SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE Dr. Gaylen Smyer

CASSIA COUNTY

SCHOOL

DISTRICT

DECEMBER 2013

Cassia Communicator

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the

snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It

came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or

bags. And he puzzled and

puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if

Christmas, he thought, does-n't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means

a l i t t l e b i t more .” ― Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch

Stole Christmas!

Inside this issue:

Board Meeting

2

No Stress Christmas

Safe School Training

3

Winter Safety Tips 4

Bloodborne Pathogens 5

PERSI

Project Rudolph

6

December Birthdays 7

Christmas Trivia 8

A Season of Reflection As we change seasons, moving from autumn to winter, I am increasingly amazed at how fast time

seems to move. It does not seem all that long ago we were beginning a new school year but we are

now past the Thanksgiving holiday. Christmas will be here soon providing people with a break in rou-

tine that often times serves to invigorate. This time of year gives pause for reflection in both our per-

sonal and professional lives. In spite of all the challenges and difficulties we face, the school district con-

tinues to improve and our students are being well served by dedicated individuals committed to their success. I would be remiss if I did not thank each of you for your contribution to the success of stu-

dents and for working to improve our schools and district.

Staff effort is evidenced by student achievement, for which there are many measures. Certainly we

applaud the student who performs at a high level on standardized tests. We also value each student’s

grade point average and encourage them to strive for excellence. Similarly, the Idaho High School Ac-

tivities Association recognizes the academic achievement of participants by providing Academic State

Champion awards in each sport in each classification.

Through the years numerous Cassia County teams have been recognized as the Academic State

Champions. Thus far this year the Raft River (1A Div 1) and Oakley (2A) football teams along with the

Declo (2A) volleyball team were named State Academic Champions in their respective classifications.

The academic performance of these student athletes is a tribute to their personal dedication and to the

encouragement and support received from teachers, parents, and others. The greater the number of

team members the more difficult it is to receive this honor. I am reminded that one year ago Declo

High School won its first state football championship. This was an incredible feat recently matched for

the second year in a row. The 2012-2013 Declo football team was also named the 2A Academic State

Champions. To win a state championship and be named the Academic Champions in the same year is a

rare occurrence. As previously mentioned, there have been numerous other sports and dance teams

that have received this honor and I want to congratulate students for making education a priority in

their life as they develop other athletic talents.

I want to take this opportunity to promote student achievement away from the sports arena. Each

year the Danny Morona Foundation provides scholarships to area performing arts students. These

students will perform before judges in the King Fine Arts Center on January 7, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. You

may have seen “America’s Got Talent” or something similar on television. I want you to know there is

considerable talent within the ranks of our high school juniors and seniors. I highly recommend this

evening as a rewarding opportunity to observe student performances.

Reflecting on accomplishments and shortcomings allows one the opportunity to reprioritize and

refocus going forward. While some people commit to a significant New Year’s resolution, others of us

tend to set smaller goals. Regardless of the methodology, committing to personal and professional

improvement serves to increase our effectiveness and personal satisfaction. It seems there is always

room for improvement and I admire those that continually work to perfect their craft for greater im-

pact on student achievement. One of the gifts we receive as educators is that of taking pride in the

accomplishments of our students. Thanks for all you do to prepare our students for success in a dy-

namic and challenging future. Each employee is an important part of a functional whole critical in assist-

ing young people to become productive adults. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

and may you have a safe and relaxing Christmas break.

Central School Office will be closed

in conjunction with the Christmas

Break. The office will close at 4:30

p.m. on Friday, December 20, 2013

and re-open on Monday, January 6th.

Pay checks will be available at your

location on Friday, December 20th.

The staff at Central School Office wishes you and your family a very

Merry Christmas!

NOVEMBER BOARD MEETING

CHRISTMAS BREAK

Page 2 Cassia Communicator

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.

It turns what we have into enough,

and more. It turns denial into accep-

tance, chaos to order, confusion to

clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast,

a house into a home, a stranger into a

friend. Gratitude makes sense of our

past, bring peace for today and cre-

ates a vision for tomorrow.

