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October 2, 2009
Superintendent’s Message
Dear Staff,
The United Way Campaign for Kyrene School District began Friday, September 25 and ends Friday, October 23, 2009. The goal for United Way is to improve lives for struggling individuals, families and children throughout our community. I want to especially thank Mary Ott, Administrative Coordinator, for organizing this program year after year including this one! She does a wonderful job promoting this good cause and there are many people who ultimately benefit from these efforts.
This year, the Kyrene Schools Community Foundation (KSCF) has taken on a stronger partnership role with the campaign in order to provide increased support to the schools. As in the past, KSCF is designated as a recipient of donations and provides mini-grants to teachers and supports the funding of prevention services, Kyrene Alternative to Suspension Program (KASP), the Kyrene Family Resource Center and other important programs.
Those members of the community that donate and designate KSCF will have an opportunity to have 10% of the contributions from each school go directly back to the school’s supply line. During this difficult time of reduced budgets, this is a most welcome idea and will be particularly beneficial for our schools!
You can make an immediate impact in our community by giving. Please give what you can to this most worthy cause. Thank you for inspiring hope and creating opportunities for a better tomorrow for those who are less fortunate.
David
Safety and Security Project Update
The Kyrene Strategic Plan states that Kyrene will provide high-quality, safe facilities that support healthy student learning environments. One of the objectives of this goal is a desire to be able to identify each person that enters a site. A project is currently underway to help us reach this goal.
An Integrated Security System will be installed at each campus and will include Intrusion Alarm detection at all exterior doors, Access Control with smart-cards for access and personnel identification at select doors, and Video Surveillance of all campus buildings, parking facilities, and other designated areas. Campus Administrators using these systems will be able to observe all persons who enter a building, limit building access only to authorized personnel, and use video surveillance to monitor campus facilities and work with district and third-party monitoring personnel for incident support and management.
It will take approximately two years to complete this project at all 26 of our buildings. Principals will be sharing more information with staff as the timeline for your building approaches. For more information on this project please visit www.kyrene.org/ssp
Influenza News
The following article was provided to all schools for inclusion in their school newsletters.
The information is just as important for our employees as it is for parents and their children.Influenza (including H1N1) is a respiratory virus spread by coughing/sneezing and direct contact with nasal and throat secretions of infected persons. The CDC has reported widespread influenza activity in Arizona. Kyrene continues to follow the advice of the Maricopa County Health Department. In September, Kyrene sent a letter home with all students informing them that we will notify a school community when 10% of the school population is absent due to flu-like symptoms. Education and prevention are the best ways to control the spread of influenza. As a parent you can do the following:
Talk to your medical provider about getting flu vaccines (both the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines) for your family.
Recognize symptoms of the flu: fever 100 or greater and sore throat, cough, body aches, headache, fatigue, vomiting or diarrhea.
Keep your child home if they are sick, and keep them at home until fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine.
Practice good hygiene:
a.) Review hand washing with soap and water and/or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers .
b.) Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze ; cough/sneeze into your elbow (not your hands).
Keep your emergency contact numbers current and have a back-up plan if you are unable to pick-up or be with a sick child at home.
Stay informed about the flu. Information is available at kyrene.org and StopTheSpreadAZ.org and flu.gov.
Thank you for your continued support as we work together to minimize the spread of influenza in our community.
Extra Immunization Info for Employees
One of the best ways to prevent Influenza is to get a flu vaccine. Since the spots for the free flu vaccine appointments on October 21 for Kyrene employees filled up very quickly, we have researched other resources for you. Free Seasonal flu vaccine is also available for adults at the Immunization Clinics sponsored by Chandler Regional Hospital. Clinics are held throughout the year and info on locations and dates is available at 480-728-3777 or online at www.mcchip.org. Clinics coming up in our area are:
Oct. 3, Saturday 9-11 am
Chandler Kid Care, Morrison Building, 1875 W. Frye Rd., Chandler
Oct. 6, Tuesday 3-5 pm
Kyrene de las Lomas, 11820 S. Warner-Elliot Loop, Phoenix
Oct. 17, Saturday 9-11 am
Chandler Kid Care, Morrison Building, 1875 W.Frye Rd., Chandler
Oct. 31, Saturday 8-11 am
Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Pecos Campus, 2626 E. Pecos, Chandler
This is a free “walk-up” clinic for all adultsNov. 3, Tuesday 3-5 pm
Kyrene de las Lomas, 11820 S. Warner-Elliot Loop, Phoenix
The above clinics offer the flu vaccine on a first-come, first-served basis and while their supplies last. If you have an appointment at the Kyrene District Office clinic on Oct. 21, please keep that appointment.
Kyrene Athletics
The Kyrene Athletic Program offers many coaching opportunities throughout the school year including three regular athletic seasons, as well as, various sport intramural sessions and sport clinics during school breaks. Coaching stipends begin at $1330, cheer is $1000, intramurals pay $800 for a total of twelve one-hour sessions in the course of 6 weeks and clinics are at $20 hr for 2 or 3 hours a day Monday thru Thursday on school breaks. Below you will find a link of the sports available during our regular athletic seasons, as well as, a list of sports we have offered through intramurals and clinics.
If you enjoy working with kids, believe in the value of healthy competition and sportsmanship, and are knowledgeable in a sport, then these various coaching opportunities can be for you. Please contact Amanda Hamm, District Athletic Director or Ruth Covarrubias for more information. Click here for list.
“Feed The Children” Helps Kyrene Homeless Students
Last week, “Feed the Children” Organization provided a semi truck full of supplies for the neediest students in the school districts of Mesa, Kyrene, Tempe Elementary and Tempe Union High School. Backpacks were full of school supplies, children’s books, toiletries, and non-perishable food items.
In partnership with Mesa School District, Kyrene School District, Tempe Elementary and Tempe Union High School District, last week Feed the Children Organization provided a semi truck full of supplies for each school district’s most needy students. Backpacks were full of school supplies, children’s books, toiletries, and non-perishable food items.
After receipt of supplies, Kyrene’s Family Resource Center personnel delivered backpacks to the five Title 1 schools in Kyrene. (Title 1 is a federal designation based on the number of free and reduced lunch eligible students at the site.) These included Kyrene de los Niños, Kyrene del Norte, Kryene del Sureño, and Kyrene de las Lomas. They also sent bags to Kyrene Centennial and Kyrene Middle School. A limited number of bags are also available to all schools and families through the Kyrene Family Resource Center.
Below is a picture of the event. Ms. Richardson is the 2008-2009 “Homeless Liaison of the Year” named by the Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness. She has been in the Kyrene School District for 15 years and is responsible for identifying families who are homeless and ensuring their rights under the Federal McKinney Vento Act are not compromised. Additionally, she works with other Kyrene families struggling through hard times, providing resources and necessities for basic food, health, clothing and shelter needs.
Pictured on far right, Roxanne Richardson, Kyrene Family Resource Center Supervisor and Kyrene School District Homeless Liaison; Frank Migal, State Coordinator for Homeless Education,
Kyrene Middle School
KMS 8th grade Scorpion Bells are ringing on Sunday evening, December 13th at the Desert Botanical Gardens beautiful annual Luminaria walk. Tickets will go on sale October 1.
Tell your friends and family!! Go online to order tickets, or call the Desert Botanical Gardens.
We are very proud of the Scorpion Bells and want to get the word out to the community.From the Desert Botanical Gardens website:
“For twenty evenings, from December 10 to 30, experience this unique Southwest holiday tradition as the magic of thousands of hand-lit luminarias light the pathways and cast a soft glow on the Garden’s world-renowned plant collection. Follow the sounds of valley musicians throughout the Garden trails, and plan to dine in Dorrance Hall with family and friends.
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