December 2014 CRETE PUBLIC SCHOOLS January 2015 www.creteschools.com

Snow Days The focus in determining a school closure, website, creteschools.com, will also display due to weather, remains as student safe- the news as well as the school closing hot- ty. Predicting the weather in Nebraska is line, 826-7890 and the Spanish transla- no easy task. The challenge includes tion at 826-7888. Information will also weighing the disruption to families and be posted on our Crete Public Schools the educational process when changing the facebook page. routine to a closing of school. I would like to An immediate notification through our share with you the plans for making this im- school-wide ConnectEd service will enable portant decision and how information will be us to communicate with parents about school communicated. closings, emergency situations, and other Technology certainly has assisted with important issues via voice messages, text providing real-time information through the messages, and email to home, work or cell use of the internet. School districts also have phones. We will be able to reach everyone All concerts are free access to meteorologists to help interpret the in the district within minutes. and open to the public. data. I have contacts throughout the bounda- Ultimately, the superintendent makes the ries of the district which can be used to pro- final decision to close school. Obviously,  Dec. 11—4th & 6th grade choir concert, 6 p.m. vide me with information concerning every parent must make a decision for their 7th & 8th grade choir con- road conditions. These people include family as to the safety of their own children cert, 7 p.m. Both concerts county road supervisors, neighboring traveling. I’m looking forward to a mild will be held in the high superintendents and farmers. I also in- winter with gentle snowfall to provide mois- school auditorium. tend to personally travel within the district to ture for the land. I just wish Mother Nature determine the severity of the road conditions. would let me in on her plans!  Dec. 14—HS Winter Cho- The weather dictates when a final decision ral Concert, 2 p.m. is made. If school is to be closed, attempts Kyle McGowan will be made to contact 16 different radio and Superintendent  Dec. 15—Band Soup Sup- television stations listed below. The school per, 5:30–7:30 p.m. Vari- ous concerts 6– 7:45 p.m.

School Closing Information

School closure notification stations and KAWL - 1370 AM other numbers. KLIN - 1400 AM KLMS—1480 AM Holiday Vacation School webpage: www.creteschools.com December 22 - January 2. School Closing Number: 826-7890 Radio FM Stations Spanish Message: 826-7888 Students will return KTGL The Eagle - 92.9 FM to school TV Channels KZKX-96 KX - 96.9 FM on January 5.

KOLN/KGIN TV Channel 10/11 KFGE Froggy - 98.1 FM Happy Holidays KLKN TV Channel 8 KUTT - 99.5 FM KETV Channel 7 KIBZ The Blaze - 104.1 FM KOOL - 105.3 FM Radio AM Stations KFRX - 106.3 FM KFOR - 1240 AM KBBZ - 107.3 FM KUTT - 1310 AM Coat Drive/Winter Wear Senior Portraits SENIOR PARENTS! Please submit your senior’s portrait for Crete Elementary guidance counselor, Laurie the yearbook no later than December 5th to Mrs. Wright at Deibert, is organizing a winter wear gathering the high school. If you have not scheduled your student’s for Crete residents. If you have gently used senior pictures, you need to do so immediately. If you have winter coats, hats, gloves, or boots concerns about getting this done or submitting a photo, you you would like to donate, please can contact Mrs. Wright at the high school at 826-5811 and, bring them to the Elementary if needed, she can arrange to have your senior’s photo School. The give away is scheduled for the first week of taken. EVERY senior deserves to have his/her special portrait in the senior section spread of the yearbook. Don’t let your son/daughter be left December. Thank you for your donation. out! Schedule their appointment with your favorite photographer or call Mrs. Wright to arrange for a personal photography session TODAY!

Please remember to dress your students appropriately for the cold weather. All elementary students will Band Soup Supper continue to have recess outside except for & Concerts extremely cold days. The Band Soup Supper will be held on Mon- day, December 15th, in the high school com- mons. Several varieties of soup will be availa- ble along with chili dogs. Serving: 5:30—7:30 p.m. A free will donation will be accepted for this delicious meal to help raise money for the band pro- The Winter Vocal Concert for 4th grade Chorus, 6th grade Choir and 7th & 8th gram. Grade Choirs will be held at the Crete High School Auditorium on Thursday, December 11th. Concert Schedule 6:00—6:15 High School Jazz Band Please note the concert schedule below: 6:30—6:45 6th Grade Band 7:00—7:15 7th & 8th Grade Band  6 p.m. - 4th Grade Elementary Chorus, 6th Grade Choir 7:30—7:45 High School Band  7 p.m. - 7th & 8th Grade Choirs Come and enjoy your favorite soup and holiday music! The first concert at 6 p.m. will last about 35 minutes. The audi- Thank you for supporting the Crete Middle School and High School band torium will then be cleared and opened for those who want to program. attend the second concert, which will start at 7 p.m. Seating for the second concert will not begin until the doors are opened after the first concert. Please feel free to attend both concerts.

