jan feb rc 26

FUNGUS AMONG US

Look for me and find very interesting Facts!

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From the desk of Danny Weeks, Director of RC Schools Dear Students, Welcome 2026! It’s time for a fresh

FUNGUS AMONG US Plus puzzles, activities & much more!

start. We think about all of the wonderful things which we have experienced during the Fall semester. Now is the time to turn our attention to the new year. We have the opportunity to learn from our past. Sometimes we have learned new skills and abilities and will learn to improve upon those. Other times we learn from mistakes or errors that we have made.

SRO SPOTLIGHT Deputy Chris Baum SCHOOL CALENDARS IT’S SCIENCE It’s Alive! CHARACTER BEAR

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Regardless, a new year brings new opportunities, new challenges, new learning, and the positivity that something new will bring us. I look forward to hearing about the new things you are doing whether in your classroom, in the gym, on the ball field, or on the stage. One last challenge - how about making a new friend. Reach out to someone new to your school, try sitting by someone new at lunch, or just smile at someone that you don’t know. With a little effort you’ll have a new friend!

KIDS COOK’n -S nail Roll-Ups THE HUMONGOUS FUNGUS 8-9 One Fungus to Rule them All! WHAT IS A FUNGUS? 10 KIDS LIKE YOU Bolivia 11 Kids Across/Teachers Down 12 Hidden Picture Puzzle etc! 13 WILD THINGS 14 Pink River Dolphin WHAT’S ON YOUR PLATE? 15

Happy New Year! 2026

Some kinds of litter, like plastic bottles and bags, can take hundreds of years to break down, but fungi and other decomposers can break down natural things like leaves in just weeks or months “Plastic Stays, Nature Pays.”

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

PUBLISHER / EDITOR Debbie Keenan The Keenan Group, Inc. P.O. Box 458 / Pleasant View, TN 37146 615-746-2443 debbiekeenan2010@gmail.com

©2025- 2026 by Let’s Talk Trash News! All rights reserved. No part of this issue may be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without permission of the publisher or copyright holder. Neither participating advertisers nor the publishers will be responsible or liable for misinformation, misprints or typographical errors. The publisher reserves the right to edit any submitted material. Children’s submissions should include name, address telephone number, and permission to publish signed by a parent or guardian. Let’s Talk Trash-News! is distributed FREE to Robertson County Public schools K-8th grade. You can also find this issue at Sponsor locations as well as: grocery stores, post offices, library, School Board Office, etc.

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ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Heather K. Wolfe heather@letstalktrashnews.com The Keenan Group, Inc. P.O. Box 458 / Pleasant View, TN 37146 615-746-2443

SRO Deputy Chris Baum

SRO SPOTLIGHT

you SRO for? The atmosphere

What school are you an SRO

for? I am the SRO for East Robertson High School.

at East Robertson Middle School and High School is always welcoming, as students and faculty greet you with a smile. What is the coolest part of being an SRO? Being able to build positive, lasting relationships with students and teachers.

What school did you attend as a kid? Bryan High School (OH) What was your favorite subject in school? My favorite subject was MATH. Did you play any sports? If so, what was your favorite and why?

Yes. I played soccer, because you always had to work together as a team to achieve your goal’s much like in law enforcement. Why did you become an SRO? To provide guidance and support for the youth in the community while also showing a more positive side to law enforcement that not everyone sees.

What is one piece of advice you would give to your students to help them succeed? Nothing, and no one can stop you if you work hard and believe in yourself.

What is your favorite thing about the school that

Have you made your New Years resolution yet? As we approach the new year, one of the best resolutions you can make for your future is to stay drug and alcohol free. Make this year the best year for yourself full of new beginnings, new experiences, and keeping a clear and healthy mind free from drugs and alcohol.

Sheriff VanDyke

RC SCHOOL CALENDAR! JANUARY 2026 National Mentoring Month (#MentoringMonth #MentorIRL)

2026

Thank You Month

National BLOOD DONOR MONTH

Polar Bear Plunge Day

National Milk Day

MLK Day

Squirrel Appreciation Day

1931

RC SCHOOL CALENDAR! FEBRUARY 2026 Black History Month (#BlackHistoryMonth) Career and Technical Education Month® (#CTEMonth) February 2: Groundhog Day February 2-6: National School Counseling Week February 14: Valentine’s Day February 15: National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day February 15-20: Random Acts of Kindness Week

Litter can hurt plants, animals, and even fungi. Trash on the ground can block mushrooms from growing and can poison the soil that helps forests stay healthy. The Sad Truth

It’s Science! It’s ALIVE!

Materials Needed: plastic bottle • balloon • yeast packet • 1 cup warm water (not hot, which would kill the yeast) • 1 tablespoon sugar

Instructions:

1. Pour warm water into the bottle. 2. Add yeast and sugar. 3. Gently swirl to mix. 4. Stretch the balloon over the bottle opening. 5. Place in a warm spot and observe for 10–30 minutes. * Yeast eats the sugar and produces carbon dioxide gas , which fills the balloon and makes it expand. This shows that yeast is a living fungus that uses sugar for energy and releases gas as part of its life process.

