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

Nov. 25, 2009 (

NewsLinks

articles are now archived on Docushare)

IN THIS ISSUE

Message from the superintendent – holiday wish for all

Schedule for Wednesday, Nov. 25 – today!

Advice to change your password

News around the district

Message from the Foundation

Opportunities for students and staff

MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT – my reasons for gratitude and a

holiday wish for you

“Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies,

those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life

and the world.” –

John Milton

Thank you for opening your classrooms, work spaces and offices to me over the

last five months. Each day spent visiting schools and meeting this district’s

extraordinary staff and students gives me pause for reverence and awe at the

work you do.

My holiday wish for each of you includes joyful time with those you love,

continued every day epiphanies, and those exceptional transcendent moments of

awe in your work and personal lives that make our work with kids and our

commitments to one other so very worthwhile.

Have a warm, wonderful and safe Thanksgiving break.

Gary

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 25 – What’s the schedule?

Nonsupervisory certificated employees (teachers, counselors, psychologists,

etc.) may be dismissed on the workday before the Thanksgiving break

(Wednesday, Nov. 25) as soon as the entire staff responsibilities for student

instruction, supervision and safety have been met, with the understanding that an

individual’s workday will not be shortened by more than two and a half (2-1/2)

hours.

All other staff members may be dismissed on the workday preceding

Thanksgiving break one (1) hour early. This early release does not apply to an

employee who is critical to the safety and security of the district. Each

department’s supervisor will determine this. Department supervisors may adjust

these guidelines as necessary to meet program needs.

Custodians should receive direction from Gary Jefferis’ office.

Note: The Friday before winter break (Dec. 18) is a regular length workday for all

staff.

And what about weather-related school delays or cancellations?

Who

reports when was outlined in an October e-mail from Lynn Evans, executive

director of human resources.

ADVICE FROM THE IT DEPARMENT

Change your password frequently!

Recently, the Kent School District’s payroll

system was hacked, resulting in staff members’ personal information being

compromised. As a result, that district is paying for credit card monitoring

programs for staff. While Kent’s system is different than the one we use, Ken

Toyn, director of information systems and technology, urges everyone to take

steps to protect passwords and to change passwords frequently. “It’s as simple

as pressing ctrl+alt+delete and choosing the “Change Password” tab anytime

after you’ve logged in to your computer,” says Toyn. And it could save you much

angst in the future.

NEWS AROUND THE DISTRICT – great things happening everywhere

1. School psychologists were honored by the Gov. Christine Gregoire during

School Psychology Week earlier this month. The Governor’s proclamation

highlighted the many services school psychologists provide for all students.

2. The special services department is fostering partnerships that help students

prepare for their futures. One lesson for 18-21 year old students in the

program is learning to be independent bus riders. Community Transit sees

this as an asset to the community and has allowed students’ assistants to ride

for free. Karen De Jong, special services specialist, is working with Everett

Transit to put the same program into place.

Watch for more stories about this program and other community partnerships

for students in the special services STRIVE program coming in the January

2010 issue of

Everett Schools.

The November issue of

Everett Schools

arrived in homes this week and

should be in school mailboxes by now.

Congratulations to Gayla Jenner

who has been elected President-Elect of

the national users group for Sungard/Bitech which operates the district’s

finance software, IFAS, and the student data system, Pentamation. Having

someone of Gayla’s caliber so deeply involved in the workings of these

systems helps ensure that district needs are being met – and it speaks to the

high regard this company has for the expertise of our district staff.

Everett PTSA Council Reflections Exhibition

is on display from Nov. 30

through Feb. 5 at the Educational Service Center on Colby. Come see the

work of your students as they responded to the prompt “Beauty is …”. The

show features artistic creations of students from district elementary, middle,

and high schools. Entries include work in visual arts, literature, musical

composition, film-video, choreography-dance and photography.

Holiday projects underway.

This time of year (and well into the spring)

thousands of district students gather food, clothing, toys, pet food and other

items to help those less fortunate. Everett High School’s Kristin Price

describes the passion of her second period class.

