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UNION GAP SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
MAY 2023
From the Superintendent:
May is state assessment month. Students in grades 3-8 are testing almost every day in the month of May. Attendance is critical this time of year.
The March Parent/Teacher Conferences were a great success. We had 97% of parents/guardians come and meet with their student’s teacher(s). Thank you for being active in your student’s education!
The 2023-2024 calendar was approved at our April board meeting. Please see the district website and ParentSquare to view the calendar before making any family plans for next school year.
Eighth Grade Parents – After June 15th, please consider donating your child’s gently used polo shirts, back to the school district, so we can distribute them to needy families. Thank you for your consideration.
Please contact the school if you would like a copy of the school uniform policy that will continue for the 2023-2024 school term. Please review the policy BEFORE you purchase school clothes this fall. We will again be following the uniform/dress code on the first day in August. Please call for any clarifications or bring in clothes for review if you would like a 2nd opinion. Students will be required to wear the appropriate clothing beginning on the first day of school.
Please make sure you have registered your student for summer school if teachers have recommended your child attend.
Have a wonderful summer with your family.
Lisa
Summer School
July 10-21, 2023
- 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Monday - Friday
If you have any questions, please contact Juanita at 248-3966, ext 400.
Union Gap School Dress Code still apply during Summer School.
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Summer Food Program
The Union Gap School will be offering FREE breakfast and lunch for ALL children 1-18 years of age.
Meals will be served, Monday-Friday, June 26-30, 2023 AND July 10-21, 2023.
NO MEALS WILL BE SERVED FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 3-7, 2023.
- Breakfast will be served from 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
- Lunch 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
If you have any questions, please contact Debra at 248-3966 ext. 402.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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June 14th -- Transitional Kindergarten & Kindergarten Graduations!
- Transitional Kindergarten: 9:30 a.m. in the library.
- Kindergarten: 9:30 a.m. in the multi-purpose room.
Be sure to join us for the transitional kindergarten & kindergarten graduations on Wednesday, June 14th, at 9:30 a.m.
The transitional kindergarten & kindergarten students will have a free dress day for the occasion, and will leave with their parents after the program.
Please remember the graduates will not need their backpacks on June 14th, since it is their last day of school!
YVMEA Band Festival
The Union Gap Band did a terrific job performing at the YVMEA Band Festival. They did an amazing job playing in front of a bunch of high school bands and represented our school well! Bravo!
Meningococcal and HPV Information (WA.STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH)
Dear Parent or Guardians of 6-8 grade students:
As a parent, there is nothing more important than safeguarding your child’s health. The Washington State Legislature requires us to make information available to you about meningococcal disease and human papillomavirus (HPV). Know the facts about these diseases and the vaccines available to protect your child.
Meningococcal Disease and Prevention
What is meningococcal disease?
Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial infection. Fortunately, this life-threatening illness is rare, with only 20-30 cases reported each year in Washington. The most common symptoms of the disease include fever, cough, headache, and rash. It can cause meningitis (swelling of the covering of the brain and spinal cord). The disease spreads through close contact with an infected person. Teens and young adults are more likely to get meningococcal disease, especially if they live in group settings like college dorms.
How can I protect my child from meningococcal disease?
The meningococcal conjugate vaccine, or MCV4, prevents against four types of the disease. It is a 2-dose series recommended for all children between 11 and 12 years of age, and again at 16 to 18 years of age. The meningococcal B vaccine, or MenB, is recommended for some children with rare health conditions or who are at risk during a meningococcal B outbreak.
For more information about meningococcal disease and how to prevent it:
- Washington State Department of Health: www.doh.wa.gov/Immunization/DiseasesandVaccines/MeningitisMeningococcalDisease
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/meningococcal
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Prevention
What is HPV?
HPV is a common virus. Most people exposed to HPV will never develop health issues. But for others, HPV causes major health problems, including cervical, anal, vulvar, mouth, and throat cancer. Most infected people have no symptoms and may spread the virus without knowing it. HPV spreads mainly through sexual contact.
How can I protect my child from HPV?
Make sure your child gets the HPV vaccine. The vaccine is highly effective. The HPV vaccine can prevent infection from some of the most common and serious types of HPV that cause cancer and genital warts. The vaccine does not get rid of existing HPV infections.
Who should get the vaccine and when should they get it?
Because the vaccine is more effective when given at younger ages, two doses of HPV vaccine are recommended for all boys and girls starting at ages 9 to 14. If boys or girls do not get the first dose of HPV vaccine before age 15, it is recommended as a three-dose series.
For more information on HPV, the vaccine, and cervical cancer:
- Washington State Department of Health: www.doh.wa.gov/hpv
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: www.cdc.gov/hpv
Where can I find the meningococcal and HPV vaccines?
Talk to your healthcare provider about the vaccines your child needs. In addition to meningococcal and HPV, your preteen should receive Tdap. Washington offers vaccines at no cost to kids through age 18. Providers may charge an office visit fee or administration fee to give the vaccine. If you can’t afford these fees, you can ask to have them waived.
MEDICATIONS AT SCHOOL AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!
