A Web-based newsletter for the staff of Everett Public Schools
June 23, 2011 (NewsLinks articles are now archived on Docushare)
IN THIS ISSUE
· Readership survey – tell us what you think about how we share information
· We’re Proud – did you see staff members’ family accomplishments?
· Wellness – June wellness tips and Facebook debut
· Health benefit news – watch your mail next week for important information about state legislative action’s potential impact on your health benefits
· Payroll is going green – payroll stubs online in September
· August symposium – involving community to help students succeed
· Comcast EssentialsSM – opening internet access to qualifying students
· News around the district – great work happening everywhere
· Opportunities for staff and students, including discounted, online university-accredited courses through the ESD
· Opportunities in brief – quick reminders of opportunities you still have time to explore
· Key dates you won’t want to miss
· Policy and procedure updates – always available online
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK – annual staff communications survey
Each year we ask what kind of information you find most helpful and what ways you like to get information about the district. The Zoomerang survey is online and open now through the end of the day, Tuesday, June 28.
WE’RE PROUD … staff share family and personal accomplishments
Did you see this year’s issue of We're Proud yet?
WELLNESS – Summer wellness tips
If you missed this month’s Wellness newsletter Wellness Matters, you can access the Wellness Matters Archives online. Don’t miss great summer wellness tips that appear in the newsletter such as health in your knapsack – six natural remedies for travelers, eating healthy on the road, and airplane yoga.
What’s the scoop on sunscreens? Now that summer is officially here, and the sun has decided to SHINE, we need to rummage around in our closets and dig out the sunscreen. Confused about what kind of sunscreen to use? Read the article by local dermatologist Dr. Kim Abson … What’s the Scoop on Sunscreens?
WELLNESS – going social!
Stay connected with your colleagues and the EPS Wellness Program on Facebook this summer. Share photos of your wellness achievements (big or small!). List a healthy recipe, website, hike, bike or an activity you are hoping to gather a group of EPS folks together for!
HEALTH BENEFIT NEWS – what DID the Legislature do?
As Dr. Cohn explained in his budget message this week, the Legislature’s funding decisions impact schools in many ways. One of those ways was to freeze the amount of state funding the state sends to school districts to pay school employee health benefits – even though health care costs continue to rise.
Your Benefit Trust has begun initial steps to review what this means to us. Watch for a mailing from the Trust coming right after school is out, and “stay tuned” to health benefit announcements and information.
Health Benefit Trustees are committed to providing benefit-eligible employees plans that have a wide range of coverage, costs and benefits from which to choose.
Trustees are also committed to your health, wellness and benefits.
PAY STUBS ARE GOING GREEN!
Starting with the September 2011 payroll, Everett Public Schools is going green by eliminating paper payroll stubs. Also called earning statements, these stubs will no longer be printed or distributed to staff. The accounting office will continue to issue paper checks.
Employees will be able to access payroll stub information 24/7 online from any computer (home or school) starting in September. No longer printing paper stubs saves printing costs and is environmentally friendly.
Not sure how to use Employee Online? Check out the instructional videos online. You can see your payroll stubs online now.
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL SYMPOSIUM AUG. 17-18
What’s ahead to improve graduation and success after high school?
The annual living income required for a family of four in Snohomish County is approximately $47,000. Individuals hoping to earn this level of income typically need postsecondary education and training.
Everett Public Schools graduates must be prepared to meet this challenge. We have been working diligently and successfully to raise high school on-time graduation rates. To build on this success, we are expanding this work with a new effort to ensure that all graduates are prepared to transition successfully to postsecondary experiences.
On Aug. 17 and 18 at Evergreen Middle School, the district is hosting a symposium, entitled After High School: Postsecondary Transition. Employers, community groups, schools, colleges, parent and student organizations will work with us to plan how we can make our graduates’ transition from high school as seamless and successful as possible.
Those who come together to work with us will learn more about the important work we all do. We hope to combine their wisdom, experiences and connections to partner with us to develop a communitywide plan that ensures a positive future for each Everett graduate.
One of the goals of the district’s new strategic plan is to develop intentional partnerships and strategic relationships to support student learning. The August event will forge partnerships and relationships that build upon and strengthen the district’s long history and foundation of student success and expand and strengthen support for that work throughout the community.
More details are being developed between now and August. For more information, contact Allison Larson.
COMCAST ESSENTIALSSM
Starting in the fall, Comcast is rolling out a regional program to offer low-cost internet access to all families with a student qualified for the free lunch program. Families will also be able to buy a computer inexpensively. The program’s details are on the Web at InternetEssentials.com.
More details and information for our families will come next fall.
