Save the Date: Thursday, April 15, 2010, 7:00 PM, Villa Parlor. Come Learn about the Seattle Archdiocese Safe Environment Program, including the following components:

Called to Protect, for Ministries: Training for all clergy, employees and applicable volunteers, including all CYO Sports Coaches.

Called to Protect, for Parents & Families: Training for parents, families and all interested in learning how to protect children.

Called to Protect, for Youth: A three-part series that teaches 7th grade students about boundaries, how to respond if someone tries to violate their boundaries and how to tell someone if they or a friend have been abused.

Talking About Touching: A research-based, age-appropriate, personal safety curriculum designed for children in Kindergarten through Third Grade.

Come learn about all of these programs, and how they are currently being used, or will be used at Villa.  The evening will be hosted by Polly Skinner and Jody Elsner. We hope you can join us!

Occasionally, unpleasant aspects of our students’ social lives are brought to my attention. Recently, I have seen a string of missives among our students and their friends from a new social networking site called “Buzz” that works through Gmail. While it is not surprising to find inappropriate language and topics bandied about on these sites, every once in a while a topic is raised to which we should pay close attention.

One such topic appeared in the string I have seen recently. A young person—unknown to me and NOT a Villa student—mentioned suicide as a result of feeling very bad. The responses from our students and others were very heartfelt, positive, and supportive of the young person. That is good news. It seem our students know that suicide is a serious topic and are kind in response to those who mention it.

Nevertheless, a conversation with your child about the topic generally and how to respond to feelings of hopelessness and depression in themselves or others may be in order.  It may also help to discuss with your students who they can go to if someone they know expresses feelings of hopeless or depression.

Middle school is often the first time when deep feelings assert themselves in a student’s life; talking with your youngsters, before it is an issue, can help them and their friends manage their feelings better and potentially avert a serious situation.

Thank you very much for your attention and support.

Pat Preib

On January 20 and 27, Villa Academy conducted Student Health Screening. These state mandated tests include vision and hearing tests for students in Grades K-3, 5, 7 and all new students in Grades 4, 6 & 8. The procedures are simple, using standard screening tools. On April 9, 2009 HB 1322 rescinded scoliosis screening at schools. Scoliosis screening had been state mandated for students in grades 5, 7 & 9. Scoliosis is a side-to-side curve in the spine. Families and/or health care providers recognize the vast majority of spinal curvatures. School screening was very time-consuming and resulted in a large number of false positives.

Parents of students who met the referral threshold for vision and/or hearing will receive a letter with the results.

Senior Nursing students from Seattle Pacific University conducted the screening with the assistance of their instructor and Villa parent volunteers. I want to thank the SPU instructor and her students for all their help.  I also want to thank the Villa volunteers: Gina H., Amy M., Georgine L., Sarah H.,  and Nicole C. M.

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

From: Public Health Seattle & Kind County

H1N1 virus (swine flu) – Frequently Asked Questions

What is H1N1 virus?
H1N1 virus, also known as “swine flu” and “swine Influenza A” is a virus that can spread from people  who are infected to others through coughs and sneezes. When people cough or sneeze, they spread germs  through the air or onto surfaces that other people may touch. H1N1 virus is not transmitted from pigs to  humans or from eating pork products.

What should I do to keep from getting the H1N1 virus?
First and most important: wash your hands and avoid close contact with people who are sick.

What are the symptoms of H1N1 virus?
The symptoms of H1N1 virus in people are similar to seasonal flu: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches,  headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting.

Are there medicines for H1N1 virus?
Yes, there are antiviral medicines to help treat the H1N1 virus. These prescription medicines work best if  started within 2 days of flu symptoms. A health care provider must determine whether someone is sick enough to need the medication. There is currently no vaccine to prevent H1N1 virus.

