Springdale K8 Community Memo
Weekly Memo: October 9, 2023
K8 Student Support Team
The Student Support Team (SST), is our school-based team that focuses on student success by identifying and implementing interventions that support our student's academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs.
Each Monday, our team meets to discuss how we can improve student's success at school.
Please reach out to any of these team members if you are looking for additional support for your child.
Rebecca Abercombie, K8 Counselor
As the School Counselor for Springdale K8, my primary job is to support students while at school. This includes academic support, social support, promoting positive mental health, and connecting families to community resources. You will typically find me working one-on-one with students, in small groups, or working with the whole classroom to provide specific guidance. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out via phone or email.
509.258.4750
Chelsea Shelton, Community in Schools
Erin Wilson, Student Assistant Professional
My name is Erin Wilson and I am the Student Assistant Professional at Mary Walker. I work with 6-12th graders and my main focus is on drug and alcohol prevention and intervention services as well as social and emotional support. I work with students in the classroom setting, in small groups, and individually. This year I am also co-leading the middle school Leadership Club on Mondays after school from 3:30-5:30 pm. If you think your student would benefit from connecting with me please contact me through email
Jewelle Collins, School Psychologist
Hello Mary Walker Community! My name is Jewelle Collins. I am the School Psychologist for the Mary Walker School District. My focus is to help remove barriers to student learning. I work to apply knowledge of learning, behavior and mental health to support students and teachers in the schools. I am excited to see what this year brings! Please reach out if you have any questions.
509.258.4745
McKensie Brittos, Behavioral Health Interventionist
509.258.4730
Diane Ball, Multi-Tier Systems of Support(MTSS)
Diane started her teaching career many years ago in Valley, Washington. After a stint in Deer Park and traveling around Eastern Washington to supervise teacher candidates for EWU, she found herself coming full circle here in the Mary Walker School District. When Diane is not teaching, she and her husband enjoy outdoor activities like biking, kayaking, and hiking. As empty nesters they enjoy traveling here and there, but love spending time with their grown daughter, her husband, granddaughter, and grandpuppies.
Nurse Sherri Watson
My name is Nurse Sherri and I am Mary Walkers District Registered Nurse.
A student’s ability to learn is tied directly to their health. Some fortunate students may never have to visit a school nurse during the span of their education. Others may visit the school nurse once or twice for an injury or illness. However, some students rely on school nurses for ongoing health needs such as juvenile diabetes, epilepsy, or physical conditions. As a result, the role of school nurses now goes far beyond school-centered support—today’s school nurses play a vital role on the front lines of public health.
Nurses provide the following services (and much more!):
Provide first aid care and health assessment;
Write care plans and coordinate the care of students with chronic or acute health conditions;
Communicate with teachers and staff to ensure the safety and well-being of students;
Administer medications and monitor delegated medication administration;
Assist in the evaluation of students for Special Services (Special Education);
Coordinate and provide vision and hearing screenings;
Assist families in accessing health insurance and health care services; and
Educate and train staff on: asthma, life-threatening allergies, diabetes, epilepsy, and bloodborne pathogens.
Information about Immunizations
All Mary Walker students must be up-to-date on their childhood immunizations, in accordance with Washington State requirements. Families should complete and submit a Certificate of Immunization to their child’s school. School nurses routinely review student records to ensure immunizations are up-to-date.
There have been a few changes in the immunization requirements in the past couple of years. As of July 1, 2008 all students entering kindergarten will be required to have had two Varicella (chicken pox) vaccines, have Health Care Provider (HCP) documentation of the disease, or show immunity through serological testing in order to attend school. This requirement will be moving up to include students in 1st grade as well during the 2009-2010 school year. Students in 2nd and 6th grades are required to have a Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine, have parental documentation of the disease, or show immunity through serological testing in order to attend school.
As of June 9, 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adopted the recommendation that all children receive 2 doses of mumps vaccine in order to be properly immunized against the disease. This is a change from the previously recommended single dose. Therefore, in the state of Washington, as of July 1, 2007, children kindergarten through 12th grade are required to show proof of vaccination with 2 doses of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, or have a properly documented exemption.
The Tdap vaccine is recommended for all children aged 11 years and older. This vaccine should replace one tetanus-diphtheria (Td) booster. As of July 1, 2007, children attending 6th grade are required to show proof of Tdap vaccination if it has been five years since receiving a tetanus-containing vaccine (DTaP, DT, or Td). Each school year, from 2007-2013, the Tdap requirement will expand a grade until by 2013 it will include all students in grades 6 – 12.
There are two vaccinations that are optional for adolescents to receive. One is the Meningococcal Vaccine that will prevent certain types of meningitis. Anyone can get Meningococcal Meningitis, but pre-teen and teen are at greater risk and five times more likely to die compared with other age groups. Schools in Washington must make information available on Meningococcal and Human Papillomavirus diseases to parents or guardians of all students entering Grades 6-12: You may download a helpful flyer using this link – Meningococcal Disease and Prevention. Health official recommend vaccination for pre-teens and teens 11 through 18 years of age and college freshman living in college dormitories.
The other vaccination to consider is the HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccine, which has been shown to prevent pre-cancerous lesions of the cervix.
Here is where you can access your child's immunization information from the State of Washington. Department of Health - Washington.
Character Strong and Purposeful People
CharacterStrong provides research-based Pre-K through 12th grade social & emotional learning curricula and professional learning services that positively impact lives. Each week all students in Springdale K8 participate in a CharacterStrong or Purposeful People lesson.
Here is a Character Dare for your family.
Show your school spirit by wearing Charger colors on Thursday's!
Important School Dates
Sept. 27 - WSU 7th Grade Launch
Sept. 28 - MS Football vs WCK (Home)
Oct. 18 - K-1 Hidden Acres Orchard Field Trip
Oct. 26 - K8 Family Night Out