Welcome Back and H1N1 Update

It has been a very busy summer, with Crossroads and Summer School! The custodians did an amazing job of working around all the children and staff, and the school buildings are beautifully clean with shiny floors. The week of August 17th, teachers and paraprofessionals met and worked very hard developing curriculum and attending various training sessions. Now, many teachers are spending the weekend in their classrooms, getting those desks and tables ready with name tags and fresh new materials for the students.

On First Day (August 25th), I'll see you on the playground where parents and students wait together for the opening bell. Once you walk your child to class, I hope many of you will be able to join me in the Central Gym for a brief presentation about our school's status under the No Child Left Behind Law. PTO members will then lead discussions about the future of our school, followed by refreshments in the cafeteria.

This summer I attended the annual Leadership Academy, where I spent three days exploring 21st century learning (project based learning, creativity, engagement, and technology) with Jim Moulton from Maine. I also had the opportunity to hear directly from Commissioner of Education Armanda Vilaseca and his communication director about the directive regarding H1N1, usually called "Swine Flu." Our Commissioner met with Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Thus, the Vermont Department of Education and the Vermont Department of Health have the best and most current information about H1N1.

We take our information and guidance directly from them. We have instituted all recommendations and met with the full staff about the guidance we received. Avoiding an epidemic of flu will take cooperation from everyone. Here at school, we will be cleaning all surfaces regularly and have invested in necessary items to ensure that surfaces and hands will be cleaned on a continuous basis. Students will be taught to cough or sneeze in their elbow, as we have always done, and they will wash hands before eating snacks or meals. All staff were instructed to stay home if they have any fever at all, or any symptoms.

We need parents to cooperate by keeping sick children home. We know this is challenging, and that many employers may not be cooperative. However, we have the responsibility to keep all the children here as safe as possible. Please be thinking about who might take care of your child is he/she develops a fever or symptoms, because we will not allow sick children to stay in school.

Your first Wednesday Weekly will have more information for you that comes directly from the Centers for Disease Control and the Department of Health. We thank you for your cooperation.