As of today (written Nov. 20) we have raised nearly $1,100 in cash and we are

quickly approaching 1,800 cans as we enter the final weekend. These kids are

competitive, but more than that, they are the best example of altruism I have

witnessed in my 15 years in the district. They have collected food at grocery stores

almost every day of the food drive (where they also played musical instruments to

draw more attention to the cause). They have worked tirelessly to make sure that as

many local families can/will be fed during these tough economic times. These young

adults realize what it means to be part of a community and part of a solution. I am

truly proud of every one of these students and believe that we should celebrate the

fine young adults in Everett Public Schools.

… I really think that their efforts and those of all students giving back at all schools

should be celebrated as much as possible.

Kudos to Jefferson Elementary for mixing learning and generosity!

Inspiring food donations equal to the weight of an elephant was the school’s

goal two weeks ago when they launched their seasonal food drive. Not only

did students, staff and families bring in 2,633 pounds of food for Volunteers of

America, but everyone learned just how big a pachyderm is.

6. Recent new stories published on our district Web site:

11.24.2009 Cedar Wood students enjoy Disney's

Fantasy on Ice

11.23.2009 IKE students pledge to live drug free during Red Ribbon Week

11.17.2009 EHS students are agents of altruism

11.13.2009 Heatherwood welcomes Princess Kasune Zulu

11.12.2009 JHS swimmer Alana Pazevic

11.10.2009 Jackson High School teams have an amazing fall

11.09.2009 Penny Creek's Becky Azure wins backpack in drawing

11.09.2009 CHS senior Minhtam Nguyen is a leader in school's food drive

MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDATION – thank you for your grant applications!

Campaign for Kids

continues with our Write-In for Kids efforts through the

United Way presentations. We extend a sincere thank you to all of the staff who

have given of your time to attend a presentation. Your support of our community

through United Way and the Foundation is wonderful and most appreciated.

Each school and department is creating their own deadline for submission, but

please know that the ultimate

deadline is Dec. 4, 2009,

for turning in your

pledge forms to the Foundation office at Hawthorne Elementary.

Thank you

to all of the individuals and teams of teachers and staff who

submitted 89 classroom grant applications. Our team of board members has

concluded their review and we will be sending notification out to all applicants

before the end of November. We were able to fund over $30,000 in grants with

representation from all 25 schools who applied. A full list of grant recipients will

be available on our Web site after we are sure that each teacher and each school

has been notified.

OPPORTUNITES – for students and staff

Monday, Nov. 30,

Map Your Neighborhood

project

. MYN helps organize

neighbors in a timely response to disaster when 911 is not available. Learn a

nine-step Neighborhood Response Plan that helps you know what to do in

response to injuries, leaking natural gas, and helping others.

A two-hour session from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. will be held in the upstairs training

room of the Everett Fire Department at 2801 Oakes Ave., Everett. RSVP to

jmarsh@ci.everett.wa.us or 425-257-7979.

How did you do on Nov. 19?

This was the national day to quit smoking. If

you missed the day or didn’t do so well, you should know that the Everett

Public Schools Employee Benefit Trust provides a

FREE

($375 value)

smoking cessation program to EPS employees participating in one of our

benefit plans (Group Health, PacifiCare, Regence PPO).

Free and Clear

nationally renowned.

An estimated 47 million adults in the United States currently smoke, and

approximately half will die prematurely from smoking. Lung cancer is the

leading cause of cancer death for men and women, and this year alone, there

will be about 169,500 new cases diagnosed in the U.S. More than 80 percent

of lung cancers are thought to result from smoking.

WAEOP members –

Your November newsletter is stored on Docushare as

is an introductory letter and an important membership survey. WAEOP Area

President Pam James

asks that you complete the survey to help the

organization understand what professional development and growth

opportunities would be most helpful for you.

Highly Capable Program testing nominations

are being accepted by

categorical programs through Dec. 11.

Washington State Association of Supervision and Curriculum

Development (WSASCD), Whitworth University and Leadership

Innovation Team

announces a new school culture and climate initiative in

Washington state. Schools are invited to submit an application to be

recognized as a Washington State School of Character by Tuesday, Dec. 1,

in two easy steps:

Step 1: Go to

http://www.character.org/nsocapplicationprocess

to get

started.

Step 2: Go to

http://www.character.org/washington

to learn:

- Where to send your application

- Who to call with questions or application help

For additional details visit

www.character.org.

Essay contest for students in grades fifth through eighth.