A Web-based newsletter for the staff of Everett Public Schools
Sept. 28, 2011 (NewsLinks articles are archived on Docushare)
IN THIS ISSUE
· A tribute to Val Dede – building a playground in her memory
· Special schedules for Oct. 11 and 12 – early release on Tuesday and varying schedules for high school students on Wednesday
· FREE PSAT on Oct. 12 for all high school juniors
· Health benefit changes ahead for all staff – watch your email for details
· District flu shot clinics in October
· Oct. 20 school board candidate forum at Gateway
· New phone number for SmartFindExpress
· Help desk makeover – a new way to get tech support
· News around the district – good work happening everywhere
· Wellness news – tips for staying fit and sane in spite of it all
· Opportunities – tons and tons of classes, contests, information and more for students and staff
· Policy and procedure updates – always available online
A TRIBUTE TO VAL DEDE – planning meeting Thursday, Sept. 29 at 3 p.m. in Madison library
Valerie Dede, a Madison teacher for 24 years, and a district teacher for 42 years, passed away suddenly this summer.
She was always one who said, “We need to take time to play,” and she always found the time to create memories with her students. In her honor, Madison staff decided that she would have loved to see a new playground for the students, and the community. Madison submitted a grant application to Dr Pepper Snapple Group and KaBOOM! and was one of 35 organizations among a pool of hundreds to secure a grant.
To receive the grant, Madison must contribute at least an additional $9,000 toward the playground cost. In this “community build” project, staff, parent, and community volunteers come together on “build day” to build the playground all in one day.
Madison’s staff goal is to have a new playground by the end of this school year – one that students will enjoy during the school day and families and community members will enjoy for years to come, all in memory of Val.
A fund has been set up with Everett Public Schools Foundation, and donations can be sent in Val Dede’s name to: Everett Public Schools Foundation, P.O. Box 3112, Everett, WA 98213.
If you would like to join the playground committee, or just find out more about this project, the first meeting is Thursday, Sept. 29, at 3 p.m. in Madison’s school library. All are welcome. This is an exciting project to take on, and also a very deserving tribute to a wonderful person who devoted 42 years serving our students.
SPECIAL SCHEDULES on Tuesday, Oct. 11 and Wednesday, Oct. 12
All schools will be on early release schedule for Tuesday, Oct. 11 as the first of four State Unpaid Teacher Leave days.
High school schedules on Wednesday, Oct. 12 will be adjusted as follows:
o Juniors will begin taking the PSAT (see explanation below) at the regular school start time.
o Freshmen, sophomores and seniors will arrive approximately three hours later when the juniors have completed the PSAT. Each high school has been in contact with families and staff to outline specific schedule details
o School buses will make a morning pick up run for the juniors to get juniors to school in time for the PSAT. Buses will then make a second run later in the morning to pick up freshmen, sophomores and seniors for their later start on the school day.
FREE PSAT for all high school juniors – one more way to help students transition from high school to next steps of their choice
On Wednesday, Oct. 12, all high school juniors will take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT). The test usually costs $25 for each student; this year it is free as a way to provide ALL juniors with this jumpstart on the SAT most students take as seniors.
Full details about the PSAT benefits are online.
HEALTH BENEFIT CHANGES AHEAD – watch for details in future messages
Health benefit open-enrollment period is Oct. 20 through Nov. 15 with all changes effective Jan. 1, 2011.
All employees eligible for medical benefits (.330 benefit FTE or above) must either re-enroll or officially waive medical coverage. All current coverage will end effective Dec. 31, 2011.
Staff will receive electronic health benefit information as soon as that information is finalized. Additionally, during the week of Oct. 17, open-enrollment packets will be distributed to worksites for all employees, and information will be published for all staff on the district website.
All open enrollment changes (medical, dental, short-term disability, etc.) will be submitted via Employee Online. No paper enrollment or change forms will be accepted. During three regional support meetings the last week of open enrollment, district staff and representatives from the new medical plans will be available to help staff enroll online.
Representatives from the new medical plans will be available at all work sites at various times throughout the open-enrollment period.
Watch your email for those meeting dates and times.
FLU SHOTS, Oct. 4, 6, 12 and 13 – shots are free if you are on medical plan; $25 if not
Employees on a district medical plan can receive their shot for FREE and should click here to sign up on the course registration system.
If you are not on a medical plan you may receive a flu shot by using your primary insurance or by paying cash for the shot $25. Click here to register if you are not on a district medical plan.
SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE FORUM – Oct. 20 at Gateway
Gateway Middle School PTSA is hosting an open candidate forum for parents, staff and community, Thursday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m., following the PTSA general meeting. Because of anticipated interest in the forum, the session is planned for Gateway’s commons.
A professional facilitator will coordinate the forum and give those who attend an opportunity to hear the views of the two candidates running for school board position #5 – Mary Ann Elbert and Pam LeSesne.
PLEASE UPDATE YOUR PHONE LIST – SmartFindExpress absence reporting system has a new phone number.
The new number is 425-320-1337.
Between now and Sept. 30, employees who call the 888 number will be rerouted to the new local phone number.
