MONDAY SUPERINTENDENT E-MAIL on TUESDAY– 1/17/12
Here is a Monday E-Mail that combines several items into one communication.
- Nominations for Exemplary A5/A6 Programs (Attachment)
- New HumanaVitality Program includes school employees (Attachment)
- “Stay in School Toolkit” dropout prevention resource
- KSP Poster Contest promotes child safety
- Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s annual Poster and Essay Contest
- Non-Emergency KOIN Alert -- risk for carbon monoxide poisoning
- NAESP National Children’s Book Award Contest
If you have questions about the specific items, please see the contact information for each item.
Items from KDE
Nominations for Exemplary A5/A6 Programs (Attachment)
In an effort to highlight exemplary practices in Kentucky’s alternative education programs, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is offering, for the second year, an opportunity for you to nominate A5 or A6 programs from your district that meet the criteria to be designated as a Best Practice Site.
Using criteria developed by KDE’s Alternative Education Advisory Committee, each superintendent will be able to nominate one or more alternative education program(s) from his/her district. Each alternative program selected as a Best Practice Site will receive $1,000 for instructional support and will be recognized at an upcoming meeting of the Kentucky Board of Education. More detailed information about the criteria and the selection process is attached, including a nomination form.
Once we receive your nominations, the applications will be screened and dates will be set for site visits to the programs selected as finalists. Each program considered for final selection will be visited by a team of three educators with in-depth experience in alternative programs. Due to the unique nature of alternative education programs, the Best Practice Site designation applies for one year only.
We hope you will participate in this process by nominating any worthy programs in your school district. If you have any questions about this process or need additional information, please contact Sherri Clusky at (502) 564-4772 ext. 4546 or via e-mail at sherri.clusky@education.ky.gov.
Items from Outside Agencies
PLEASE NOTE: Inclusion of items in this section does not constitute endorsement by the Kentucky Department of Education or the Commissioner of Education.
New HumanaVitality Program includes school employees (Attachment)
The Kentucky Employees’ Health Plan (KEHP) is launching a new wellness program called HumanaVitalitySM.
Superintendents are strongly encouraged to share details about this program with employees. This new, incentivized wellness program is available at no cost to KEHP members and their covered family members who are 18 years of age and older. A health plan member is defined as someone who carries KEHP Humana insurance, which includes many school district employees. Those who have health insurance through another provider or waive coverage are currently unable to participate.
To better assist you in communicating this new initiative, please see the attached poster. KEHP members can get started today by logging in at http://LivingWell.ky.gov. Or, learn more about HumanaVitality by visiting http://www.personnel.ky.gov/dei/wellness/humanavitality.htm.
“Stay in School Toolkit” dropout prevention resource
Educators now have a new tool to help fight rising high school dropout rates in Kentucky and encourage students to stay in school and plan for their future careers.
Forward in the Fifth and the Center for Rural Development are launching a new dropout prevention video and discussion guide, the “Stay in School Toolkit,” which shares candid stories of eight individuals from rural Appalachia and how choices they made positively — and in some cases negatively — impacted their education and future.
The video subjects, including a professional baseball player, successful entrepreneur, Kentucky National Guard sergeant and district court judge, talk about how they used education to advance their career goals. Conversely, students will also see a candid message from a person serving prison time, cautioning them against squandering opportunities to further their education.
A discussion guide also is included with the resource that encourages students to freely discuss messages in the video sessions and how those situations apply to their lives.
Starting in February, Forward in the Fifth and the center will host a series of free training sessions in the region for educators and local leaders interested in using the “Stay in School Toolkit” in their community to help lower dropout rates.
The training sessions will take place at the following locations:
· Feb. 3 at Lindsey Wilson College, Columbia
· Feb. 7 at the Center for Rural Development, Somerset
· Feb. 16 at the Forum at the Hal Rogers Center (in front of Hazard High School)
· Feb. 24 at the University of the Cumberlands, Williamsburg
· Feb. 28 the Mountain Arts Center, Prestonsburg
· March 20 (tentatively scheduled) at Morehead State University
To pre-register for these sessions, visit http://crdev.us/stayinschooltoolkit online and complete the registration form. All participants must pre-register prior to any of the scheduled sessions. Session times will be determined based on the number of participants, and registrants will be notified of those times. Attendance at one of the regional training sessions is required before a school can receive and use the video and discussion guide.
