NOV DEC RC 25

HoliDAZE

How did I get my name? Page 14

Thank You to our Sponsors!

From the desk of Danny Weeks, Director of RC Schools Dear Students, I like seeing words that are combined or mixed

HOLIDAZE! Plus puzzles, activities & much more! SRO SPOTLIGHT 3 Deputy Chris Baum SCHOOL CALENDARS 4-5 IT’S SCIENCE 6 Snowstorm in a Jar CHARACTER BEAR 7 KIDS COOK’n - Christmas Cookie Dip HOLIDAZE! 8-9 Holidays to Celebrate! HISTORY 10 Traditions & Memories KIDS LIKE YOU Finland 11 WILD THINGS Reindeer 12 Kids Across/Teachers Down 13 How did Rudolph get his name? Coloring, Trivia, Wrap it up! 14-15 Christmas Events! Back Cover

together to help make new words. As we return from Fall Break, there is often a daze in our eyes from all of the events that happen between late October and the Christmas holidays. Halloween, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day each have their own fun and excitement that make those days wonderful for us. But when we combine those traditional holidays with all of the excitement of the

school year - we truly have holidaze . Schools are busy with fall sports activities, musical concerts, art shows and the list goes on and on. When we try to juggle all of those things we sometimes do get stressed and our lives can feel like we are in a daze. My challenge is to enjoy each day for what it is. We do need to plan and stay organized so that we can meet all of our obligations, including our studies. But staying on top of things helps us keep a focus on life and keeps those things in proper perspective!

Correction solution to last month’s crossword puzzle: SCHOOL DAYS

THE HOLIDAYS ARE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER which means lots of festive times with family and friends. The Robertson County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind you that you can enjoy these times just as much while being drug and alcohol-free! Drugs and alcohol can impair your judgment

Sheriff VanDyke

We strive to have all material in Let’s Talk Trash News to be accurate; however, we discovered that the solution to last issue’s crossword puzzle was incorrect. We apologize for this mistake.

and lead to bad decisions. Let this holiday season be remembered for its great

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.

Our Calendar Partners DENNEY MECHANICAL BISON COUNTERTOPS TINA SELF - PARKS / COMPASS RE JOHN LOUALLEN/ BENCHMARK REALTY THE CONNECTION

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

What is your favorite thing about the school that you SRO for? Seeing the students succeed after working hard towards their goals. What is the coolest part of being an SRO? Seeing our youth turn into respectful and productive members of our community. What is one piece of advice you would give to your students to help them succeed? Your life is a direct result of your choices. If you don’t like your life, start making different choices.

What school are you an SRO for? I am the SRO at Greenbrier

High School.

What school did you attend as a kid? I attended Dundee Crown High School in Carpentersville, IL.

What was your favorite subject in school? My favorite subject was Geometry.

Did you play any sports? If so, what was your favorite and why? I played football and Karate. In Karate, I learned valuable life lessons

such as how to work hard without seeing immediate results, to be humble in victory, and to be gracious in defeat. Respect is given, but trust is earned.

Why did you become an SRO? I became an SRO to help influence the youth of Robertson County in a positive manner.

2025

RC SCHOOL CALENDAR! NOVEMBER 2025 National Career Development Month National Scholarship Month November 3-7: National School Psychology Week November 8: National STEM and STEAM Day November 11: Veterans Day November 13: World Kindness Day November 17-21 American Education Week November 17-21 National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week November 19: Education Support Professionals Day November 20: National Parent Involvement Day November 21: Substitute Educators Day

Election Day

Daylight Savings ends

Veteran’s Day

Thanksgiving Day

1931

2025

RC SCHOOL CALENDAR! DECEMBER 2025

December 2: Special Education Day

December 3: International Day of People with Disabilities December 8-14: Computer Science Education Week (#CSEdWeek)

Gingerbread House Day

1st Day of Hanukkah

Christmas Day

Kwanzaa

National Call a Friend Day

A “litter spitter” is a nickname for people who drop trash on the ground instead of putting it in the garbage or recycling bin. Being a litter spitter isn ‛ t good, because it makes the Earth dirty and can hurt animals and the environment. We don ‛ t want to be litter spitters—we want to be Earth Helpers who keep our parks, playgrounds, and neighborhoods clean.” Don’t Be a Litter Spitter!

It’s Science! Snowstorm in a jar

Materials Needed:

• • • • • •

Instructions: 1.

