Project MOVE: National 'Give Kids a Smile Day'

In honor of "Dental Health Month," and as part of the American Dental Association’s national Give Kids a Smile Day, The Greater Houston Dental Society and The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston joined forces to provide oral healthcare to underserved children. With the help of Dr. Peggy O'Neill, UT's Associate Dean of Patient Care and Ms. Jennifer Smith, of GHDS, CIS' Project MOVE was able to help 50 families receive free dental care that would not normally qualify for Project MOVE's services.

“Many kids in our city don’t get the routine dental care that they need. The result is sometimes tooth pain or a reluctance to smile", says CIS Board Member, Dr. Ann Smith Barnes. “These outcomes can negatively affect a child’s self-esteem and how they perform in school.” Dr. Barnes has been actively involved in the evolution of CIS’s dental collaboration. She says, “Project MOVE, CIS’ partnership with the University of Texas Dental School has helped children throughout the city by providing preventive care to elementary school children and restorative care to students with more serious dental needs.” There is a note of pride in her voice as she describes the services participants receive. It's no accident that Give Kids a Smile Day was held on Valentine’s Day. As Dr. Barnes notes, “Maintaining and restoring smiles... now that’s a service that makes us all happy!”

Socially Savvy Students and the Importance of Good Manners

The idea of committing Emily Post’s classic Etiquette tome to memory might be considered a bit outdated. But good manners remain as important as ever. The rules of etiquette might seem arbitrary and unrelated to the lives of children, but behind those principals lies the noble goal of treating others well and being respectful of their feeling. As Dr.Gail Saltz , psychiatrist and MSNBC’s Today contributor, points out, in order to be a successful adult, everyone should “incorporate certain appropriate manners of behavior, as well as sensitivity to those around you.” She feels that children should be taught manners as early as possible because people skills are harder to master later in life. She says good manners can make the difference between a good impression and a bad one.

Dr. Perri Klass, pediatrician and N.Y. Times contributor, says that manners really can be re-characterized as social skills. And everyone is in agreement that good social skills are necessary for a child’s success at all stages in life. Learning to consider others is vital in all settings—at school, in the playground, at work and in marriage.

With this in mind, the Good Manners and Good Sense: Preparation for Success Program endeavored to teach the students at Spring Woods Middle School the ends and outs of good manners. And the Middle Schoolers have proven that they are ready to take on …and charm the world. This six week program, taught by the very capable and engaging Sally Reynolds of Sally Reynolds and Associates , covered dining decorum as well as email etiquette and internet safety. The highlight of the program was a Social Skills luncheon held at the beautiful Rienzi Houston Museum of Fine Art’s center for European decorative arts. The socially savvy students of Spring Woods Middle School were treated to a tour of the Museum and a four-course meal. After they practiced their newly acquired social skills over lunch, they were awarded certificates and gifts---pearls for the girls and neck ties for the boys.