Panther Press
December 3, 2021
Cold and Flu Season
“What is going around school? “ This is a question frequently heard by our office staff this time of year when parents call in to excuse their child’s absence due to illness. Colds, flu, and various illnesses are quite common when everyone is stuck inside sharing close quarters. Staying healthy is not always an easy feat, but many things may be done to prevent illness. Simple measures such as - clean (wash hands frequently, clean surfaces & food prep areas); cover (coughs & sneezes with a tissue—NOT hands); contain (stay home if you don’t feel well!) and increase your odds of staying well during this season.
Here are some additional tips to remember to stay healthy:
- Get vaccinated for the flu: Every year a vaccine for flu prevention is developed. Although this vaccination does not cover every strain of flu, the vaccine is targeted for the flu strains that are expected.
- If sick stay home: If you are sick stay home. Do not go to school or work, or run errands. This will help others from getting sick. The flu and many other illnesses are spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing. A person should not return to school or work until they have been fever-free for 24 hours without medication or have not vomited for 24 hours. Medications mask illness and help with the symptoms, however, the person can still be contagious.
- Cover your cough or sneezes: When coughing or sneezing try to cough into your elbow (also known as the Vampire Cough) or a tissue, make sure your mouth and nose are covered. This will help prevent the spread of droplets into the air or onto inanimate objects. Teach your child how to cover their coughs.
- Wash hands frequently: Keep hands germ-free through frequent hand washing. Many viruses are spread through inanimate objects to hands then mouth, nose, or eyes. Thorough hand washing will decrease the transmission. This includes using warm water, soap, and friction. Make sure to scrub for a minimum of 20 seconds then rinse well.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth: Many illnesses are acquired when a person with infected hands touches their eyes, nose, or mouth. Frequent hand washing will prevent this transmission.
- Maintain good health habits: Maintaining good health habits will help to prevent infection by keeping the immune system strong. This includes adequate sleep, a balanced nutritional diet, stress management, plenty of water, and physical activity.
Remember to contact our office to excuse your student’s absences. Our attendance line is 360.458.6271 and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Please do not send medication with your child to school. Cough drops are considered over-the-counter medication and must be accompanied by a physician’s orders for your child to be able to take them here at school. Please contact our office if you have additional questions. Stay healthy!
Thank You,
Debbie McLaren
Visitor/Volunteer/Adults on Campus
Visitors/Volunteers need to sign in at the office on the kiosk and get a visitor’s badge. Only staff members are allowed on the playground.
When dropping students off in the morning, they should be dropped off at the curb and then they will head to either breakfast or recess. If your students need help getting to class please bring them to the office.
Join us in Supporting Children in Need
We are looking to collect unwrapped toys, non-perishable food items, and clothing to donate to Yelm Community Services for this upcoming holiday season.
We will be collecting items until 12/08/2021. Please call the office if you have any questions.
PTO Santa Shoppe
PTO's helper elves are excited to help the students next week!
Friday Assemblies
Prairie Assemblies have been a long-standing tradition. In our current environment, we are not able to have parents attend. To stay connected with our families we will be posting the assembly each Friday on our website.
December 14 Holiday Hats - Wear your holiday hat to school.
December 15 Ugly Sweater Day - Wear an ugly holiday sweater to school.
December 16 Wrap Yourself - Wear a bow, garland, or dress as a present. Be creative!!!
December 17 PJ Day - Wear your comfy PJ's to school.
Turkey Trot
Impact Aid Survey
What does this mean for you? Every parent/guardian will receive an electronic survey to complete or you can click on the link below. If you have more than one student you must complete a separate survey for each student. All surveys need to be completed by December 31st, 2021.
All information collected is confidential and used only for the stated purpose.
Upcoming Events
- December 2 Birthday Bunch for grades 3-5
- December 3 Virtual Assembly
- December 6 - December 10 PTO Holiday Shoppe
- December 9 Birthday Bunch for grades Kindergarten - 2
- December 10 Virtual Assembly
- December 10 PRIDE Store
- December 13 Reindeer Day (Wear antlers and red nose)
- December 14 Holiday Hat Day
- December 15 Ugly Sweater Day
- December 16 Wrap Yourself
- December 16 School Board Meeting 6 PM
- December 17 Virtual Assembly
- December 17 PJ Day
- December 20 - December 31 Winter Break
Prairie Elementary
Email: jennifer_brownell@ycs.wednet.edu
Website: https://www.ycs.wednet.edu/Domain/200
Location: 16535 110th Avenue Southeast, Yelm, WA, USA
Phone: 360-458-3700
Nondiscrimination Statement
Yelm Community Schools does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employee(s) has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights: Julie Mondry, 360-458-1900, julie_mondry@ycs.wednet.edu ; 504 Coordinator: Shannon Powell, 360-458-6124, shannon_powell@ycs.wednet.edu; Title IX Coordinator: Lisa Cadero-Smith, 360-458-6120, lisa_cadero-smith@ycs.wednet.edu; Address: 107 First St. N., PO Box 476, Yelm, WA 98597