Elkhorn Valley Schools - Falcon Flyer - SUPERINTENDENT S NEWS By Keith Leckron Update on the Progress of the Building Project The Board of Education and Administration has valued the input from our community and staff throughout this process, and continues to do so. Recently all staff members had an opportunity to talk with our architects and give them input on the design of the building. It is believed that all staff members have valuable information to share about how best to design their working areas. This input was gathered, and updated designs in developing a final floor plan are being put together. This process is ongoing and very time consuming. Our Building and Grounds Committee has especially put in extra time, working with our architects in getting these final floor plans and designs completed. In fact, three extra committee meetings were held in September alone to get this part of the project completed. The architects have been very open to listening to everyone s input. They work closely with us and truly understand this is our school, not theirs. They do not undervalue any input and really listen closely to our questions and responses to the existing designs. They have never shown a reluctance to make changes based on the input they receive from us. As this process is completed, the request for bids will be available to construction companies. We hope to have this part completed before the first of the year and then chose the right construction company, with the first shovel of dirt turned sometime this winter. This is the schedule that we are striving for, and hopefully that is what happens. As always, if you ever have questions concerning the project please contact me at the school. October 2016 HIGH SCHOOL HEADLINES 106 KIX has a program, "High School Headlines," in which area schools have a short segment once a week to let listeners know what is happening at their school. Elkhorn Valley will be participating and our segment will air, during the school year, on Tuesdays at 3:50 p.m. Student Council and National Honor Society sponsor, Mr. Wickizer, will be organizing his StuCo and NHS students and it will be their voices, on-the-air, representing our school. The Tilden Bank and Prairie View Assisted Living are the sponsors of this segment, and we thank them for their support of Elkhorn Valley Schools! Be sure to tune into 106 KIX at 3:50 on Tuesdays during the school year to hear our students inform northeast Nebraska on what is happening at Elkhorn Valley Schools!! The junior high football team has 16 participants this year. Members of the team are Reed Bennett, Conner Larson, Adam Miller, Braedyn Ollendick, Ben Wilcox, Caden Reikofski, Gavyn Clause, Derek Hahne, Jaxson Eischeid, Dylan Wright, Michael Glynn, Thomas Warnke, Hunter Howard, Jake Cleveland, James Fulsaas and Carter Rautenberg are all on the 2016 roster. Currently the team is 2-1 with three games remaining. The Junior High football team is coached by Mr. Meyer and Mr. Hahne. 601 South Madison Street P.O. Box430 Tilden, NE 68781 www.elkhornvalleyschools.org FUNDRAISER SUPPER Spain bound students will sponsor a tailgate supper on October 7 starting at 6:00 pm. MENU Sloppy Joe Chips Bar Drink FREE WILL DONATION! Come and enjoy a meal throughout the football game between Elkhorn Valley and Osmond and support our EVS students!! Serving the communities of the Elkhorn River Valley.