Source: https://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/yeast-balloon

says, “Do the work”

Chives

Source: https://www.popsugar.com/Snail-Sandwich-Snack-6924424

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

DARE TO D.A.R.E.! A new year is a time for fresh starts, new beginnings, and discovering amazing things around us—like fungi! FUNGI include mushrooms, mold, and even the yeast that helps bread rise. WHERE DO THEY GROW? You can find fungi in soil, on old logs, on trees, and popping up after rainy days. They’re busy working all around us! WHY DO THEY MATTER? Fungi help break down old plants and return nutrients

to the soil, keeping our environment healthy. They even help us make everyday foods like bread and cheese. MAKE SAFE CHOICES Fungi can look cool, but some can be harmful. Remember to look with your eyes only. Never touch or taste wild fungi, and always ask an adult if you’re unsure about something you find in nature. As we celebrate new beginnings, let’s explore safely and responsibly. BE SAFE AND BE RESPONSIBLE

For more information: Sergeant Kasey Fitts at: kasey.fitts@tn.gov or (615) 854-5675 D.A.R.E Coordinator Tennessee

Why Is It Called “Honey” Fungus? It ‛ s named for the honey-colored caps on its mushrooms. The Humongous Fung

What Is Honey Fungus? Honey fungus is a mushroom that grows on trees and old logs. The mushrooms are the tiny part of the fungus — like fruit on a tree. The real fungus lives underground, spreading in long, thin strands called mycelium . “Imagine a huge, secret web hiding in the dirt!” The Hidden Underground Web Below the soil, honey fungus makes black, stringy tubes called rhizomorphs . They look like shoelaces and help the fungus travel through the ground. They help the fungus fi nd new trees, logs, and roots to grow on.

Where Does It Grow? Honey fungus grows in cool forests, moist soil, around old stumps, on fallen logs, and near dead or weak trees. You can fi nd honey fungus in North America, Europe, and Asia.

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The mushroom you see above ground is only a tiny part of this huge system!

FUNGUS AMONG US

What Is a Fungus? A fungus is a living organism that: • Eats food instead of making its own Grows in cool, dark, or damp places • Helps recycle Did you know that fungi are all around — even when you can’t see them? Fungi (that ‛ s the plural of fungus!) are a special group of living things. They are not plants and not animals. They are their own kind of life, and they do some pretty amazing things!

Fungi are nature’s cleanup crew! They: • Break down dead plants and animals • Help soil stay healthy • Help plants grow Are used by people to make food like bread, pizza, and cheese Without fungi, the Earth would be very messy! Why Are Fungi Important?

Types of Fungi You Might Know Mushrooms – grow in forests and yards Mold – fuzzy stuff that can grow on food Yeast – tiny fungi used to make bread rise Even though they look different, they are all fungi!

things in nature Some fungi are big, like mushrooms

you see in the forest. Some fungi are tiny, like yeast — so small you need a microscope to see them!

Source: https://www.britannica.com/science/fungus

Kids Across

Teachers Down

1. With hundreds of edible species, the ______ is nature’s delicious fungus 6. Although most folks don’t appreciate seeing 1 Acrosses in their _____, they actually help to fertilize it and keep it healthy 7. Italian dinner pie made tastier with mushrooms on top 10. Fun(gus) fact: Sourdough _____ is made from fungi 11. Cream of mushroom ____ is a main ingredient in a green bean casserole 14. Amazing insects: In South and Central America, fungi eat thousands of leaves transported by an army of hardworking leaf- cutting ____ 16. Having been around about a billion years, fungi are one of the ____ forms of life on earth 18. Lighting the way in the forest, a bioluminescent fungus ____ in the dark 19. Wok this way: Chinese food lovers can thank fungi for the ____ sauce that spices up their meals 20. A _______ is a type of mushroom that you might find growing in your backyard

1. Hebrew holiday delight: _____, 1 Across and onion kugel is a traditional side dish served during Passover seder 2. Cool choice: Leafy lunch or dinner treat that might have a few sliced 1 Acrosses tossed in it 3. Water from above that can cause toadstools to sprout up 4. Growth that lets you know the cheese has grown old 5. Unlike plants, mushrooms don’t need _______ to grow 7. Beware!: While certain species of mushrooms are safe to eat, many (like 20 Across) are _______ 8. Rise and shine (and stay healthy): In addition to making dough rise, _____ is used to make many vaccines 9. Almost all raindrops that fall in a rainforest contain ______ (Hint: It rhymes with the jobs kids have to do at home) 12. Mushrooms are low in ___ and calories, making them a great choice for a healthy diet 13. Fancy footwork: While fungi grow all over our bodies, one of their favorite places is between our _____ 15. Rust fungus shows up as _____ on a plant’s leaves 17. It’s the rich environment in which many a fungus grows up

FUNGUS

SOLUTION ON PAGE 15

Teachers! Want classroom fun and increased parental involvement? Call 312.520.5273 or email janbucknerwalker@gmail.com to get Kids Across Parents Down and Kids Across Teachers Down for your school today.

