DISTRICT NEWS Sutton Public Schools and You – Teaming up to Educate our Youth for Future Success S UTTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS MISSION STATEMENT OCT/ NOV 2013 VOLUME 20, NUMBER 2 I NSIDE THIS ISSUE : SUPERINTEN- DENT 2 HS PRINCIPAL 2,3 4 E LEM PRINCIPAL 5,6 SEF 7 MENU 8,9 .ACTIVITIES 10 11 NUTRITION NUGGETS 12 13 USDA 14 SCHOOL NURSE 15 From the desk of the superintendent…. As The Leaves Change A person may wish time would slow a bit or stop during those great summer moments, but then again, it’s always exciting to consider what lies ahead. School is in full swing with so many exciting things going on and more to come! Just as we anticipate the beautiful color change in the leaves this fall, we look forward to what is next for SPS students. Staff and stu- dents have settled into a daily routine, filled with academics and extracurricular activities. As I observe learning and growth occurring, I am reminded of the importance of my role as dis- trict fiscal overseer to assure resources are managed to continue providing a quality educa- tion. Not a small task when there are many intangibles that exist beyond my control, ie., federal regulations, state legislation, local elections, etc. As law and decisions are made, I work within the parameters. The 2013-2014 Budget has been approved and submitted. If you read the local paper, you noticed the 2013-2014 Budget Summary and Tax Request form. The tax rate for the year totaled $.8405, .75 cents for operating the General Fund, .013 cents into the Qualified Capi- tal Purpose Undertaking Fund K-12, and .07 cents into the Special Building Fund. For 2012- 2013 we were operating at $.8781, .86 cents for operating the General Fund and .015 cents into the Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund K-12. We are currently on a five-year levy override with the capability of levying up to $1.25 to conclude 2014-15. As Board of Education members continue strategic planning or facility planning, short-term and long range, building projects will continue to be addressed each year by use of the Special Building Fund monies or Depreciation Fund monies. Striving to provide our students with a quality education in a safe, secure, respectable building/facilities is the goal. Most impor- tantly, educational programs are continually evaluated and assessed to assure students are receiving the best possible education. Allocating money to these programs is the foundation of the finance pyramid. Through careful planning, we are cognizant of the taxpayer dollar setting the levy based on need; the need to continue providing a quality education and main- taining financial stability of the district. DANA WISEMAN, SUPERINTENDENT SUTTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS VISION STATEMENT Teachers, Students, Parents, Community – building the foundation of our future by creat- ing an environment where students are provided the skills needed to become life long learners. S UTTON P UBLIC SCHOOLS
Transcript
DISTRICT NEWS
Sutton Public Schools and You – Teaming up to Educate our Youth for Future Success
SUTTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS MISSION STATEMENT
OCT/NOV 2013 VOLUME 20, NUMBER 2
INSIDE THIS ISSUE :
SUPERINTEN-
DENT
2
HS PRINCIPAL 2,3
4
ELEM PRINCIPAL 5,6
SEF 7
MENU 8,9
.ACTIVITIES 10
11
NUTRITION
NUGGETS
12
13
USDA 14
SCHOOL
NURSE
15
From the desk of the superintendent….
As The Leaves Change
A person may wish time would slow a bit or stop during those great summer moments, but then again, it’s always exciting to consider what lies ahead. School is in full swing with so many exciting things going on and more to come! Just as we anticipate the beautiful color change in the leaves this fall, we look forward to what is next for SPS students. Staff and stu-dents have settled into a daily routine, filled with academics and extracurricular activities. As I observe learning and growth occurring, I am reminded of the importance of my role as dis-trict fiscal overseer to assure resources are managed to continue providing a quality educa-tion. Not a small task when there are many intangibles that exist beyond my control, ie., federal regulations, state legislation, local elections, etc. As law and decisions are made, I work within the parameters.
The 2013-2014 Budget has been approved and submitted. If you read the local paper, you noticed the 2013-2014 Budget Summary and Tax Request form. The tax rate for the year totaled $.8405, .75 cents for operating the General Fund, .013 cents into the Qualified Capi-tal Purpose Undertaking Fund K-12, and .07 cents into the Special Building Fund. For 2012-2013 we were operating at $.8781, .86 cents for operating the General Fund and .015 cents into the Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund K-12. We are currently on a five-year levy override with the capability of levying up to $1.25 to conclude 2014-15.
