December / January Newsletter

CRETE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
December 2014
January 2015
www.creteschools.com
S n ow D ays
The focus in determining a school closure,
due to weather, remains as student safety. Predicting the weather in Nebraska is
no easy task. The challenge includes
weighing the disruption to families and
the educational process when changing the
routine to a closing of school. I would like to
share with you the plans for making this important decision and how information will be
communicated.
Technology certainly has assisted with
providing real-time information through the
use of the internet. School districts also have
access to meteorologists to help interpret the
data. I have contacts throughout the boundaries of the district which can be used to provide me with information concerning
road conditions. These people include
county road supervisors, neighboring
superintendents and farmers. I also intend to personally travel within the district to
determine the severity of the road conditions.
The weather dictates when a final decision
is made. If school is to be closed, attempts
will be made to contact 16 different radio and
television stations listed below. The school
website, creteschools.com, will also display
the news as well as the school closing hotline, 826-7890 and the Spanish translation at 826-7888. Information will also
be posted on our Crete Public Schools
facebook page.
An immediate notification through our
school-wide ConnectEd service will enable
us to communicate with parents about school
closings, emergency situations, and other
important issues via voice messages, text
messages, and email to home, work or cell
phones. We will be able to reach everyone
in the district within minutes.
Ultimately, the superintendent makes the
final decision to close school. Obviously,
every parent must make a decision for their
family as to the safety of their own children
traveling. I’m looking forward to a mild
winter with gentle snowfall to provide moisture for the land. I just wish Mother Nature
would let me in on her plans!
Kyle McGowan
Superintendent
All concerts are free
and open to the public.

Dec. 11—4th & 6th grade
choir concert, 6 p.m.
7th & 8th grade choir concert, 7 p.m. Both concerts
will be held in the high
school auditorium.

Dec. 14—HS Winter Choral Concert, 2 p.m.

Dec. 15—Band Soup Supper, 5:30–7:30 p.m. Various concerts 6– 7:45 p.m.
School Closing Information
School closure notification stations and
other numbers.
School webpage: www.creteschools.com
School Closing Number: 826-7890
Spanish Message: 826-7888
TV Channels
KOLN/KGIN TV Channel 10/11
KLKN TV Channel 8
KETV Channel 7
Radio AM Stations
KFOR - 1240 AM
KUTT - 1310 AM
KAWL - 1370 AM
KLIN - 1400 AM
KLMS—1480 AM
Radio FM Stations
KTGL The Eagle - 92.9 FM
KZKX-96 KX - 96.9 FM
KFGE Froggy - 98.1 FM
KUTT - 99.5 FM
KIBZ The Blaze - 104.1 FM
KOOL - 105.3 FM
KFRX - 106.3 FM
KBBZ - 107.3 FM
Holiday Vacation
December 22 - January 2.
Students will return
to school
on January 5.
Happy Holidays
Coat Drive/Winter Wear
Crete Elementary guidance counselor, Laurie
Deibert, is organizing a winter wear gathering
for Crete residents. If you have gently used
winter coats, hats, gloves, or boots
you would like to donate, please
bring them to the Elementary
School. The give away is scheduled for the first week of
December. Thank you for your donation.
Please remember to dress your students appropriately
for the cold weather. All elementary students will
continue to have recess outside except for
extremely cold days.
The Winter Vocal Concert for 4th grade Chorus, 6th grade Choir and 7th & 8th
Grade Choirs will be held at the Crete High School Auditorium on Thursday,
December 11th.
Please note the concert schedule below:
 6 p.m. - 4th Grade Elementary Chorus, 6th Grade Choir

