At Decembers PTO meeting we had 4th grade teacher Ms. Skarolid join us to let us know how the 4th graders were doing so far this year and how excited they were to meet their Kindergarten buddies! Then we talked to Ms. Je’Naya about those Kindergarten buddies and adding the gingerbread men project back into our standing budget after it being on hiatus for a few years.

We were also able to coordinate volunteers for the butterbraid pick up (and could use a few more) and a few details of the upcoming Bingo night!

PTO runs on the energy of our parents and guardians so please join us for the next meeting January 12th at 5:00 PM at the School. We have been able to do so many great things this year and want to keep that momentum going.

Amber D

PTO President

The exponential rise in children’s respiratory illnesses resulting in hospitalizations from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza (flu) and influenza-like-illnesses (ILI) has placed an unprecedented strain on our hospitals and emergency departments (EDs).

As a result of this increase, Minnesota hospitals are receiving an overwhelming number of parents and guardians requesting notes from hospital staff, specifically in EDs. The increase in requests for these notes has placed an additional burden on an already strained system. If your district policy necessitates notes from medical providers for student absences, please consider asking parents to request these notes from a healthcare provider instead of going to the ED to get a note.

We continue to encourage school districts to promote basic public health measures including handwashing, covering your cough, staying home if sick, and promoting vaccination. Thank you for your continued leadership to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment for students and staff.

Reminder: Vaccine available for children 5 to 11 years old

Governor Tim Walz announced that Minnesotans can schedule appointments for children ages 5-11 to receive an updated bivalent booster at state-run vaccination sites. The announcement follows updated recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that expanded the use of updated (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccines to children ages 5 through 11 years to protect them against newer Omicron variants.

Minnesota health care providers are ready to administer new COVID-19 booster shots for ages 5 and older that have been formulated to be more effective against the Omicron variants. Attached you will find high-level talking points on the Bivalent vaccine.

The Pfizer bivalent booster is now available for people 5 and older and the Moderna bivalent vaccine is now available for people 6 and older.Both products can be given as soon as two months after a primary vaccine series or booster vaccination. Children 5-11 receive a smaller dose than people age 12 and older. The bivalent vaccines are only recommended for use as a booster.

The updated COVID-19 boosters can both help restore protection that has decreased since previous vaccination and provide broader protection against newer variants. The COVID-19 vaccines and the updated booster are safe and help protect people from getting very sick with COVID-19. Even if you’ve already had COVID-19, you should get vaccinated.

State-Run Vaccination Sites

Vaccination will start this week at the state-run vaccination sites at Mall of America, Duluth, Moorhead, Rochester, and St. Paul. Parents can start making appointments now.

• Mall of America appointment link
• Duluth (DECC) appointment link
• Moorhead appointment link
• Rochester appointment link
• Paul Midway appointment link

All state-run vaccination sites will offer the Pfizer bivalent boosters. Appointments are recommended but walk ins will be accepted.

Where to get a bivalent booster

• There are several options for where to get a bivalent booster.
• Check with your regular health care provider or local pharmacy to see if appointments are available.
• Minnesotans can make appointments at the state-run vaccination sites now: State Run Sites
• Use the state’s Find Vaccine Locations map to find vaccine providers near you—providers will update their information as appointments are available.
• Check for vaccine appointments at Vaccines.gov, where you can search for appointments by vaccine type (e.g., Pfizer).
• Watch for vaccination clinics being offered at other community locations around Minnesota.

We want to have a happy and healthy learning environment for our students. With the increasing concerns of illness prevention for both students and staff, please DO NOT send your child if he or she:

· Has a fever of 100 degrees or more during the previous evening, night or in the morning. Remain home until free of fever for 24 hours without medication

· **Has vomited, had diarrhea during the night or in the morning. Needs to stay home for 24 hours after last episode

· **Has a rash that may be caused by a disease, or if the cause is unknown, check with your family physician before coming to school to make sure not contagious

· **Has eyes that are red and have drainage and/or crusty eye lashes in the morning

· Persistent cough

· Thick, continuous nasal drainage

· Open, draining sores if not able to keep covered

· Live head lice. May come to school after treatment

Remember, children with an infectious illness are contagious before symptoms appear and they can also spread the illness when they are in contact with others in the family or community, not just at school. Always encourage good hand washing and covering your cough or sneeze as well as healthy habits of good nutrition, adequate sleep and exercise.

Please know that your child’s teacher can be available via phone and/or email during a time of prolonged illness.

Thank you for your help towards greater health!

Fridley School District