Abernethy Community Newsletter

It was so great seeing all the students back at school yesterday! From what students told me yesterday, over the break they had a lot of time with friends and family, some travel and some peaceful and even not so peaceful time at home. Regardless of what their week, or two weeks, brought, your students came yesterday and did what they always do. They picked up right where they left off and the halls were again filled with their voices, laughter, and funny stories.

As we say goodbye to 2023 and hello to 2024 I am filled with excitement and optimism of what this year holds for us.

With the new year, I would like to send out some reminders and some important dates that are upcoming.

Below you will find links to conference sign up forms for your student(s). Please sign up for the time that best works for you. We would like to encourage in person conferences, however, if you can not make it in person, there are virtual options. Please let your students teacher know.

Our conference days will be:

Wednesday - January 10th

Thursday - January 11th

Tuesday - January 16th

Wednesday - January 17th

All conferences will be held between the hours of 4:00pm and 7:00pm.

Ms. Hartle, Ms. Devicq, Ms. Morgan, Ms. Ryan and Ms. Feltmeier will all be available for drop in appointments once you are in the building. If you are unable to attend conferences in person, and would like to virtually meet with any of our amazing specialists, counselors, learning center teacher or SLP, please email them to set up an appointment time.

We believe that field trips bring a lot of enrichment to the academics that the teachers are doing in the classroom,and this year we are trying things a little differently.

Each grade level and classroom teacher have mapped out their field trips for the year. Field trips that can be booked already have and those that have not opened their booking yet have been accounted for. All teachers have added their field trip costs up for the year and have come up with one field trip amount. This way, families can make one payment and only one payment for the whole year. Our hope is to simplify as well as support the amazing field trips that our students will go on.

Each classroom teacher has a Schoolpay account set up just for their field trip funds. We are asking that families pay for their students field trips through their teachers Schoolpay account. However, if you cannot pay through Schoolpay, you are always welcome to send in cash or a check.

Just click on your student's teacher and you will be taken directly to their Schoolpay account.

Below is a three question Google Form to help us communicate with teachers regarding all families who have paid. Please complete the form after making your payment. If you have any questions on how to pay using Schoolpay, please feel free to call the school - 505-916-6190

We also know that asking an upfront larger dollar amount for field trips may not be doable for all families. Therefore, we are asking that families pay what they can and then financial assistance through the school and PTA can fund the rest. As always, if there is a need to fund the whole amount, we are absolutely here to help. You can always reach out to Jenny Morgan at jmorgan1@pps.net.

The Eagle Track Club is still RUNNING, and making a lot of amazing progress! In the end of the month of November they had run 1091 miles! That is all the way to Madicine Bow, Wyoming!

Clinton Bike Bus Route schedule (join in at any point along the route):

• Gather on Clinton just west of Cesar Chavez at 8:10am
• Departs Cesar Chavez and Clinton at 8:15am, heading West.
• Departs Clinton St Plaza (26th) at 8:25am
• Ladd's Circle at 8:30am
• 1 lap around Ladd's circle to celebrate and cheer; cruise into school on Elliot to the gazebo at 8:35am to give kids time to lock bikes and line up.
• (Optional) Join the Clinton Route Parents: Abernethy Bike Bus WhatsApp Group for occasional important communications.

Lincoln-Harrison Bike Bus Route schedule (join in at any point along the route):

• Gather next to Joe Bike at 8:15am
• Departs Joe Bike at 8:20am, heading West.
• Departs St. David of Wales Church at 8:25am
• Ladd's Circle at 8:30am
• 1 lap around Ladd's circle to celebrate and cheer; cruise into school on Elliot to the gazebo at 8:35am to give kids time to lock bikes and line up.
• (Optional) Join the Lincoln Route Parents: Abernethy Bike Bus WhatsApp Group for occasional important communications.

We are so happy to have our students at school, and we want them all to be at school every day. However, there are times when you will need to keep your student home. Over the past couple of years, since returning from distant learning, during the winter months, we have seen spikes in sicknesses after Thanksgiving Break as well as Winter Break. Many families travel, spend time with family and friends and are spending more time indoors. As a result we see more students with colds, stomach bugs and hear of more cases of Covid. We are hoping to stay on top of everything and keep our students healthy while at school, yet we do need your help while they are at home. If your student shows any of the following symptoms, please follow the attached guidelines. We want to help our students, and you all, stay healthy!

1. FEVER: a measured temperature equal to or greater than 100.4°F orally. • MAY RETURN AFTER fever-free for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medicine.

2. COUGH: persistent cough that is not yet diagnosed and cleared by a licensed healthcare provider OR any acute (non-chronic) cough illness that is frequent or severe enough to interfere with participation in usual school activities. • MAY RETURN AFTER symptoms improving for 24 hours (no cough or cough well-controlled.)

3. DIFFICULTY BREATHING OR SHORTNESS OF BREATH not explained by situation such as exercise: feeling unable to catch their breath, gasping for air, breathing too fast or too shallowly, breathing with extra effort such as using muscles of the stomach, chest, or neck. • MAY RETURN AFTER symptoms improving for 24 hours. • This symptom is likely to require immediate medical attention

4. HEADACHE WITH STIFF NECK AND FEVER. • MAY RETURN AFTER fever-free for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medicine AND symptoms resolve. • This combination of symptoms may indicate a serious condition. Advise student’s guardian to seek medical attention.

5. DIARRHEA: three or more watery or loose stools in 24 hours OR sudden onset of loose stools OR student unable to control bowel function when previously able. • MAY RETURN AFTER 48 hours after diarrhea resolves OR after seen and cleared by a licensed healthcare provider or LPHA for specific diarrheal diagnoses.

6. VOMITING: at least 1 episode that is unexplained. • MAY RETURN AFTER 48 hours after last episode of vomiting OR after seen and cleared by a licensed healthcare provider.