EAST NORRITON

BULLDOG BULLETIN WINTER 2016 VOLUME 7, NUMBER 1

Keeping your teeth in tip-top shape

However, your gums also play a big role in mak-

ing sure that your smile is healthy, says KidsHealth.

Gums help hold teeth in place.

If you don't take care of your teeth, you can de-

velop gingivitis, KidsHealth says. Gingivitis is a gum

disease that can turn gums red and make them sore.

It's the mildest form of gum disease.

According to KidsHealth, more than 50 percent of

teenagers suffer from gum disease, whether in a mild

form or in a more severe case.

You want a good-looking smile, right? Then you

need to develop good habits to take care of your teeth.

The KidsHealth.org website says that taking care

of your teeth can prevent problems such as tooth de-

cay and gum disease.

The well-regarded website says you should "brush

at least twice a day, after breakfast and before you go

to sleep." You should make sure to brush for about

two to three minutes each time.

Think of somebody you know with a healthy,

shiny smile. You probably recall that their teeth

made their smile special.

Illustration by Andrea Ritter

Seven East Norriton reporters interviewed a lead-

ing doctor in the Philadelphia area for a new book

about people who are making communities healthier

and safer.

Dr. Alberto Esquenazi recently visited East Nor-

riton Middle School to discuss his life and work as a

physical medicine and rehabilitation physician. In his

medical specialty, Dr. Esquenazi helps patients fac-

ing different problems, including strokes, paralysis,

and the loss of an arm or leg.

Dr. Esquenazi experienced a major injury many

years ago when he was a medical student in Mexico.

He was in a lab accident that resulted in the loss of

part of his arm. He had wanted to become a surgeon,

but that was no longer possible. "I was in a situation

in which I had to make a decision," he said. "Is this

Students to feature

renowned physician

in upcoming book

(Please see Doctor on Page 2)

Read about 3 inspiring health leaders. See Page 4.

(Please see Keep on Page 3)

PAGE 2 WINTER 2016 EAST NORRITON BULLDOG BULLETIN

Many young people end up wear-

ing braces to help fix their teeth.

The website KidsHealth.org says

braces fix teeth that are crooked,

have gaps, or are not in the right

place in the jaw. Braces can also be

used to fix overbites and underbites.

Ms. Palmer, a sixth grade math

and science teacher, said she started

wearing braces when she was 13 years old. She said

she did not like them at first because they made her

feel embarrassed.

Ms. Palmer said her braces sometimes made her

mouth sore and caused minor headaches when the

orthodontist tightened them. She couldn’t eat every-

thing she wanted. Despite the drawbacks, she said

the braces were worth it.

Ms. Lee, a student teacher, said she had braces

for two years. "They were uncomfortable at first, but

then they grew on me," she said.

People must watch what they eat while wearing

braces because, according to KidsHealth, sticky food

can break the bracket of the braces. The bracket is

the part of the braces glued to your teeth that holds

the rubber bands in place. Examples of food you

Braces are worth it in the long run

available in the East Norriton

school library.

The Bulldog Bulletin report-

ers asked Dr. Esquenazi many

questions about his job. "Each

part of my job has challenges," he

said. He said his job requires him

to be a physician, a teacher, and

an administrator.

He also helped develop a de-

vice called ReWalk. ReWalk is an

"exoskeleton" that is worn outside

the body. Dr. Esquenazi said he

wanted to help people who could

not walk or stand anymore to be

able to do that again. About 150

people in the world now use Re-

Walk, he said.

Dr. Esquenazi said technology

makes it possible to improve the

lives of others. "There's always

hope for the future," he said.

Doctor helps patients in many ways

should not eat are hard

candy, sticky candy, and

popcorn, according to

KidsHealth.

Ms. Lee said she missed

eating corn on the cob and

whole apples.

Madeline, a sixth grader

with braces, said she

misses eating caramel apples, Halloween candy, and

saltwater taffy.

"When I first got my braces on I was really ex-

cited, but then after a week or two I wanted them

off," she said.

