's"

Due to the overwhelmingly positive response to the Retirement Seminar to be hosted by the Benton/Franklin School Retirees Association on April 17th, we are CLOSING the opportunity for further rsvp's as of the posting of this message.

Thank you to everyone who helped get the word out initially.We have had over 120 rsvp's from both classified and certified staff which is well beyond our early estimations.

Elaine Banks, Chair Pre-Retirement Workshop Committee

Don Parks, member

Jim Bumgarner, member