MUSICAL NOTES By Brenda Gale, Band Director The Elkhorn Valley Marching Band will be competing in the Harvest of Harmony Parade and Field Competition on Saturday, October 1, in Grand Island. The band will be stepping off in parade at 8:20 AM and competing on the field at 10:45 AM. Songs for the Marching Band this year are "Seven Nation Army", "Papa Was a Rolling Stone", and "Rockero". Flag Corps members this year are Alyssa Rood, Amber Miller, Delilah Sierra, and Emily Stuckwisch. Drum Majorette is senior, Liz Osborn. There are a total of 36 members in this year's Marching Band. CALENDAR CORRECTIONS Please make the following additions or corrections to the October school activity calendar. Monday, October 3: JH volleyball game will be vs. St. Edward instead of Madison at 4:00 Tuesday, October 4: No C-Team game vs. Osmond Friday, October 7: Elementary BMW dancers will perform at halftime of the football game Thursday, October 13: EV plays at 6:00 and 7:00 during the volleyball triangular October 24-28: Red Ribbon Week Friday, October 28: Class Halloween Parties at 1:30 Watch for more information coming home from the school regarding the upcoming Community Coat Drive. ATTENTION PARENTS By Kristi Miller, Title I Director We would like to invite everyone to give their input on the reading program here at Elkhorn Valley. To access the survey, please go to www.elkhornvalleyschools.org and click on the green Title I Survey tab that is located on the bottom right hand side of the page. We ask that you please complete the survey by Friday, October 7th. It is very important that we have as much input as we can. If you do not have access to a computer, ipad, etc. to fill out the survey online, please contact the school office or your child s teacher for a paper copy. Thank you for your cooperation! BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION FUNDRAISER By Rosemary Legate, Co-Coordinator Elkhorn Valley Schools is involved in four exciting fundraising opportunities during this school year. The first opportunity is the Box Tops for Education program sponsored by General Mills. Every Box Top for Education coupon turned in earns 10 cents for our school. This program runs year round, though the school submits the coupons periodically throughout the school year to avoid any box tops from expiring. Any Walmart-exclusive Box Tops Certificate sent in before 11/2/16 earns our school a chance to be a winner of 50,000 Bonus Box Tops. So please submit any box tops saved ASAP. We are saving the money earned through the Box Top program for new equipment on our new playground, which we will have on the North side of the school in the near future. Box Tops for Education coupons are found on hundreds of products. Just look for the familiar pink and white background with a yellow pencil. You can visit the website for more information. The second fundraiser is the LABELS FOR EDUCATION Program. These labels can be found on any Campbell s Soup containers and various other food product boxes. Items for the classrooms can be purchased through the LABELS FOR EDUCATION website with the points obtained from the labels. There are several different LABELS FOR EDUCATION coupons, please clip out the UPC label and the LABELS FOR EDUCATION logo. Sadly the LABELS FOR EDUCATION program is coming to an end after this school year, so submit any that you have. You can visit the website for more information. The third fundraiser EV is participating in is the saving of pop tabs. The money earned through this program is also used for the purchase of new playground equipment. The fourth and newest fundraising opportunity for the teachers at EV is the SunnyD Book Spree. For every 20 SunnyD labels sent in, your child s classroom will receive 20 free books. You can visit the website for more information. The Box Tops for Education coupons, LABELS FOR EDUCATION labels, pop tabs, and SunnyD labels can be brought to the school or dropped off at Thrift Way Market in Tilden. Money raised through these programs will be used for playground improvements and other projects as needed. Help the school by saving and turning in your Box Tops coupons, LABELS FOR EDUCATION coupons, pop tabs, and SunnyD labels. Thank you for your participation in helping Elkhorn Valley Schools raise money for new playground equipment, free supplies for the classroom and free books! 2
NEWS FROM THE SCHOOL NURSE By Jane Tegeler, RN Head Lice Information-from KidsHealth.org The head louse is a tiny, wingless parasitic insect that lives among human hairs and feeds on tiny amounts of blood drawn from the scalp. Lice (the plural of louse) are a very common problem, especially for kids. They're contagious, annoying, and sometimes tough to get rid of. But while they're frustrating to deal with, lice aren't dangerous. They don't spread disease, although their bites can make a child's scalp itchy and irritated, and scratching can lead to infection. It's best to treat head lice quickly once they're found because they can spread easily from person to person. Signs of Head Lice - Although they're very small, lice can be seen by the naked eye. Here are things to look for: Lice eggs (called nits). These