Melody Beattie

The November Board Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. on November 26, 2013.

Minutes from previous meetings were read and approved. The Board approved the bills since the last regular meeting.

The Board approved the revisions to Policy 474, Group Health Insurance Benefits for Non-certificated Employees, Policy 553,

Student Pre-Expulsion Discipline Hearing (DDRC), and Policy 611, Alternate Route to Graduation Plan. The Board approved

Policy 560.10, Use of Physical Restraint and/or Seclusion of a Student and tabled the proposed changes to Policy 551, Drug,

Alcohol, and Tobacco Use.

Pam Wade was presented with a certificate as the recipient of the 2014 Idaho School Boards Association Citizenship Award.

Bryan Reiter, City of Burley Engineer, attended the meeting to share with the Board the plans to create a bus loading zone

adjacent to the pre-school center. The Board approved the proposal.

Rita Ramsey made a presentation concerning a Patriot Academy which is held in Boise each August and the Board approved

her to contact the high schools to disseminate information.

It was approved for Idaho State University Credit Union to contact students for membership and to begin the use of debit

cards.

The Board approved calling for bus bids to be opened at 2:00 p.m. on December 16, 2013. The Board is pricing two trip buses

with individual seating, additional storage, and air conditioning along with a special needs bus and a regular 75 passenger bus.

The Board approved payment in lieu of transportation for a hearing impaired student attending the Idaho School for the Deaf

and Blind in Gooding two to three days per week.

The Board approved sending Suzie Macias to the National Association of Bilingual Education in San Diego in February. A com-

bination of state and federal funds will defray the travel. The Declo High School Bands were approved to travel at no cost to

the district to Seattle for a competition in April. The Board approved the Oakley High School Boys Basketball team to travel

to Salt Lake City to attend a basketball game. There will be no cost to the district. The Board approved sending 3-4 people to

the Title I Conference in San Diego in February at no cost to the district.

The Board approved the Alternate Route to Graduation requests submitted by students that have not banked the necessary

ISAT scores.

Five separations of employment from the school district were approved, 18 new hires were approved and a leave of absence

for a para-educator was approved.

Remember

being a kid

and the holi-

days meant

time off

from school,

hot choco-

late and the

countdown

to lots of

toys? As

adults, it feels a bit different.

While the holidays are com-

mercialized to be a warm

and fuzzy time of year, they

can also turn out to be a

mixed bag of feelings and

stress.

1. Acknowledge your

feelings. If someone

close to you has re-

cently died or you can’t

be with loved ones,

realize that it’s normal

to feel sadness and

grief. It’s OK to take

time to cry or express

your feelings.

2. Reach Out. If you feel

lonely or isolated, seek

out community, reli-

gious or other social

events. Volunteering

your time to help oth-

ers also is a good way

to lift your spirits and

broaden your friend-

ships.

3. Be realistic. The holi-

days don’t have to be

perfect or just like last

year. As families change

and grow, traditions

and rituals often change

as well.

4. Set aside differences.

Try to accept family

members and friends as

they are. Set aside

grievances until a more

appropriate time for

discussion.

5. Stick to a budget.

Before you go gift and

food shopping, decide

how much money you

can afford to spend.

Then stick to your

budget. Don’t try to

buy happiness with an

avalanche of gifts.

6. Learn to say no. Say-

ing yes when you

should say no can leave

you feeling resentful

and overwhelmed.

7. Don’t abandon

healthy habits. Don’t

let the holidays become

a free-for-all. Overin-

dulgence only adds to

your stress and guilt.

Have a healthy snack

before holiday parties

so that you don’t go

overboard on sweets.

Continue to get plenty

of sleep and physical

activity.

8. Take a breather.

Make some time for

yourself. Spending just

15 minutes alone, with-

out distractions, may

refresh you enough to

handle everything you

need to do. Take a walk

at night and stargaze.

Listen to soothing mu-

sic. Find something that

reduces stress by clear-

ing your mind, slowing

your breathing and re-

storing inner calm.