7 p.m. - 7th & 8th Grade Choirs
The first concert at 6 p.m. will last about 35 minutes. The auditorium will then be cleared and opened for those who want to
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.
Senior Portraits
SENIOR PARENTS! Please submit your senior’s portrait for
the yearbook no later than December 5th to Mrs. Wright at
the high school. If you have not scheduled your student’s
senior pictures, you need to do so immediately. If you have
concerns about getting this done or submitting a photo, you
can contact Mrs. Wright at the high school at 826-5811 and,
if needed, she can arrange to have your senior’s photo
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
out! Schedule their appointment with your favorite photographer or call Mrs.
Wright to arrange for a personal photography session TODAY!
Band Soup Supper
& Concerts
The Band Soup Supper will be held on Monday, December 15th, in the high school commons. Several varieties of soup will be available 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 program.
Concert Schedule
6:00—6:15 High School Jazz Band
6:30—6:45 6th Grade Band
7:00—7:15 7th & 8th Grade Band
7:30—7:45 High School Band
Come and enjoy your favorite soup and holiday music!
Thank you for supporting the Crete Middle School and High School band
program.
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
During December the school staff will participate in “Unplug & Rewire” as
part of our wellness program. Your family may want to use some of the
following ideas:
 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.
 Remind your children not to take electronics to bed as it can interrupt sleep.
Saturday, December 6
8:00-10:30 a.m.
In the High School Commons
Hosted by FBLA
B
year.
Notes from the Nurse
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
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
children with Asthma or other respiratory conditions.
The best ways you can protect yourself from illness are:
 Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Hand sanitizers are not
as effective in killing these viruses.
 Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
 Avoid kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are
sick.
 Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if
someone is sick.
In an attempt to keep the virus from spreading:
 Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze with a tissue, if no tissue is available, sneeze or cough into your elbow or shoulder.
 Wash your hands frequently especially after blowing your nose or coughing.
 Refrain from visiting others or attending social events when you are sick.
 Stay home from school or work when you are sick.
When should I keep my child home? When can he/she return to school?
 Fever above 100 degrees—Return when there is no fever for 24 hours without
Tylenol or Ibuprofen
 Vomiting—Return when there is no vomiting for 24 hours and is able to eat solid
food
 Diarrhea—Return when there is no diarrhea for 24 hours
 Rash of unknown origin, anytime a child has a fever and a rash you should call
your doctor—Return when the rash is gone or with a note from the doctor acknowledging the rash is not contagious and that your child may return to school.
 Red eyes with pain, itching, burning or abnormal drainage. Some children get
red eyes with allergies, if allergy medicine or eye drops don’t help the redness it
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
McKinney-Vento
Homeless Assistance Act
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.)
(1) Each State educational agency shall ensure that each child of a
homeless individual and each homeless youth has equal access to
the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as provided to other children and youths.
The term "homeless children and youths"-(A) means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate
nighttime residence (within the meaning of section 103(a)(1)); and
(B) includes-(i) children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or
a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks,
or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are
awaiting foster care placement;
(ii) children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or
ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for
human beings (within the meaning of section 103(a)(2)
(C));
(iii) children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public
spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus
or train stations, or similar settings; and
(iv) migratory children (as such term is defined in section
1309 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965) who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this
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.
Find us on Facebook
Shannon Kennedy RN - 826-7806 or Toll Free 877-826-1017
#cretecards
REMINDERS
LUNCH ACCOUNTS
Please make sure your children have money in
their lunch account.

Reminders will be sent home in Thursday
packets to parents of elementary students.

MS/HS students are responsible for tracking their own account. If account falls below zero,
they will not be allowed to eat
meals that day.

Cash or checks may be
taken to any of our school offices.
BUS ACCOUNTS
Quarterly and Semester bus payments are due by
January 5.
If payment is not received by the
January 5, students will need to
present bus tokens to ride the bus
to and from school. (2 tokens per child, per day)
Tokens can be purchased in any school office.
$1.00 per token
ABSENCES
If your child is going to be
absent from school. Please
notify the appropriate school
office before 9 a.m.
Elementary - 826-5822 or 877-826-1017
Middle School - 826-5844 or 877-826-1018
High School - 826-5811 or 877-826-1019