look like tiny yellow, tan, or brown dots before they hatch. Lice lay nits on hair shafts close to the scalp, where the temperature is perfect for keeping warm until they hatch. Nits look sort of like dandruff, only they can't be removed by brushing or shaking them off. Unless the infestation is heavy, it's more common to see nits in a child's hair than it is to see live lice crawling on the scalp. Lice eggs hatch within 1 to 2 weeks after they're laid. After hatching, the remaining shell looks white or clear and stays firmly attached to the hair shaft. This is when it's easiest to spot them, as the hair is growing longer and the egg shell is moving away from the scalp. Adult lice and nymphs (baby lice). The adult louse is no bigger than a sesame seed and is grayish-white or tan. Nymphs are smaller and become adult lice about 1 to 2 weeks after they hatch. If head lice is not treated, this process repeats itself about every 3 weeks. Most lice feed on blood several times a day, and they can survive up to 2 days off the scalp. Scratching. With lice bites come itching and scratching. This is actually due to a reaction to the saliva of lice. However, the itching may not always start right away that depends on how sensitive a child's skin is to the lice. It can sometimes take weeks for kids with lice to start scratching. They may complain, though, of things moving around on or tickling their heads. Small red bumps or sores from scratching. For some kids, the irritation is mild; for others, a more bothersome rash may develop. Excessive scratching can lead to a bacterial infection (this can cause swollen lymph glands and red, tender skin that might have crusting and oozing). If your doctor thinks this is the case, he or she may treat the infection with an oral antibiotic. COMMUNITY COAT DRIVE NEEDS DONATIONS! There are students in the Tilden and Meadow Grove community who will be needing jackets and/or coats when the weather gets cold. You can help by bringing new or gently used jackets and coats to the Tilden Library at 202 South Center Street. All sizes are needed for Elkhorn Valley students from Preschool through 12th grade. Check your closets and if your child has outgrown their jacket or coat, it may be time to pass it onto someone in need. You may be able to see the lice or nits by parting your child's hair into small sections and checking for lice and nits with a fine-tooth comb on the scalp, behind the ears, and around the nape of the neck (it's rare for them to be found on eyelashes or eyebrows). See your doctor if your child is constantly scratching his or her head or complains of an itchy scalp that won't go away. The doctor should be able to tell you if your child is infested with lice and needs to be treated. Not all kids have the classic symptoms of head lice and some can be symptom-free. Are Lice Contagious? Lice are highly contagious and can spread quickly from person to person, especially in group settings (like schools, childcare centers, slumber parties, sports activities, and camps). Though they can't fly or jump, these tiny parasites have 3
specially adapted claws that let them crawl and cling firmly to hair. They spread mainly through head-to-head contact, but sharing clothing, bed linens, combs, brushes, and hats also can pass them along. Kids are most prone to catching lice because they tend to have close physical contact with each other and share personal items. And you may wonder if Fido or Fluffy may be catching the pests and passing them on to your family. But rest assured that pets can't catch head lice and pass them on to people or the other way around. Treatment - Your doctor can recommend a medicated shampoo, cream rinse, or lotion to kill the lice. These may be over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medications, depending on what treatments have already been tried. Medicated lice treatments usually kill the lice, but it may take a few days for the itching to stop. For very resistant lice, an oral medication (medicine taken by mouth) might be prescribed. Make sure that the medicine is safe for your child's age. While over -the-counter shampoos are safe for kids as young as 2 months, other medicines are only safe for kids 2 years and older. It's important to follow the directions exactly because these products are insecticides. Applying too much medication or using it too often can increase the risk of harm. Follow the directions on the product label. Treatment may be unsuccessful if the medication is not used correctly or if the lice are resistant to it. After treatment, your doctor may suggest combing out the nits with a fine-tooth comb and also may recommend repeating treatment in 7 to 10 days to kill any newly hatched nits. Removing By Hand - If your child is 2 months old or younger, you should not use medicated lice treatments. You'll need to remove the nits and lice by hand. To remove lice and nits by hand, use a fine-tooth comb on your child's wet, conditioned hair every 3 to 4 days for 3 weeks after the last live louse was seen. Wetting the hair beforehand is recommended because it temporarily immobilizes the lice and the conditioner makes it easier to get a comb through