Pelham School Press

Pelham Press

Vol. 20, No. 1 August 27, 2009

http://www.arps.org./pe/

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Friday, August 28 Half day for Kindergarten

Monday, August 31 First Full Day for Kindergarten

Monday, September 7 Labor Day—No School

Thursday, September 10 Pelham School Committee, 7:00 PM

Friday, September 11 Ice Cream Social

Monday, September 14 Principal Open Office Hour, 5 – 6 PM

Pelham Parent Council/PTO, 7:00 PM

Tuesday, September 15 Sixth Grade Field Trip

Wednesdsay, September 23 First Grade Field Trip

Fall Curriculum Night

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From the Principal:
            Today, we welcomed students in grades 1 - 6 to another year of learning at Pelham School, and the kindergarten students joined us for their orientation session. Our school year officially began with the Back-to-School Picnic sponsored by the Pelham School Committee and the Pelham PTO. I enjoyed meeting so many parents and children, and I was particularly pleased to connect faces with the new names on our school roster. Once again the picnic provided a wonderful way to mark the transition from summer vacation to the start of school.

            I have scheduled time on Monday, September 14 for my first Open Office Hour of the new school year.   A few Mondays a month, I try to set aside time to meet informally with parents. You do not need an appointment; just stop by to ask a question or tell me about your goals for your child's education. If these times are not convenient for you, please call the school office to schedule an appointment. I look forward to hearing from each of you during the year.

            As always, the beginning and ending of the school day is a very hectic time. Please drive carefully in the school parking area. We don’t want any accidents to mar our first days of school. Also, please note that the school day officially begins at 8:40 AM, and school is dismissed at 3:05 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and dismissed at 1:20 PM every Wednesday. Please call the school office (253-3595) if your child is sick or you are delayed for parent pick up.

We are all looking forward to another wonderful year of learning at Pelham School.              Rena Moore

Pelham School Phone Book
Each year the Pelham Parent Council distributes a phone book for Pelham students. Please call the school office (253-3595) by September 18 if you do not want your name or number included in this phone book. If your name, address, or phone number was incorrect in last year’s phone book, please let us know. Also, let us know if you would like a second copy of the phone book.   We are also thinking of adding email addresses to the phone book. Please let us know your opinion of this and if you would like your email address included.

Reminder: You may send in a “standing note” (sample form attached) to let us know your child’s after school plans, particularly if they change on a daily basis. This will help us develop our dismissal lists.

REMINDER: PELHAM SCHOOL IS A FRAGRANCE FREE ZONE
We have several staff members who are allergic to fragrances.

Please refrain from using perfumes or heavily scented lotions or detergents.

Pelham Website: The Pelham School website is almost up and running.   You will be able to find the yearly calendar and the Pelham Press on line.   Please check it out:             http://www.arps.org./pe/

Once again, we are trying to create a list of parents who would like the Pelham Press emailed to them. Please let me know if you would like to be on the list by returning the sign up below to the school office. We will include all the “school” portions of the Pelham Press in the email, but we may not be able to send the various items from other local groups.

I would like to receive the Pelham Press by email. My email address is ______________________________.

Pelham Parent Council/PTO Summer Potluck Meeting Minutes Mon. July 27, 2009 Diana Zahradnik’s House

MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Rena Moore, Ruth Carolan, Lynn Smith, Diana Zahradnik, CherylNina Choquette, Amy Wasserman, Elise Stromgren, Sharrie Reydak

UPDATES

Pelham Principal’s Report (Rena Moore)– Our new Superintendent, Alberto Rodriguez, visited Pelham School in June. Rena’s initial impression is that he’s very enthusiastic, energetic and seems interested in learning about the area. She notes that in August we may have a better picture of what plans he has for any changes. A recent report showed that more testing was needed in the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th grades; however, teachers and parents have commented about the amount of testing leaving less time to teach. Computer teacher Sarah Adolph’s part-time position in Sunderland schools was cut; she came to Pelham one day a week, she recently applied for a full time job (somewhere other than Sunderland or Pelham schools) and was hired. The computer teacher position (1 day/wk) will be posted. Band and Orchestra have been cut from Amherst, however, Angela Sansoucy (Band teacher) and Laurie Rabut (Orchestra teacher) will return this year. All school choice openings have been filled, there was one additional slot in the 2^nd grade that opened up and we are waiting to hear from the student. Another slot opened in 6^th grade, and a new female student will be attending in the fall.

