#KSD Ready & Resilient
Update from Kuna Superintendent Wendy Johnson
1.29.2021
- Learn more about our innovative dual language program
- KMS students take top honors in VFW essay contest
- Reminder about food pantry Fridays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- COVID-19 vaccine appointments begin opening for residents 65 years and older in Central District Health, Southwest District Health jurisdictions
- COVID data dashboards
Please take a moment to thank your children's teachers for their hard work as we continue to follow our safety protocols and our secondary teachers discuss how fourth quarter could look if students return full time -- making sure students learning is supported, seniors meet their requirements for graduation, and everyone is safe.
Monday, we're looking forward to welcoming back our Silver Trail 2nd graders and staff who've been in remote learning for the past two weeks.
Monday also signals an important expansion of COVID vaccine access in our community.
We know many are concerned for grandparents and others who may be at increased risk should they contract COVID. I am eager for my parents to access this protection so we can gather again in person soon.
Idaho Governor Brad Little announced that individuals 65 and older can now sign up for vaccines. Our Central District and Southwest District. Details are shared at the end of the newsletter. Please help get the word out.
Learn more about our innovative dual language program
KMS students take top honors in VFW essay contest
Essays penned by four Kuna Middle School students took top honors in the local VFW's Patriot's Pen contest for students in grades 6-8.
The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme. This year's theme was "What is Patriotism to Me?”
Congratulations to:
1st Place- Emmett Ward-Gold medal and $200
2nd Place- Matthew Soriano-Silver medal and $150
3rd Place- Grace Pfeiffer-Bronze and $75
4th Place - Makayla Gonzalez-Honorable Mention
Reminder about food pantry Fridays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
We're grateful for community support to keep our food pantry at Ross Elementary School stocked. It is available for our families from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays. Our work supporting communities was featured recently by the Treasure Valley United Way.
COVID-19 vaccine appointments begin opening for residents 65 years and older in Central District Health, Southwest District Health jurisdictions
Idaho’s next group eligible for COVID-19 vaccine will start Monday, February 1, and includes adults 65 years of age and older.
Enrolled vaccine providers across Central District Health (CDH) and Southwest District Health’s (SWDH) combined 10 counties are beginning to accept appointments.
“What we know is this is a large and motivated group of residents. They are eager, and we are equally interested in seeing them gain protection from this vaccine. But we want to set realistic expectations and remind our residents who are 65 and older that this will be a multi-week process, likely longer, given the estimated 80,000 people in CDH’s jurisdiction and approximately 6,000-7,000 vaccines a week coming into our area,” said Russ Duke, District Director for Central District Health. CDH’s district includes Ada, Boise, Elmore, and Valley Counties.
In SWDH’s six-county region of Adams, Canyon, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, and Washington Counties, an estimated 45,000 people qualify for vaccine in this group. The district is receiving around 3,000 vaccines a week for the counties it serves.
Public health encourages focus on those with serious health conditions, first
Because of the limited vaccine doses and no significant increase anticipated, the two neighboring health districts are encouraging and supporting vaccine providers in using a priority system to focus on those most vulnerable in the early part of serving this group.
Prioritization may include screenings to determine if a person has serious health conditions that put them at higher risk for severe impacts from COVID-19. Other vaccine providers may initially focus on the upper age segment of the 65 and older population, such as those in the 80-plus age group.
“The data clearly show that our 65 and older populations have the highest rate of hospitalization and death, and often times with pre-existing conditions. While age alone puts us at higher risk, other health conditions increase the potential for negative outcomes if a person becomes infected. Allowing community members at an elevated risk to go first will begin to offer some of our most vulnerable residents a chance at protection, just a bit sooner,” said Nikki Zogg, District Director for Southwest District Health.
Where to get vaccinated
Currently, weekly vaccine allotments are going to major health systems and pharmacies in CDH and SWDH regions. Both health districts maintain a list of enrolled vaccine providers with instructions on how to make an appointment. This information can be found on the districts’ websites (CDH | SWDH). For those without internet access, health district information call centers are a good resource (see More Information section below).
“If you know someone – a neighbor or loved one who may need help with making an appointment or getting to an appointment, please help make this a priority for them right now and connect them to vaccine through the lists of providers in our regions,” said Zogg.
Although the two health districts share county borders, residents are strongly encouraged to seek vaccine within the county they live in. Vaccine doses are allotted by health districts and must remain and be offered within that district.
Previous Groups still eligible
Public health reminds people that those within Group 1 and Subgroup 2.1 are still eligible for a vaccine and are encouraged to seek an appointment. To view a list of who is eligible in these Groups, visit https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/covid-19-vaccine/
More Information
Central District Health serves Ada, Boise, Elmore, and Valley Counties
· Call Center: 208-321-2222 – Open M-F, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
· Vaccine webpage: cdh.idaho.gov/covid-vaccine
· Sign up for vaccine updates: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/8DO2cZ9/vaccine
· Enrolled vaccine provider list: https://www.cdh.idaho.gov/pdfs/cd/Coronavirus/Resource%20Docs/vaccine/enrolled-COVID19-vaccine-providers.pdf
Southwest District Health serves Adams, Canyon, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, and Washington Counties
· Call Center: 208-455-5411 – Open M-F, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
· Vaccine web page: phd3.idaho.gov/covid19/#Vaccine
· Enrolled vaccine provider list: https://phd3.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/COVID-19-Vaccine-Location-R3-List-01262021.pdf
Kuna School District Levy Election
Tuesday, Mar 9, 2021, 08:00 AM
Kuna School District
Superintendent Wendy Johnson
Email: ksdcommunications@kunaschools.org
Website: www.kunaschools.org
Location: 711 East Porter Street, Kuna, ID, USA
Phone: 208-922-1000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kuna-Jt-School-District-No-3
Twitter: @Supt_Wendy_J