the hair. There's no need to buy electronic combs that claim to kill lice or make nits easier to remove. No studies have been done to back up these claims. You also don't need to buy special vinegar solutions to apply to the scalp before picking nits. Good old-fashioned water works just fine. Wet combing is also an alternative to pesticide treatments in older kids. Though petroleum jelly, mayonnaise, or olive oil are sometimes used in an attempt to suffocate head lice, these treatments may not work. If medicine doesn't work and you want to try these methods, talk to your doctor first. Make sure you remove nits carefully every week for at least 3 weeks in a row, and watch your child closely to see if any live lice return. Do Kids Have to Stay Home From School? - In the past, kids with head lice were kept home from school, but now doctors no longer recommend these "no-nit" policies. In most cases, a child who has lice should stay at school until the end of the day, go home and get treatment, and return to school the next day. While they are at school, kids should avoid head-tohead contact with other kids. Preventing Reinfestation - Here are some simple ways to get rid of the lice and their eggs, and help prevent a lice reinfestation: *Wash all bed linens and clothing that's been recently worn by anyone in your home who's infested in very hot water (130 F [54.4 C]), then put them in the hot cycle of the dryer for at least 20 minutes. *Dry clean anything that can't be washed (like stuffed animals). Or put them in airtight bags for at least 3 days. *Vacuum carpets and any upholstered furniture (in your home or car), then throw away the vacuum cleaner bag. *Soak hair-care items like combs, barrettes, hair ties or bands, headbands, and brushes in rubbing alcohol or medicated shampoo for 1 hour. You also can wash them in hot water or just throw them away. Because lice are easily passed from person to person in the same house, bedmates and infested family members also will need treatment to prevent the lice from coming back. * * * * * * * * * * * * Don t - In your efforts to get rid of the bugs, there are some things you shouldn't do. Some don'ts of head lice treatment include: Don't use a hairdryer on your child's hair after applying any of the currently available scalp treatments because some contain flammable ingredients. A hair dryer could also cause live lice to blow into the air and spread to others nearby. Don't use a conditioner or shampoo/conditioner combination before applying lice medication. Don't wash your child's hair for 1 to 2 days after using a medicated treatment. Don't use sprays or hire a pest control company to try to get rid of the lice, as these treatments can be harmful. Head lice don't survive long once they fall off a person, so you don't need to spend a lot of time and money trying to rid the house of lice. Don't use the same medication more than three times on one person. If it doesn't seem to be working, your doctor may recommend another medication. Don't use more than one head lice medication at a time. Tips to Remember - Having head lice is not a sign of dirti- 4
Continued from pg. 4 ness or poor hygiene. The pesky little bugs can be a problem for kids of all ages and socioeconomic levels, no matter how often they do or don't wash their hair or bathe. It also doesn't matter how long or short a person's hair is. However, these tips can help to prevent kids from getting lice (or from becoming reinfested): Tell kids to try to avoid head-to-head contact at school (in gym, on the playground, or during sports) and while playing at home with other children. Tell kids not to share combs, brushes, hats, scarves, bandanas, ribbons, barrettes, hair ties or bands, towels, helmets, or other personal care items with anyone else, whether they may have lice or not. Tell kids not to lie on bedding, pillows, and carpets that have recently been used by someone with lice. Every 3 or 4 days, examine members of your household who have had close contact with a person who has lice. Then, treat any who are found to have lice or nits close to the scalp. Will They Ever Be Gone? - As many parents know firsthand, lice infestation can be an ongoing battle, especially in group settings. There's no doubt that they can be hard bugs to get rid of. If you've followed every recommendation and your child still has lice, it could be because: --Some nits were left behind --Your child is still being exposed to someone with lice --The treatment you're using isn't effective If your child still has lice two weeks after you started treatment or if your child's scalp looks infected, call your doctor. No matter how long the problem lasts, be sure to remind your child that although having lice can certainly be very embarrassing, anyone can get them. It's important for kids to understand that they haven't done anything wrong and that having lice doesn't make them dirty. And reassure them that as frustrating as getting rid of the lice can be, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Be patient and follow the treatments and prevention tips as directed by your doctor, and you'll be well on your way to keeping your family lice-free. 5