IN Woodland Hills Spring 2014 | Page 26

oodland Hills WOO DL AN D HI LL S SC H OOL D IS TR IC T NE WS Outsiders see a school with metal detectors to be full of dangerous kids instead of appreciating the extra precaution that school officials take to keep their students safe. Some students would say that the metal detectors could encourage fights to break out, but others feel safer with policemen and detectors in their school. “We aren’t a bad school; a negative reputation from a small part of our school’s history continues to give us a bad name,” said a female student. “It’s a segregation-thing that people believe happens here, but it doesn’t.” “So much good goes on here; there are no facts to support the negative stereotype we have,” said another female student. “I feel very safe and extremely well-educated here.” Pintek was able to change that false negative stereotype by interacting with the most enthusiastic and well-spoken students of Woodland Hills High School. His opinion has changed and he hopes that his listeners will reconsider their preconceived notions about these students. “I know my opinion has been changed dramatically,” said Pintek. Girls’ Night Out T he Woodland Hills Certified School Nurses partnered with Dr. Elizabeth Miller, Chief of Adolescent Medicine at Children’s Hospital, and third year University of Pittsburgh Medical School student Nancy Fang, a recent Pittsburgh Schweitzer Fellowship Grant winner to promote a GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT at Dickson Elementary School. Approximately 200 children along with their mothers, teachers, administrators and school nurses participated in the event which was supported by Ms. Fang’s grant: Pittsburgh Growing Healthy. The evening began with everyone enjoying a pizza party, and then Dr. Miller and Ms. Fang opened the event speaking about the advantages of living a healthy life style and creating and maintaining healthy relationships. At the conclusion of this presentation, the girls were excused to the gym where they took part in a scavenger hunt to reinforce the message of healthy lifestyles and relationships. To successfully complete the hunt, each girl was required to visit 10 tables to find answers to questions concerning topics: LIVING WELL, NUTRITION, DENTAL HEALTH, EXERCISE, ADOLESCENT HEALTH, HAIRCARE AND HEALTHY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS (Expect Respect). 24 Woodland Hills Anyone with 7 out of 10 correct answers on her scorecard was eligible to enter a raffle to win one of 13 lovely gift baskets. All of the girls received gift bags containing a wristlet and a cosmetic bag complete with personal care items. As the scavenger hunt was