NEWS AROUND THE DISTRICT
06.21.2011 H.M. Jackson High student's essay earns honorable
mention award
06.20.2011 Everett High
NJROTC cadets earn high praise for flag ceremony
06.20.2011 Cascade's Caldwell wins girls 4A javelin
title
06.17.2011 View Ridge Elementary
student gets to be principal for a day
RECOGNITION FOR IMPROVING EQUITY AND ACCESS AND HELPING OTHERS
EEA/UTE recently recognized John Arbuckle of View Ridge and Joe Coverson and Ed Glazer, both of Evergreen, for their work to improve equity and access for students and staff.
EEA members are also tops in the county for their collection of books to go to victims of flooding in Missouri.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS
1. Your ESD has negotiated a discount on university-accredited and clock hour approved classes. Moreover, to introduce their new ELL courses, the ESD is offering all teachers an additional discount if you enroll in any courses during the month of June. You can take the courses anytime during the year; you may start anytime and work at your own pace. To receive the discount, you must register in June.
To receive the discount, go to the ESD registration site and enter WA2011 when prompted during checkout.
Questions? Contact Karen@cecreditsonline.org
2. Make your voice heard July 12 – Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC) invites community members to share their thoughts on setting the vaccination schedule for children. Preregister online or call 1-866-276-7083.
3. Support Everett’s kids and have a great time doing it: The Friends of the Everett Public Library and the Board of Trustees invite you to participate in the second annual Spelldown: A Spelling Bee for Grown-Ups.
It’s as simple as recruiting a team of three spellers – friends, neighbors, colleagues, or business acquaintances, and paying the $100 entry fee. Don’t worry about stage fright – you work as a team.
Our goal this year is to support programs for children and teens. Buying book prizes for Summer Reading Program participants, funding author and performer programs, and purchasing early learning activity centers are all things the Friends would be able to do if the Bee continues to be successful.
For additional information, please call 425-257-8022, email esimmons@ci.everett.wa.us, or visit the webpage.
OPPORTUNITIES IN BRIEF – quick reminders from past issues
1.
FREE summer
technology workshops (offered by
Everett Public Schools)
If you have
thought about having your students collaborate online or set up an electronic
student portfolio, join Everett Public Schools teachers as they learn about
Google Apps. To find out more about these and other courses available free to
in- and out‑of‑district teachers, go to Discovery
Ridge. Questions? Contact Everett Public Schools information systems and
technology department at 425-385-4200 or LauriBeth Hull at lhull@everettsd.org.
2. Recycle electronic items at Eisenhower this summer. Eisenhower’s recycle program accepts almost all electronic items, including but not limited to cell phones, ink and laser printer cartridges, laptops, notebooks, GPS units, iPhones, BlackBerrys, electronic games/players, CD/DVD’s and players, electronic books, USB drives, and portable hard drives. TV’s and desktop computers are not accepted. Items can be left at the front office. The money from the recycling is put back into the school program. Contact Karen Stolworthy at 425-385-7534 with questions.
3. A new approach to principal preparation. UW Bothell is now accepting applications for its new master’s program, Leadership Development for Educators Program (LEDE) for autumn quarter. LEDE is designed for teachers who work as instructional leaders in either formal or informal roles, and provides a pathway from teacher leadership into the principalship.
Autumn quarter 2011 application deadline is Aug. 11. For more information, contact Nick Brownlee at nbrownlee@uwb.edu or 425-352-5369.
4.
KPLU is
releasing the School of Jazz
CD, Volume VII. For the second year in a
row, Jackson High
School Jazz Ensemble 1 is featured! KPLU
selects 10 top high school jazz bands, provides a professional jazz musician as
a mentor (this year’s mentor was trombonist and composer David Marriott) who
works with the students and performs on the CD with the band. CDs may be
purchased for $10 from any Jazz 1 member or Lesley
Moffat.
5. Is your student’s backpack making the grade? Backpacks are one of the best ways to tote homework and books, but overloaded or improperly worn backpacks can cause injury to a child’s growing musculoskeletal system. Read more about backpack safety tips.
6. Teen depression research study. The University of Washington and Children’s Hospital hope to learn more about how the teen brain processes rewards and responds to emotions through a teen depression research study. For more information, contact Christina Derbidge at 206-221-7264.
KEY DATES – important dates and celebrations you won’t want to miss planning for now!
Memorial service for Anthony Petillo – a memorial service has been scheduled for Shelley Petillo’s husband, Anthony, Friday, June 24 at 4 p.m. at Solie’s Funeral Home at 3301 Colby Avenue in Everett. Information regarding remembrances has not yet been determined.
School board meeting dates changed for June 2011
Everett Public School Board of Directors voted on May 24 to adjust its regular meeting schedule in June from the previously published dates of June 7 and 21 to June 14 and 28. All board meetings begin at 4:30 p.m. in the board room of the district educational service center at 4730 Colby Ave. in Everett.
POLICY & PROCEDURE INFO – links to all policies and procedures are online
Everett Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. 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