Beginning Oct. 1, employees who call the 888 number will hear a “this number has been changed” message and will be reminded of the new telephone number.
Effective Nov. 1, the 888 number will no longer be in service.
The district website absence reporting area reflects the new phone number.
MILEAGE RATE INCREASE
Do you use a personal vehicle for official district travel? The Internal Revenue Service announced a change in the standard mileage rates, effective July 1, 2011. The new mileage reimbursement rate for miles driven while conducting official district business is 55.5 cents per mile, a 4.5 cent increase.
HELP DESK MAKEOVER
When you need to reach the Help Desk, email just isn’t enough! Help Desk Web is a new, improved Web-based system.
This new Web portal is a self-service system. This means you can directly submit and track your Help Desk requests via the Web, instead of composing cumbersome email messages.
This new system also allows better communication and real-time information as to the status of your work request.
What happens if you forget about this new service? If you forget and submit an email request for service, an auto response email will remind you of the change and provide a link to Help Desk Web. It’s that easy!
From any district computer, you can find Help Desk Web under the Favorites menu.
NEWS AROUND THE DISTRICT
09.26.2011 Free PSAT/NMSQT for high school juniors - Oct.
12
09.26.2011 Public School Employees of Washington honor Victoria Bosket
09.22.2011
High School and Beyond family nights - Oct. 18, 19 &
20
09.22.2011 Gateway MS
students arrive early to be part of King 5 news story about
Nooks
09.21.2011 CHS vocal music
department sponsors "Real Men Sing" workshop
09.08.2011 Seattle Percussion Trio performs for Sequoia High
School students
09.07.2011 H.M. Jackson
High to build a bigger band burrito
09.01.2011 Everett teachers agree to 2011-12
contract
08.30.2011 Volunteers needed to
help beautify Everett neighborhood schools
08.22.2011 Everett schools earn eight grants from resource
conservation program
08.08.2011 Everett
administrators help families through community service
WELLNESS – September is Fruit and Veggies Matter More Month
Eat your blueberries! In addition to being high in antioxidants, a new study finds that blueberries may help prevent osteoporosis ... Read more.
Take this quiz to learn more about the benefits of blueberries PLUS you’ll be entered in to a drawing to win the book “The Ultimate Smoothie Book.” Every month I’ll post a new wellness tip along with a quiz in NewsLinks. Want more wellness tips, recipes and news? Read the monthly newsletter Wellness Matters.
Here is a sprinkling of what’s available through the district Wellness program.
o WALKTOBER is BACK. All new 6 week program begins Oct. 1.
o EPS fitness classes begin Oct. 3.
o Health fairs and FREE flu vaccine clinics
o Weight Watchers groups now forming
o Start a “100 Milers” walking club at your school or site
o Women’s health forums
o Community supported agriculture (CSA) can become a drop-off location at your work location
OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS
1. ELL teacher volunteers needed on Wednesdays, starting in October and through May to help with English classes for adults. Classes are from 7-8 p.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help church in Everett. If interested, contact Juanita Clifford of the South Everett Neighborhood Center.
2. 17th year for Prudential Spirit of Community Awards for students. Online applications due by Nov. 1, 2011. This is the nation’s largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteer service. Local honorees named in early November will be then considered for national recognition with the possibility of $1,000 in cash and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. with a parent or guardian for four days, May 5-8, 2012.
3. Will your students read Jane Austen’s Emma this year? If so, the UW Drama department invites you and students to a FREE matinee in April.
“We … extend an invitation to any teacher who may have included Jane Austen’s Emma on his or her reading list to bring a group of students to a Saturday matinee of the performance in April free of charge. Unfortunately, being an educational institute it’s difficult to offer weekday matinees and, we understand, difficult for your students to attend evenings.”
To take advantage of this offer, contact Terry Bleifuss.
4. PTSA Reflections Competition: The Reflections Program is a National PTA and Washington state PTA cultural arts competition. Reflections gives students an opportunity to showcase their creative talents and express themselves through their own original works. Each year, Reflections challenges students to create art that supports a specific theme. Themes are selected from thousands of ideas submitted by students to National PTA's Reflections Theme Search. 2011-12 Reflections theme is "Diversity Means ... .”
Young artists get involved in Reflections through their local PTA or PTSA. A student may submit an entry in any of six arts areas: literature, music composition, photography, visual arts, film/video and choreography/dance. Only original works of art are accepted.
Rules, forms and information about due dates are available at each school main office and online.
5. Student essay contest and opportunity to win an iPad
In October, the Washington Association of Chinese Education (WACE) is hosting its first annual Why Learn Chinese Competition open to middle and high school students to encourage them to think about learning Chinese, a skill that is becoming more and more relevant in today’s business world. Even Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire has advocated for Chinese education, and has specifically expressed support for WACE and this competition.
Full details and entry information is on the WACE website.
6. Health and Safety Network’s premier event, The Kids’ Futures: Voices of Youth film and community discussion, takes place Nov. 3, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Everett Music Hall in the Everett Mall, near Macy’s. This year’s film was created from stories that young people shared about their connections to their community and the changes they would like to see. Doors open at 6 p.m.; the event starts at 6:30. After the 40-minute film, the floor opens for discussion with a panel of young people from throughout the county. The evening ends with at 8 p.m. with a reception and refreshments.
7. Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) offers annual scholarships and essay contests due Nov. 1, 2011. Click on links below for applications and samples of winning essays.
· Voice of Democracy competition for grades 9-12. National winners compete to be a guest of VFW in Washington, D.C. during the national finals.
· Patriot’s Pen for grades 6-8. National winners compete for 46 different prizes of U.S. savings bond ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.
· State youth essay program for grades 3-5. What is an American?
8. The Washington Chapter of Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) is hosting their annual Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 1 at Craven Farm at 13817 Short School Road in Snohomish, WA. The festival offers a free, family-friendly celebration for children and families affected by Autism (ASD). The fall can be a challenging season for families living with ASD. Spooky sounds, strobe lights, itchy costumes and restricted foods offer challenges for kids on the autism spectrum. For these families, holidays can inflict painful reminders of the isolation ASD too often creates. That is why the WA TACA chapter organized this special event for our Puget Sound families living with autism. If you are a person, friend or family member of someone who is touched by autism, please join TACA this Saturday at Craven Farm in Snohomish!
Questions? Please contact WA TACA at janelle.hall@tacanow.org, 206-371-5128 (Janelle) OR at sarah.richards@tacanow.org, 425-260-1190 (Sarah).
9. Just two more weeks until the second annual Everett Public Library Spelldown on Oct. 7 – a spelling bee for grown-ups! Moderated by Dr. Cohn, the bee is open to just 25 teams this year. More details about how to sign up for the fun is on the Web.
10. The NWESD course catalog is ready to browse online! In this Fall/Winter edition you will find:
· Commentary from Superintendent Dr. Jerry Jenkins
· Two teachers in our region receive high honors
· Welcome to three new superintendents
· Twelve pages of professional development classes to choose from
· And more...
To subscribe to automatically receive NWESD professional development notifications click this link. This does not subscribe you to any other email notices or lists, and you can easily unsubscribe at any time with one click at the bottom of each email.
11. Nov. 1 is the deadline for elementary teacher grant applications for Classroom Conservation Awards. The grants supplement Snohomish County elementary classroom teachers with $300 funds for materials or activities for conservation projects.
The final products must involve all students in the classroom and demonstrate achievable and relevant wildlife and conservation goals. Information and applications are on the Web.
12. Annual WSU Snohomish County Extension 4-H Wallace River Hatchery Tours, Nov. 7-10. Two sessions 9:30 to 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wallace River Hatchery at 14418 - 383rd Ave. SE, Sultan (just off Highway 2 between Startup and Goldbar).
Each tour runs about two hours with youth and adult volunteers leading tours and explaining the life cycle of the salmon, their habitat, the role of hatcheries, salmon stewardship, spawning demonstrations and much more. For registration information, please contact Karie Christensen at WSU Snohomish County Extension at 425-357-6039 or christensen4@wsu.edu.
13. SNOCOM, your local 911 communications center in Southwest Snohomish County, is seeking logo design submissions from the community to create a new logo for this public safety agency.
The winner of this design contest will get a chance to sit along with a 911 dispatcher as well as receive a 911 grab bag!
For inspiration: SNOCOM’s vision statement, core values, and key words have been provided below. Keep them in mind as they will be used during judging.
Vision statement: Leading the way with integrity and professionalism in public safety communications through solution-oriented teamwork.
Core values: Professionalism, teamwork, integrity, dedication, empathy, and innovation.
Key words: 911, communications, community, police, fire, and EMS.
Deadline is Oct. 15, 2011. See website for more details and submission information or call SNOCOM’s administration office at 425-775-5201.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES – All policies and procedures are available online.
The following policies and procedures have been revised or added.
1410, Executive or Closed Sessions
1421, Consent Agenda
1440, Meeting Conduct and Order of Business
1910, Attorney-Client Privilege
2152 and 2152P, Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs and Activities and Title IX
2410 and 2410P, High School Graduation Requirements
3131P, School Attendance Area Changes and Transfers
3204 and 3204P, Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying
3210 and 3210P, Nondiscrimination
3224, Student Dress
3240 and 3240P, Student Conduct
3309, Definitions
4333P, Nonschool Use of Grounds, Buildings and Equipment
5010 and 5010P, Certification
5215, Conflict of Interest
6000P, Administrative Organization
8361, Lending of District-owned Equipment and Books
Everett Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.
Designated to handle inquiries about nondiscrimination policies are: Affirmative Action Officer, Carol Stolz, 3715 Oakes Ave., Everett, WA 98201, 425-385-4106; Title IX Officer and 504 Coordinator, Randi Seaberg, 3715 Oakes Ave., Everett, WA 98201, 425-385-4104; ADA Coordinator, Kristine McDowell, 4730 Colby Ave, Everett, WA 98203 425-385-5250. (Email address for each is FirstInitialLastName@everettsd.org)
Diane Bradford
Communications Dept.
Everett Public Schools
425-385-4040