The Department of Education (DepEd) has announced President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to defer the opening of school year 2020-2021 to October 5, 2020, from the original date of August 14, 2020. This is to give schools ample time to prepare for online distance learning as the country battles the pandemic.
However, private schools have been given the green light by the government to start classes before October 5 as long as they are using only distance learning modalities. As most private schools have begun classes last August, slow internet connection, high workload, and other problems are being experienced by both parents and students. Thankfully, there are ways to cope with online learning in this report. https://youtu.be/GyE7IXCHrmI
Rain gear such as boots, coats and umbrellas are meant to protect your kids during the rainy days, but did you know that some of these items may harm your children’s health?
In a 2013 study conducted by the environmental watchdog, EcoWaste Coalition, 23 out of 33 rainwear products from Divisoria tested positive from the toxic chemicals, lead and cadmium.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), lead is a heavy metal with a low melting point, and is easily molded and shaped. It is usually used as an element in pipes, storage batteries, pigments, paints
and vinyl products. However, it causes loss of cognition, shortening of attention span, alteration of
behavior, dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, hypertension, renal impairment, immune-toxicity and
toxicity to the reproductive organs. Oftentimes, these effects are permanent.
Meanwhile, cadmium is a human carcinogen and has toxic effects on the kidney, the skeletal and the respiratory systems.
Among the items analyzed by Ecowaste were 25 raincoats, five (5) umbrellas and three (3) pairs of rainboots that the group bought for P50 – P250 each from 10 discount shops situated at the following:
11/88 Shopping Mall, 168 Shopping Mall, 999 Shopping Mall and the Tutuban Prime Block Mall.
The group detected excessive levels of lead: up to 15,500 parts per million (ppm) of lead and up to 717 ppm of cadmium in 70% of the samples.
According to Aileen Lucero, Acting National Coordinator of EcoWaste Coalition, these chemicals are
released into the environment and could affect kids through ingestion, inhalation or skin absorption.
“Their hand-to- mouth behavior and their habit of sitting on the ground or the floor can result to greater childhood exposure to various toxins.”
To prevent toxic exposure, the EcoWaste Coalition advised consumers to read product labels carefully
and avoid PVC materials. These materials are known for having strong chemical odors as they contain numerous toxic additives like cadmium and lead used as pigments or stabilizers.
The group also advised parents to regularly check the condition of the products used by their kids for
any signs of wear and tear, and to frequently remind kids to wash their hands thoroughly, especially
before snacks or meals.
REFERENCES:
http://ecowastecoalition.blogspot.com/2013/06/ecowaste-coalition- rain-gear- for-kids.html
http://www.who.int/ipcs/assessment/public_health/cadmium/en/
http://www.who.int/ceh/publications/leadguidance.pdf
As more schools shift their academic calendars from the traditional June-March to August-May, more students will have classes during the blistering summer heat–which means their vacation will now coincide with the monsoon rains. With this, plans for a sunshine-filled break just won’t cut it anymore. But students, take heart! Even if it’s pouring outside, you can still make your rainy vacation worthwhile.
Marathon movies
Now, there’s no better excuse to bum around at home with a good movie and a bowl of freshly made popcorn. Curl up in your bed and watch movies you missed in theaters, or catch up on your favorite TV shows.
Pamper yourself
Soothe your aching body with a trip to the spa. Relax beneath the expert hands of a masseuse, and sweat out your stress in the sauna. Go all out and get your nails and hair done.
Experiment in the kitchen
Since rainy days are almost synonymous to staying home, why don’t you try and improve your culinary expertise by whipping up something you’ve never cooked before? You can also look for a new recipe or reinvent an old dish. Here are some dishes we love to eat this rainy season.
Arrange trips to the museum
Enjoy a blast from the past and plan a trip to the museum. Feast your eyes on visually filling masterpieces and educate yourself on various cultures.
Make time for reading
Whether you’re conquering the Iron Throne in Westeros or leading the rebellion in Panem—whatever your book of choice is, now is the time to let your imagination run wild with the written word. If you don’t have a dusty pile of unread books, take a trip to the nearest library and get lost in the authors’ awesome worlds and words.
Sweat out by doing some indoor exercises
Staying home doesn’t mean being an unhealthy couch potato. Achieve your fitness goals by doing some indoor exercise like Pilates or yoga. You may also follow an instructional disc of Zumba or search Youtube for a sample workout video to burn off those vacation calories.
Ride the waves
You may still go to the beach even when it’s raining as the season promises more waves to ride for surfers. Be extra cautious though as there might be threats of storm surges. It’s best to err on the side of caution; cancel your surfing expedition when the waves look too big or rowdy for you to conquer. Make sure to listen to weather advisories, and choose an able companion when planning your trip.
Get your game on
Scream along with your buddies while playing a video game, and enjoy the thrill that comes with finishing each level. If you prefer being old school, you may also take out your board games or a deck of cards. Don’t forget your supply of snacks to make the day complete.
Organize tea parties with your besties
This activity can be fun for both girls and guys. Enjoy a traditional tea party by crushing your own leaves and preparing tea the traditional way, as opposed to just dipping a teabag into hot water. Let the tea calm your nerves as well as warm your insides while the rain pours outside.
Practice your writing skills
With nothing on your mind, you can finally squeeze out your creative juice. Who knows? You might just be the next J.K. Rowling. If you’re not aiming to be published, you may also write a journal to record memorable events of the day, which you can read years from now.
No need to whine about the calendar shift! Learn how to adapt with the season and make the most out of your rainy break by being creative with your time.