Windsor Newsletter
December 2019
- December 10th PAWS Meeting
- December 13 No School Staff PD
- December 23- January 1st No School Winter Break
- January 2nd First Day Back After Break
- January 14th PAWS Meeting
- January 16- 20th No School Teacher PD
- January 21 & 22nd Dental Van
No School December 23rd - January 1st
Principal Notes
Hi Everyone –
A couple of weeks ago we had our first taste of winter weather for the season, and our first trial run of the new traffic patterns in snow. Overall, it went very well on the west side of the building, but the east side (59th Street) was an issue, to say the least.
I emailed back and forth with city officials about what seemed like a lack of snow removal in the area around the school that they deemed to be a priority. In reality, they had come through the area at about 1:45am, which if you’ll recall was just as the heavier snow was getting started. I asked if they could try to make it here closer to the drop-off time in the morning and was told they could not guarantee that because of the amount of priority areas around the city for schools, hospital, fire stations, etc… While understandable, that may not always help us here.
So I would like to offer up the following suggestions on snowy mornings:
- Don’t stop on the hill coming up 59th Street. Our custodian and I had to push nine cars up to the top. Once you are up by the playground, it levels out and we have the cutout so you can get out of the way of traffic.
- Don’t drop your students off going northbound on 59 Street. That forces the students to cross through the middle of traffic going the opposite direction. That’s an issue waiting to happen on nice days. When you add in snow and ice, it could be a disastrous outcome.
- Don’t try to come up Dagle Street from the west. That’s an even bigger hill and it’s pretty narrow through there.
- If you want to use the ‘drop off service’ through the west parking lot, please do so. The hardest part of that is getting up 59th Street, but if people are not stopping, and going to the cutout area, that becomes much more manageable.
- St. Theresa’s lot is an option as well. You can park there and walk over, or drop your student there and the crossing guard will make sure your student crosses safely. I have instructed our custodian to clear the path on our sidewalk and through the median since the city said that the snow would be cleared – but only within 24 hours of the snowfall ending.
One potential downside is how clear their parking lot would be. The are great partners and we’ve talked through snow scenarios, but they are at the mercy of snow removal crews too. However, they have always been great in getting it cleared early.
The Germs are Coming!
Frequent hand washing is the most important and the easiest way to prevent and control the spread of MRSA and other infectious diseases.
All hand washing is not equal. It takes a consistent and vigorous washing to remove the germs on our hands. Children need proper instruction in order to learn when to wash their hands and how to wash them effectively.
Hand washing correctly and frequently is the first step toward staying healthy and can help us avoid spreading and receiving germs.
What are Germs
Germs are microorganisms. There are many different types of germs (bacteria and viruses), some are good and some are bad. Germs are found almost everywhere and can live on almost any surface and even in the air.
How Germs Spread
The main way that illnesses like colds and flu spread is from person-to-person in respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes. Germs can also spread by touching surfaces or objects contaminated with infectious material or touching someone’s infection.
When to Wash Your Hands
• Before and after eating.
• After using the toilet.
• After blowing or wiping your nose.
• After you cough or sneeze into a tissue.
• After playing outside or with shared toys.
• When hands are visibly dirty.
• Upon arriving home from school to prevent bringing germs from school into your home.
How to Properly Wash Your Hands
1. WET your hands with warm water.
2. APPLY plenty of soap to your wet hands.
3. SCRUB your hands together vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Wash the front and back of your hands, your finger tips, between your fingers and under your nails.
4. RINSE your hands with warm water.
5. DRY your hands with a clean paper towel.
6. TURN OFF the water using a paper towel.
Weather Closing and Early Dismissal
Bret McIntyre from WHO Visited Our Kindergarten Classes to Talk About the Weather.
Nurse News
Smile Squad Dental Program
The Smile Squad Program collaborates with United Way of Central Iowa to provide dental services to children in Polk, Dallas and Warren Counties.
Screening date is December 10th for 2nd and 3rd grade students.
Please let the School Nurse, Mrs. Bennett, know if you DO NOT want your student screened.
The Smile Squad Program is a dental health education and treatment program of the Dental Connections, Inc.
· There is no cost to families to participate with the Smile Squad Program. Payments from Medicaid, Hawk-I, and private dental insurance along with grant funding help support the Smile Squad Program.
· Grant funding supporting the Smile Squad Program in your school comes from the United Way of Central Iowa, Principal Financial, Mid Iowa Health Foundation, Prairie Meadows and private donors.
Thank you!
Nurse Bennett, R.N.
242-8440
Follow The Link Below to View The GOTR Spotlight
5th Grade Field trip To Meals For The Heartland
PAWS Reminders
December 10- Monthly PAWS Meeting 6 pm
Windsor Elementary
Email: Windsor@dmschools.org
Website: windsor.dmschools.org
Location: 5912 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA, USA
Phone: 515-242-8440
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/windsordmps/
Twitter: @WindsorCatsDMPS