Dear Molly Stark Community,
Thank you to all our families who met with teachers and staff these past two weeks. We value and commit to the partnership in education with our Molly Stark families and community members. Please reach out to Principal Donna Bazyk if you have suggestions or ideas on how to continue our partnership and build a stronger community together.
I personally thank all the teachers and staff at Molly Stark who strengthen and grow collaboratively to meet the needs of all learners and each other.
We will continue to acknowledge the amazing success we have accomplished through a pandemic. Some of those highlighted successes are: developing stronger partnerships in education with families and community members, implementing a curriculum meeting the needs of all learners (the science of reading, math menu, and second step), continuing our Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports -a systemic, continuous-improvement framework in which data-based problem solving and decision-making is practiced across all levels of the educational system for supporting students. Please join me in thanking our teachers and staff for their success in these areas or something you are grateful for about their dedication to educating children.
This week at Molly Stark some classes will continue to learn and grow in drumming during Music classes. Ms. Chase, our new music teacher, and Steve Ferris, our drumming expert, communicate how these young musicians demonstrate positive self-direction, listen to each other musically and build self-confidence during the experience. We thank Laura Boudreau, the Assistant Superintendent, and the SVSU for supporting our drumming experience at Molly Stark Elementary School.
April 15- Futuristic Friday-
April is Financial Literacy Awareness Month! Vermont has adopted the Jump$tart National Standards in K-12 Personal Finance Education and this week was dedicated as a stepping stone to introducing the importance of financial literacy. Friday will represent the Employment standard. Students can come to school dressed as they want to be when they get older. Be creative and think outside the box. You can be anything you want to be!
Spring Vacation is next week- No School April 18- 22nd. We wish everyone a restful and healthy vacation week.
Please reach out to the office if you have new information on family contacts, phone numbers, and emails. We understand this information can change, but we want to have the most current accurate information.
Please read: From the Health Office- Julie Senecal RN BSN MEd-School Nurse-
The stomach virus has hit Molly Stark!
What people refer to as the “stomach virus or flu” is not actually related to influenza at all. Although, you can sometimes have vomiting and diarrhea accompany the symptoms of the flu. Influenza-like symptoms are described by the VTDOH as fever with cough or fever with sore throat and they frequently include general body aches and pains.
The medical term for stomach virus is vial gastroenteritis - inflammation of the of the gastrointestinal tract caused by viral infections. Common contagious stomach viral infections are the Rotavirus Virus (more common in children) and the Norovirus (not only can catch from contact with people and surfaces but can be related to consuming contaminated food or water) which is more common in adults.
Symptoms:
Symptoms of the stomach virus include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Symptoms start sometime within a few days after exposure and normally stop within a few days but can last longer.
School policy:
You need to remain out of school for at least 12 hours after your last episode of diarrhea or vomiting.
How to prevent getting and spreading the virus:
Frequent hand-washing with soap and water and decontamination of frequently touched surfaces will greatly decrease the chance of getting or spreading the virus. It also helps not to share food and drinks or food and drinking utensils.
How it is diagnosed:
This virus can be diagnosed by your physician based on physical exam and symptoms reported.
How to treat it:
Most people won’t need medical care for viral gastritis and recovery can occur at home.Ensure to drink enough clear fluids (small sips at a time) and get lots of rest. It is important to drink at least a ½ cup of fluid per every episode of diarrhea. When vomiting and diarrhea finally stop, try slowly introducing the BRAT Diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) to your child. These foods are bland and are less likely to come back up. With excessive vomiting and diarrhea, your doctor may recommend Pedialyte. Fever can be reduced with medication or cold cloths to the back of neck, arm pits, and groin area.
What an emergency situation looks like:
Dehydration is common with the stomach virus. If you become dehydrated, you can’t keep any fluids down; vomiting, diarrhea or stomach pain persists past a few days or becomes severe; or your temperature is not reduced with fever-reducing medications then contact your doctor or go to urgent care or the ER.
For more information:
Vermont Department of Health: https://www.healthvermont.gov
And Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov
Have a great week!
Appreciation & Gratitude,
Principal Bazyk