What should I do if I am sick?
• Stay home from work or school and don’t travel. Get better and keep others from getting sick.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your inner elbow when you cough or sneeze.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have access to soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

How should I decide if I should seek medical care?
People should make decisions about when to seek medical care as they would under normal circumstances. Consult with a health care provider or seek medical care for the following:
• fever, along with any of the following symptoms
• rapidly worsening illness
• person is unresponsive and unable to get out of bed
• bad sore throat or severe cough
• chest pain

If you need medical care and don’t have a medical provider or health insurance, call the Community Health Access Program at 800-756-5437. You will not be asked to provide proof of immigration status.

For more information and on-going updates:
Public Health – Seattle & King County, www.kingcounty.gov/health/h1n1
Flu Hotline, 877-903-5464, recorded information about H1N1 flu, 24 hours/day. Also in Spanish.
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu
Washington State Department of Health, www.doh.wa.gov/swineflu

Villa Academy strives to protect students from life-threatening allergies, as well as the feeling of isolation that can accompany special food restrictions. In recognition of these efforts, the Food Allergy Initiative, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure for food allergies and anaphylaxis, has chosen Villa Academy as the 2009 recipient of their Northwest’s Nathan Walters Leadership Award. This honor was presented to Villa Academy at the FAI Northwest’s 3rd Annual Benefit Dinner on May 1, 2009.

Dear Villa’s Families,

This letter is to inform you that a number of students at Villa Academy have a severe peanut and/or tree nut allergy. Strict avoidance of these products is the only way to prevent a life threatening allergic reaction for such children. We are asking your assistance in providing these students with a safe learning environment. The safety and well being of all our students is of utmost importance to all of us at Villa Academy.

Foods eaten at school pose a significant risk for accidental exposure because children share table space where traces of food can remain after lunch or snack has been eaten. Our Preschool through Grades 2 are Nut Free Grades.  While peanut/tree nut products are not banned throughout the school, all students and their parents are urged to be mindful of the dangers of exposure to these proteins for some of our children. We want to take every reasonable measure we can to reduce the risk of exposure for these children.

The school is requesting that anyone who eats peanut/tree nut products on campus wash his or her hands afterward.  This is equally important for parents who volunteer at school. Allergy experts recommend a combination of awareness education and hand washing as the best practices to manage nut allergies. If your child eats peanuts/tree nuts or a product containing either, before coming to school, please be sure your child’s hands have been thoroughly washed before coming to school.   Even if the allergic child is not in your child’s classroom or grade level, all Villa children travel throughout the building using the same handrails, doorknobs, water fountains and lavatories.

If you are providing treats for the classroom, please let the teacher know in advance so that she/he can check with parents of potentially affected children, as to the safety of the planned treat.  Please also consider bringing a non-food treat item instead.  Often, children deliver leftover classroom treats to other offices and classrooms. We love to instill the spirit of sharing, but with food items we are asking that your child not share food with any other children at school and in the case of classroom treats, food needs to be contained in the classroom and leftovers should go home with the parent.

We hope that everyone is willing to follow these guidelines so all of the children at Villa will be able to safely participate in the full range of classroom leaning, activities and celebrations that occur throughout the school year.

Sincerely,

Polly Skinner

Head of School

Dear Villa Academy Families and Staff,

We would like to take this opportunity to share some of the successes of the current year and to look ahead as we prepare to launch the 2008-2009 school year in the fall.

Accomplishments of the Current Year:
We are pleased to report that the Cabrinian tradition of education is alive, well, and strong at Villa Academy. There is much to celebrate as evidenced by the indicators we use to measure our progress and success as a school. These include multiple and varied student performance assessments, high school admission rates, and constituency feedback. Additionally, we use what we call “dashboard” indicators that tell us how the institution is doing specific to admission rates, funding programs and staff salaries, and maintaining our facilities and campus. Here are some realities that illustrate Villa Academy’s forward momentum and ongoing commitment to continued improvement of our programs, people, place, and finances.

