The winter holidays are associated with fun, food, and festivities in many people’s minds, but they also have a darker side. It’s the high season for shoplifting, with so many gifts to buy, so many neat items for sale, and so many crowds and heavy clothes to mask the crime. And even though studies have shown that suicide rates don’t go up around the holidays, as many people believe, this time of year can be rough for people suffering from depression. This issue of Current Health 2 tackles both of these topics, as well as a range of other important subjects.

Before you pack up the classroom for winter break, remember that time is running out for our "healthy habits" essay contest – the deadline for entries is December 15! One great vacation assignment might be having your students experiment with recipes for our “recipalooza” contest. You can submit entries until March 15, and an entry form appears in the December Teacher’s Guide, as well as here. Good luck, and we wish you and your students a wonderful holiday season!

Sincerely,

Meredith Matthews

Please note that the Germs Strike Back article on page 26 contains a mistake in the "Powerful Bugs" section. Strep throat is caused by streptococcus bacteria, not staph. Current Health 2 regrets the error.