March 3 - PTA meeting @ 9:30 a.m.

March 8-15 Spring Break

March 17 - Field Day (3rd - 5th grades)

March 24 - Kindergarten Registration 9:00 - 3:30

March 30 - Science Fair

Wanted:  Next Year's PTA Board Member

Happy New Year!  It's a new year and that means it's time to start looking ahead to next year and getting the PTA Board members in place for 2010-2011.  We are looking for individuals who want to be a part of the PTA in some way or another. There are so many opportunities to volunteer and help out with our programs. Our nominating committee this year is Chanda Blomquist, Kristy Hafen, Mindy Snow, Natalie Knell, Candace Hafen and Mrs. Heki.  Please visit with one of these great ladies to find out what opportunities are available and how you can help out.  The PTA does so many great things for Bloomington Elementary and it takes many volunteers to make it all happen; we would love YOU to be part of it next year!

Washington County School District – Anti-bullying Information

For Parents

It is bullying if individuals or groups are:

• Calling your child names
• Threatening him/her
• Pressuring your child to give someone money or possessions
• Hitting your child
• Damaging your child’s possessions
• Spreading rumors about your child or your family
• Using text, email or web space to say hurtful things about your child (cyber-bullying)

It is also bullying if your child feels hurt because of things said about their ethnic background, religious faith, gender, disability, special educational need, appearance, or specific issues in your family.

What you should do if your child is being bullied?

Talk to school staff about the bullying.  Your first contact point to report concerns about bullying is the school receptionist who will refer you to the classroom teacher, assistant principal or principal.  Contact information for the school receptionist may be found on the Washington County School District website at www.washk12.org or you may call (435) 673-3553.

• It will help to sort out what action to take if you can bear in mind that the teacher may have no idea that your child is being bullied or may have heard conflicting accounts of an incident.
• Be as specific as possible about what your child says has happened (give dates, places and names of other pupils involved.)
• Ask if there is anything you can do to help your child.
• Stay in touch with the school.  Let them know if things improve as well as if problems continue.

What will the school do?

Washington County Schools do not tolerate bullying.  The Washington County School Board has adopted an “Anti-bullying Policy” (Policy #3510). Schools are responsible for:

• Making sure that the person being bullied is safe
• Working to keep the bullying from happening again
• Providing support to the person being bullied
• Providing consequences for the bully (suspension or expulsion from school)

Families who feel that their concerns are not being addressed appropriately by the school might like to consider the following steps:

• Check the district anti-bullying policy to see if procedures are being followed
• Make an appointment to discuss the matter with the assistant principal
• If this does not help, follow the parent grievance procedure (Policy #3500) available on the District website (www.washk12.org) under District Policy

H1N1 Update (Swine Flu)

As we prepare for the flu season, parents need to get as much education as they can.  The best web site is www.washk12.org and click on H1N1 update.  Teach and promote good health habits at home.

1. Wash hands frequently with soap and water.
2. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or cough into your sleeve.
3. Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing.
4. Keep your child at home if he or she is sick.
5. Eat a well-balanced diet; get regular exercise and plenty of rest.

Flu symptoms (usually 7 days):  Fever > 100, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue, diarrhea and vomiting.  Please DO NO send your child back until 24 hours after their symptoms subside.  Thanks for your support!

Just a reminder:  It is important to remember that students should not be arriving to school any earlier that 8:40 in the morning.  Students who arrive before that pose a safety hazard as there is no one to supervise them on the playground.  Thanks for your support with this rule.

Thanks to our great PTA for everything they do for our school!

Visit our PTA website at:

www.bloomingtonpta.com

At Bloomington Elementary our mission is to create:

Competent, Caring, Courageous Citizens!

Bloomington Elementary School

425 Man O War Road

Saint George, UT 84790

435-673-6266