Dogs are friendly animals, but not every dog wants to be petted by a stranger. Some may feel scared or defensive, even if they look calm at first. This is why it’s essential to read a dog’s body language before getting close. It helps you avoid unwanted bites or scratches.

It’s always good to know your rights in case a dog does attack. Understanding rules like the statute of limitations for dog bite lawsuits can help you take prompt action.

Understanding Dog Body Language

Dogs use their body to communicate. When they feel safe, scared, or playful, their posture, tail, eyes, and mouth give clues. Learning these signs is one of the best ways to know if a dog is okay to approach.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), more than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the U.S., and around half of them are children. Many bites happen because people misread a dog’s signals. That’s why recognizing body language is so important.

To protect yourself and others, here are five critical signs to look for before deciding to approach a dog.

Relaxed Body and Tail

A relaxed dog will stand or sit calmly. Its body won’t be stiff or tense. The tail may wag gently and be in a neutral position and not held high or tucked between the legs.

If the tail is wagging slowly and the body is loose, that’s a good sign. However, a stiff, high-wagging tail can indicate that the dog is alert or uncomfortable.

Open Mouth with Soft Eyes

Look at the dog’s face. A happy dog usually has a soft expression. Its mouth may be open slightly, almost like a smile. The eyes are relaxed and may blink slowly or look around calmly.

If the dog has a tight mouth, shows the whites of its eyes, or stares directly at you, it may feel threatened or anxious. These are signs to stay back.

Ears in a Natural Position

Ears also help indicate how a dog is feeling. If the ears are in their normal position (whether upright or floppy), the dog is likely calm.

Ears that are pinned back or standing straight up with a stiff neck could be a warning. These positions may mean fear or aggression.

The Dog Approaches You First

It’s always better to let a dog come to you. If the dog walks up on its own, sniffs you, and seems interested, it likely feels safe.

Never rush toward a dog or try to pet it without its owner’s permission. Even friendly dogs might react badly if they feel surprised or cornered.

Playful Behavior or Gentle Curiosity

Dogs that want to interact might crouch playfully, wag their tails, or bounce gently. They may sniff your hand or nuzzle you. These are signs of comfort and interest.

However, if the dog growls, stiffens, or avoids eye contact, it may be warning you to stay away.

Conclusion

Approaching a dog safely means paying attention to its body language. A calm body, soft eyes, and relaxed ears are good signs. But fear, stiffness, or nervous movements mean you should give the dog space.

And if you ever do get bitten, remember the legal deadlines, so you don’t miss your chance to act. Being aware, respectful, and informed keeps both you and the dog safe.

Introduction

Let’s be real, school fundraising can feel like a never-ending cycle of bake sales, car washes, and asking your relatives to buy cookie dough (again). And while those classics still have their place, they don’t always bring in the money schools need—or keep students and parents excited to participate.

The good news? Fundraising doesn’t have to be boring. With a little creativity and the right approach, your school can raise serious funds and make it fun for everyone involved.

Here are some fresh, student-friendly ideas to take your school fundraising game to the next level, plus a smart framework inspired by Fundraising University’s step-by-step guide that helps you make it all actually work.

First: Let’s Talk About What Works

Before jumping into the fun stuff, here’s a quick truth bomb: successful fundraising isn’t just about the idea—it’s about the execution.

That means:

• Clear goals
• Strong communication
• A plan to get people excited (and keep them engaged)
• And ideally, choosing fundraisers that don’t burn everyone out

Fundraising University actually outlines this really well: from rallying leadership to creating buy-in with students and parents, every step matters. So if you’ve ever had a “meh” fundraiser, it probably wasn’t the idea—it just wasn’t set up for success.

Now let’s get into the creative stuff!

1. “No Event” Events (a.k.a. Fundraising for Introverts)

We all love a good school dance or chili cook-off—but sometimes, people are short on time. Enter: the “No Event” fundraiser. It’s exactly what it sounds like. You invite families to not show up to an event and simply donate the money they would’ve spent on tickets, gas, and snacks.

