Union Elementary School 1070 Heald Highway NEWSLETTER 1/28/11 NEWSLETTER 1/11/13

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1 Union Elementary School 1070 Heald Highway NEWSLETTER 1/28/11 Union, ME Phone Fax Richard Blackman, Principal Casey Lufkin, Assistant Principal Allison Davis, Administrative Assistant NEWSLETTER 1/11/13 Upcoming Dates to Remember January 16- PTC Meeting 6:30 UES January 17-4 th Grade Learn to Ski Camden Snow Bowl January 18- EARLY RELEASE- 12:00 PM January 21- NO SCHOOL- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day February 8- EARLY RELEASE- 12:00 PM February NO SCHOOL- Presidents Day and Winter Recess Breakfast Menu for the Week of 1/14/13 Monday- Corn Pops, apple, graham cracker, white milk Tuesday- Trix Cereal Bar, juice, milk Wednesday- Pancakes, juice, milk Thursday- Bagel & cream cheese, fruit, milk Friday- Frosted Mini Wheats, graham cracker, fruit, milk Do you have an item you want placed in the newsletter? Please get any information to Allison in the office by Thursday morning. The best way to give me information is to it to me. My address is allison_davis@msad40.org COLD WEATHER ALERT Please be sure your child comes to school prepared for outdoor recess. While there are occasional days students spend recess indoors, most days they are outside for a period of 25 minutes at lunchtime. We recommend that all students have appropriate outerwear. Students wearing snow pants and boots may be on the whole playground; students in boots without snow pants are restricted to the blacktop and playground equipment (at the discretion of the duty people); students with no snow pants and boots are restricted to only the blacktop; and students with no jacket will stay inside the gym on the bleachers. All students are expected to go outside for recess. Dear Parents, I have been reviewing our lockdown procedures with the staff and the Knox County Sheriff s Department. On January 17 th we will practice a lockdown, with prior notice to the students so they won t be afraid. Our first priority is to keep our students safe. Richard Blackman, Principal

2 SchoolStore.net All UES students received a flyer from SchoolStore.net today This flyer explains School Store, which is an online shopping mall with over 400 merchants. When your family and friends make everyday purchases from their favorite merchants, our school earns money. If you and your student go to the site and send out 3 invitations to family and friends, your child will receive a free participation prize. Students must return the bottom portion of the flyer with a parent s signature and prize confirmation # by next Friday, January 18 th in order to get the prize and qualify to win the robot on display in the office. The drawing will be held on Tuesday, January 22 nd so be sure those forms come in by then! A full list of vendors and the amount of the school s profit is posted on the bulletin board in the foyer of the school. I can also send one home with any student who requests one. Family members who want to help support the school can go to Schoolstore.com. When you place an order, there is a section to enter a student s name. Our school ID # is The PTC would like to thank all of those who ordered from the Little Caesars Pizza Fundraiser!! The school s total profit will be in the newsletter next week and will help pay for the Children s Stage Adventures Residency in March. The orders will arrive on January 25 th. You will need to make arrangements to pick up your orders that afternoon between 4:00 5:00 PM because they will need to be refrigerated. Thanks for your support! UNION REC K-2 BASKETBALL WHERE: UNION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GYM WHEN: WEDNESDAYS 3-4:00 AND SATURDAY MORNINGS COST: $15 (MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO UNION REC) THE SEASON WILL START WITH PRACTICE ON WEDNESDAY, JAN 23 rd 3-4 PM. REGISTRATION FORMS AVAILABLE OUTSIDE OF UNION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FRONT OFFICE. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT NAOMI MILLER OR nay@tidewater.net FAMILY GAME NIGHT AT THE UNION TOWN OFFICE CANCELLED Due to the recent increase in illness affecting our area, the Union Recreation Committee has decided to cancel the Family Game night that was scheduled for this Saturday the 12th. We hope to reschedule this event next month and will post that info in the newsletter. Thanks for all the interest!

