BOTHELL, Wash. – FEMA Region 10 is seeking 40 youth in grades 8 through 12 representing Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska to be selected to attend a Youth Preparedness Camp in Stanwood, Wash., in August. This will be an engaging and empowering way for teens to learn about and practice emergency preparedness. There will be a variety of exciting leadership and team-building opportunities as well as traditional camp activities to ensure a fun week for all.

There will be a competitive application process, through which forty (40) high school aged youth, from Region 10 states and tribes, will be selected to attend.

Students wishing to be considered for the upcoming camp can find application information at:http://www.fema.gov/region-x/community-preparedness. Applications will be accepted by March 15, 2019. 

For those selected to participate, FEMA will fund youth participants’ travel costs. It is critical that participants do not make any travel reservations on their own, for FEMA staff will assist with the pre-departure travel voucher process and ensure all required documentation is collected and submitted. Parents/guardians will need to submit a signed waiver allowing their child to travel un-chaperoned. The waiver complies with camp guidelines, keeping safety the focal point of the entire experience. Lodging and meals are included in the camp. Transportation to/from the SeaTac airport to/from the camp will be provided by FEMA staff.

According to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services and CDC Measles (Rubeola) is a highly contagious viral respiratory illness.  Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and red watery eyes followed by a rash over most of the body.

Measles can be serious.

• ​About 1 in 4 people in the U.S. who get measles will be hospitalized​
• 1 out of every 1,000 people with measles will develop brain swelling, which could lead to brain damage
• 1 or 2 out of 1,000 people with measles will die, even with the best care

Measles is very contagious.

Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is so contagious that if one person has it, 9 out of 10 people around him or her will also become infected if they are not protected. Your child can get measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been, even up to two hours after that person has left. An infected person can spread measles to others even before knowing he/she has the disease—from four days before developing the measles rash through four days afterward.

Some people think of measles as just a little rash and fever that clears up in a few days, but measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5 years of age. There is no way to tell in advance the severity of the symptoms your child will experience.

A highly effective vaccine has resulted in a dramatic reduction in measles cases and deaths worldwide. However, outbreaks and deaths continue to occur, primarily related to overseas travel and unvaccinated individuals.

For more information:

http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/id/Pages/measles/default.aspx

Alaska Public Health Advisory – January 29, 2019 

Measles Outbreak in Washington State — What Alaskans Should Know 

http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/Documents/phan/AKPHAN_20190129_Measles.pdf

Distracted Driving Family Plan Scholarship

The Parnall Law Office is proud to offer the 2019 Scholarship Program that is designed to help interested high school (upon graduation from high school) or college students in the United States to attend an institution of higher education, while also bringing to attention to the dangers of distracted driving. $5000 in prizes will be awarded to the top 3 applicants.

Essay Topic

Create a “Distracted Driving Family Plan” within which you address the safety of your family by proactively committing to a plan that avoids the occurrence(s) of distracted driving by you and the members of your family.

Please see attached flyer orhttps://www.same.org/stemcamps for more information.

SCHOOL COUNSELOR NEWS – FEBRUARY 2019

I am looking out my office window at the pink sunrise over the mountains and it tells me that the days are indeed getting longer and spring is right around the corner. Last night I was walking my dogs up in the hills by the mountains just as dusk turned into a clear and crisp night. It was beautiful and relaxing and my mind was wandering in its own directions. Children and young people are increasingly dealing with ADHD and anxiety, making it hard to function well at school and among friends. I sometimes talk with students and parents about mindfulness. It has become sort of a buzzword these days, and many people think that it needs to involve meditation and a spiritual path that is not for them or for young people. Some people do practice meditation to obtain mindfulness; however, anyone can develop mindfulness through simple activities that may help with relaxation, stress release and focus. Beach combing, picking berries, watching birds, a walk in the woods, watching the sunset, arts and crafts activities, etc. are among things you can do to relax your mind. Ideally, you will do these activities in solitude but company is OK if you agree to not having conversations. Did you know that there has been a lot of research on knitting and its healing effects on a variety of physical and mental health conditions? Stress, anxiety, eating disorders, cancer, heart disease…They have found that knitting heightens the brain’s alpha-wave output, which is also takes place during yoga and meditation. They key to mindfulness and allow the brain to relax is to set aside time on a daily basis and making it a routine.

Testing is a part of the annual routine for ASD. We just finished NAEP (National Assessment for Educational Progress). This assessment takes place every other year and at Steller we only need to assess 8^th graders. I coordinated and organized the test at Steller but a “NAEP team” comes in to proctor the test. They were very impressed with how well our students behaved. Please let your child know if they were participating in NAEP.

Next up is YRBS (Youth Risk Behavioral Survey). The survey will take place Monday February 25^th. High school students with a survey release on file will be sampled for the survey. I don’t know yet which students are selected.

Steller starts PEAKS Monday March 25^th and we will test students every day through April 1^st. Students in grades 7 and 9 will be tested in English Language Arts and Math. Students in grades 8 will be tested in English Language Arts, Math and Science, and 10 will test in Science only.

Seniors should have filled out their FAFSA and either completed or started their college applications. If you haven’t filled out the FAFSA, please do so asap. Students applying to colleges in Alaska should apply as soon as possible. Students are often of the impression that they don’t have to submit FAFSA and application until later if they are staying in AK. Applying early (now) will potentially make them eligible for additional scholarships. Also, please check the websites of local colleges for institutional or private scholarships and the deadlines for applying.

I have talked with many juniors about taking the SAT or ACT in the spring. The spring dates are posted in the hallway and sign up needs to happen as soon as possible. Seats fill up. I plan to host a college night in March or April depending on my schedule.

It is also time for our current sophomores and juniors to think about next year. Our school district offers selected students a great opportunity through the Gifted Mentorship Program. There is an application process involved so interested students may want to check out the requirements early to make sure they meet eligibility and make the deadline. Here is a link: https://www.asdk12.org/Page/5390

It is now noon and the day is beautiful, just as promised by the morning sunrise. A walk or run in the woods with my dogs is on my afternoon schedule before I head back to Steller to the Ice Cream Social.

Have a wonderful weekend. I hope you find time to relax your mind and enjoy the present.

J

Marianne

This week, Tuesday February 12th 6:00-7:30– Join Parent Group to hear updates from Principal Reed Whitmore, as well as student reports from Op Group, news from teachers, and upcoming opportunities for families and students.

Parent group is a great way to learn more about making the most of Steller, navigating middle school and high school, and helping to support student travel opportunities and other non-traditional learning at Steller. Newcomers and new ideas are always welcome!

Parent Group meets the first Tuesday of every month at 6:00 pm in Ken’s room. If you have any items for the agenda, please email them to: stellerparentgroup@gmail.com

Thank you!

Ann

Hello Steller parents! The valentines dance committee needs parent chaperones for the valentines dance falling on the night of Feb 15. The dance will be from 7-11pm. Currently we need chaperones for both shifts. The shifts are 7-9pm and 10-11pm and we need at least four chaperones for each shift to have the event.

Please contact Alana at (907) 229-8694.