Pitch it with humor, like:

“Skip the raffle. Stay in pajamas. Support your school with zero effort. We’re calling it a win-win.”

You’d be surprised how many parents are thrilled to give $20 just to not bake cupcakes or chaperone another event.

2. Teacher Dare Challenges

This one’s always a hit: if the school hits a fundraising goal, a teacher (or principal!) has to do something hilarious.

Ideas include:

• Dyeing their hair a wild color
• Wearing a costume all day
• Getting pied in the face at an assembly
• Sleeping on the school roof (yes, some principals really do this!)

The bigger the dare, the more kids rally behind it—and the more they ask their friends and family to donate. It’s fundraising + entertainment in one.

3. Silent Auctions… with Experiences

Traditional auctions with gift baskets are great, but experience-based items can really spice things up.

Think:

• “Principal for a Day”
• Front-row seats at the school play
• Lunch with a favorite teacher
• Parking spot for parents during pickup (gold!)

These things don’t cost the school anything, but they can raise big dollars because they’re fun and limited.

4. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising (Made Easy)

If your school has sports teams, music programs, or clubs, peer-to-peer fundraising is a game-changer.

Basically, students each get a personalized donation page (many platforms offer this), and they reach out to friends and family directly. It feels more personal—and way more effective than sending a generic letter to everyone you know.

Fundraising University helps schools do this on a large scale, using easy tech and coaching to make it smooth and successful. The result? Teams raise more, faster, with less stress.

5. Social Media Challenges

Get students involved by turning fundraising into a viral challenge. Create a simple, silly task (think “Ice Bucket Challenge” vibes), film it, post it, and challenge others to do the same—or donate if they’d rather not.

Ideas:

• Lip sync battles
• TikTok dance-offs
• Teachers reading tongue-twisters or bad dad jokes
• Students building something out of school supplies

It’s a great way to get the word out beyond the school walls—and get the community involved.

6. Subscription Boxes or “Mystery Bags”

Instead of selling one-off items, create a themed mystery box or bag. Could be snacks, school swag, or items made by students (art, keychains, etc.). Charge a flat fee, deliver them to families, and let the surprise do the work.

Bonus: kids love packing them, and buyers love the novelty.

Final Thoughts: Make It Fun, Make It Yours

At the end of the day, the most successful fundraisers are the ones people actually want to be part of. When students are pumped, parents aren’t overwhelmed, and the school has a plan—that’s when the magic happens.

And you don’t have to do it all alone. Resources like Fundraising University can help schools organize and run fundraisers that are actually worth the effort, whether you’re a small PTA group or a giant athletic department.

So yes—bake sales and car washes still have a place. But if you’re ready to think bigger, there are so many ways to raise money and build school spirit along the way.

Let’s make fundraising something people look forward to. Or at the very least… don’t dread.

VandyWorks is a web-based scheduling and staffing system that has been instrumental to VUMC with more than 19000 employees that the medical center has on its payroll. As a Workbrain application developed by the Canadian company VandyWorks, Innovative features complex to solve everyday problems inherent to arrival shift scheduling in the health care industry, including potential problems with nursing fatigue or workplace mistakes and policy compliance.

Key Features and Capabilities of VandyWorks

Intuitive Interface

Also, simplicity is a clear strength for VandyWorks, as it seems simple to operate for anyone. The idea of user-friendly is integrated into the system with the intention that even subordinates can easily understand and operate it. The interface is very tidy and uncluttered, which is good because the navigation system is not complex and lets users reach the scheduling tools, reports, and communication options.

Robust Reporting Capabilities

Through different types of reports, VandyWorks provides tools to administrators or managers for better decision-making. For instance, it creates different types of reports such as shift coverage, employee schedules, and compliance with certain policies. Sophisticated reporting tools allow users to modify a report according to their requirements, which can help in decision-making processes.