Fill the jar about three-quarters full with water. Add white paint and/or glitter and stir well — this makes the “snow.” Pour in oil slowly until it almost reaches the top of the jar. Wait for the oil and water to separate (oil floats!). Break an Alka-Seltzer tablet into a few small pieces. Drop one piece in and watch! The bubbles carry the “snow” up and down like a swirling snowstorm. When the bubbling stops, add another piece to keep the storm going.

2. 3.

Source: https://www.honeyandlime.co/snow-storm-in-a-jar/

Foundation Repair • Waterproofing • Concrete Lifting ...even Leaning Chimney Repair!

Free Estimates

says, “Always Get Up” Christmas Cookie Dip

Good character A person with “good character” acts, thinks, and feels in a way that matches some commonly accepted “good” traits, like being honest, respectful, responsible, caring, and, fair. How to show Good character: Always Get Up Having good character means trying your best to do the right thing, even when it’s hard. One way to show good character is to always get up. That means when you make a mistake, or when something doesn’t go your way, you don’t give up. Imagine you’re riding your bike and you fall. If you just stay on the ground, you won’t learn to ride. But if you get up and try again, you get stronger and better. The same thing happens with schoolwork, sports, or even being kind. Good character means standing back up, dusting yourself off, and trying again every time.

Source: https://www.saltysidedish.com/christmas-cookie-dough-dip/

GREETINGS!

DARE TO D.A.R.E.! The holidays are a fun and busy time of

or sharing a smile. So, during the Holidaze, take a moment to relax, have fun, and enjoy the people you love most! During this holiday season, take the time for what matters most. Remember to treat others how you want to be treated and remember... Be Safe and Be Responsible!

year! Between Halloween, Thanksgiving, and all the winter celebrations, everything can start to feel like a happy blur—what some people call the Holidaze! Families bake cookies, hang decorations, sing songs, and spend time together. It’s also a time to show kindness and gratitude—by helping others, saying thank you,

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

It’s Your Turn! Traditions

A tradition is something people do the same way every year to celebrate or remember something special. Traditions can be part of holidays, birthdays, or family fun. Traditions help make happy memories and connect us to our families and friends. For example, maybe your family eats a big turkey dinner on Thanksgiving or bakes cookies for Christmas.Those are all traditions! You can even make your own tradition—like watching a favorite movie every New Year ‛ s Eve or writing a thank-you note to someone you care about. When you do something special again and again, it becomes a tradition that ‛ s all your own!

Think of one new tradition you could start this year! It could be something simple—like wearing matching socks on New Year ‛ s Eve, making a special breakfast on Christmas morning, or writing down one thing you ‛ re thankful for every Thanksgiving. Draw a picture or write a few sentences about your new tradition.

Who would you share it with, and why would it be special to you?

Reindeer live in really cold places like the Arctic, northern Europe, Asia, and North America. In North America, we often call them caribou . Reindeer usually travel in groups called herds. A herd can be small, with just a few reindeer, or HUGE , with thousands all together. Baby reindeer are called calves (just like baby cows). Calves are amazing because they can stand and walk only a few hours after they are born! Reindeer mostly eat grasses, moss, and a special plant called lichen that grows on rocks and trees. They usually weigh between 200–400 pounds, which is as heavy as two or three grown-up humans. Even though they are heavy, reindeer are super fast! They can run up to 50 miles per hour—faster than a car driving in a neighborhood!

Reindeer Fun Facts

Both boy and girl reindeer grow antlers. They’re the only kind of deer where the females also have antlers! Their noses are like “heaters.” Reindeer noses warm up the cold air before it goes into their lungs. They’re great swimmers. Reindeer can swim across rivers and lakes—even in icy water. Their hooves change with the seasons. In the summer, their hooves are soft for walking on wet ground, but in the winter, they get hard and sharp for walking on ice and snow. They travel really far. Reindeer migrate farther than almost any other land animal—sometimes more than 3,000 miles in a year! They can see in the dark. Reindeer can see ultraviolet light, which helps them spot food and predators in the snowy Arctic.