For more information about Forward in the Fifth or the “Stay in School Toolkit,” call (606) 677-6000 or e-mail fif@centertech.com.
KSP Poster Contest promotes child safety
Kentucky State Police (KSP) is looking for 5th-grade artists to compete in the National Missing Children’s Day poster contest sponsored by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Washington, D.C.
KSP will select a nominee from Kentucky and forward it to DOJ, where one poster from all state nominated entries will be selected as a winner. The artist of the national winning poster will receive a free trip to Washington, D.C. and participate in the National Missing Children’s Day Ceremony, where he or she will receive an award and a U.S. Savings Bond.
The Kentucky nominee will receive an Award of Excellence from KSP, and the winning poster will be prominently displayed at the Kentucky State Fair in KSP’s Safety Town Exhibit.
The theme for the contest is “Bring Our Missing Children Home.” Many schools incorporate this campaign as part of a lesson plan in the classroom. In 2011, Kentucky had 4,520 minor children reported missing, and 179 of those are still active. Nationally, 800,000 children are reported missing every year.
KSP has contest guidelines and information available at http://mecptraining.org/poster-contest/poster-contest-resources/. Poster entries should be mailed to Kentucky State Police on or before March 2 to the KSP Public Affairs Branch, 919 Versailles Road, Frankfort KY 40601.
Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s annual Poster and Essay Contest
Agriculture Commissioner James R. Comer invites Kentucky students to create a poster or write an essay on agriculture’s impact in their everyday lives in the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s annual Poster and Essay Contest.
This year’s theme is “It All Starts With Agriculture.” The contest is open to all Kentucky students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Students may submit a poster or an essay. Entries must be postmarked no later than Feb. 10 and mailed to Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Poster and Essay Contest, 100 Fair Oaks Lane, 5th Floor, Frankfort KY 40601.
Winners in each grade will be notified on Feb. 20 and will be honored at the annual Kentucky Agriculture Day luncheon in March in Frankfort. Each winner will receive $100. The winning posters and essays will be used in department publications and displayed at department events.
For more information, including contest rules, contact Elizabeth McNulty at (502) 564-4983 or elizabeth.mcnulty@ky.gov or go to www.kyagr.com, click on Programs, and click on Agriculture Education.
Non-Emergency KOIN Alert -- risk for carbon monoxide poisoning
With cooler winter temperatures, the risk for carbon monoxide poisoning increases. Kentuckians are urged to be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning due to improper use of heating or cooking devices.
In 2010, there were 206 emergency room visits for Kentucky residents related to carbon monoxide exposures. Items such as kerosene or propane gas stoves and ovens used as alternative heat sources indoors can emit a colorless, odorless gas, called carbon monoxide, as a by-product, and improper use can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
The Kentucky Department for Public Health advises Kentuckians to follow these steps taken from guidelines issued by the National Center for Environmental Health to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:
− Install a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector in your home or replace the battery when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall for daylight saving time. If the detector sounds, leave your home immediately and call 911. On average, carbon monoxide detectors should be replaced about every five years.
− Don’t use a generator, charcoal grill, camp stove or other gasoline or charcoal-burning device inside your home, basement or garage or outside near a window.
− Don’t run a car or truck inside a garage attached to your house, even if you leave the door open.
− Don’t use a fireplace that isn’t properly vented. Don’t heat your house with a gas oven.
− Carefully follow manufacturers’ instructions for kerosene heaters, making sure the wick is set at the proper level and is clean. Ensure your kerosene heater is only operated in a well-vented area. Kerosene heaters require 1-K grade kerosene fuel and the fuel should be clear, not colored or cloudy. To avoid the risk of fire, place kerosene heaters several feet away from all furniture, curtains, paper, clothes, bedding and other combustible materials. Infants, small children and pets should be kept away from heaters to avoid serious burns.
