May 2009 - Superintendents_update - mailman.dca2.superb.net

Health Services Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 29 May '09

29 May '09

May 29, 2009 Dear Parents and Guardians, In light of recent media attention related to Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1) or influenza-like illness and to keep everyone in the school community informed, we are providing an update about the incidence of influenza A and influenza-like illness in the Needham Public Schools. We want to inform you that there are students and staff who are experiencing symptoms of influenza in the district. We learned today that there is one Newman School student who was recently diagnosed with a confirmed case of Swine- Origin Influenza A (H1N1). The student has been out of school since being symptomatic and is recovering well without complication. As with seasonal flu, it should be assumed that influenza-like illness is currently in the community and being exposed is always a possibility. The Needham Public Schools are being vigilant in monitoring student and staff health and enhancing infection control. To that end we are: · Working directly with the Needham Health Department a · n · d · · f · o · l · l · o · w · i · n · g · · t · h · e · · m · o · s · t · · u · p · · t · o · · d · a · t · e · · g · u · i · d · e · l · i · n · e · s · · f · o · r · · s · c · h · o · o · l · s · · b · y · · t · h · e · · M · a · s · s · a · c · h · u · s · e · t · t · s · · D · e · p · a · r · t · m · e · n · t · · o · f · · P · u · b · l · i · c · · H · e · a · l · t · h · . · · · R · e · i · n · f · o · r · c · i · n · g · · w · i · t · h · · s · t · u · d · e · n · t · s · · a · n · d · · s · t · a · f · f · · a · b · o · u · t · · g · e · r · m · · p · r · e · v · e · n · t · i · o · n · · t · h · r · o · u · g · h · · t · h · e · · p · r · a · c · t · i · c · e · · o · f · · g · o · o · d · · h · a · n · d · · w · a · s · h · i · n · g · , · · u · s · e · · o · f · · h · a · n · d · · s · a · n · i · t · i · z · e · r · , · · a · n · d · · p · r · o · p · e · r · · c · o · u · g · h · · e · t · i · q · u · e · t · t · e · · Encouraging routine cleaning of classroom surfaces likely to be contaminated · Dismissing students and staff who are ill with influenza-like illness are from school and advising them to remain home for at least 7 days even if symptoms resolve sooner, and those who are still sick after 7 days, are to stay home until at least 24 hours after they have completely recovered Monitoring the patterns of student and staff absence and dismissals due to illness in all grades We ask that all families please review and follow guidelines issued by the MDPH to help you monitor the health of your child and make informed decisions about when it is appropriate to keep them home from school. To minimize the transmission of flu, we reiterate that everyone, children and adults, should protect themselves by · Washing hands frequently Keeping hands away from your mouth, nose, and eyes Staying away from people who are sick Covering a cough and sneeze Keeping your child home if he/she is sick. Flu outbreaks evolve in unpredictable ways, thus it is impossible to know whether this one will decrease or grow in the coming weeks. The school nurses and the Needham Health Department are available for any questions. For further updates and information please check the NPS Health Services website [ http://rwd1.needham.k12.ma.us/health_services/ ]http://rwd1.needham.k12.ma.us/health_services/. Thank you for your understanding and assistance as we respond to the outbreak of influenza illness and balance health concerns with the educational mission of our schools.

1 0

Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 28 May '09

28 May '09

May 28, 2009 Dear Parents and Guardians: Allow me to share a few updates about happenings in the Needham Schools: Newman Elementary School Earlier this month Town Meeting approved $450,000 to develop schematic designs for a renovation of the Newman School's heating and ventilation system and related infrastructure. The funds will also be used to help design a relocation plan for Newman's students and staff during the renovation period. As you may know, the School Committee voted recently to use available space at Pollard for Newman's Preschool, Kindergarten, and KASE students during a renovation. Grades 1 through 5 would be located in modular classrooms on the Newman campus during the renovation. The design funds will be used to help develop a specific renovation and relocation plan that can be reviewed and approved by the School Committee and Permanent Public Building Committee (PPBC). While we continue to collaborate with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to develop the project's scope and costs, the School Committee and PPBC will need to work on a timeline for the renovation. The Town is also committed to maintaining the existing systems at Newman and responding and repairing as necessary until a renovation project can begin, likely in 2011. So much remains to be done, and there will be ample opportunity for Needham families to assist with the effort as we move forward. High Rock School is on schedule for completion and the anticipated move in later this summer. The new principal, Jessica Downey, and the 6th grade staff are hard at work planning for the arrival of our new students. They will update the School Committee next Tuesday evening, June 2nd, about activities and programs. Needless to say, they are very excited about the school and the opportunity it presents for this community and our young people! Updates may be found at this link on our website: [ http://rwd1.needham.k12.ma.us/high_rock_info/ ]High Rock School Information Student Art and Music Programs I hope parents have had opportunities to view the exceptional artwork and projects on display at the high school and Pollard over the last week or so. In addition, a variety of student concerts and performances have been scheduled in each of the schools from now until the end of the year. Please check out the [ http://cfweb.smartedu.net/smartcalendar/needham.cfm?myCalendar=71&thisdistr… ]Performing Arts Calendar for specific venues and dates. Superintendent's Blog In an effort to share ideas and information about education and the Needham Public Schools, I invite you to visit my new blog, [ http://npssuperintendent.blogspot.com/ ]Superintendent's Blog . I hope to post to the blog at least monthly and hope this will provide an additional way to communicate with you and for us to share ideas with one another. I welcome your input, feedback, and comments. Finally, congratulations to the Needham High School Class of '09 who will graduate Monday evening, June 8 on Memorial Field. They (and their parents!) have worked hard and deserve our warm and hearty congratulations. As always, please don't hesitate to contact me: 781.455.0400, x 203 or dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us We are off to the concluding weeks of school! Dan Gutekanst, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools

