Congratulations to all students published in "I Wish I Knew What to Do!?...On What to Do to Get Bullies to Leave You Alone" - the first book in the "Teens Tell it Like It Is" Series! Thank you for your support and participation.

In this groundbreaking publication for teens and by teens, students from across the United States share their experiences and advice about bullying -- whether they were the victim, the bully, or a bystander.

Teens submitted essays to the 2005 MindOH! Foundation Character's Cool Contest and provided advice to their peers, parents and teachers to help stop bullying - a growing epidemic.

By Leslie Matula, MindOH! Co-Founder

We all know that telling a child "Do as I say and not as I do" is pointless, right? They're too smart. They get the hypocrisy of that statement even before they are old enough to know the definition of the word. I understand that. When I was the tender age of eleven, two adults in my life - role models I thought were surely the final authority on all things good - fell from grace with a hard thud when I witnessed them acting in a way that directly contradicted all they had been preaching for years. I didn't need to know what the definition of the word hypocrisy was. I just knew that what they were doing was wrong and ran counter to all the character lessons I was supposed to be learning from them. I lost respect for those two adults that day. Even sadder, I lost respect for what they had been teaching me.

The importance of role modeling cannot be overstated. It doesn't mean we have to be perfect. We're not and never will be. But it does mean that as adults who have influence over the lives of children, we must strive to model all that we want to teach. When we fall short of that mark, which we will do often, then we have a great opportunity to model appropriate responses to poor choices, such as humility and regret. We can do what we can to make amends and then get back to the business of being a good role model.

By Stu McLaren: (www.ideas4 halloween.com)

Thanks to a brand new, easy-to-read guide that "spills the beans" on some of the most exciting ideas for the Halloween season, you'll save hours of frustration and know exactly what you need to do -- from detailed costume descriptions and how to put them together to step-by-step checklists, and much, much more.

This guide is called "Ideas 4 Halloween" and is located at http://www. ideas4halloween.com!!

You'll learn it all, from A-Z! This book covers 117 ideas discussing simple, fun and effective ways to make this Halloween season one to remember!

Such as...

• How to recreate the "gross food" game that will keep your guests guessing and grossed out all night long (page 80)
• How to make your own Silly Putty with only two ingredients (page 31)
• The one tip for parents that will free up 30 minutes after trick or treating so you can check your child's candy (page 96)
• The secret to carving pumpkins freehand (page 85)
• The one critical item that will instantly create realistic "bone breaking" sound effects (page 65)
• How to setup your Mummy costume to so that you can avoid looking embarrassingly white and unrealistic (page 8).

Until now, it would have taken you hours of research and frustration to put together a great Halloween costume or party. THIS GUIDE REALLY DOES MAKE IT EASY. It's perfect for beginners or for anyone looking for some quick ideas to make their Halloween memorable. Soon you'll have your friends hounding you to help them generate ideas for their costumes!

**Editor's Note: As often as possible, we provide resources for free. Please note that this item is for purchase.

By Marvin Berkowitz, Sanford N. McDonnell Professor of Character Education University of Missouri-St. Louis

My friend and colleague, Tom Lickona, in his book on parenting for character ("Raising Good Children"), argues that "respect is a two-way street." What he means is that children need to be respected as much as they need to learn to be respectful.

In his new book on parenting, "The 10 Basic Principles of Good Parenting," psychologist Laurence Steinberg includes as his final principle: "Treat your child with respect." He opens this chapter by stating that "Many parents worry too much about whether their child respects them, and they don't think enough about whether they treat their child with respect."

Looks like we have some consensus here. But both Lickona and Steinberg mean more than just highlighting the two different directions or types of respect. When Lickona talks about it being "a two- way street," I think he also means that each affects the other. How we treat our children shapes how they will treat us and others. As Steinberg notes, "if you treat your child kindly and fairly, are genuinely concerned about her well-being and are a reasonably good role model, she will respect you -- even if she disagrees with you -- and occasionally goes against your wishes."

The National Schools of Character (NSOC) Awards program has a twofold purpose: 1) To identify exemplary schools and districts to serve as models for others; and 2) To help schools and districts improve their efforts in effective character education.

Maximum Award: $2000 Eligibility: To be eligible, a school must have been engaged in character education for a minimum of three full years, starting no later than December 2002 for the 2006 awards. Districts need to have been engaged in character education for a minimum of four full years, starting no later than December 2001. Smaller administrative units that maintain a separate identity within a large district may apply in the district category, e.g., a school pyramid or cluster.

Deadline: December 05, 2005

By Amy Dow, MindOH! Content Writer

This past weekend I was at a wedding. It was a beautiful wedding in Hockley Valley Resort, Ontario. The best part of the wedding was a statement said by the priest, "What a wonderful time of year to have a wedding, the time of year to be thankful for friends and loved ones. A time to celebrate love." As the wedding continued throughout the night it was wonderful to hear the emotional and heart felt speeches given by the family and wedding party. The most beautiful moment of all was seeing the groom dance with his mother, who recently suffered from a stroke during a triple bypass. The family almost lost her twice. Now her sprit and attitude is inspirational. She is just beginning to speak and can slightly walk but she constantly had a smile on her face. Wow.

While Thanksgiving in Canada is about friends and family, it is also about the crisp fall air and the thousands of tress that have turned into the lush colors of red, brown, orange and yellow. Oh, and you cannot forget about the great turkey, stuffing, gravy and the tasty pumpkin pie and cream for dessert.

The concept behind the Thanksgiving celebration, is similar to the Chusok in Korea. The only difference is the festivals date, rituals and customs but the reason behind it remains the same.

In Korea the celebration falls on 15th of August, which is known as Chu-Sok (meaning "fall evening"). It begins on 14th night and continues for three days. Koreans make a dish called 'Songpyon.' This dish is unique for the occasion and consists of rice, beans, sesame seeds and chestnuts. Before having the food, the family gathers beneath the moonlight, in remembrance of their ancestors.

Thanksgiving in Canada is coming to an end, my tummy is filled with great food and there are leftovers in the fridge. Now the next holidays to look forward to are the Pumpkin Fest in Waterford, Ontario and Halloween.