As Board of Education members continue strategic planning or facility planning, short-term and long range, building projects will continue to be addressed each year by use of the Special Building Fund monies or Depreciation Fund monies. Striving to provide our students with a quality education in a safe, secure, respectable building/facilities is the goal. Most impor-tantly, educational programs are continually evaluated and assessed to assure students are receiving the best possible education. Allocating money to these programs is the foundation of the finance pyramid. Through careful planning, we are cognizant of the taxpayer dollar setting the levy based on need; the need to continue providing a quality education and main-taining financial stability of the district.
DANA WISEMAN, SUPERINTENDENT
SUTTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS VISION STATEMENT
Teachers, Students, Parents, Community – building the foundation of our future by creat-ing an environment where students are provided the skills needed to become life long learners.
Noticing the Special Building Fund with a levy of .07 cents, one may inquire why. The monies generated will accommodate improvements to our building’s heating and cooling system and in October, the Board of Education will approve the project of moving the Football Field to the school. In 2011, when the track and field facility was improved, plans to accommodate the com-petition football field were incorporated. The district is now in a position to move forward with this phase. Allowing time for the Special Building Fund to grow, the construction project will need two summers (2014-2015) to complete. Extensive planning is in the initial stages. A change we can all look forward to!
Other bits of information………………………
• If you wish to participate in the Code Red (mass communication system) to receive
school cancellations, please call the Superintendent’s Office, 402-773-5569.
•NeSA stands for Nebraska State Accountability. Students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and
11 were tested in the areas of reading, math, science, and writing. Sutton Public Schools scores can be viewed on www.education.ne.gov.
•Enrollment for Sutton Public Schools 2013-2014 school year thus far is, 386, K-12.
Last year at this time K-12 enrollment was at 385.
BRANDY THOMPSON , SECONDARY PRINCIPAL
SUTTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
DANA WISEMAN, SUPERINTENDENT
A Note from the Desk of Mrs. Thompson:
Class Wars: Class Wars! This year students in grades 7-12 will compete with their classmates in the hopes of winning the Jr. / Sr. High School Class Wars. The purpose of class wars is to build enthusiasm and camaraderie amongst the students, as well as provide some friendly competition and fun. Throughout the school year, there will be a variety of mini-competitions to earn points to help
their class be the highest scoring class. The class that wins Class Wars, will have a half day at the end of the school year in which they will have a reward such as a class softball game, going bowling, class movie, etc… Every class will earn points in each competition. Points will be awarded 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, & 1. The teachers are also competing in certain events. Should a class beat the teachers, that class will receive an additional 5 bonus points to their totals. A running total will be kept all year and the winner will be an-nounced at Honor’s Night.
Class Wars competitions will include multiple events. Events include extra-curricular activities and academic achievements so student’s efforts in the classroom count as well. The following are a few examples:
1. Homecoming Spirit Week Participation
2. Pep Rally Class Cheering
3. Attendance by Quarter
4. Honor Roll by Quarter
5. Parent-Teacher Conference Attendance
SCHOOL CANCELATIONS
Check the following radio and TV stations: KAWL 1370 AM/MIX (KTMX)104.9FM (York), KHAS/KICS 1230 (Hastings), KOLN/KGIN 10/11 (Lincoln), NTV/ABC (Kearney), KHAS-TV (Hastings). For informa-tion fast, log on to www.suttonpublicschool.org.
7. Participation in School Extra-Curricular Activities
Again, these are just a few examples. There are many more mini-competitions that could and will be occurring. Because class sizes can vary so much, many of these mini-competitions will be based on percentages of each class.
Encourage your student to be involved!
Fall Play: “Hotel Escargot”
Showtimes: November 22 at 1:30pm & November 23 at 7:00pm Welcome to the French Riviera, where the annual Kantz France International Film Festival is about to take place. A hodgepodge of people come together at the elegant Hotel Escargot — Wretched hotel owner Wynona Elmsley, her downtrodden staff, a couple of bumbling jewel thieves hoping to profit from the wealthy guests, an inept reporter from the Celebrity Network, and direc-tors, producers, actors, investors and movie fans from all over the world. As the reporter inter-views world renowned film directors, we see “film clips” of their movies, which are... well... let’s just say “artsy.” Meanwhile, American producer Flash Potts, who doesn’t seem to care for original-ity, pitches Alamo II to investor and Texas oilman Ricky Joe Derrick. In this sequel, the Texans win! Don’t like it? How about Titanic II, where the mighty ship hits an iceberg... in the Carib-bean! Add a clueless police inspector, members of a royal family and Wynona trying to figure out which of her guests is really a reporter doing a write-up for the Elegant Hotels magazine, and we have one crazy time on the Riviera!