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Since 1953

2705 Memorial Blvd • Springfield, TN 37172 • www.holmanjewelers.com

How did JANUARY & FEBRUARY get their names?

SOLUTION ON PAGE 15

Would you believe JANUARY was not always the first month of the year? The ancient

Romans used a different calendar system, and their year began in March and ended in February! Even though our modern system may be quite different from the ancient Romans’, they gave us something very important: the months’ names. Around 690 B.C., Numa Pompillius (legendary second king of Rome, succeeding Romulus) turned a period of celebration at the end of the year into a month of its own, named after the festival FEBRUARY. FEBRUARY IS NATIONAL DENTAL MONTH.

Be the Pollution Solution!

Picking up litter—even one piece at a time— helps nature heal. Clean soil lets fungi do their job of recycling nutrients and helping trees and plants grow strong.

Pink river dolphins are special dolphins that live in the freshwater rivers of the Amazon Rainforest. They are usually light gray when they are young and turn pink as they get older. These dolphins have long snouts and flexible bodies that help them move easily through the flooded forests where they live. Pink river dolphins eat many kinds of animals, including fish, crabs, and small turtles. They use echolocation—sending out sounds that bounce back—to find food in the murky water. Although they are shy, they are also very smart and curious. Pink river dolphins are important to the Amazon ecosystem, but they need protection because pollution and fishing can harm them.

Fun Facts

They can blush The pink comes from capillaries near the skin and can be brighter after they get excited or exert themselves. Big Briains They have the largest brain of any river dolphin species—about 40% larger than a human’s. They’re Surprisingly Shy Unlike ocean dolphins, pink river dolphins are quieter and more solitary, though curious around humans. They Give Gifts Males sometimes bring sticks, weeds, or clay balls to females as a sort of courtship gift. Found Only in South America Their range covers the Amazon and Orinoco river basins across Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Colombia. They’re currently listed as Endangered. They’re threatened by mercury pollution, fi shing net entanglement, and habitat degradation

Source: Source: National Geographic Kids – Amazon River Dolphin Facts

what’s on your plate? What does your plate look like? Hopefully it looks like this:

You are what you eat! No, that does not mean if you eat an orange, you will turn into an orange! It simply means that you are only as healthy as what you put into your body. A healthy meal starts with more vegetables and fruits! Try to make half of your plate fruits and vegetables. It is important to also eat things that contain a protein. Protein is very important to our diet and helps us to feel fuller longer. You find protein in things like chicken, beef, and beans. The fourth important part to a healthy meal is grain. You find grains in food such as bread, oatmeal, and rice. The final, and just as important, ingredient to a healthy meal is dairy. Milk and cheese are easy ways to add dairy to any meal!! Now that you know what a healthy meal looks like, how do YOU plan to MAKE A CHANGE toward a healthier meal?

Suggested Daily Amounts:

Grains: 3-5 oz. (2-8 yrs old), 5-7 oz. (9-18 yrs old) Vegetables: 1-1.5 cups (2-8 yrs old), 2.5-3 cups (9-18 yrs old) Fruits: 1.5 cups (2-8 yrs old) 1.5-2 cups (9-18 years old)

Dairy Products: 2 cups (2-8 yrs old), 3 cups (9-18 years old) Protein Group : 2-4 oz. (2-8 yrs old), 5-6 oz. (9-18 yrs old)

COLOR YOUR PLATE WITH FOOD YOU SHOULD EAT!

HEAT PUMP OWNERS TAKE NOTE: misconceptions about your heat pump and “Emergency Heat” operation...

When temps are below freezing for an extended

When you switch your heat pump to “Emergency Heat”, it deactivates the heat pump portion of your system (the compressor), and makes the auxiliary heat (also called Emergency Heat) your primary source of heat, instead of it being strictly supplemental to the heat pump. It may cost a little more to operate this way, but it’s way less taxing on your equipment, and should allow your system to cycle on and off occasionally instead of running 24/7. Denney Mechanical recommends giving your “Emergency Heat” a test run before an approaching cold front arrives, so as to identify any problems there might be with it before it really is an “Emergency”! Hopefully this clears up some misconceptions about your heat pump and “Emergency Heat” operation, and helps you understand what’s actually happening and why it’s happening! If your system isn’t operating as it should, you already know who to call!

period of time, (24 hours or more) we

recommend switching your heat pump system to “Emergency Heat”. Here’s why: A heat pump under normal operation extracts heat from the outside air and transfers it into your home. However, when temperatures fall below freezing , there isn’t any heat to extract from the outdoor air. This is why under these conditions it feels as if the heat pump is blowing “cool air”. It’s not really cool air but it’s cooler than our 98.6 degree bodies, thus the cool feeling. Heat pumps have “auxiliary heat” (also called “Emergency Heat”) to supplement the heat pump when it can’t keep up, and also balance temperature when the heat pump goes through “defrost mode”.

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