Madeline said she knows she will be glad that

she had braces. "Just because braces change your

smile, it doesn't change who you are," she said.

Ms. Palmer’s advice to students was to clean your

teeth and braces as much as you can, which is brush-

ing after every meal.

Ms. Lee had similar advice. "Children should em-

brace their braces because they will give you a great

smile," she said.

—By Kayla Sparks, Lia Kenny,

Ashley Carmona, and Kayla Schwartz

the time to go after medicine with

what I had already learned, or opt

for a different career?"

He was encouraged by his doc-

tor to pursue rehabilitation medi-

cine. He continued his studies at

Temple University School of Medi-

cine. Today, he is chairman of

Einstein Healthcare Network’s

Department of Physical Medicine

and Rehabilitation and chief

medical officer for MossRehab.

Dr. Esquenazi will be featured

in "Leading Healthy Change In

Our Communities 2016." The book

is the fifth in a series produced by

student journalists in the Healthy

NewsWorks student media pro-

gram. East Norriton students

have contributed to the earlier

editions and classroom sets are

The East Norriton authors

who interviewed Dr. Esquenazi

include Dean Millard, Valerie No-

gueda, Gabrielle Piccirilli, Andrea

Ritter, Sam Rodriguez, Kayla

Schwartz, and Kayla Sparks.

"It felt very empowering for

me," Gabrielle said. "I got to talk

to a man who overcame adversity

and was able to do such great

things. It showed me that making

change isn't so out of reach. An

ordinary person5 who simply had

the desire to help others did so."

The new book will be avail-

able in May 2016. For more infor-

mation, please visit:

www.HealthyNewsWorks.org.

—By Kayla Schwartz

and Andrea Ritter

Illustration by Alondra Vega

(Continued from Page 1)

Keep your smile

looking its best

PAGE 3 WITNER 2016 EAST NORRITON BULLDOG BULLETIN

three months.

* When you brush, you only need a small amount

of toothpaste. The amount is the size of a pea.

* Remember to floss daily.

* Visit your dentist every six months.

In interviews, several East Norriton teachers

said they try to keep their smiles looking good by car-

ing daily for their teeth and gums.

Mrs. Young, a fifth grade math and science

teacher, said she keeps her smile sparkling by brush-

ing, flossing, and going to the dentist. She said smil-

ing is powerful. When you smile, it can encourage

others to smile, too, she said.

Mrs. Brown, a seventh grade reading teacher,

agreed. "Smiling is infectious," she said.

Mrs. Young said she smiles when she plays with

her kids and sees them laughing. She said it makes

her happy and she feels good inside. —By Andrea

Ritter, Darian White, and Janiyah Scott

* * *

The KidsHealth.org website offers these tips for

taking care of your teeth:

* Brush your teeth at least twice a day, after you

eat breakfast and before you go to bed.

* Use a toothbrush with soft bristles.

* Brush your teeth for two to three minutes every

time you brush.

* Brush all your teeth.

* Replace your toothbrush with a new one every

(Continued from Page 1)

When people ring in the New Year, they also of-

ten ring in new good habits.

Every year, many people make New Year’s reso-

lutions. A resolution is a promise to try to make your-

self a better person in some way.

Music teacher Mrs. Laskey said her plan for her

New Year’s resolution is to keep a food journal. Mrs.

Laskey said that keeping track of what she eats will

help her be a healthy person.

Mrs. Haggerty, a seventh grade math teacher,

also hopes to be a healthier person in 2016. When

asked how she plans to do that, she responded, "by

getting on the treadmill at least four days a week."

Mrs. Devlin, a seventh grade reading teacher

wants to make sure she’s staying positive in 2016. "I

plan to make schedules, go to the gym, and read

books with positive messages," she said. —By Samuel

Rodriguez, Gabrielle Piccirilli, and Dean Millard

Teachers set 2016 goals Bulldog Bulletin

A publication of the East Norriton Middle School in Nor-

ristown Area School District in Pennsylvania. Student staff mem-

bers include Elizabeth Barragan, Ashley Carmona, Kimberly

Carrillo, Ashly Juarez, Lia Kenny, Dean Millard, Valerie Nogueda,

Isabella Pastella, Sienna Pendleton, Gabrielle Piccirilli, Brielle

Ramminger, Andrea Ritter, Samuel Rodriguez, Kayla Schwartz,

Janiyah Scott, Kayla Sparks, Alondra Vega, and Darian White.

