Breakfast provided every morning at our schools

Challenged by this tough economy, I urge parents to let us help you by feeding your children breakfast every morning. Are you aware that if your child qualifies for free or reduced lunches that they are also qualified for free or reduced breakfast.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. By eating breakfast you start your day off right by fueling your brain and sustaining your energy level throughout the day. Not only is breakfast a great way to start your day but your child, if qualified, can eat for free or for just $.30. That is $1.50 a week. A full paid breakfast is only $1.50.

Parents I implore you to let us help you; make the effort and bring your kids in by 8:00 a.m and we promise to feed them a hot meal so they can begin their day out the right way.

Sincerely,
Kristin Aldrich
Food Service Director
Sedona Unified

Learn to be an effective advocate for our kids

You’re invited to attend a
K-12 ADVOCACY TRAINING WORKSHOP

Presented by the Arizona School Boards Association

Want to be an effective advocate for your district and public school students while working with others who share your passion and commitment? NOW IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009, 6:30 p.m.
West Sedona School Multipurpose Room
570 Posse Grounds Road, Sedona, AZ

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
In this fast-paced, interactive workshop led by the advocacy staff of the Arizona School Boards Association, you’ll acquire the information, skills and techniques needed to effectively engage your legislators on K-12 issues important to your  community, including K-12 funding. You’ll also learn how to build a community coalition to support education.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Parents, students, teachers, community leaders, city and town government officials, school board members, school administrators, district and school employees and anyone who wants to lift their voice for public schools.

MORE INFORMATION
Contact Karen McClelland, klm@sedona.net

Fundraising Opportunity with Sedona Marathon

Sedona Oak Creek School District has been a designated community beneficiary for the Sedona Marathon Event since its inception.  But in order to make fund-raising more personal, the Sedona Marathon Event and the SOCSD administration has determined that individual special interest groups, teams, clubs etc, of the SOCSD schools can take on the fund-raising challenge individually for their own organization benefit rather than the overall.  That means that whether it is the Booster Club, PTSA, FBLA, ALPS, Swim Team, Spanish Club, Site Council, whatever, the free entries that were formerly under the SOCSD can now be applied directly to an interested school organization for fundraising. All monies raised by racers of the organization, whether walking or running now apply directly to their organization of choice.  Checks would be made out directly to the organization of choice.

There are a limited number of free entries designated this way, so first come, first served.  It is recommended that an organization set a goal and a minimum amount for each participant who receives a free entry, for example $250 for an adult, or $50 for a child.  Then the organization can register as an official fund-raising entity within the schools by sending an email outlining the goals and minimums for their racers to info@sedonamarathon.com.  The complementary (free) race entry form to be used by these participants will be posted for retrieval on the SOCSD website or available from the Sedona Marathon Event, info@sedonamarathon.com.  Entrants can do any of the Sedona Marathon Events: 5K. ½ marathon or full marathon.

Once the free entry spots are used up, fund raisers may still raise funds and register at the military discount for the Sedona Marathon Event, with notations made as to their organization they are raising the finds for on the entry in order to qualify for this discount.

The other major charities named as beneficiaries of the Sedona Marathon event have each raised in the 5 figure $$ range for their minimal efforts – so you may be surprised at what you can accomplish.  We encourage the individual organizations within the Sedona Oak Creek School District to take advantage of this opportunity.  The other charities have maximized their involvement in the Sedona Marathon Event and we hope that the individual school organizations can also benefit as well.

Karen Ann Livesay

President, Four Winds Adventures, LLC

direct office line 928.203.4514 x 702

direct cell 805.390.0516

klivesay@4windsadventure.com

Signs and Symptoms of H1N1

From Yavapai County Community Health Services

Signs and Symptoms of H1N1, and When to Seek Medical Attention

The signs and symptoms of H1N1 influenza are similar to those for seasonal flu. They include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue.  Vomiting and diarrhea have also been reported in 25 percent of cases.

H1N1 influenza spreads the same way as seasonal flu. Primarily through contact with respiratory droplets, when a person with flu coughs or sneezes on you, or when you touch infected respiratory droplets on yourself, another person, or on an object, and then touch your nose or mouth.  Avoiding others’ coughs and sneezes and washing your hands frequently when in contact with others will help protect you.

“If you have flu like symptoms, you do not necessarily need to go to the emergency room or your doctor’s office, unless you have one of the worrisome symptoms below, or you have a lung, heart, or other disease which makes your immune system weak, like diabetes, cancer, or HIV/AIDS.  If you are unsure, call your doctor before you go.  The best thing to do if you are otherwise healthy is to stay home, rest, drinks lots of fluids, take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for fever and aches, and not be around others who could catch the flu from you,” suggests Dr. Elk, physician for Yavapai County Community Health Services.

Symptoms of flu complications to look for in adults:

• trouble breathing
• pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• sudden dizziness
• confusion
• severe or persistent vomiting
• if flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worsening cough.

For children, seek medical care if a child has:

• difficulty breathing or is experiencing fast breathing
• bluish or grayish skin color
• severe or persistent vomiting
• not drinking enough fluids
• not waking up or interacting with you
• becomes irritable, such as not wanting to be held

For more information about the H1N1 (Swine) flu, visit www.flu.gov or call 1 (800) CDC-INFO (232-4636) for the most current information about the flu.  For more information about the H1N1 flu in our community and what YCCHS is doing, visit www.yavapaihealth.com or call 928-771-3121.

