Superintendent's Update
January 17, 2025
Hello Auburn Families and Staff,
I hope this email finds you doing well. Students and staff are focused on learning and the schools are buzzing with energy. Recently, I was able to observe a fifth grade writing lesson and I was so impressed with the preparation, thoughtfulness and thoroughness of the planning by the teacher and the level of engagement and excitement by the students. It was awesome! And I know that lessons like this are happening all across our district. It is so energizing to see our students grow!
I would also like to share a community issue that will impact parking at Auburn High school. We were recently informed that due to the construction project underway in the Bank of America/Shaws parking lot, the lot will no longer be available for AHS students and their families to utilize for school parking and pick up/drop off. Students are asked to park on the AHS campus in the student parking spaces (blue lines) and are also required to register for a free parking pass on Schoology if they have not done so already so that we can identify the vehicles on our campus and track the number of available spaces. For pick up/drop off, we ask that families utilize the front and back parking lots of the school campus, per the school handbook. The Bank of America/Shaws lot is being monitored and unauthorized cars may be asked to leave or towed. We suspect this will also impact parking for large events at Auburn High School and we are in the process of developing a contingency plan. We will share that with you when available.
As we head into the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, I hope you all are able to connect with people you care about, to appreciate the life and legacy of Dr. King and to remember that this holiday is meant to encourage Americans to volunteer and improve their communities. Auburn is a great community and one that I am thankful to be a part of.
If you are interested in contributing to your community, please see the information below from the Auburn Fire Department Building Committee. They need community input on the proposed Fire Department Building and they would love to see you on January 21st from 6:30-8:30 in the Auburn High School Presentation Room to hear your feedback. Please consider attending if you can.
Thank you for your continued support of the Auburn Public Schools.
Best,
Beth
Dear APS Community,
We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health and high spirits. As we continue to prioritize the well-being and safety of all students and staff, we would like to address an important matter regarding health practices within our school community.
As expected during this time of year, we have noticed an uptick in general illnesses among our students. Of note, gastrointestinal sickness (norovirus) and influenza (flu) cases have been on the rise.
Norovirus is spread through contact with infected individuals or contaminated surfaces. The virus can be transmitted in several ways, including:
Person-to-person contact: Direct contact with someone who is sick or their bodily fluids (vomit or diarrhea).
Contaminated food or water: Eating food or drinking liquids contaminated by an infected person, especially when food is handled by someone who is sick.
Contact with contaminated surfaces: Touching surfaces or objects contaminated by the virus and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.
The flu is primarily spread from person to person through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. It can also spread by touching surfaces contaminated with the virus and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. Because the flu can be contagious even before symptoms appear, it’s important to take preventive measures as early as possible.
In an effort to minimize the spread of illness, please consider the following tips.
Practice Good Hand Hygiene: Encourage your child to wash their hands thoroughly and frequently with soap and water, especially:
After coughing, sneezing, or blowing their nose
Before eating or preparing food
After using the bathroom
Cover Coughs and Sneezes: Teach your child to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue (or their elbow if no tissue is available) when coughing or sneezing. This helps to prevent the spread of respiratory droplets.
Avoid Close Contact: Encourage your child to avoid close contact with people who are sick. We kindly ask that you do not send your child to school if they are feeling unwell or exhibiting symptoms of illness, such as fever, cough, sore throat, vomiting, or diarrhea. Keeping sick children at home helps prevent the spread of illnesses to other students and staff, ensuring a healthier environment for everyone.
Clean and Disinfect: Regularly clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, and shared equipment to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus. To disinfect surfaces potentially exposed to norovirus, use a chlorine bleach solution with a concentration of 1,000 to 5,000 ppm (5 to 25 tablespoons of household bleach [5% to 8%] per gallon of water) or use an EPA-registered disinfecting product against norovirus.
Get Plenty of Rest and Stay Hydrated: A healthy immune system is your best defense against illness. Encourage your child to get adequate sleep and drink plenty of fluids.
Get Plenty of Rest, Stay Hydrated, and Eat Well Balanced Meals: A healthy immune system is your best defense against illness. Encourage your child to get adequate sleep, drink plenty of fluids, and eat a diet rich in nutritious foods.
If your child begins to feel unwell during the school day, they should visit the school nurse. The nurse will assess your child’s condition and determine whether they should remain at school or need to go home. If it is deemed necessary for your child to be picked up, we ask that you or an authorized contact arrive promptly after being notified. This helps us provide the best care for your child while minimizing disruption to the school day.
We are continuously monitoring the situation and taking extra precautions to ensure a clean and safe environment for all students. Our custodial team is disinfecting classrooms and common areas regularly, and we are encouraging students to practice good hand hygiene throughout the day.
We greatly appreciate your cooperation and understanding in helping us maintain a safe and healthy school environment. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school office or the school nurse. Thank you for your attention to this important matter and for your ongoing support. Stay well!
Warmly,
The Auburn Public School Nurses