School Committee Report – (Rena and Lynn Smith for Tracy) Elaine Fronhofer (former PTO President) and Lynn Smith attended the school committee meeting to thank the committee for their commitment and effort. Elaine spoke for the Pelham PTO to express our appreciation for the job the committee does. The meetings (every other week) are long and often contentious. This is a considerable time commitment and the Pelham PTO appreciates their energy and dedication. Gift certificate for dinner at an area restaurant and flowers were presented by Elaine and Lynn. Regionalization is on everyone’s minds. Our new Superintendent seems to support a 6^th, 7^th and 8^th Grade Middle School. Regionalization group needs to weigh in on this as it affects budgeting. Decision will ultimately be made by School Committee, Regionalization Committee and town of Pelham.

Treasurers Report (Diana and Lynn) – Diana is stepping down and Lynn Smith volunteered to take the Treasurer position, she says she and Diana plan to meet and “Diana is going to tell me everything she knows.” Current balance is $12,739.11. Lynn, Diana and Rena will arrange a meeting at the bank to add Lynn to the names in ownership/guardianship of the account. Diana agrees to continue as account guardian and replace the third name currently on account.

Ongoing Business

Welcome Packets for Incoming Families – Ellen Leuchs assisted last year, packets typically contain an age-appropriate book, pencils and other useful school supplies, and a Welcome letter from PTO with info and invitation to first PTO meeting. Complete packets go to Ms. Jacque (for kindergarteners) and Ms. Scott (other new students). Amy volunteers to shop for items at Staples, Ruth will contact Ellen about the letter, Rena has books.

Back to School Picnic – August 26, 5:30 – 7:00. We want to have name tags, PTO members should definitely introduce ourselves to new parents/families, invite folks to join PTO, find out if they are willing to volunteer for major events, try to get more parents involved. PTO also provides water and lemonade table.

Ice Cream Social (CherylNina Choquette) Flayvors doubled their ice-cream price, someone suggests we check with other places – Friendly’s, etc. It is decided we will want to support local dairy. Date is set for September 11, Friday 6:30-7:30. Leanne Hasbrouck has organized this in the past, each class donates an ingredient/supplies, PTO gets the ice cream.

Back to School Open House is September 23. Need to check on childcare option at school that night.

Stop & Shop and Big Y Cards – both supermarkets participate in school fundraising, people who have cards to these stores can sign up to have their cards registered for Pelham School, with each purchase the supermarket donates an amount to a school fund. Lynn Smith has sign up cards for Stop & Shop, PTO to get Big Y sign up cards – suggestion to put cards in Pelham Press.

Inventory for Annual PTO Events (Diana Z) – Diana purchased a file for event records. We need to get in touch with the previous year’s event chairs and get whatever paperwork, notes, feedback about what to do differently, etc., and include in files for this year’s coordinators/chairs. Lynn Smith has a list of yearly events to pass along. Elise will maintain the list this year.

Other updates on Annual Fundraisers – Diana has contacted the gift wrap people, Genevieve’s. Amy is in contact with the Art people and has some information about a potential vendor for a Bulb sale in Fall and Spring. Another idea for a potential fundraiser is reusable lunch wraps/sandwich and snack-type bags by a local company.

Parental Involvement in PTO – PTO brainstormed ideas for encouraging more parental involvement. Suggested that we have a list of events at the Picnic, and have surveys for folks to complete to ask how they would prefer to be contacted about PTO events and if they would like to volunteer for specific Annual PTO events (for example, the Halloween Party).

First PTO Meeting of 2009-2010 School Year is Monday, September 14, 2009

Pelham Community Room (Pelham Library)

ALL PELHAM ELEMENTARY PARENTS ARE WELCOME

We would love to see you, we want your input!

Meeting adjourned: 9:09 p.m.

Meeting minutes respectfully submitted

Elise Stromgren, PTO secretary

Student Services Office

Office of the Assistant Superintendent                                                                               413-362-1828 (phone)

170 Chestnut Street                                                                                                          413-549-6108 (fax)

Amherst, MA 01002

August 27, 2009

Dear Parent/Guardian:

As we prepare to welcome our students back to school, we continue our focus on providing strong supports, services, and educational programming. One area of educational programming that we would like to discuss as we open our doors is flu prevention.

As you may know, flu can be easily spread from person to person. Therefore, we are taking steps to reduce the spread of flu in the Amherst, Pelham and Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools. We want to keep our schools open to students and functioning in a normal manner during this flu season; however, we need your help to do this. Here are a few things you can do to help.

Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. You can set a good example by doing this yourself.

Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils, and to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues. They should also cover their coughs or sneezes using the elbow, arm or sleeve, instead of the hand, when a tissue is unavailable.

Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater), cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.

Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have fever or do not have signs of fever, without using fever-reducing drugs. Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected. Children in preschool settings must remain home for seven days from the start of the illness and be clear of symptoms for 24 hours. If symptoms are not clear, they must remain home until clear.

Do not send children to school if they are sick. Any child who is determined to be sick while at school will be sent home. Please notify the school if your child is home due to flu symptoms. School staff will work collaboratively with your child regarding assignments missed during periods of absence due to illness.

We are working closely with the Amherst Health Department and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning schools. We will keep you updated with new information as it becomes available. It is also important for you to provide your child’s school with your current contact information in order to facilitate effective communication.

During the first few days of school, teachers will share information with your child regarding flu prevention. You can find the links to videos which will be shared with your children on our district website. The topics will include hand washing protocol and covering your cough.

If the district experiences a severe flu outbreak, we may take additional steps to prevent the spread such as:

conducting active fever and flu symptom screening of students and staff as they arrive at school;

making changes to increase the space between people such as moving desks farther apart and postponing class trips; and,

dismissing students from school for at least seven days if they become sick.

For more general information, see the attached flyers and visit www.flu.gov, or call 1-800-CDC-INFO for the most current information about the flu. For more information about flu in our community and what our school is doing, visit our website at www.arps.org.

Sincerely,

Maria Geryk

Assistant Superintendent of Student Services

May 1, 2009

Talking to Children About Swine Flu (H1N1): A Parent Resource

Concern over Swine Flu (H1N1) can make children and parents anxious. Although to date very few people in the

United States have become sick, there is uncertainty about how far and quickly the virus will spread.

Acknowledging some level of concern, without panicking, is appropriate and can result in people taking actions

that reduce the risk of illness. Helping children cope with anxiety regarding the flu requires providing prevention

information without causing alarm.

Children look to adults for guidance on how to react to stressful events. If parents seem overly worried, children

may panic. Parents should reassure their children that health and school officials are working hard to ensure that

people throughout the country stay healthy. However, children also need factual, age appropriate information

about the potential seriousness of disease risk and concrete instruction about how to avoid infection and spread

of the virus. Teaching children positive preventive measures, talking with them about their fears, and giving them

a sense of some control over their risk of infection can help reduce anxiety.

Specific Guidelines

Remain calm and reassuring. Your children will react to and follow your verbal and nonverbal reactions. What

you say and do about the flu virus and current prevention efforts can either increase or decrease your child’s

anxiety. If true, emphasize to your children that they and your family are fine. Remind them that you and the

adults at their school are there to keep them safe and healthy. Let your children talk about their feelings and help

put their concerns into the appropriate perspective.

Make yourself available. Your children may need extra attention from you and may want to talk about their

concerns and questions. Make time for them. Tell them you love them and give them plenty of hugs and kisses.

Know the symptoms of Swine Flu and how it spreads. Symptoms of Swine flu include fever, sore throat,

and cough. Some people also have a runny nose, fatigue, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The virus

is transmitted through the coughing or sneezing of people infected with the virus. People may also become

infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouths or noses. The virus is not

spread by eating pork or other foods.

Review basic hygiene practices. Encourage children to practice everyday good hygiene by washing their

hands, by covering their mouths with a tissue when they sneeze or cough, and by not sharing food or drinks.

These simple steps are very effective at preventing the spread of flu and other illnesses. Giving children guidance

on what they can do to prevent infection gives them a greater sense of control over the flu and will help to

reduce their anxiety.

Be honest and accurate. In the absence of factual information, children often imagine situations far worse

than reality. Don’t ignore their concerns, but rather explain that at the present moment the vast majority of

people, even those who are sick, will be okay. Nationwide, the number of people who are currently sick is very

small. Children can be told that there are many ways to avoid the virus and that doctors can help to treat people

who do get sick. Contact your school nurse or pediatrician and/or refer them to the Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention (CDC) for factual information.

Discuss new rules or practices at school. Many schools will be enforcing prevention habits. This might

include more frequent hand washing or use of antibacterial soaps; for older children, schools may temporarily

limit activities where students are in close proximity or sharing items. Your school nurse or principal will send

information home. Be sure to discuss this with your child. Contact your school nurse with any specific questions.

May 1, 2009

Avoid excessive blaming. When tensions are high, some people exert excessive energy trying to assign blame.

It is important to avoid stereotyping any one group of people as responsible for the virus. Bullying or negative

comments made toward another ethnic group should be stopped and reported to the school.