The Senior High Winter Choral Concert will be held Sunday, December 14th in the HS Auditorium. The concert begins at 2 p.m. and will feature the Crete High Concert Choir, Swing Choir, Cardinal Choir and several select soloists. All concerts are free and open to the public. Come and enjoy some holiday music!

CPS Staff Participate in Unplug & Rewire Challenge Program Saturday, December 6 During December the school staff will participate in “Unplug & Rewire” as 8:00-10:30 a.m. part of our wellness program. Your family may want to use some of the In the High School Commons following ideas: Hosted by FBLA  Use board games and puzzles as replacements for screen time.  Focus on the positives of reducing screen time.  Spend time reading instead of playing computer games.  Make a rule for no phones at dinner. B  Remind your children not to take electronics to bed as it can inter- rupt sleep. year. Notes from the Nurse McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act We are entering into flu season. Influenza is a respiratory virus which causes fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, cough and sore throat. Influenza is not McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.) to be confused with the stomach virus you often hear referred to as “The Flu”, which may cause vomiting, diarrhea and stomach upset. Enterovirus D68 is a virus which causes respiratory illness. With this virus there is an increased risk of complications for (1) Each State educational agency shall ensure that each child of a children with Asthma or other respiratory conditions. homeless individual and each homeless youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public pre- The best ways you can protect yourself from illness are: school education, as provided to other children and youths.  Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Hand sanitizers are not as effective in killing these viruses. The term "homeless children and youths"--  Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.  Avoid kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are (A) means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate sick. nighttime residence (within the meaning of section 103(a)(1)); and  Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick. (B) includes-- In an attempt to keep the virus from spreading: (i) children and youths who are sharing the housing of oth-  Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze with a tissue, if no tissue is availa- er persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or ble, sneeze or cough into your elbow or shoulder. a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks,  Wash your hands frequently especially after blowing your nose or coughing. or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative ade-  Refrain from visiting others or attending social events when you are sick. quate accommodations; are living in emergency or tran-  Stay home from school or work when you are sick. sitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care placement; When should I keep my child home? When can he/she return to school? (ii) children and youths who have a primary nighttime resi-  Fever above 100 degrees—Return when there is no fever for 24 hours without dence that is a public or private place not designed for or Tylenol or Ibuprofen ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for  Vomiting—Return when there is no vomiting for 24 hours and is able to eat solid human beings (within the meaning of section 103(a)(2) food (C));  Diarrhea—Return when there is no diarrhea for 24 hours (iii) children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public  Rash of unknown origin, anytime a child has a fever and a rash you should call spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus your doctor—Return when the rash is gone or with a note from the doctor ac- or train stations, or similar settings; and knowledging the rash is not contagious and that your child may return to school. (iv) migratory children (as such term is defined in section  Red eyes with pain, itching, burning or abnormal drainage. Some children get 1309 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of red eyes with allergies, if allergy medicine or eye drops don’t help the redness it 1965) who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this probably isn’t related to allergies.—Return when the redness is gone or with a note from the doctor allowing the child to return to school subtitle because the children are living in circumstances described in clauses (i) through (iii). If you have any questions about whether you child is well enough to come to school, please contact your school nurse or your doctor.

Shannon Kennedy RN - 826-7806 or Toll Free 877-826-1017 Find us on Facebook #cretecards REMINDERS LUNCH ACCOUNTS BUS ACCOUNTS ABSENCES

Please make sure your children have money in Quarterly and Semester bus payments are due by If your child is going to be their lunch account. January 5. absent from school. Please  Reminders will be sent home in Thursday notify the appropriate school packets to parents of elementary students. If payment is not received by the office before 9 a.m.  MS/HS students are respon- sible for tracking their own ac- January 5, students will need to count. If account falls below zero, present bus tokens to ride the bus Elementary - 826-5822 or 877-826-1017 they will not be allowed to eat to and from school. (2 tokens per child, per day) Middle School - 826-5844 or 877-826-1018 meals that day. Tokens can be purchased in any school office. High School - 826-5811 or 877-826-1019  Cash or checks may be $1.00 per token taken to any of our school offices.