The faculty advisors for the Bulldog Bulletin are Mrs. Strick-

land and Mrs. McGarry.

* * *

A Healthy NewsWorks® project

www.HealthyNewsWorks.org

Healthy NewsWorks is overseeing pro-

grams in 14 schools in the Philadelphia area

during 2015-16. The Bulldog Bulletin is

marking its seventh year of publication.

Healthy NewsWorks is a member of New

Beginnings Nonprofit Incubator at Resources

for Human Development. Healthy News-

Works receives its funds from individuals,

corporations, foundations, and direct services.

Funders include Claneil Foundation, and

First Hospital Foundation.

This document is protected by applicable law. All rights reserved.

Illustration by Jocelin Lai

WINTER 2016 EAST NORRITON BULLDOG BULLETIN PAGE 4

These leaders inspire us! Editor's note: These letters are written to health

leaders who are featured in the Healthy NewsWorks

book, "Leading Healthy Change In Our Communities

2015." These letters appear online at:

www.HealthyNewsWorks.org

Jeffrey Brown

President and Chief Executive Officer

Brown's Super Stores, Inc.

Dear Mr. Brown,

I read your story in the "Leading Healthy Change In

Our Communities 2015." I was surprised that there

were places that do not have fresh fruit and vegeta-

bles. I am very fortunate that I have a ShopRite near

me in Norristown.

It must be horrible to live in a

food desert. I know that when

my mother and I go to the super-

market sometimes fruits are

very expensive, but we still try

to get at least one or two differ-

ent kinds. As I read in your

story, this is also very important

to you. I haven't been able to make my dinner plate

50 percent fruits and vegetables but I am working on

that.

Not only do you manage every day to try to help

someone but you

manage to make a

profit to be able to

open more stores and

help more people.

Now you are looking

for more creative

ways to make the

shopping experience

more pleasant. If you

want a vote, I think

music will brighten up things up more. People seem

to be happy with music.

I love your work. I think it is very important to the

community that we eat healthy foods. ... I hope when

I grow up I can make a difference somewhere like

you. I hope I can meet you one day.

Sincerely,

Samuel Rodriguez

Steve Bandura

Recreation Leader

Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation

Dear Mr. Bandura,

You do great things for kids in Philadelphia. As you

know, baseball is not the biggest in Philadelphia. It is

not very popular and some people say that it is bor-

ing. You have motivated kids to stay active. A few

years ago, I watched the Taney Dragons' Little

League World Series run. Congratulations.

During the season, I could see that your players had a

great time and learned a lot from you. I understand

that coaching is not easy, especially when you have to

travel but you have put a lot of time and commitment

into your players. You have taught them sportsman-

ship and how to stay healthy while having fun. You

have inspired a lot of people. You are a true role

model. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Dean Millard

***

Lily Yeh

Founder

Barefoot Artists

Dear Ms. Yeh,

I think you are a very good role model. You go around

sharing art to help heal broken communities. I find

that very inspiring. You go out of your way just to

help people and I look up to you for that.

I love your caring and understanding personality.

I really wish I can grow up to be someone as great as

you and help others in the way that you do.

Sincerely,

Kayla Sparks

ATTENTION TEACHERS: Your students can also write a letter to a leader and it could be printed in the Bulldog Bul-letin. East Norriton has classroom sets of all four leaders' books published between 2012 and 2015. Teachers can ask Mrs. Strickland or Mrs. McGarry for copies of the books.

Lessons linked to the book and Bulldog Bulletin news-paper are available at: www.HealthyNewsWorks.org. Click on the Teacher Resource tab at the top of the home page.

Illustration by Kayla Sparks

Illustration by Gabrielle

Piccirilli and Darian White