Inside Parkway
December 9, 2021 – Info and updates for Parkway employees
So how are we keeping your data secure?
As you may know, a few weeks ago certified educators across the state were notified of a data breach involving the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and its website.
It made us wonder, how can we help protect our data and what should we be watching out for online? So we reached out to Jason Rooks, Parkway's chief information officer, to learn more about cyber security tips and how Parkway protects staff and student data.
Honoring our veterans
Follow along on Facebook and Instagram.
Veteran Pictured: Carey Krieger, fourth-grade teacher, River Bend Elementary. Army Reserves Operating Room Technologist, Surgical Technologist and Medic.
School safety leaders
Topics at the School Safety Academy included trauma-informed and mental health resources, intervention and de-escalation, support systems for behaviors, legal aspects of school safety, emergency preparedness and plan building, behavioral risk and threat assessments and cyber security fundamentals.
We are hosting vaccine clinics for Parkway students age 5-11
The dates are:
- Clinic 1: Friday, November 19 from 4:30 - 8 p.m. with a return visit for the second dose December 10 from 4:30 - 8 p.m.
- Clinic 2: Monday, November 22 from 4 - 8 p.m. with a return visit for a second dose Monday, December 13 from 4 - 8 p.m.
- Clinic 3: Tuesday, November 30 from 4:30 - 8 p.m. with a return visit for a second dose Tuesday, December 21 from 4:30 - 8 p.m.
Pictured: Katy Kashif, Nurse at South Middle
Did I opt out of text messages?
On October 26, every employee should have received a phone, text and email message from Parkway through our emergency test notification system.
If you did not receive these messages, please check that your information is updated in the employee dashboard. If you are not receiving text messages, you may have inadvertently opted out of text notifications. Parkway shares a short code (60680) with other businesses. If you opt-out of those messages, you will also opt-out of Parkway's messages. Changing cell phone providers can also prompt an automatic opt-out.
Keep in mind that if you have opted out of text messages from Parkway, you will also not receive important district messages via text.
To opt back into text messages, text START to "60680" from the phone that has been opted out.
People of Parkway – Melissa Gebhard
Melissa helped initiate the #PSOUTHPROUD movement at South that has significantly positively affected the culture. She is a diligent worker and humble. She works seamlessly with others and is always reliable when called upon in any project.
"Melissa does a great job of promoting the positive things that staff and students do on social media and in person. She has been instrumental when it comes to positively impacting the culture at Parkway South. Our building is a much happier place with her leading the Staff Recognition Committee," Assistant Principal Eric Wilhelm said.
Student heroes
Jaliyah, Jose, and Daniel intervened during a road rage incident that left a 72-year-old man fighting for his life after being run over by a car twice.
“When he came around a third time, the student was there and called for him to stop, and actually along with the victim’s wife stood their ground,” South High School Principal Patrice Aitch said.
Another student helped treat the victim, and another called for help. Learn more here.
Every penny counts
Vote for our sticker
Vote here to help Miram advance to the final round.
Middle schools boundary update
On October 13, the Board of Education had a work session to discuss the overcrowding at West Middle. If you missed it and are interested, you can watch the meeting live online here. Here is an outline to help you watch the discussion which lasted about 2.5 hours.
District update and staff survey results start at the 1:19 minute mark of the video
Board member questions and discussion start at the 1:49 minute mark
Board member comments and observations from their visits to our middle schools start at the 2:43 mark
To address the overcrowding at West Middle, the recommended changes under consideration are to shift Pierremont Elementary students from West Middle to South Middle and Hanna Woods Elementary would shift from South Middle to Southwest Middle. Pierremont students would continue to attend West High and Hanna Woods students would continue to attend South High as they do now.
The Board is scheduled to make a decision and vote next week at its November 17 meeting. If approved, the proposal would be gradually phased-in over several years.
Open enrollment
As a reminder, open enrollment continues throughout the month of November.
Please review 2022 Parkway School District Open Enrollment for more information and view the benefits guide.
Pictured: Tierra Morris – Benefits Coordinator
Give 4 November
This is your annual opportunity to give back to our district partner organizations that benefit Parkway students and families in our community:
Parkway Alumni Association
Parkway Early Learning Foundation
Parkway Food Pantry
United Way
Arts and Education Council of St. Louis
Parkway Give 4 November happens at the same time as our annual open enrollment for benefits, so you can conveniently choose your gifts at the same time through payroll deduction, while you are completing your online benefits enrollment. Or you can choose a one-time gift(s) using cash or check (turn into your building rep). Together, if we all Give 4 November, we can meet our goal to support these organizations and their commitment to Parkway students, staff and our community.
Hand Model: James Skorburg
Sponsored Content
Mental health resources you may be overlooking
Managing your mental health is an important part of caring for your overall well-being, but finding the support you need may be overwhelming, especially if you don’t know where to start.
Consider these tips to help you check what mental health provider.
Log into your myuhc.com account to look for a mental health provider.
Ask your mental health provider if they accept your insurance when scheduling an appointment.
Try virtual services- If you’re insured under UnitedHealthcare, you may have access to virtual behavioral health solutions, like:
- Sanvello, an emotional support, self-help mobile app to help you cope with stress, anxiety and depression, in the moment or when you need it most.
- Talkspace, online and mobile therapy that connects you with counselors or therapists.
- Behavioral health virtual care which can help connect you to a mental health professional that fits your needs, from the comfort of your own home. Sign in to myuhc.com or call the number on your member ID card first to learn what benefits may be available to you.
- Recovery Record, an app that may help those overcoming an eating disorder with the help of a treatment team.
If you need help right away, call 9-1-1 or use the emergency numbers below:
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
Substance use helpline: 1-855-780-5955
24/7 emotional support line: 1-866-342-6892
The Crisis Text Line: Text “Home” to 741741
Dates coming up
December 15 - Early Release PK-12
December 15 - Board of Education Meeting
December 22 - Half Day PK-12
December 23 - January 3 Winter Break
January 4 Professional Development Day
Staff feature photo – going the extra mile
Today's newsletter background features staff from Fern Ridge. These three were the Fern Ridge team during October's Marathon Month. They averaged 163 average miles per week! As the winner, Fern Ridge has elected to donate $1000 to the Parkway Early Learning Foundation and the Parkway Food Pantry!
Parkway finished #3 out of 100+ participating organizations with over 23,000 miles logged.
If you have a group photo of your school staff or department that you would like to be featured in an upcoming staff newsletter, email connect@parkwayschools.net
Pictured: Linda Jones, Starr Braun-Huon and Marla Gilliam