Blood Drive: November 27 in the Elementary Gym Every year, students involved in our National Honor Society plan, organize, and work with the American Red Cross to bring the blood drive to Sutton Public Schools. Students will be contacting community members interested in donating to schedule times. If you are interested in donating, you can contact the high school and a member of the National Honor Society will return your call. For more questions, you can contact National Honor Society sponsor, Mr. Engle.
School Safety: Drug Dog: A responsibility of schools across the nation is to be sure that when students attend school, they do so in a safe environment. Schools are protecting against fires, other weather related storms, and practicing a variety of lockdown procedures to ensure student safety. They are also protecting their campuses and students from the presence of drugs. Sutton Public Schools is no different than these schools in working to protect their students from all of these elements including drugs and drug use. One of the ways in which schools protect against drugs in schools is by using a drug dog or having a canine inspection to be sure the school environ-ment is clear of any potential drugs. These types of inspections allow the dogs an opportunity to practice their skills and to work in cooperation with our local law enforcement. Per the Sutton Pub-lic Schools Jr./Sr. High Student/Parent Handbook page 12:
Canine Inspection: The school principal may within the scope of district policy and regulation and without advance warning other than this clause, employ the use of specially trained canine for the purpose of deter-mining the presence of illegal drugs or contraband on school grounds, whether in a desk, student locker, vehicle,
or any other place on school grounds including any and all student book bags. Any illegal drugs and or contraband discovered pursuant to such inspections or searches shall be confiscated and turned over to law enforcement authorities.
We want to do our best to ensure safety for all students and to deter any type of criminal ac-tion students may be engaging in or choosing to engage in to protect everyone’s future. Drug dogs may be welcomed multiple times during the school year. Student and building safety procedures will be practiced throughout the school year.
Upcoming Activities:
September 30 & October 3: PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES (5:00 – 8:30pm)
September 30 & October 3: 2:00 Dismissals
October 2: FCCLA District Leadership Conference in Hastings
October 4: NO SCHOOL
October 5: Marching Band at HARVEST OF HARMONY
October 5: Sutton Volleyball Invite 1:00pm
October 9: Picture Retake Day
October 11: END OF 1ST QUARTER
October 21: NO SCHOOL – TEACHER INSERVICE DAY
October 22-25: Homecoming Week
October 24: Football vs. Superior, Coronation to Follow
October 25: Homecoming Dance 8:00 – 11:00pm
October 26: ACT
October 28 – November 1: Conference Volleyball Tournament
October 30 – November 2: National FFA Conference
November 1: JOSTENS is here for Class Meetings
Meet with Sophomores to discuss class rings
Meet with Seniors to discuss graduation
November 4 & 5: Sub-District Volleyball Play
November 7: Jr. High Music Concert 7:00pm (Jr. High ONLY)
November 8: JOSTENS returns for Class Ring Orders
November 8: District Final for Volleyball
November 11: Veterans Day Program 10:00am
November 18: FFA Fall Banquet
November 20: LATE START 10:00am
November 26: Financial Aid Meeting for SENIORS & PARENTS 7:00pm in Theater
November 28 & 29: NO SCHOOL – THANKSGIVING BREAK
PAGE 5
VOLUME 20, NUMBER 2
Greetings From The Elementary Principal!
The 2013-2014 school year is off and running! It takes a little bit of patience before we can say that our elementary programs are in full swing as it takes some time to assess all of our students in reading and math, scheduling all of our groups, assigning interventions, and assigning staff to teach them. It is a huge effort that our staff and students work steadily at for the first few weeks of school, but when it is done, we can then truly say the year is off and running!
You may have noticed some differences this year in our scheduling. Over the last three years we sched-uled Reading Blocks in time slots that varied from 60 minutes to 75 minutes. This year we have Lan-guage Blocks that are 105 minutes for Kindergarten through second grade, and Language Blocks that are 110 minutes for students in grades three through six. Recess time for the younger students and breaks for the older students is figured into those time slots. Our pur-pose for making the changes is to provide our students with better instruction in areas such as vocabulary, spelling and grammar. Our past “reading only” blocks did not give our teachers the opportunity to teach the other language skills in conjunction with reading. The new lan-guage blocks include instruction in reading, spelling, vocabulary, and grammar during the same time slot, which is a much better instructional practice. Another reason for the change is that we are antici-pating a new reading curriculum next year. Our current curriculum is 12 plus years old and we have used it up. The curriculum we are looking at for next year is dependent upon longer reading blocks. It just made sense to learn how to manage longer blocks this year so that we did not have to learn a new curriculum next year as well as how to manage a longer language block. It is a simple principle of working smarter instead of longer! Please be patient as we learn this new process, and feel free to ask any questions if you have concerns.