All I Want for Christmas is………………...NO STRESS!!

Page 3

Have you completed your

Safe School Training yet?

Over half of our employees have not

completed the training. Please re-

member that the due date to have

your Safe School Training completed is

January 1, 2014 and it is rapidly ap-

proaching! If you are having problems accessing the site

or need some basic help, please contact Darla Wright at

the District Office.

SAFE

SCHOOL

TRAINING

NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED

BY JANUARY 1,

2014

EMPLOYEES

WHO HAVE

THEIR SAFE

SCHOOL

TRAINING

100%

COMPLETED

BY 1/1/14 WILL

HAVE THEIR

NAME

ENTERED

INTO A

DRAWING FOR

A $50.00 GIFT

CARD. YOU

COULD BE

THE LUCKY

WINNER!

The first meeting for the purpose of Assessing the Educational Needs in the Community was held on November 21st in Raft River. There are three more meetings scheduled. They are:

Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. at the Oakley High School. .

Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. in the Burley High School Little Theater.

Thursday, January 9, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. in the Declo High School auditorium

Staff input is integral to assuring the development of a comprehensive list of needs. The community lists will become a compilation of needs for use in de-veloping short and long-term goals.

you work more efficiently, you

also reduce the risk of injuring

yourself.

4. FORGET COFFEE AND

CIGARETTES

Before shoveling or doing any strenuous work, avoid caffeine

and nicotine. They increase

your heart rate and may cause

your blood vessels to constrict.

5. ROCK SALT+KITTY

LITTER = SAFER WALK-

WAYS

Have some rock salt and kitty

litter on hand. Rock salt helps

melt the ice on slippery sur-

faces. Kitty litter gives tempo-

rary traction.

6. TIN CAN + MATCHES +

CANDLE + PAPER CUP +

SNOW =

DRINKING WATER

Yes, you read the equation

right. Before going on the road,

take a tin can, candle, paper

cup and some matches. Should

you get stuck in the middle of

the road and run short on wa-

ter, you can always melt some

snow with these supplies. Make

them a part of your emergency

kit.

7. WARM UP BEFORE

DRIVING OFF

While it pays to do some stretching exercises before

shoveling, you should warm up

your vehicle too. This helps

reduce the moisture condensa-

tion on the inside of your car

windows. Remember, though,

not to warm up your vehicle in

a closed garage.

8. SIX INCHES EQUALS

DANGER

Be wary of floods. Be doubly

cautious of running water that

is 6 inches deep or more, or

you run the risk of getting

swept off your feet.

9. REPORT THOSE

DAMAGED LINES!

After a winter storm, immedi-

ately report any downed

power lines or broken gas

lines.

Here are

nine tips

that can

help

keep you safe during the winter

season.

1. BRING OUT THOSE

HANDS

Hold it! Don’t remove those

gloves or mittens just yet. Think twice before walking

outside with your hands in

your pockets. Why? Because

keeping your hand in your

pockets increases the risk of

you falling or completely losing

your balance in case you slip

while walking on ice or snow.

2. MITTENS VS GLOVES

Gloves are so fashionable, but

mittens can actually save your

life. With your fingers touching

each other inside mittens, they

generate more body heat than

when they’re inside gloves.

3. WARM UP BEFORE

SHOVELING

Before you get rid of all the

snow and ice, do some stretch-

ing exercises first. You can also

march in place or walk for a

couple of minutes. With your

muscles all warm, not only will

Page 4 Cassia Communicator

NINE WINTER

SAFETY TIPS

YOU MAY

NOT

KNOW!

ASSESSING THE EDUCATION NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS

WHO IS AT

RISK?

Custodians

are the ones

who keep the

buildings clean.

If there is an accident, they are

the one to clean it up. It is

crucial they know the proper

procedures and guidelines for handling a blood spill.

Bus drivers are often the first

school employee children see

in the morning. If a student gets

hurt or has a bloody nose, Bob

needs to know how to protect

himself.

Food service workers are

the friendly faces students see

when they get meals at school.