It’s Time For School Pictures

Lifetouch Portrait Day Preparation Tips

Picture Days Scheduled:

Sedona Red Rock High School
Senior Portraits: Thursday Aug 27, 2009
All Other Portraits: Friday Aug 28, 2009
Retakes: Friday Oct 2, 2009

West Sedona School
Friday Aug 28, 2009
Retakes: Tuesday Oct 6, 2009

Big Park Community School
TO BE ANNOUNCED
Retakes: Wednesday Nov 4, 2009

Note From the Nurse – Swine Flu

Dear Parents/Guardians of Sedona Oak Creek School District:

Recently, the Arizona State Department of Health released information  regarding the recent outbreak of Swine Flu in several foreign countries and in many states here in the US.  We want to share the following information with you from the Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

What is Swine Flu? Influenza A Virus. This virus causes illness in both humans and many animals. Some Influenza A are adapted to pigs and cause respiratory illness in them, and so have been called “Swine Flu”.  The Swine Influenza Virus now being investigated is different from the virus causing illness in pigs and is not being transmitted from pigs to humans. This new “Swine Flu” appears to be transmitted person to person.

Symptoms: Symptoms for this new type of Swine Flu are similar to the symptoms of regular human influenza that happens every year. Those include: Fever, Sore Throat, and Cough. In addition, fatigue, lack of appetite, runny nose, nausea,vomiting, and diarrhea.have been reported.

What can we do to avoid getting sick? Infection occurs when the virus gets into the airways and lungs. However, it isn’t known how easily the virus spreads. As with any infectious disease that is spread through the human respiratory system, health officials recommend the following precautions: Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze- throw the tissue in the trash after you use it; Wash your hands with soap and water frequently- especially after you cough or sneeze; (Alcohol based hand cleaners are also effective); Try to avoid contact with sick people; If you get sick, stay home and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them; Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.  There are several websites where additional information can be found: Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) or 1-800-CDC-INFO, World Health Organization, Arizona Dept Of Health Services (www.azdhs.gov/flu/h1n1/index.htm)

We will continue to be in regular contact with the Yavapai County Health Department and to comply with any requests regarding precautionary sanitation procedures and/or other guidelines as they are issued.

Sedona Oak Creek Schools staff will be working with students to make sure that students are frequently washing their hands and that the surfaces that students are in contact with are frequently cleaned.

Please remind your child about the importance of washing their hands, covering their mouth when coughing or sneezing, and letting adults know if they do not feel well. Early detection is always important.

We are under the direction of the Yavapai County Health Department in enacting plans that were put in place a few years ago in dealing with pandemic disease situations. We will continue to keep you updated.

Call your health care provider if your child gets sick and showing signs of flu-like symptoms. Inform the school of your child’s illness. IF YOUR CHILD DEVELOPS FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS, DO KEEP THEM HOME.  THEY NEED TO BE SYMPTOM FREE AND FEVER FREE 24 HRS BEFORE RETURNING TO SCHOOL.

The health and wellbeing of students is a priority.
Let’s work together to make this a healthy school year.

Sincerely,
Goldie Wolin R.N.
School Nurse
Sedona Red Rock High (204-67621)
Big Park Community School (204-6519)
West Sedona Community School (204-6605) or any of our school administrators.

Distinguished Administrator Susann Terry-Gage

Dr. Susann Terry-Gage, Special Education Director, was recognized at our August 6 Governing Board Meeting for being named the recipient of the 2009 Distinguished Administrator Award for the Educational Services Division by the Arizona School Administrators.

She was officially honored during a luncheon on June 15th at the ASA Summer Conference held at the Hilton El Conquistador Hotel in Tucson.

Important Notice for K-8 Registration

Because the West Sedona and Big Park campuses are closed this summer due to construction, all new registrations for the 2009-2010 school year must wait until campuses are open.  Please note campus opening dates for each school below.

Big Park Community School opens July 29.

West Sedona School opens August 3.

Employees of the Month, Jun 09

Kathleen Wright

Kathleen joined the school district in September 1999.  She has the huge responsibility of being the Accounts Payable Manager.  She works extremely hard paying the school district’s bills in a timely manner and thus keeping our vendors happy.  Kathleen, along with Sally Cadigan, has provided nice stability in the district office over the past ten years.  She is an avid animal lover and enjoys “dog sitting” for her daughter even though it means very early morning walks.  The Sedona-Oak Creek School District is very fortunate to have such a dedicated and good natured lady as Kathleen serving the public.  - written by Superintendent Mike Aylstock

Jimmy Silva

Jimmy has been working for the Sedona-Oak School District since 2001.  He came to the District Office after a brief stint working at Red Rock High School, and we are so glad he did.  If there was ever a Jack of all Trades it is Jimmy.  He keeps the District Office clean, handles maintenance issues in the building, takes care of the distribution of mail throughout the district, and carries out all of his responsibilities with a big smile.  Jimmy takes great pride in his work, and his constant positive attitude is contagious to everyone around him.  - written by Superintendent Mike Aylstock

Dr. Susann Terry-Gage Receives Award

Dr. Susann Terry-Gage, Special Education Director of our school district has been named the recipient of the 2009 Distinguished Administrator Award for the Educational Services Division by the Arizona School Administrators. Susann will receive her award during a luncheon on Monday, June 15th, at 12:30 p.m. at the ASA Summer Conference held at the Hilton El Conquistador Hotel in Tucson. ASA website