Our teachers will include some writing in the Language Block, but the majority of our writing instruc-tion will occur outside of that time slot. Our teachers have developed an excellent writing process called Write Tools. We are getting exceptional results from our Write Tools writing process and wish to continue to use those strategies. Last years 4th grade class was 27th out of 249 elementary school dis-tricts on the state writing test. We congratulate all of the teachers, para-educators, and students that worked so hard on our writing skills.
I have never been one to get very excited when I am told that I get to go shopping, but we recently re-ceived news that the Sutton Education Foundation (SEF) has committed a substantial amount for the purchasing of some new playground equipment for the elementary playground! In addition to the funds they will be providing, we are also pursuing some grants that could potentially add to the resources we have available for purchasing playground equipment. We have been blessed with some very good play-ground equipment, but it is beginning to show it’s age and the students are looking forward to some new pieces to explore. We very much appreciate the funds committed to upgrading our playground area. Playtime and social time is an important area of development, and is an essential element in the learning that takes place in the classroom. We will enjoy the new equipment and will put it to good use!
An important event that will be coming up before we know it is our annual Grandparents/Special Friend Day. We will be celebrating these wonderful relationships on Friday, October 11, 2013. We will have our usual program, lunch, table decorations (always fun to see those) and some time together in the classrooms. Watch your mail coming home from school for additional information on this special day. Congratulations to Payton Clark for her winning essay on what makes her grandparents so special. I understand there were many excellent essay’s submitted to the contest put on by Clay County News, and that the judges had a hard time selecting just one winner!
Before closing this first newsletter, I hope everyone had the opportunity to meet our new staff in the elementary. Mrs. Ladehoff is our fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Slocum is our new para-educator, Mrs. Gaston is our new nurse, Mrs. Moreno-Garcia is our Spanish teacher, and Mrs. Veilleux is our new band teacher. They are all settling into their new positions and we are enjoying getting to know them.
As always, keep reading with (and to) your children at home – we look forward to seeing you at the schoolhouse!
Sincerely,
Mr. Jim Bovee
Elementary Principal
Grandparents/Special Friends Day
Grandparents/Special Friends Day is set for Friday, October 11, 2013. The festivities begin at 10:30 a.m. with a music performance in the theater, followed by lunch and recess. Grandparents/Special Friends day will end at 1:00 p.m. School will be dismissed at 3:25 p.m. This fun day is limited to two adult guests per student. Please call the elementary office at 402-773-4423 if you have any questions.
GREENERY SALES
8th—11th grade band/choir students will be selling greenery during October to raise money
for our trip coming up in the spring of 2015. Items are scheduled to be delivered before
Thanksgiving, so they will be here in plenty of time for the holidays.
Page 6
FFA FRUIT SALES
Watch for FFA fruit sales Coming this October/November
Since I began my position at Sutton Public School, I have been impressed with the Sutton Educational Foundation and the tremendous support the foundation receives from the community. The foundation plays a very instrumen-tal role to students who intend to pursue a post-secondary education. Last year, for example, we awarded over $20,000 to our seniors in scholarship money. To continue this unique tradition, the foundation needs your assis-tance. There are two ways you may contribute if you so choose.
The first option is a donation to the regular scholarship fund which is used to fund the annual scholarships. The second option is a donation to the perpetual fund. This fund has been created to one day support the scholarship fund without requesting funds every year. The funds given to this account will be put into a CD until there is enough principal that the scholarships can be paid out using just the interest.
We would appreciate any help you could give. You may give to the regular or perpetual fund, or both. Contribu-tions are tax deductible. Please indicate on your check your choice, check the line below and sign on the signature line.
May we thank you in advance for your generous donation.