What to do if your child needs medication at school
It is generally safer for your child to receive medication at home. However, there may be times when it needs to be given at school. State laws dictate who may give medicine at school and the authorization needed for it. Below is a summary of the procedure for giving medication at school. It applies to both prescription and over-the-counter medications.
Who can give medications at school?
- Parents
- Students self-administer (inhalers or epipens only), with a written order from doctor and parent.
- Nurses, but only with a written order from the doctor and the parent.
- Certain staff members, but only with written orders and having been trained by the RN.
What is the procedure for having staff give my child medication?
- Complete the Medication Order Form. We also accept any forms your doctors use as long as both the parent and doctor have signed it.
- Bring the medication to the school office. This prevents theft or misuse.
- Medications must be in the original package, with original labeling. If it is a prescription, ask the pharmacist to make a separate container for school so it won’t need to be carried back and forth from home to school.
What if my child becomes sick at school?
Sick children need to go home where they can be cared for and won’t infect other children. The school cannot give medicine to treat fevers. The school does not have medicine to treat headaches, rashes, etc. (you can provide these if needed frequently according to the procedures above).
If your child has asthma or severe allergy:
We are required to have medications and orders from a doctor for students with life-threatening health conditions. With these, the nurse writes a plan for staff to follow in case your child needs emergency care.
The paperwork needs to be renewed each school year. New forms will be sent home at the end of the school year. Please do the following this summer:
- Make sure your emergency contact numbers on file at the school are correct.
- Make an appointment with your physician so that the medication order form can be completed and you can get new medications if needed.
- Please bring or mail this paperwork to the school at least one week before school starts.
- Medications that will be kept in the school office will be accepted the week before school starts.
IMMUNIZATION CHART
Washington State Law allows parents or guardians to exempt their child from the school immunization requirements. Exemptions may be claimed for personal/philosophical, religious or medical reasons. Measles, mumps, and rubella may not be exempted for personal/philosophical reasons. To request an exemption a completed Certificate of Exemption must be submitted to the school.
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)
For the 2023-2024 school year we are continuing with the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) where all enrolled students eat for FREE!
Union Gap School Board Honorees:
These students were honored for their academic excellence for the month of March 2023:
- Arturo Camargo
- Yamileth Carbajal
- Isabella Dominguez Figueroa
- Melody Guzman
- Azul Hernandez Mendoza
- Bowen Knight
- Dayana Nava Farias
- Anthony Zepeda De La Cruz
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
Union Gap School will begin registering students for kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year starting March 2, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Registration will be ongoing for the remainder of this school year.
According to state law, a child must be 5 years of age on or before August 31, to be eligible for kindergarten. A birth certificate, proof of address and a completed certificate of immunization are required.
You need to bring the following documents with you when you enroll your child:
- Birth Certificate, verifying child's age
- Immunization Record – please be sure your child is current with their immunizations.
- 2 pieces of Proof of Residence (mortgage/rental agreement and current light bill, cable bill or land line telephone bill)
Requirements for registration can also be found here on our district website.
If you have any questions about registration, call Union Gap School's main office at 248-3966.
NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK, MAY 8th -12th
Please pass on a “Thank You!” to all the dedicated certificated staff at Union Gap School!
May 9th : NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY!
Union Gap School Board Honorees:
These students were honored for their academic excellence for the month of April 2023:
- Ixtlaly Carbajal
- Reed Evert
- Mariela Garcia
- Penelope Gonzalez
- Melanie Lara-Anguiano
- Yeraldin Paredes
- Liam Phillips
- Emanuel Ramirez
Photo: Molly Fortin, Cecilia Cardenas, Emanuel Ramirez , Joshua Butrick, Ixtlaly Carbajal, Nicole Sullivan, Mariela Garcia, Melissa Gott, Penelope Gonzalez, Zoey Patnode, Melanie Lara-Anguiano, Faye Fulton, Yeraldin Paredes, Timothy Kilgren & Reed Evert.
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BAND DATES
- Monday, May 8th Gr. 6-7 grade bands will be attending a YVMES Music Festival in Prosser.
- Saturday, May 20th Gr. 6-8th Bands will be Marching in the Selah Days Parade
- Tuesday, May 25th, 4TH & 5th Grade Music Concert (4th @ 6:00 p.m. & 5th @ 7:00 p.m. in multi-purpose room)
- Tuesday, May 30th Band Award night in the Multi-Purpose room @ 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 31st Grade 6-8 Band Concerts (6th grade @ 6:30 p.m. & 7-8 @ 7:15p.m. in the multi-purpose room)
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This event/activity is NOT being sponsored by the Union Gap School District and the district assumes no responsibility...for the conduct at, or safety of, the event/activity. In consideration for the privilege to distribute these materials, the school district shall be held harmless from any cause of action, claim, or petition filed in any court or administrative tribunal arising out of the distribution of these materials, including all costs, attorney's fees, and judgments or awards, claims, liabilities, damages, expenses, or right of action, directly or indirectly attributed to the activities. Permission to distribute this flyer should not be considered a recommendation of the program by the school district. This is not a school district-sponsored activity.