Monitor television viewing. Limit television viewing or access to information on the Internet. Constantly

watching updates on the status of the flu virus can increase anxiety. Engage your child in games or other

interesting activities instead. Developmentally inappropriate information can cause anxiety or confusion,

particularly in young children.

Maintain a normal routine to the extent possible. Keeping to a regular schedule can be reassuring and

promotes physical health. Ensure that children get plenty of sleep, regular meals, and exercise. Encourage them

to keep up with their schoolwork and extracurricular activities, but don’t push them if they seem overwhelmed.

Communicate with your school. Let your school know if your child is sick, and keep them home. Talk to your

school nurse, school psychologist, school counselor, or school social worker if your child is having difficulties as a

result of anxiety or stress related to the flu. They can give guidance and support to your child at school. Follow

all instructions from your school.

Take Time to Talk

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

You know your children best. Let their questions be your guide as to how much information to provide. However,

don’t avoid giving them the information that health experts identify as critical to ensuring your children’s health.

Be patient; children and youth do not always talk about their concerns readily. Watch for clues that they may

want to talk, such as hovering around while you do the dishes or yard work. It is very typical for younger children

to ask a few questions, return to playing, then come back to ask more questions.

Keep Explanations Age Appropriate

· Early elementary school children need brief, simple information that should balance Swine Flu facts with

appropriate reassurances that their schools and homes are safe and that adults are there to help keep them

healthy and to take care of them if they do get sick. Give simple examples of the steps people take every day

to stop germs, such as washing hands.

· Upper elementary and early middle school children will be more vocal in asking questions about

whether they truly are safe and what will happen if the Swine Flu comes to their school or community. They

may need assistance separating reality from fantasy. Discuss efforts of school and community leaders to

prevent germs from spreading.

· Upper middle school and high school students are able to discuss the issue in a more in-depth (adultlike)

fashion and can be referred directly to appropriate sources of Swine Flu facts (e.g., the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention). Provide honest, accurate, and factual information about the current status

of the Swine Flu. Having such knowledge can help them feel a sense of control.

Suggested Points to Emphasize When Talking to Children

· At the present time very, very few people are sick with the flu virus in this country. School and health officials

are being especially careful to make sure as few people as possible get sick.

· There are things we can do to stay healthy and avoid spreading disease, such as washing our hands,

covering our mouths with a tissue when we sneeze or cough, and staying home when we don’t feel well.

· Adults at home and school are taking care of your health and safety. If you have concerns, please talk to an

adult you trust.

· It is important that all students treat each other with respect and not jump to conclusions about who may or

may not have the flu.

For Further Information Visit:

· The National Association of School Psychologists: www.nasponline.org

· The National Association of School Nurses: www.nasn.org

· The National Parent Teacher Association: www.pta.org

Federal Resources:

· Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/key_facts.htm

· U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: http://www.hhs.gov/

· U.S. Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov

Action Steps for Parents to Protect Your Child and

Family from the Flu this School Year

August 7, 2009 9:00 AM ET

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 4 main ways

you and your family may keep from getting sick with the flu at school and at

home:

1. Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands often with soap and water,

especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

2. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t

have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder; not into your hands.

3. Stay home if you or your child is sick for at least 24 hours after there is no longer a

fever or signs of a fever (without the use of fever-reducing medicine). Keeping sick

students at home means that they keep their viruses to themselves rather than sharing

them with others.

4. Get your family vaccinated for seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu when vaccines are

available.

If flu conditions become MORE severe, parents should consider the following

steps:

Follow these steps to prepare for the flu during the 2009-2010 school year:

Extend the time sick children stay home for at least 7 days, even if they feel better

sooner. People who are still sick after 7 days should continue to stay home until at least

24 hours after symptoms have completely gone away.

If a household member is sick, keep any school-aged brothers or sisters

home for 5 days from the time the household member became sick. Parents should

monitor their health and the health of other school-aged children for fever and other

symptoms of the flu.

Plan for child care at home if your child gets sick or their school is dismissed.

Plan to monitor the health of the sick child and any other children in the household by

checking for fever and other symptoms of flu.

Identify if you have children who are at higher risk of serious disease from the flu and

talk to your healthcare provider about a plan to protect them during the flu season.

Children at high risk of serious disease from the flu include: children under 5 years of age

and those children with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma and diabetes.

Identify a separate room in the house for the care of sick family members.

Update emergency contact lists.

Collect games, books, DVDs and other items to keep your family entertained if schools

CDC H1N1 Flu | Action Steps for Parents to Protect Your Child and Family from the Flu ... Page 1 of 2

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/schools/toolkit/parentfactsheet2.htm 8/25/2009

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA

30333, USA

800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY: (888) 232-6348, 24 Hours/Every Day -

cdcinfo@cdc.gov

Page last reviewed August 7, 2009 9:00 AM ET

Page last updated August 7, 2009 9:00 AM ET

Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Talk to your school administrators about their pandemic or emergency plan.

For more information:

are dismissed or your child is sick and must stay home.

Visit: www.flu.gov

Contact CDC 24 Hours/Every Day

1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636)

TTY: (888)232-6348

cdcinfo@cdc.gov

CDC H1N1 Flu | Action Steps for Parents to Protect Your Child and Family from the Flu ... Page 2 of 2

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/schools/toolkit/parentfactsheet2.htm 8/25/2009

Action Steps for Parents of Children at High Risk for Flu

Complications

August 7, 2009 9:00 AM ET

Children with chronic health problems such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, metabolic

conditions, neurologic and neuromuscular disorders, or who are pregnant are at higher risk of

having complications from flu. In addition, all children younger than 5 years old are at higher

risk of flu complications compared to older children. If you are not sure if any of your children

are at higher risk for flu complications, please check with a doctor.

Keep children at high risk for flu complications from getting sick with the flu

Recognize if your children are sick

Some children may not be able to tell you about their symptoms, which can result in a delay in

responding to their illness. It is important to watch carefully for the signs and symptoms of flu

or unusual behavior that may be a sign your child is sick. Symptoms of flu include fever, cough,

sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, and fatigue. A fever is a temperature taken with a

thermometer that is equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius). If

you are not able to measure a temperature, your child might have a fever if he or she feels

warm, has a flushed appearance, or is sweating or shivering.

Watch for emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention. These warning signs

include:

Make sure your child’s hands are washed for 20 seconds with soap and water or an

alcohol-based hand rub often and especially after coughing or sneezing.

Have your child cough and sneeze into a tissue or into his or her elbow or shoulder if

a tissue is not available.

Keep your child away from people who are sick.

Clean surfaces and objects that your child frequently touches with cleaning

agents that are usually used.

When there is flu in your community, consider your child’s risk of exposure if they attend

public gatherings. In communities with a lot of flu, people who are at risk of

complications from flu should consider staying away from public gatherings.

If flu is severe in your community, talk to your doctor and child’s school to develop a

plan on how to handle your child’s special needs.

Get your child vaccinated for seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu when vaccines are

available.

Fast breathing or trouble breathing

Bluish or gray skin color

Not drinking enough fluids

Not urinating or no tears when crying

Severe or persistent vomiting

CDC H1N1 Flu | Action Steps for Parents of Children at High Risk for Flu Complications Page 1 of 2

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/schools/toolkit/parentfactsheet3.htm 8/25/2009

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA

30333, USA

800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY: (888) 232-6348, 24 Hours/Every Day -

cdcinfo@cdc.gov

Page last reviewed August 7, 2009 9:00 AM ET

Page last updated August 7, 2009 9:00 AM ET

Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Please share this information with your child’s teacher or other caregivers, so they can tell you

if they notice your child is not feeling well.

Tips for taking care of high risk children with the flu

For more information:

Not waking up or not interacting

Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held

Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

Sudden dizziness

Confusion

Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Contact your doctor immediately if your child is sick. This is important because

the antiviral medicines used to treat flu work best when started within the first 2 days of

getting sick. Your doctor will tell you what special care is needed for your child.

Keep your sick child at home until at least 24 hours after there is no longer a fever or

signs of a fever (without the use of a fever-reducing medicine). Keep your child home

unless they need to go to the doctor.

Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and drinks clear fluids (such as water,

broth, sports drinks, electrolyte beverages for infants, Pedialyte®) to keep from being

dehydrated.

If your child has a fever, use fever-reducing medicines that your doctor

recommends based on your child’s age. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) should not be

given to children or teenagers who have flu; this can cause a rare but serious illness called

Reye’s syndrome.

Keep your sick child in a separate room (a sick room) in the house as much as

possible to limit contact with household members who are not sick. Consider designating

a single person as the main caregiver for the sick child.

Visit: www.flu.gov

Contact CDC 24 Hours/Every Day

1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636)

TTY: (888)232-6348

cdcinfo@cdc.gov

CDC H1N1 Flu | Action Steps for Parents of Children at High Risk for Flu Complications Page 2 of 2

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/schools/toolkit/parentfactsheet3.htm 8/25/2009

moorer@arps.org

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