Sincerely,
Sharon Zoucha Scholarship Chair Please make checks payable to:
Sutton Community Scholarship Fund ________ Regular Fund ________ Perpetual Fund ________ Donation Amount _________________________________________________________________________
The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assis-tance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Depart-ment. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed com-plaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at [email protected]. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. As stated above, all protected bases do not apply to all programs, “the first six protected bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability and sex are the six protected bases for applicants and recipients of the Child Nutrition Programs
School Food Authorities (SFAs) participating in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, After School Snack Program or Special Milk Program must include this statement in full, on all program materials used for public information, public education or public distribution.
Nebraska SFAs must include the nondiscrimination statement in their student handbook in the section that addresses access to or in-formation about the school meals program. It must also be included on the school’s website if school meal information is available.
If the material is too small to permit the full statement to be included, the material will at a minimum include this statement, in print no smaller than the text:
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
The USDA “And Justice for All” poster must be displayed at each feeding site in a location that is visible to students during meal ser-vice.
NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
THANK YOU FROM THE KITCHEN
Thank you to all the patrons who contrib-uted garden produce to the school. Students
and staff enjoyed the wonderful food that you so generously provided. Thanks from
the kitchen staff:
Krystal Gonzales Barbara Griess Shelley Seager Tiffany Switzer
Sutton Public Schools employs a part-time nurse. All students who become ill during the school day must visit the nurse’s office or see the principal or designee, which in this case will be the elementary secretary.
Student Illnesses School health personnel will notify parents when a student needs to be sent home from school due to illness. Conditions RE-QUIRING a student be sent home include: Temperature greater than 100°F, vomiting, diarrhea, unexplained rashes, live head lice or on determination by the school nurse that the child’s condition prevents meaningful par-ticipation in the educational program, presents a health rish to the child or others, or that medical consultation is warranted unless the condition resolves. IMPORTANT: The period of exclusion from school for illness/fever extends throughout the period when signs of illness are present, or until the student is FEVER-FREE FOR 24 HOURS WITHOUT THE USE OF FEVER-REDUCING MEDICATION. Guidelines for Administering Medication In the event it is necessary that the child take or have medication available at school, the parents/guardians must provide a signed written consent for the child to be given medication at school. A consent form is available at the school health office. All medications must be provided to the school by the parent/guardian in their original containers. If it is a prescription medica-tion it requires a physician’s authorization and must be in the latest pharmacy-labeled bottle. We recommend sending no more than a 30-day supply at a time. Over-the-counter medications require a parent signature and must also be in their original containers. Re-packaged medications will not be accepted. Sutton Public Schools provides acetaminophen, ibuprofen, cough drops, anti-itch cream, wound cleaning products (Bactine and hydrogen peroxide) and triple antibiotic cream. If a child requires a different medication, the parent will need to provide it to the school with the student’s name, time requested medication is to be given and a parent signature. If a request is made for a student to carry medication at school, the following steps must be in place: 1. Written authorization from a legal prescribing practitioner stating the student’s name, medication, dosage, time to be taken and number of days/months to be taken. Written authorization from a legal prescribing practitioner stating the student is to carry and self-administer the medication. 2. Written permission from the parent requesting the student to carry and self-administer the medication. Parents will accept full responsibility for any misuse of the medication by the student. 3. Medication is to be properly identified and in its original pharmacy labeled container. Only a one-day supply of medicine is to be carried by the student. An asthma inhaler is an exception to this requirement. 4. If the student abuses or misuses this privilege to carry and self-administer the medication, the privilege may be with drawn by the school nurse and principal. Students with Asthma or Severe Allergies If your child has asthma or a severe allergy you will contact the Sutton Public School nurse to obtain additional information. If you do not notify the school nurse of this information, the school protocol will be followed in the event your child has a severe allergic reac-tion or an asthma attack. Guidelines for Head Lice The following guidelines are in place to better control a nuisance condition, reduce absenteeism due to head lice and involve parents as partners with the school in control efforts: 1. Children will be sent home from school for live head lice. In the event the child has TWO cases of live lice in a semester he/she will be sent home until free of both live lice and nits (eggs). 2. Health office staff will provide written treatment information, including how to check and identify head lice*. 3. A child who is sent home from school for head lice should miss nor more than two school days. 4. A child who has been sent home from school due to head lice must come to the health office for inspection before returning to class. 5. A child who returns to class with nits (eggs) will be checked again in 7-10 days. 6. Families are encouraged to report head lice to the school health office. 7. Individual buildings will perform classroom-wide or school-wide head checks as needed in order to control the condition at school. *Nit removal will be emphasized for effective management of the condition.