1 0

Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 22 May '09

22 May '09

May 22, 2009 Dear Parents and Guardians: In light of recent media attention related to the Swine- Origin Influenza A (H1N1) or influenza-like illness and to keep everyone in the school community fully informed, we are providing an update about the incidence of influenza A and influenza- like illness in the Needham Public Schools. We want to inform you that there are students and staff who are experiencing symptoms of influenza in the district. We learned today that there is one Needham High School student who was recently diagnosed with a confirmed case of Swine- Origin Influenza A (H1N1). The student has been out of school since being symptomatic and is recovering well without complication. As with seasonal flu, it should be assumed that influenza-like illness is currently in the community and being exposed is always a possibility. The Needham Public Schools are being vigilant in monitoring student and staff health and enhancing infection control. To that end we are: · Working directly with the Needham He· a· l· t· h· · D· e· p· a· r· t· m· e· n· t· · a· n· d· · f· o· l· l· o· w· i· n· g· · t· h· e· · m· o· s· t· · u· p· · t· o· · d· a· t· e· · g· u· i· d· e· l· i· n· e· s· · f· o· r· · s· c· h· o· o· l· s· · b· y· · t· h· e· · M· a· s· s· a· c· h· u· s· e· t· t· s· · D· e· p· a· r· t· m· e· n· t· · o· f· · P· u· b· l· i· c· · H· e· a· l· t· h· .· · · R· e· i· n· f· o· r· c· i· n· g· · w· i· t· h· · s· t· u· d· e· n· t· s· · a· n· d· · s· t· a· f· f· · a· b· o· u· t· · g· e· r· m· · p· r· e· v· e· n· t· i· o· n· · t· h· r· o· u· g· h· · t· h· e· · p· r· a· c· t· i· c· e· · o· f· · g· o· o· d· · h· a· n· d· · w· a· s· h· i· n· g· ,· · u· s· e· · o· f· · h· a· n· d· · s· a· n· i· t· i· z· e· r· ,· · a· n· d· · p· r· o· p· e· r· · c· o· u· g· h· · e· t· i· q· u· e· t· t· e· · Encouraging routine cleaning of classroom surfaces likely to be contaminated · Dismissing students and staff who are ill with influenza-like illness are from school and advising them to remain home for at least 7 days even if symptoms resolve sooner, and those who are still sick after 7 days, are to stay home until at least 24 hours after they have completely recovered Monitoring the patterns of student and staff absence and dismissals due to illness in all grades We ask that all families please review and follow guidelines issued by the MDPH to help you monitor the health of your child and make informed decisions about when it is appropriate to keep them home from school. To minimize the transmission of flu, we reiterate that everyone, children and adults, should protect themselves by · Washing hands frequently Keeping hands away from your mouth, nose, and eyes Staying away from people who are sick Covering a cough and sneeze Keeping your child home if he/she is sick. Flu outbreaks evolve in unpredictable ways, thus it is impossible to know whether this one will decrease or grow in the coming weeks. The school nurses and the Needham Health Department are available for any questions. For further updates and information please check the NPS Health Services website [ http://rwd1.needham.k12.ma.us/health_services/ ]http://rwd1.needham.k12.ma.us/health_services/. Thank you for your understanding and assistance as we respond to the outbreak of influenza illness and balance health concerns with the educational mission of our schools. Sincerely, Daniel E. Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools

1 0