• The purchase of the buildings and campus from the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart in December 2007 culminated a 30-year dream of owning the school, controlling our future, and clearing the way for long range planning.
• We secured funds through the bonding process to address much needed capital improvements to our buildings and have initiated plans to replace the Main Building and the Convent roofs this summer.
• This year’s Annual Fund was tremendously successful, with our highest current family participation rate to date, and the auction broke all previous records including an unprecedented $150,000 raised for the leap! for the gym fund-a-need.
• The Board of Trustees recently approved a new Wellness Policy that complements the school’s educational mission to educate the whole child. There will be hard copies of the new policy available in the Main Office and there is a link to the policy on the school website. We think you will agree that the Wellness Policy addresses critical areas of importance to our students’ personal health and well-being.
• Grade Eight high school acceptance rates are outstanding – 87% of our applicants were accepted at the Catholic high schools and 79% were accepted at PNAIS Independent high schools, our highest acceptance rates ever.
• Enrollment for 2008-2009 looks strong and healthy which can be credited to our program and our community, as well as very successful recruitment and retention efforts on the part of our Admission staff.

Looking Ahead to Next Year:
As we prepare for 2008-2009 and anticipate the promise of a new academic year, there are several exciting projects awaiting us. As you may know from the 2007 PNAIS Accreditation Visiting Team Report, we received two major recommendations and next year we will focus significant time and energy on addressing both of them.

1. Major recommendation: Initiate a new strategic planning process and integrate individual plans in the areas of finance, facilities, human resources, admission and development.

   In the fall we will initiate a new long range Strategic Planning process. We have contracted the services of Ian Symmonds and Associates, Inc. of Portland, OR to help guide our work. Mr. Symmonds has successfully consulted with independent schools in the Northwest and nationally specific to strategic planning, branding, and marketing planning. He has also worked with non-profits, colleges, and universities nationally. We will seek an inclusive planning process that engages members of the internal and external constituencies of the school.

2. Major recommendation: Refine the school’s diversity statement through the governing body and further delineate the meaning of diversity and its impact upon the school community.

   The Board of Trustees has appointed an ad hoc diversity committee to guide the Board and Administration
   through the initial phases of what diversity means at Villa Academy. In the fall this conversation will continue, undoubtedly becoming part of the strategic planning process. Ultimately, the community will have an opportunity to become part of this very important process as well.

Update on the Covered Play Area: Villa Academy was given $500,000 by the Norcliffe Foundation during our Capital Campaign to help with the construction of a new covered play area. Additional funds were added to make this project a reality. Waiting for the City of Seattle to issue construction permits took twice as long as anticipated and to date the bids that we have received for the project have come in higher than anticipated. The Building and Grounds Committee of the Board of Trustees and the Board of Trustees are working to get past this log jam, so please stay tuned for an update.

General planning for the 2008-2009 academic year continues apace. Between now and the end of the school year the teachers and academic administrators will finalize program planning and target professional growth opportunities for teachers at all levels. Building programs and training our people ensure that classroom instruction is effective in addressing the varied needs of our students. Please look for updates in the weekly Monday Memo specific to staffing and teaching assignments.

We are poised for a strong finish to a fine school year with many significant accomplishments. It is with no small amount of pride that we will be graduating a wonderful Grade Eight class. We invite you to join us at the Graduation Ceremony on Friday, June 6, 2008, at 7pm at St. Bridget Church. Should you have questions for either of us, please feel free to contact Sarah at sarah@slhfamilylaw.com or Polly at pskinner@thevilla.org. Thank you for your wonderful support of the school!

Sincerely,

Polly Skinner
Head of School

Sarah Hunter
Chair, Villa Academy Board of Trustees

Villa Academy Wellness Policy

Villa Academy embraces the Cabrinian tradition of educating the whole child in all dimensions of growth. This tradition views human life as sacred; every person is precious. Villa Academy seeks to enhance the life and dignity of the human person through its policies and practices. The health and wellness of our community, as well as the protection of the earth, has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.

The Board of Trustees recognizes that there is a link between nutrition education, the food service in our school, physical activity, and environmental education, and that wellness is affected by all of these. The Wellness Committee was formed in the spring of 2007 and has met to draft this Policy and discuss implementing items pertinent to this Policy.