They need to know the risks of

transmitting viral and bacterial

infections. The school secre-

tary is often the first one who

students come to with a prob-

lem. They need to know how

to protect themselves from

bloodborne pathogens.

Teachers never know if a

student will have a bloody

nose, scrape, cut or get sick

and vomit.

Paras, while helping to make

the school day run smoothly

need to know proper precau-

tions to take.

Coaches always know there is

a chance that a student can

Many school employees can

expect to come in contact with

blood and other body fluids

while at work. It could be in

the classroom, on the play-

ground, on the playing field, or

on the school bus.

EVERYONE has the poten-

tial to come into contact with

bloodborne pathogens.

It is important that every em-

ployee understand what a bloodborne pathogen is, under-

stand the danger of exposure

to infections and understand

the ways you can minimize

your risk.

Bloodborne pathogens may

be present in blood and other

materials, such as body fluids

containing visible blood, semen

and vaginal secretions, broken

skin, or saliva. Bloodborne

pathogens can cause infection

by entering your body through

open cuts and nicks, skin abra-

sion, dermatitis, acne or mu-cous membranes of your

mouth, eyes, or nose.

An occupational-exposure

occurs in the workplace when

blood or other potentially in-

fectious body fluids come into

contact with your eyes, skin, or

mucous membranes, or when

you have parenteral contact

with blood (piercing of the skin

or mucous membranes by a

needle or sharp instrument,

human bits, cuts and abrasions).

What can YOU do to protect

yourself?

HANDWASHING

Washing your hands is one

of the most effective ways

of preventing disease trans-

mission.

Always wash your hands after

using the bathroom, handling

any body fluids, or removing

disposable gloves. Use hand

sanitizer when soap and water

are not available.

GLOVES

When taking

care of any injury

involving body

fluids, gloves

should be used.

Gloves should only be used

once and then disposed of

properly by placing them in a

plastic zipper bag or plastic

garbage bag, sealing it after

placing gloves,

gauze, etc.

inside. CLEANING

After a blood

spill, the area

needs to be cleaned using an

EPA-approved hospital grade

disinfectant. Use a biohazard

wastebag to dispose of infected

materials. If biohazard waste-

bags are not available, double-

bag the waste and apply a label

indicating that the contents are

potentially harmful. Sharp

items, like broken glass or nee-

dles, should never be disposed

of in a trash bag. Those items should be placed in a sharps

container.

It is critical that you report

any exposure incident im-

mediately. Following any

exposure to another person’s

blood, you should immediately

follow these three basic steps:

FLUSH the exposed area

with water

WASH the area thor-

oughly with soap and wa-

ter

REPORT the incident within 1 to 2 hours to

your supervisor and Gail

at Central Office.

WHAT WOULD

YOU DO?

Sam has cut his finger. There is

blood everywhere. As a school

employee, what do you do?

Your first instinct is to rush to

his aid. What should be your

second instinct? You should

grab a pair of gloves or, if they

weren’t readily accessible, use

something else—like a plastic

bag or piece of clothing to

create a barrier between your

skin and Sam’s as you clean his

cut and apply pressure to stop

the bleeding.

YOUR HEALTH—BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS

Page 5 Volume 1, Issue 1

PERSI has an On-line Self Guided Training at the following web address

http://www.persi.idaho.gov/documents/Self-Guided_NewEmployee_PERSI_Orientation.pdf

The presentation describes and discusses how being a

member of PERSI can benefit you and also helps you to

understand the processes associated with PERSI and re-

tirement and options available to you. If you are just

starting your career, changing careers, entering the

workforce a little later in life, entering the public sector

from a primarily private sector employment, or just want

more information, this is a great presentation.

PERSI

DWORSHAK SUPPORTS

What began as a six-week family project of the Ray and Cheri Archibald family from Oakley has now grown into a world-wide phenomenon. Project Rudolph is a charity that was created in 2006 to give deployed troops and service members holiday cheer. Project Rudolph has grown to distribute more than 14,000 bags of Christmas cheer. What started as a small, local project now receives donations from 46 states and 12 foreign countries. In support of Project Rudolph, Dworshak second graders donated $100 to Ray and Cheri Archibald to help cover the cost of postage to send gift bags to servicemen and women who are serving our Country overseas during the holiday season. In addition to the $100 Donation, Dworshak Elementary also presented the Archi-balds with ornaments, letters, gift bags, and 157 pounds of candy.

