...NewsLinksSpecial Edition

A Web-based newsletter for the staff of Everett Public Schools

Oct. 29, 2009 Special Edition (NewsLinks articles are now archived on Docushare)

· H1N1 Updates – Field trips; vaccination clinics for teachers, registered nurses and health room assistants

H1N1 UPDATES

Field Trips

We have been advised by Gary Goldbaum, M.D., MPH, Director of the Snohomish Health District, to strongly consider canceling or postponing extracurricular events that involve overnight stays in close quarters.

As you are aware, cases of H1N1 influenza continue to increase throughout our community. School-aged children are among those who are vulnerable; and, for this reason, we continue to stress effective prevention actions in all of our schools for students and staff. In light of this recommendation, we are reviewing, limiting, but not prohibiting, the scheduling of overnight field trips and other similar events involving our students staying in close quarters.

Principals have been given guidelines regarding school overnight field trips. Here are some highlights of those guidelines:

· Overnight field trips should be discouraged unless the activity is deemed to be highly important to the success of the program.

· Ensure that coaches and advisors have plans for a situation in which a student becomes ill during the overnight activity.

· Ask each coach and advisor taking students on an overnight field trip to provide you with his or her plans and provisions related to minimizing students’ risk of becoming ill.

· If a parent determines not to send his or her child on a field trip due to flu concerns, there should not be negative consequences for the student.

· Should a student become ill during a scheduled overnight field trip we need to contact the parents/guardians to pick up their son or daughter. If a parent pickup is not possible due to location of the field trip or family circumstances, the student should be isolated from other participants and provided regular care during the remainder of the field trip.

We continue to monitor and support the well-being of each child and remind all students to practice the following precautions:

· Cover your cough

· Wash your hands

· Stay home when ill

As we continue to obtain information regarding the impact of H1N1 and numbers of students being affected, we may determine there is a need to revise these guidelines and implement more or less restrictive procedures. A Connect-ED message summarizing this message will be sent to families Thursday evening, Oct. 29.

You can also find more information on our district Web site at www.everett.k12.wa.us/everett.

We appreciate your attention to supporting efforts in keeping our students healthy. Your care and concern for our students is always appreciated.

Staff Vaccinations

The Snohomish Health District decided to conduct mass H1N1 vaccinations on Saturday, Oct. 31 for the following school employees:

· Teachers

· Registered nurses

· Health room assistants

You do not have to be residents of Snohomish County to be eligible to receive this vaccination. You are encouraged to download the consent form found on www.snocoflu.com. Providing district ID will also assist in this process.

Please take reasonable precautions to protect your health. With your leadership, our students will have the role models they need for healthy practices in schools.

OPPORTUNITIES – for staff and students

Fall technology classes, learn something new and exciting to use in your classroom:

Learn More about Discover Health	Oct. 29	4 – 7 p.m.	Woodside
Using Excel in the Classroom	Nov. 3	4 – 7 p.m.	Emerson
Clicker Paint in the Writing Process	Nov. 5 Nov. 12	4 – 7 p.m.	Silver Lake
Clicker through the Early Learning Curriculum	Nov. 5 Nov. 12	4 – 7 p.m.	Silver Lake
Poetry in Motion Using PhotoStory.	Nov. 9	4 – 7 p.m.	Emerson
Google U: Great Google Applications for Educators	Nov. 9 Nov. 16 Nov. 19 Nov. 23	4:15 - 7:15 p.m. 4:15 - 7:15 p.m. 4 – 5 p.m. 4:15 - 7:15 p.m.	Penny Creek PC Webinar PC
Moodle Magic	Nov. 12	3:30 – 6:30 p.m.	Lowell
Making a lit trip with Google Earth	Nov. 16	4 – 7 p.m.	Emerson

Briefly, OPPORTUNITIES from past issues (for details see NewsLinks archives)

1. Annual Student Technology and Learning Celebration is a demonstration and “thanks” to the community on Jan. 20, 2010. Send questions and your presentation ideas to Tracy Manspeaker by Oct. 30, 2009.

2. In a hurry for your volunteers to be cleared? Have them register online! Save the paper trail time and the time it takes to hand enter the data before background checks can be completed.

3. Follow district news on Twitter

4. VOTE Nov. 3

POLICY & PROCEDURE CHANGES – links to all policies and procedures are online

Everett Public Schools complies with all federal and state rules and regulations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, veteran status, or disability. This holds true for all students who are interested in participating in educational programs and/or extracurricular school activities. Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the school district's Affirmative Action Officer, Title IX Officer, ADA District Coordinator, or Section 504 Coordinator. Affirmative Action Officer, Carol Stolz, 3715 Oakes Ave., Everett WA 98201, 425-385-4106, Title IX Officer, Randi Seaberg, 3715 Oakes Ave., Everett WA 98201, 425-385-4104, ADA Coordinator, Kristine McDowell, 202 Alder St., Everett WA 98203, 425-385-5250, Section 504 Coordinator, Becky Ballbach, 4730 Colby Ave., Everett WA 98203, 425-385-4086.

Diane Lindenstein

Communications Dept.

Everett Public Schools

425-385-4040

From www.everett.k12.wa.us, sign up for InTouch e-mail messages; choose the school information you want most.