__________________________________________

Nutrition Education

Villa Academy recognizes the important connection between a healthy diet and a student’s ability to learn effectively and achieve high standards in school.

• Villa Academy Food Services Program provides a variety of food options in a palatable and pleasing array for an audience that can range from preschool to adult on each full school day.

• All foods comply with National Student Lunch standards, and we look to exceed these standards by embracing foods grown locally, sustainable and in season whenever possible and practical.

• We recognize the importance of a good lunch in the scope of the learning and social environment.

• We promote food-centered activities that are healthful, enjoyable, developmentally appropriate, culturally relevant, and participatory, such as contests, promotions, taste testing, farm visits, school gardens, and kitchen classrooms.

Physical Education

Villa Academy’s Physical Education program encourages lifelong fitness by introducing a plentitude of physical activity and teaching self-discipline, sportsmanship, and a love of movement in a fun and supportive environment.

• Sportsmanship and teamwork are a part of daily life. Villa Academy students are taught to be supportive teammates, good winners and even better losers.

• Physical Education classes focus on developing a lifelong love for physical  activity. Curriculum regularly includes activities that are non-competitive, enjoyable, and that provide a sense of independent mastery and satisfaction. Some examples include: Yoga, Jump Rope, Wall Climbing and Running.

• All students are encouraged to participate in daily physical activity during recess and outside of school.

• The Physical Education program works in partnership with the Catholic Youth Organization

to encourage student participation in physical activities outside of school.

• We provide safe, attractive and developmentally appropriate play areas for the student.

• Villa Academy after school programs provides students with a variety of opportunities to be physically active.

Social & Emotional Wellness

Villa Academy encourages contributing to our human environment to the common welfare of our community. We emphasize interdependence with others and being comfortable with and liking oneself as a person. Social wellness includes the pursuit of harmony in one’s relationships with others. Emotional wellness involves an awareness and acceptance of personal feelings, while being sensitive and responsive to the emotional states of others

• Villa Academy develops social wellness by teaching good communication skills, developing the capacity for genuine friendships, and cultivating a support network of caring friends and/or family members.

• We participate in community service programs at all grade levels and reach out to our neighbors on a regular basis.

• We teach curriculum at all levels to address conflict resolution, optimism, trust, self-acceptance, self-confidence, self-control, and the ability to share feelings.

• We encourage the realistic assessment of one’s limitations, the development of autonomy, and the ability to cope with stress.

Health & Safety Education

Villa Academy educates and encourages

health-enhancing behaviors.

• Villa Academy teaches a religion curriculum that encourages students and families to avoid health-compromising behaviors.

• We do not tolerate illegal drugs on campus.

• We do not tolerate alcohol, tobacco, or cigarettes on campus with the exception of legal consumption during school-sponsored events. Beginning in middle school (6^th grade), students will be educated on the dangers of habit-forming and addictive substances.

• Villa Academy ensures safe transport of students during school-sponsored field trips. All families are required by state law to provide car/booster seats for school-sponsored field trips.

• Villa Academy provides safe walking paths and well-marked driving routes for drop-off and pick-up. All Villa families are required to follow traffic safety rules on campus.

• Families are encouraged to apply sunscreen on warm/sunny days, particularly during attendance at summer Villa Ventures camps.

Environmental Stewardship

Villa Academy honors the rich history of our campus by respecting and caring for the facility and grounds, and giving students opportunities in and out of school to learn environmental stewardship.

• Villa Academy will provide school-based learning experiences to encourage environmental stewardship among students, faculty and staff. This may include, but is not limited to, opportunities to recycle, reduce overall consumption such as water and energy, use biodegradable materials when possible, and dispose of wastes in an environmentally sound way.

• We integrate these experiences into the classroom, cafeteria, and the daily life of students.

• We offer students the opportunity to participate in outdoor education programs that make connections between diet, health and the environment, and the interdependence of all living things.