Advanced Communication Tools

Effective communication is crucial in a healthcare setting, and VandyWorks excels in this area. The system includes advanced communication tools such as in-system messaging and notifications. These features facilitate real-time updates and seamless communication between team members, reducing misunderstandings and ensuring that everyone is aligned.

Seamless Coordination

Coordination among departments is essential for operational efficiency and patient care. This integrated approach enhances coordination by providing tools to manage team schedules and shifts across various departments. It ensures that all departments work harmoniously, optimizing resource allocation and minimizing scheduling conflicts.

Automated Scheduling

One key advantage is that the function allows for automating the scheduling process of the work. The systems help in the generation, organization, and maintenance of the schedules, thus sparing staff most of the time and preventing mistakes. Another is that users can adjust the parameters of schedules according to the demands of the particular department and guarantee that shifts will be well-distributed at the company.

Reduced Administrative Time

By automating scheduling processes and providing robust reporting tools, VandyWorks significantly reduces administrative time. This efficiency allows staff to focus more on patient care and less on manual scheduling tasks, leading to improved overall productivity.

Compliance with the Scheduling Policy

Compliance with institutional scheduling policies is a critical aspect. The system is designed to adhere to VUMC’s scheduling policies, ensuring that all shifts and staffing decisions meet regulatory and organizational standards. This feature helps maintain consistency and fairness in scheduling practices.

Integration with Medical Center Systems

VandyWorks seamlessly integrates with other systems used within the medical center, promoting interoperability and data consistency. This integration ensures that information flows smoothly between different systems, enhancing overall operational efficiency and supporting accurate data analysis.

Benefits for Employees of VandyWorks

Support for Nursing Fatigue

Another critically important area of nursing is nursing fatigue, and VandyWorks considers this issue. To minimize the risks of overworking the personnel and guarantee enough rest for the nurses, the system has applied scheduling features. Thus, besides organizing shift work and scheduling techniques, VandyWorks helps to support healthy and productive nurses.

Reduction of Workplace Errors

The consequences of scheduling discrepancies are not minor particularly when practicing in a healthcare facility. VandyWorks minimizes the possibility of such mistakes through some of the features incorporated in the software such as automated scheduling and reporting. Reducing the need for manual inputs and giving complete transparency of what is happening within the scheduling system eradicate any chances of human error.

Streamlined Communication between Team Members

One of the key ways through which people in the workplace relate is through communication; thus good communication in an organization is critical for teamwork. This reduces the barriers to communication by providing gadgets that enable real-time messages and notifications as provided by VandyWorks. Such uncrowded communication helps members of the team to be informed and enables them to work in one way or the other.

Ease of Implementation

Choosing a new scheduling system can be quite a difficult process but the new scheduling system is not very hard to implement. Due to the user-friendly nature of the system and all-around support available to render users comfortable, there will be very little disruption to the ongoing operations, hence the smooth transition of the system.

Accessibility from Any Device

VandyWorks is an online-based system, and one is not required to download and install the application because it can be accessed through any system that has an internet connection. Such flexibility enables the employee to exercise some control over the schedules, the reports, the communication, and the collaboration mainly with other employees irrespective of location making it strong support of the organizational remote work and the constant access to the important information.

Impact on Patient Care

Cross-departmental collaboration is essential for delivering high-quality patient care. VandyWorks fosters this collaboration by providing tools that coordinate schedules and streamline communication across departments. This integrated approach enhances teamwork and ensures that patient care processes are well-coordinated.

Enhancing Patient Care Outcomes

The precision offered by VandyWorks boosts patient care since clients receive efficient solutions that fully suit their needs without compromise. With more efficient scheduling and less paperwork, the system frees up time for HCPCs to spend more time with patients, which is good for both patients and HCPCs.

Future Developments

VandyWorks is continuously evolving to meet the changing needs of healthcare organizations. Upcoming features and enhancements are planned to further improve scheduling efficiency, communication, and integration. Staying abreast of these developments will help users maximize the system’s potential.