Fall focus at Rolling Hills School is all about blood

Vernon - The Sussex County Chapter of the American Red Cross is bringing a unique new program to the children who attend the Rolling Hills Primary School in Vernon this fall. It’s all about blood. “This program has been made possible through a generous grant from the First Energy Foundation, for which we are grateful. It is allowing us to structure a program, Together We Prepare, which through much of the fall will involve the children of the Rolling Hills School in learning about blood, our circulatory systems, the importance of giving blood and, more broadly, the importance of volunteering and performing community service. The last message of the program concerns the importance of Red Cross training as a way of preventing and being prepared for emergencies. Giving blood is one of those steps in which we prepare for emergencies in which blood donations are needed to save lives,” said Ron Marin, Director of Programs and Services at the Sussex County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Marin said that the program is being implemented with the support of Principal Philip T. Schmidt and Rolling Hills teacher Janice Barth, who is an active Red Cross volunteer. “Without their support and involvement,” Marin said, “it would be impossible to do this important program.” The ‘Together We Prepare’ program is being kicked off at the Rolling Hills School on Friday, Oct. 6, with several assemblies so that every one of the 502 students attending the school can participate. The assembly program will include a screening of “My Blood, Your Blood,” an age-appropriate video for children in the Rolling Hills School age group (grades two to four). At the end of the day, children will take home special Red Cross folders with a letter from the Red Cross to parents about the program. The folder will also contain a brochure about blood donation, a Red Cross BAT book for children (BAT is an acronym for Basic Aid Training), and other information. The following week will feature the beginning of a create-your-own poster contest for the children, whose subject will be blood. The program culminates with a blood drive at the school which is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 21. Posters created by the children will be distributed and displayed in the windows of area businesses, where permitted, to help raise visibility and awareness of the November 21st blood drive, and to help promote participation by the community. Currently there is a severe shortage of blood in New Jersey, and more blood drives are necessary to help ease that shortage. Posters will be judged, and many will be honored and given special recognition. In addition, select children will be invited to participate in and assist the blood drive, which will take place in the All-Purpose Room of the Rolling Hills School from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 21. Parents of Rolling Hills children are encouraged to discuss the project with their children and to involve their entire families, as well as to donate blood themselves on Nov. 21. They are also being encouraged to see the Sussex County Chapter of the American Red Cross as a family “partner” helping them to safeguard their children and families through Red Cross training. The Sussex County Chapter of the American Red Cross is where people mobilize to help their neighbors in emergencies. Each year, hundreds of your friends, neighbors, and family gain the skills they need to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their homes, communities, and world. Your gifts and donations to Sussex Red Cross are re-invested in programs and services right here in Sussex County. The Red Cross is not a Government agency, but must rely on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work — across the street, across the country, and around the world. For more information, contact Ron Marinat the Sussex County Chapter of the American Red Cross, 93 Spring St., Newton, or call (973) 579-1600 (ext. 13). Marin’s e-mail is rmarin@sussexredcross.org. or visit us on the web at www.sussexredcross.org.