The Second Step Social & Emotional Learning Curriculum K-8
Now more than ever, we need to address the whole child. Best practice shows that students who feel safe and secure are better prepared to engage in their learning. Therefore, we are excited to continue to use Second Step in our K-8 classes beginning this week to further strengthen our commitment to social and emotional learning. (For more information about the benefits of SEL, please check out the quick video below.)
Second Step offers weekly, age-appropriate virtual lessons for students to help them with various social and emotional skills. These weekly lessons will build on and support all of the great work we're doing at Ike to support our students. Combined with our schoolwide restorative practices and consistent PBIS expectations, we are creating a firm Tier 1 foundation for supporting all of our students' social, emotional, and behavioral development.
Please view the flyers below to learn more about the program topics, and look for additional updates from classroom teachers and ALL district newsletters.
PARKING LOT
Safety is a top priority at Salk and we can all use these important reminders from time to time.
Parents dropping their children off every morning may utilize the drop off loop at our main entrance. Please do not park in the loop. If you need to park in order to help your child into school, please find a spot in the parking lot.
PLEASE DO NOT DROP OFF IN THE BUS LOOP. This area is designated for buses and can be a dangerous place to drop off your student.
Please refrain from parking anywhere other than designated parking spaces, this includes, parking in handicapped parking spots unless your handicap parking pass is properly displayed.
We continue to have a good relationship with our neighbors at St. Ronald’s Church. They graciously allow us to use their parking lot. Please use designated parking spots there as well and refrain from parking in the main driving lane leading behind the church.
Thank you for your support in keeping our Seahawks safe in our parking lots. See the map below for reminders.
Student Illness Guidelines
If, in the judgment of school personnel, a child becomes too ill to remain in school, the parents will be called immediately. It is necessary that children remain at home until they recover from illness since they could be endangering their own health and the health of others by returning too soon. Children are expected to participate in all school activities when they return from being ill except for special situations or if the school receives a note from a doctor listing the restrictions.
It is never an easy decision whether to send your youngster to school if he/she complains of illness. The following guidelines are designed to provide information until you can discuss the situation with your doctor.
Illness Guidelines
- Children with Covid-19 must remain home until cleared to return
- A fever is a sign of some form of infection. Children should remain home if running a fever. A child must be fever free for 24 hours without the benefit of medication (i.e. Tylenol) before returning to school.
- If a child vomits, they should not return to school until he/she is symptom-free for at least 24 hours.
Children with an infectious disease must remain home until the communicable stage has passed. The most common infectious diseases are, chicken pox, influenza, pink eye, strep throat, COVID-19, and head lice.
Please notify the office at 586-439-6800 of the specific diagnosis and provide doctor’s instructions and notes upon return.
Does your child have medical needs?
If your child has specific medical needs, please reach out to the main office prior to the start of school. In order to administer medication, consent forms must be completed. Consent forms for prescription medications must include dosage and frequency information signed by a physician. Medication, including inhalers, must be stored in the main office and not in backpacks or pockets. In addition, if your child has a medical plan, it will need to be updated for the 23-24 school year.
Please find medication forms linked below for your convenience.
Charlie the Therapy Dog
Salk has been approved to have a therapy dog visit. Charlie, the English Creme Golden Retriever, started visiting Salk once a week last March. Not only is Charlie a certified therapy dog, but he is one of my family dogs and I was excited he joined the Salk family. Studies have shown that therapy dogs have the ability to increase positive emotions, promote engagement in learning activities and positive attitudes toward learning, reduce negative behaviors, as well as encourage prosocial behaviors including acting as a social catalyst to facilitate social interactions with others.
Charlie is a certified therapy dog after completing his training and testing by The Alliance of Therapy Dogs. He has also earned the title of AKC Canine Good Citizen. I am also a certified therapy dog handler after completing my testing and observations by The Alliance of Therapy Dogs.
Charlie's purpose is to ease student's anxieties and increase positive emotions. We do not want his presence to cause fear or anxiety. Charlie will be introduced in a positive manner and students will be instructed on how to interact with him. Parents have the ability to opt out of having their student interact with Charlie. If you DO NOT want your student to be around Charlie, then please fill out the opt out form linked here.
For the safety of students with allergies and Charlie, he will not be in the lunch room. Charlie will also remain out of classrooms in which parents have a student who opt out. Charlie will be under my supervision and kept on a leash at all times.
Charlie is looking forward to visiting. He would like to thank the Salk PTO for donating some supplies for him be a part of Salk. More information about Charlie and our therapy dog program will be presented in future scoops. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.
Go Seahawks,
Anthony Birkmeier
A Great Resource in Our Own Backyard
Free Meals for All
As you may have heard, all students in Fraser Public Schools are eligible to receive free meals this school year. Every student enrolled in our district can receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at NO CHARGE to your household each day.
Meals Information
Breakfast and lunch menus for the first week of school and the month of September are linked below. Elementary Schools will have a limited variety of a la carte items to purchase using CASH ONLY. All students can choose to purchase an additional breakfast or lunch at the full paid student price.
Education Benefits Form
Even though meals are free for everyone, it is still important for your household to complete an Education Benefits Form, which can be found online on the Family Portal website. This form is critical in determining the amount of money that our district receives from a variety of state and federal supplemental programs. It could also help your family qualify for additional benefits.
We are asking that you please complete and submit the Education Benefits Form as soon as possible. All information on the report submitted is confidential, and it should take only a few minutes to complete.
Menus for lunch and breakfast items do not need to be turned in this year. Teachers will go over the lunch room procedures with students the first day of school.
Gleaners Food Distribution
Our partnership with Gleaners will continue! They will be set up from 9-11 AM on the following dates:
September 14
September 28
The drive-thru pantry will be located in the Klein Road parking lot at Fraser High School.
If you are in need of food assistance, you can slow find pantries in your area by visiting https://pantrynet.org.
Save the Date
- 9/4 - No School - Labor Day
- 9/8 - Fraser Tailgate
- 9/13 - Early Release Day (1:30 Dismissal)
- 9/15 - Fall Picture Day
- 9/19 - PTO Meeting @ 3:45 Salk Media Center
- 9/29 - Homecoming Parade & Football Game
Access the full District Calendar HERE at any time!