When people drop trash, it doesn ‛ t just go away in the snow. Instead, the snow covers it up like a blanket. It might look clean, but the garbage is still there. When the snow melts in the spring, all that hidden litter shows up again. Sometimes this is called a “litter bloom.” It makes parks, sidewalks, and rivers dirty. Litter Bloom

Kids Across

Teachers Down

1. These hang around trees at Christmastime 7. The big jolly guy’s nickname: ___ St. Nick 8. Candle holder used during Hanukkah 10. An ordinary tree people spruce up during the holiday season 11. Look up: It’s where the star is found on a Christmas tree 12. There’s no place like it for the holidays 14. Beard’s place on Santa’s face 15. Santa’s big bag 16. Individual piece of snow 21. ‘Tis the season for a riddle: What do gifts wear at Christmastime? Wrapping ____ 22. What families do after they bless the food 24. The hardest worker in the kitchen on Thanksgiving Day 25. A “cornucopia” is also known as a horn of ______

2. Ultimately, he was the most revered reindeer 3. The Salvation _____ is a long-respected charitable organization that rings a bell with many, especially during the holiday season 4. Popular poultry: It’s the center of attention for everybody sitting at the Thanksgiving table 5. Thanksgiving tradition: It’s the part of the 4 Down that two people pull, each hoping their dream will come true 6. Tiding that accompanies comfort 9. The sound of Santa chuckling (3 wds) 10. Season’s surprises in boxes with bows 11. It’s a fun thing to find under the Christmas tree 13. A time to chill: Water, frozen in its tracks 17. It’s the last word in a blessing 18. Ever notice?: Cranberry _____ is the only type that can’t be poured 19. The big Thanksgiving meal 20. Folks who are wishing for a white Christmas look forward to seeing it fall 23. What some people take on Thanksgiving Day after eating a little too much

Holidaze

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.

615-384-3762

Since 1953

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

Connect the dots from 1-20. Color the picture.

How did rudolph get his name?

Rudolph the Reindeer got his name from Robert L. May, a copywriter who created the character for a 1939 Montgomery Ward Christmas promotion. May considered names like Rollo, Reginald, and Rodney before deciding on Rudolph because it sounded best. He also said that the name’s origin, from the Old High German for “fame-wolf,” was a coincidence and that his daughter, Barbara helped choose the final name since she loved deer.

What Can Kids Do about litter in the winter? Always throw trash in a bin, never in the snow.

Recycle bottles, cans, and paper whenever possible. Help with a clean-up day in your community or school. Remind family and friends: “Snow is not a trash can!”

Where did the wrapping tradition come from?

How were the writer of the story Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the writer of the song Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer related? They were brothers-in-law. John D. Marks, the writer of the song Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, was famous for writing other Christmas songs. He wrote Rockin‛ Around the Christmas Tree, A Holly Jolly Christmas, Silver and Gold, as well as others. Surprisingly, he also happened to be Jewish.

Why do we, each time we give a gift, ritually wrap that offering in decorative tree pulp? The short answer is that wrapping, as a practice, has been around for ages— literally, ages. The Japanese

decorated paper—along with ribbons and lace—to conceal gifts. In the early 20th century, thick, unwieldy paper gave way to tissue (often colored in red, green, and white) that would similarly

furoshiki, the reusable wrapping cloth still in use today, is a pretty faithful rendition of the version that’s been around since the Edo period. The Korean bojagi dates from the Three Kingdoms Period, possibly as early as the first century A.D. In the west, using paper as a covering for gifts has been a longstanding, if largely luxury-oriented, practice: Upper-class Victorians regularly used elaborately

work to conceal offerings until they were opened. The practice was echoed in a slightly more practical form by stores, which would wrap customers’ purchases in sturdy manila papers. See page15 for how to wrap a present.

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/12/ wrappers-delight-a-brief-history-of-wrapping-paper/266599/

Did you know... Reindeer milk has more fat than cow milk!

Source: conversationstartersworld.com/ christmas-trivia/

Solution inside

City of Greenbrier - Christmas in the Brier: November 29th from 9a.m.- 3p.m. A day of holiday shopping, visits with Santa, and festive fun at Greenbrier High School. Springfield Christmas Parade: Dec 6th at 5:30 p.m. A night-time parade featuring brightly lit floats starting at the intersection of 10th Avenue and South Main Street . Ridgetop Christmas Parade: Dec 7th at 7:00 p.m. Details: The parade starts at Watauga Elementary and ends at Ridgetop Station Park, which will have pictures with Santa, music, and treats. Christmas Tour of Homes: December 14th Time: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tour beautifully decorated historic homes in the Springfield Historic District. Donuts & Hot Cocoa with Santa: December 14 An event at the Robertson County History Museum. ONGOING EVENT Winter Wonderland: Nov 29 - Dec 28 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. nightly. A drive-through and walkable light display in Springfield. Saturdays, including Dec 6th, 13th, & 20th, are designated as walk-through and activity nights.

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16

Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker