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Information from Bishop Blanchet High School - May 8, 2012
RE: Closure Due to Whooping Cough
Dear Bishop Blanchet Families,
After further investigation and communication with Public Health - Seattle & King County, we would like to share the following updated information:
- The flu like symptoms that have sickened many of our students and some of our staff are probably caused by a respiratory virus such as influenza.
- There is no evidence of increased pertussis at our school. Preventive antibiotics for pertussis are not necessary unless there has been known close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with pertussis by a health care provider.
Public Health has the following recommendations:
- Stay home from work or school when sick.
- Those with flu symptoms should stay home until the fever has been gone for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medicines. Consult your physician for unusually severe or prolonged illness, or if there are chronic health conditions that increase the risk for severe illness.
- Those who are diagnosed with pertussis should stay out of work, child care, or school until five days of antibiotic medicine for pertussis have been finished. People who have pertussis and don't take antibiotics should stay out of work, child care, or school for three weeks, or until the cough is completely gone.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water. If soap and water is not available, use hand sanitizer.
More information about influenza and pertussis is available from the Public Health website.
Further information will be communicated with parents as necessary.
Outstanding Teacher and Staff Awards
Thanks to the participation of dozens of parents, alumni students and parents, and current staff members, we were able to select the first recipients of our Outstanding Teacher and Staff of the Year awards. The selection process was overseen by Julie Chandler, the Parents' Club president, according to criteria borrowed from Holy Names Academy's program. The selection was made by an independent committee of past parents, alumni, and parishioners. These awards recognize the commitment of these individuals to Sacred Heart School and its mission, mastery of their field, and a dedication to excellence.
This year's recipients are Carl Sheffield (5th Grade) and
Susana Knapp (Director of Admissions).
Congratulations to them both! - Mr. Burroughs
Contributing Parishioner Tuition Rate
Please remember that in order to receive the Contributing Parishioner Tuition rate families are required to:
- Be registered members of Sacred Heart Parish who are regularly attending Mass
- Have a Parish Pledge Card on file annually (parish pledge cards are renewed for each calendar year)
- Make regular contributions to the parish in fulfillment of your annual Parish Pledge
Families who do not consistently meet these obligations will be moved the higher Non-Contributing Parishioner Tuition rate. As you reregister for next year, please check to make sure that you have a pledge card on file at the parish and are making regular contributions. - Mr. Burroughs
Additional Time
Next year, Sacred Heart School is planning to add 15 minutes to the instructional day. This addition is being made to ensure that we have the required instructional time for each subject in every grade. This year we have added some great new programs like LEAD 21 in the primary grades, Spanish instruction in grades 1-5; brought back some, like Young Authors; and expanded others, like the family group meetings.
All of these important additions to the day and the year require time. So, in order to continue to have the time that we need for our teachers to deliver the very best education and moral formation, we need to add a bit of time. 15 minute a day may not sound like much, but it actually will give us an additional 45 hours of instruction per year.
So, now we need your assistance in deciding how to add this time to the school day.
Please follow this link to take a two question survey by Friday, May 18th.
Placement/Teacher Request Policy (rev. 3.7.11)
Our classroom teachers work exceptionally hard on classroom placements each year and a considerable amount of time is spent trying to balance classes academically, emotionally and socially.
Families with specific educational reasons may request in writing a classroom placement prior to May 24th for the 2012-2013 school year. Such a request must go directly to the Vice Principal for students entering K-5. Included in the request must be reasons why a specific teacher can best meet the individual child's educational needs.
Educationally valid requests submitted before the deadline will be reviewed and considered when making placement decisions. However, not all requests can be accommodated.
Instructional Aide Job Postings - 2nd & 5th Grades
Sacred Heart School is looking to hire 2 part-time Instructional Aides next year, one for second grade and another for fifth grade. These aides will assist their specific grade level teams in the classroom, specifically in the instruction of Reading and Math. We are looking for someone with excellent written and verbal skills, who is able to work effectively, patiently and independently with students individually and in small groups and willing to be open to further development of instructional skills as a vital member of the instructional team. As a member of the instructional team, these aides will be asked to work some non-student school days. Catholic preferred.
Interested applicants should send a letter of interest and resume to Connie Gray, Vice Principal
Family Movie Night -Free!
On May 18th 6-9pm, the Student Council is hosting a Free Family Movie Night in the gym. Bring your family, your favorite blanket, and dress in your favorite pajamas to watch our student-chosen movie! If you come hungry, we can help! The Student Council will be selling savory and sweet treats including pizza, popcorn, and cookies.
Questions? Contact Ms. Covington. Hope to see you at the movies!
Spirit Week Coming Soon!
- Monday, May 21, is Neon Day (wear your brightest colors)
- Tuesday, May 22, is College/High School Day (wear clothes that support your favorite High School or University)
- Wednesday, May 23, is Blast from the Past Day (dress from any decade that occurred before this one even into the 1600s)
- Thursday, May 24, is Crazy Outfit Day (wear the worst combination of clothes you can think of)
- Friday, May 25, FIELD DAY!!, wear your family color!
Grandparent's Day!
Thank you to all the grandparents and grandfriends that came to SHS last Friday to support our kids. We think we had almost 300 in attendance, our biggest Grandparent's Day yet! A HUGE thank you to my co-chair Roberta Weresh who coordinated the entire day with invitations, food and decorations. Thank you too to my loyal helpers Kameo Simpson, Kim Phillips, Gretchen McKay, Kim Marvin, and Rian MacLeod. Thank you too to our SHS teachers who worked so hard to help with entertainment in Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd & 4th as well as 2nd Grade who did the Mass; Catherine Deasy who coordinated our Playmakers, and Shane Frigon who set up the sound for us. I also want to thank students Michael Chandler who helped with set up and all of the ASB Officers who volunteered to serve our guests during the brunch. Finally, an enormous thanks to the Administrative staff at SHS for helping throughout the day especially David Burroughs and Alison Scott for all of the planning and coordinating of the event.
- Sharon Maghie
Lost and Found
It is time to do some spring cleaning and help out a wonderful organization at the same time. Our foyer closet is incredibly full of unmarked clothing and items. Please take a moment to check it (or ask your child to) as we will be donating almost everything to CARE on Friday, May 11th.
The CARE program services very needy refugee families in the Tukwila school district and they truly appreciate any clothing/items they receive.
Changes to the Summer Skills Program
In looking ahead to summer, we have made some changes to our Summer Skills Studies Programs.
The Summer Language Arts Review will no longer be required in kindergarten through second grade; the focus will be on reading and reading comprehension in particular. Students in these grades will be asked to keep a reading log to show the amount of time they spend reading to you, in addition to reading to themselves. We have also created some simple, yet fun Book Report forms for the students to complete. Later this year, students will be introduced to the King County Summer Reading Program which is a resource for books; it is also an easy way to motivate students to read, students can earn prizes for reading a specific number of minutes during the summer. More information about the reading logs and Book Reports will be sent out in the coming weeks.
Students currently in third through seventh grade will continue to do some kind of author study or book report, more information about those will be coming soon.
We will continue to require students currently in kindergarten through seventh grade to complete the Summer Math Skills Sharpener (unless students are enrolled in another Math skills program). A limited supply of the Summer Skills Sharpener books will be available in the coming weeks for $17 each. If you are unable to purchase one from Sacred Heart School, they can be ordered online for $20 each. - Ms. Gray
Buddy Families NEEDED
The SHS Buddy Family program is an essential program for new families. We have around 40 *NEW* families enrolling in Sacred Heart next fall and we need "experienced" families who can be a supportive resource and help navigate a new family through their first year. We ask that a Buddy Family forward e-mails about upcoming events, answer basic questions about polices and connect them with other families in our community. Pre-K thru 8th grade new families need your help! If you have any questions or are ready to sign up - please contact our
2012-2013 Buddy Family Coordinator Debbie Smith and she will be happy work with you!
Changes to the Sacred Heart Uniform
For those of you who were unable to attend the State of the School Address last week, we will be making some changes to the Uniform Policy next year. The first change is that girls will be allowed to wear ankle length navy leggings with socks under their jumpers or skirts/skorts year-round. The other change is that beginning in 2012-2013 Lands' End will become our preferred uniform provided. Families will need to purchase the sweatshirt and all Belair Plaid items on-line from Lands' End; we will no longer have any on-site Uniform Sales. The other items (khaki and navy pants and polos) can continue to pay purchased at places like Gap, JCPenney, Nordstrom, etc. Dennis Uniform does have a limited supply of sweatshirts that families can still purchase, but they will not be re-stocking any of our items. - Ms. Gray
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