Presenting a check to Ray and Cheri Archibald are: Front: (L to R) Todd, Rachel

Back: (L to R) Ryker, Easton, Dylan, and Porter

Page 6 Cassia Communicator

BIRTHDAYS

Page 7 Volume 1, Issue 1

Rachel Jensen 1

Zulema Macias 1

Aaron Merrill 1

Ricky Robinson 2

Peggy Hess 3

Claudia Mesina-Rodriguez 3

Jay Darrington 4

Emmeline Maestas 4

Karen Thomas 6

Sheri Smith 7

Robin Bench 8

Tina Mensing 8

Carl Voigt 8

Alysann Alves 9

Deborah Bell 10

Brenda Dille 10

Kathryn Muir 10

Danielle Mikesell 11

Guadalupe Cardenas 12

Rita Moses 14

Diane Bell 15

Kyle Dunfee 15

Estrella Hanks 15

Lawanda Murri 15

Jeanne Allen 16

Shanna Deleon 16

Imelda Early 16

Delores Smyer 16

Jennifer Fassler 17

Linda Christensen 18

Dawn Higley 18

Linda Turner 19

Larry Anderson 20

Lex Godfrey 20

Ellen Salazar 20

Pamela Young 20

Ashly Karlson 21

Jan Kidd 21

Christine Allshouse 23

David Ringle 23

Wendy McClean 24

Jenny Holt 25

Becky Peterson 25

Jerod Cannon 28

Deann Campbell 29

Gyda Stimpson 29

Lydia Torrez 29

Cindy Manning 30

Vance Oakeson 30

Janet Cole 31

Crystal Granillo 31

Debbie Pierce 31

3650 Overland Avenue Burley, ID 83318

208-878-6600

Phone: 555-555

1. We all know that Rudolph has a red nose, but does he have antlers?

2. In the song “Jingle Bells” who was seated by my side?

3. Yogi Bear spends his first Christmas in what park?

4. Round or oval candies filled with fruit preserves or cream and covered with

chocolate are called?

5. In which Christmas song are the lyrics, “to see if reindeer really know how to

fly?”

6. Peter, Paul and Mary had this No. 1 song during Christmas 1969?

7. Which country created eggnog?

8. Christmas Ridge is located in what underwater mountain range?

9. Alvin the Chipmunk wants what for Christmas?

10. Who first recorded “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer?

11. This state was the last to declare Christmas a legal holiday?

12. What river did General Washington cross on December 25, 1776?

13. In the poem, “The Night Before Christmas” Santa Claus is used how many

times?

14. What men’s grooming appliance became a sled for Santa in commercials of the

1960’s?

15. What historical Washington DC building was 2/3 destroyed by fire on

12/24/1851?

16. New Year’s 1973 was the final publication of what 36 year old magazine?

17. This most popular Christmas toy in 1983-1985 were unique and no two were

exactly alike.

18. Symbolically what do the red holly berries represent?

19. What happened to Pope Gregory VII while saying mass on Christmas Day?

20. In 1980 on the day after Christmas, 52 of these offered holiday greetings to

their families.

CASSIA COUNTY

SCHOOL DISTRICT

CHRISTMAS TRIVIA

THE FIRST THREE EMPLOYEES TO EMAIL

THE CORRECT ANSWERS (ANSWERS

ACCORDING TO GAIL) WILL RECEIVE A

PRIZE. EMAIL ANSWERS TO

galgail@cassiaschools.org

Do you have news

to share with us? We know there are

wonderful things

happening in your schools every day.

We want you to

share with us! If

you have something

to include in The

Communicator,

please contact Gail

Gallegos at Central

Office. The Com-

municator is pub-

lished once each

month.

But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he

drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a

good-night!"