− Seek immediate medical attention if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning and are experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Early symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. Carbon monoxide poisoning is treatable. If you are experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, call 911 or contact the Poison Control hot line at (800) 222-1222.
More information about carbon monoxide poisoning can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/co/guidelines.htm.
For further information, please contact KOIN Coordinator Barbara Fox at BarbaraJ.Fox@ky.gov or (502) 564-6786, ext. 3102.
Spanish Translation:
Temperaturas más frías aumentan el riesgo de intoxicación por monóxido de carbono Con las temperaturas frías del invierno aumenta el riesgo de intoxicación por monóxido de carbono. Se les insta a las personas que viven en Kentucky a que conozcan los peligros de la intoxicación por monóxido de carbono (carbon monoxide, o CO en inglés) debido al uso indebido de aparatos para cocinar y de calefacción. En el año 2010, 206 personas visitaron salas de emergencia en Kentucky por razones de exposición al monóxido de carbono. Artículos tales como estufas y hornos a base de queroseno o gas propano, que se usan como alternativas de fuentes de calor en el interior de las casas, pueden emitir un gas sin color ni olor, llamado monóxido de carbono, como una consecuencia, y el uso indebido de estos aparatos puede llevar a la intoxicación por monóxido de carbono.
El Departamento para la Salud Pública de Kentucky aconseja que las personas que viven en Kentucky tomen los siguientes pasos encontrados en directrices emitidas por el Centro Nacional para la Salud Ambiental para prevenir la intoxicación por monóxido de carbono:
− Instale un detector de monóxido de carbono en su hogar que funciona con pilas o reemplazar la pila cuando cambia la hora en los relojes cada primavera y otoño por el horario de verano. Si el detector suena, salga del hogar inmediatamente y llame al 911. Como promedio, los detectores de monóxido de carbono deben ser reemplazados cada cinco años.
− No use un generador, parrilla de carbón, estufa de campamento u otro aparato a base de gasolina o carbón dentro de su hogar, sótano o garaje, ni tampoco afuera cerca de una ventana.
− No opere un carro o camioneta dentro de un garaje adjunto a su casa, aun si deja la puerta del garaje abierta.
− No use una chimenea que no tenga ventilación adecuada. No use un horno de gas para calentar la casa.
− Siga cuidadosamente las instrucciones del fabricante para calentadores de queroseno, asegurándose de que la mecha esté colocada al nivel adecuado y que esté limpia. Asegúrese de operar su calentador de queroseno solamente en un área bien ventilada. Los calentadores de queroseno requieren combustible queroseno de grado 1-K y el combustible debe ser claro, sin color ni aspecto turbio. Para evitar el riesgo de incendios, coloque calentadores de queroseno a unos metros de distancia de todo mueble, cortina, papel, ropa, ropa de cama y otros materiales inflamables. Para evitar quemaduras graves, no permita que los bebés, niños pequeños ni mascotas se acerquen a los calentadores.
− Busque atención médica de inmediato si sospecha la intoxicación por monóxido de carbono y tiene síntomas de la intoxicación por monóxido de carbono. Los primeros síntomas incluyen dolor de cabeza, náuseas, vómitos y cansancio. La intoxicación por monóxido de carbono es tratable. Si usted tiene síntomas de la intoxicación por monóxido de carbono, llame al 911 o comuníquese con la línea directa del centro de Control de Envenenamientos (Poison Control en inglés) al (800) 222-1222.
Se puede encontrar más información sobre la intoxicación por monóxido de carbono en el sitio web de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades en http://www.cdc.gov/co/guidelines.htm.
NAESP National Children’s Book Award Contest
The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) is offering its 2nd Annual NAESP National Children’s Book Award Contest. The contest discovers, publishes and launches two aspiring writers’ careers.
NAESP’s endorsement to its 30,000 national membership (plus hundreds of thousands of teachers and students) with Charlesbridge’s (a top national publisher from Boston) publishing of the top winners, is an incredible opportunity for children’s authors.
The two winners will be one children’s picture book and one children’s chapter book.
The contest deadline is March 1. You can enter at the NAESP website: http://www.naesp.org/naesp-foundation/national-childrens-book-year-contest