By now you know who your student’s teachers are, and you know which teacher is your child’s advisor. If sections and advisory groups still have you scratching your head read this letter from Pat Preib, Villa Academy Middle School Director.

The Annual Fund provides essential dollars for our programs and operations, allowing us to continue providing the highest quality educational experience for our students. We are asking our entire immediate and extended community to participate and help us reach our goal of $300,000 by December 31. New this year, you can make your gift online. No gift is too small or too large!

Thank you to all the candidates who showed their support for Villa by running for a Student Council office. Your speeches and campaigns were exemplary.

The Student Council Officers for the year 2009-2010 are:

President: Jenay M.

Vice President: Rosie B.

Secretary: Erica B.

Treasurer: Noah C.

Commissioner of School Spirit: Maddie B.

Commissioner of Spiritual Affairs: Madison M.

The Italian Dinner Carnival was a wonderful success on Friday evening, so thank you to all who attended! It was a fantastic opportunity to catch up with old friends after the summer and to also welcome our new families to the Villa community. We hope you’ll enjoy your caricature artist drawings and can look forward to the carnival cutout photos soon. We want to extend a huge than you to our faculty and staff volunteers, our 8th grade helpers, and particularly to Chef Bon, Natalie, and Kevin for their culinary talents. What a terrific way to start our school year! Until the next one, boun appetito!

Quick Flu Tips for Parents & Caregivers

Here are things that you and your children can do to help prevent the flu:
1) Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners also work.

2) Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder, not into your hands.  Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth as germs are spread this way.

3) Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Look for possible signs of fever, such as if a person feels very warm, has a flushed appearance, or is sweating or shivering. Other symptoms may include cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Sometimes people also have diarrhea and vomiting.

4) Get vaccinated for both seasonal and H1N1 flu.  H1N1 vaccine will be available to all, but people 6 months through 24 years of age will be a priority. Some people are at higher risk for complications from the H1N1 flu and it is especially important that they get the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available:
o People at higher risk for H1N1 complications include pregnant women and people of any age with medical conditions such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes.
o Children under five years, particularly those under two years, are also at high risk from H1N1 flu because they are more likely to become very sick and need hospital care.

If you have the flu or a flu-like illness:
o Stay home for at least 24 hours after fever has passed without the use of fever-reducing medications. Young children with illness should not be in child care and students need to stay home from school, sports practices, and games.
o You probably don’t need to have a lab test or take antiviral medicine.  If your child has the flu now, it is very likely that it is H1N1 flu. Testing for H1N1 flu is necessary only when patients are sick enough to be hospitalized or have severe illness.  Antiviral medications are not recommended except for people at higher risk for complications or with severe illness.
o You don’t need to see your doctor unless you have unusually severe illness. Most people experience and recover from H1N1 flu just as they do from seasonal flu.
o Children don’t need a note from a doctor to return to school or child care after they are well again. Also, there is no reason for employers to request a doctor’s note for teens and adults who are returning to work. Writing notes takes away valuable time from patients who need immediate medical care.

For more information, go to www.kingcounty.gov/health/h1n1
or call the Flu Hotline at 1-877-903-5464

Let’s Raise the Roof!
6:30 – 9:30pm Friday, September 11th

Under Villa Academy’s New Covered Play Area
Save the date and call the sitter – the adults are going out to play!

All Villa Academy community members and neighbors are invited to join us as we unveil our new covered play area and thank everyone who helped raise the roof by supporting the 2004-2006 capital campaign.

Enjoy a few cold ones, some Dick’s burgers, and dancing to live music by Big Dog Revue.
Don’t miss the fun!

RSVP to development@thevilla.org or 206-729-0219 x268