3 Medomak Middle School Wrestling Open to all students in grades 5, 6, 7 & 8. Wrestling practice will begin Tuesday, January 22 nd at 6pm at MMS. If you have any questions or would like more information about the program please contact Coach Eric Pee Wee Wrestling Youth Wrestling for boys and girls in grades K-4 begins on Jan 7. Practices will be held Mondays and Thursdays in the Medomak Valley HS cafeteria from 4:30-6. FMI, please contact Wrestling Coach Billy Bramhall at or at billybramhall@yahoo.com CONNECTIONS Presents Boys Night Out January Session of 2013 The CONNECTIONS program invites BOYS in Knox County and Lincolnville in grades 3, 4, and 5 and their dads, step-dads, uncles, grandfathers, or other significant males in their lives to attend three sessions for FOOD, FACTS and FUN. Location: Penobscot Bay Y, 116 Union St., Rockport Thursdays, January 17, 24, and 31 The focus of the program is to have FUN and provide information about issues such as not using tobacco or other substances, anti-bullying, increased physical activity, promote good nutrition, and bonding between parent and child. Each evening starts with a Getting to Know You activity, followed by a light healthy meal and a short discussion on making healthy choices. The remainder of the evening is spent playing games and activities that everyone can participate in equally. The series is FREE, but you must register to participate. Attendance at all three evening is strongly encouraged. Enrollment is limited, so sign up today! To register, contact Nancy Laite at , ext.2 or nllaite2@myfairpoint.net Funding for the program is in collaboration with the Pen Bay Y, The Rockland Kiwanis and Stepping With the Stones, a private pre-school in Camden.

4 This graph depicts the peak months for flu. It's not too late to get immunized for flu. Immunity occurs in approximately 2 weeks. From The Health Office. It seems to be the season of germs in the Midcoast area and we have begun to feel the impact in some of our schools. Presently, the focus is on the widespread Influenza (Flu) virus, however, there are now reports of an increase in the Norovirus, which causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. In order that families can be informed and prepared with what to do if their child comes home with these symptoms, the RSU #40 nurses are sending along information from the Maine Center For Disease Control. Please see the attached Norovirus Infection Fact Sheet. And, as always, if you have any questions or concerns please contact your school nurse. Linda Jacoby, RN Shelby Gammon, RN Sandra Lufkin, RN RSU #40 District Nurses

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6 because antibiotics work to fight bacteria and not viruses. Illness is usually brief in healthy persons. When people are sick with vomiting and diarrhea, they should drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration. By drinking juice or water, people can reduce their chance of becoming dehydrated. Can illness be prevented? Yes. You can decrease your chance of illness by following these steps: Wash your hands often with soap and water and dry hands with a disposable towel o after toilet visits o after changing diapers o before eating or preparing food o after touching animals Carefully wash fruits and vegetables Cook oysters thoroughly before eating them Thoroughly clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces after an episode of illness by using a bleach-based household cleaner or EPA-registered disinfectant ( ) Immediately remove and wash clothing or linens that may be contaminated with virus after an episode of illness (use hot water and soap and dry at highest temperature possible). Flush or discard any vomit and/or stool in the toilet and make sure that the surrounding area is kept clean Ill persons should not prepare food while they have symptoms and for 2-3 days after symptoms end Should I work or go to school if I am sick? Persons employed in food service or who prepare food for others should not prepare food while they have symptoms and for 2-3 days after they recover from their illness Daycare and school-aged children should stay home while they have symptoms Healthcare workers should stay home while they have symptoms Is a vaccine available? No. There is no vaccine available for norovirus. Norovirus in Maine Norovirus is common in Maine and in the rest of the country. The federal CDC estimates that 21 million cases of acute gastroenteritis per year are due to norovirus. Because the virus is so common, especially in the winter months, the Maine CDC only investigates outbreaks. Outbreaks in nursing homes, schools and other community settings are not uncommon and occur every year. Where can I get more information? For more information contact your healthcare provider or local health center. You can also contact the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention by calling or visiting The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website - is another excellent source of health information. Updated on 9/13/12 Source of Information: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (accessed 7/30/12)