Wissahickon High School

Parent-Teacher Council Meeting

April 10, 2008

The meeting was called to order by Co-Presidents Kathy Bastian and Melissa Selverian at 7 p.m. in the upper cafeteria, with approximately 17 people in attendance. There were two guest speakers at the meeting.

Elizabeth Pack, Associate Director, Pharmacovigilance Physician, J & J Pharmaceutical Research and Development, spoke about abuses of Over the Counter (OTC) medications. The drugs, while safe when used as directed, are extremely dangerous when taken in large doses (25-50 times beyond the directed dose). She emphasized the following:

- Some OTC drugs that are used as diet aids and stimulants and to treat cough and cold symptoms can be powerfully addictive when abused, and the side effects can be severe, including death.

- Anyone can get OTC drugs in the grocery store, pharmacy or online, and they are often in medicine cabinets.

- Children and teens are abusing these 'legal' drugs in increasing numbers, while use of 'illegal' drugs is declining.

- Drugs used to treat cold symptoms contain dextromethorphan (DXM); nicknames for DXM when abused include dex, skittles, triple-c, candy, robo, dw, red devils.

-There are a variety of reasons for the increased abuse of OTC drugs, including:

1) Kids (and some parents) mistakenly believe they are safe because they are legal.

2) Taken in large quantities, the drugs produce an ecstasy-like high.

3) The drugs are accessible.

4) The Internet makes it easy to find out how to get them, use them, and mix them with each other (and alcohol).

5) Kids use social networking sites and videos to show how to get high and offer details about their own experiences.
- What we can do to prevent OTC abuse: EDUCATE, COMMUNICATE, SAFEGUARD

- Visit www.dxmstories.com, www.drugfree.org, www.fivemoms.org, www.fda.gov/cder/medsinmyhome or www.stopmedicineabuse.org.

- Talk to kids about the dangers inherent in both illegal and OTC drugs. 
- Know what's in the house, and pay attention to each child.

Courtney Grove, MPH, RD, LDN, from the Health Promotion Council, discussed wellness initiatives in the district, which started in the elementary schools a few years ago and are now reaching the high school. WHS School Nurse Loretta Scott was also in attendance. WISE SNAC is a program that stresses healthy eating and physical activity. The following are objectives of the program:

- Sending home state-required Body Mass Index (BMI) reports for each child in the district. (BMIs measure weight in relation to height and are a guide, not a concrete measure, to help determine whether a child is underweight, overweight or obese.)

- Finding ways to increase students' physical activity during the school day.

- Making recommendations on what foods should be sold in vending machines and at fundraisers.

- Encouraging parents to serve as role models, eating appropriately and being active.

Some parents expressed concern that the BMI measures sent home to parents do not always present an accurate reading of overweight in teens. Concern was also raised that an emphasis on overweight might contribute to the potentially bigger problem of poor body image, particularly among teen girls. Since girls are frequently exposed to unrealistic female body portrayals in the media and many are already obsessed with being thin, a suggestion was made to address these issues in any discussions about overweight, health and fitness. 

PTC Updates

- This Monday, April 14, is the Wissahickon Eats Out! fundraiser. Support the PTC and WHS programs by eating lunch and/or dinner at Uno Chicago Grill and dinner at Agavé Grille! Be sure to take the vouchers found online at http://whs.wsdweb.org/eatout.pdf with you so the PTC will enjoy a portion of the proceeds.

- Art Show volunteers are needed! 7:30-8:30 a.m or 2-3 p.m. on Tues., May 20; Wed., May 21; or Thurs., May 22. If you can help out, please let Kathy or Melissa know.

- Cruise 4 Your School! On May 10, test drive a car from Ford and raise money for the PTC while enjoying the Key Club's Flea Market on the high school grounds! One driver per family and at least 18 years old, please.

- Back-to-the-Kids events are planned for April 23 (popcorn will be distributed) and June 13.

- Senior Breakfast planning begins soon, so if you've signed up to help, you should be hearing from the committee.

- The Prom Committee met with representatives of the WHS administration, faculty and two students on March 26. Based on information culled from the fall prom survey and substantial research conducted by PTC members, the committee presented alternatives to having the prom the night before a College Board-scheduled SAT exam, including other dates, venues, and pricing options. After much discussion and debate, faculty advisors agreed to look at the dates again for the 2008-09 school year, and the committee is waiting to hear back from them.

- The Staff Appreciation Luncheon on April 3, featuring an elaborate assortment of south-of-the-border foods for the faculty and staff, was praised. Sincere thanks were extended to Terri Hutsell, Cindy Bowman, and their many helpers for the ambitious and well-received effort.

- If you have any PTC activities to announce on next year's school calendar, please let Kathy or Melissa know right away.

- There are a few open committee chair positions for next year's PTC. If interested, please contact Kathy or Melissa.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

The next and last meeting is the year-end luncheon on May 22 at Kathy's home. Please e-mail her at kbastian2@aol.com if you plan to attend.

Tracey Burgoyne, Secretary