SISD Weekly Update

I know not being together at school every day has been quite an adjustment. This is new for all of us and we will have multiple peaks and valleys through this journey. We will celebrate the peaks, address the valleys and keep working to meet the needs of our students. Parents, as I've told our teachers, don’t stress over the valleys. Let's communicate with each other, resolve the issue, and move on. I'm amazed by the efforts put forth by our parents and teachers to support students, the community, and each other.

We have launched an initiative, in conjunction with the TEA and the Texas Department of State Health Services, to share vitally important public health guidance regarding COVID-19 with our school community via email, text message, and social media. This information is based on scientific research regarding the prevention of COVID-19. Please do what you can to follow these practices and share them with your friends and family.

When essential staff must come into our buildings, we have implemented safety protocols at our schools based on what public health experts know about the ways in which coronavirus spreads. These include:

• Asking all individuals to keep at least six feet of distance when working near other staff

• Encouraging everyone to wash their hands with soap frequently for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer

• Working with our custodial staff to ensure that we are thoroughly disinfecting all the surfaces that staff come into contact with regularly when in the building

If we follow these practices, we will be able to keep our community safe while still fulfilling our mission to educate students.

Thank you for all you are doing to support Snyder ISD.

Sincerely,

Eddie Bland, Ed.D.

Snyder ISD Superintendent of Schools

Listen to an update from Matthew Nelson, Director of Special Services and visit the Special Services website to learn more about accommodations for students.

Grading policy during COVID-19 At-Home Learning: Click here to watch the Q&A video with Dr. McClain and read the grading policy details.

UIL Updates: click here.

FREE lunch pickup details: click here.

WiFi Hot Spot locations: click here.

With schools closed to help slow the coronavirus outbreak, it’s best to take a structured and reasonable approach to schoolwork for now— this is true for the parent of any child, but especially if you’re the parent of a child who has ADHD. Click here for tips from Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)

Dear Snyder ISD Families,

It’s a tragic fact that nearly 200,000 children in Texas are reported as abused or neglected each year. One-in-10 children experience sexual abuse in our country.

April is Child Abuse Prevention month.

The Snyder Primary School counselors suggest these resources that can help you protect your child from abuse and others that provide parenting support. They offer videos and materials that can help you talk to your child about personal safety around people they don’t know AND people they do know:

• www.fightchildabuse.org provides kid-friendly cartoons and discussion materials to teach children what to do when confronted with abusive behavior, the difference between safe and unsafe touches, stranger safety and Internet safety.
• www.helpandhope.org is designed for parents and is packed with helpful parenting tools.
• www.nctsn.org (National Children’s Traumatic Stress Network) provides information to parents about talking to children and teens about sexual abuse.

You are not alone, even when you feel very much that way. Parenting can be stressful, and combined with the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic, can feel even more so. You can always reach out to school counselors for help, resources and information.

Several organizations are also here to help including:

• The National Parent Helpline (855) 4-A PARENT or (855) 427-2736 - is a free resource where a parent can find emotional support from a trained advocate and become a stronger parent.

• High Sky 24-hour hotline 573-3997 - supports and parenting strategies to families in crisis or desiring tools to help create stronger families.

• West Texas Resources Crisis 24-hour hotline (800) 375-4357 – offers mental health resources for children, teenagers and adults.

• Gateway Family Services 24-hour hotline (800) 578-8054 - provides assistance for victims of family violence or sexual assault.

• Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at (800)799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224.

• If you have reason to suspect a child is being abused or neglected, the Texas Abuse

Hotline (800)252-5400 is available 24 hrs.

Please stay safe and never hesitate to reach out for help.

Sincerely,

Snyder Primary School Counselors

CDC continues to study the spread and effects of the novel coronavirus across the United States. We now know from recent studies that a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms (“asymptomatic”) and that even those who eventually develop symptoms (“pre-symptomatic”) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms. This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms. In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

It is critical to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing remains important to slow the spread of the virus. CDC is additionally advising the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.

The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.

This recommendation complements and does not replace the President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America, 30 Days to Slow the Spread, which remains the cornerstone of our national effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. CDC will make additional recommendations as evidence regarding appropriate public health measures continues to develop.

Click here for instructions from the US Surgeon General on how to make your own face covering.

The mission of SISD is to empower everyone to pursue excellence every day. Snyder ISD serves approximately 2,500 students and employs almost 400 staff members. From a dual-language program for primary school students to the P-TECH High School, SISD is proud to offer an array of opportunities for both students and educators.

Email: questions@snyderisd.net
Website: www.snyderisd.net
Location: 2901 37th Street, Snyder, TX, USA
Phone: 3255748900
Facebook: facebook.com/snyderisd