Thursday, September 14, 2023 Volume 18 Issue 1
Ms. Davidheiser, our assistant principal, and I are so happy to be working with you and your family this year. This year Erin McGibbon Smith, parent of a 4th grader, has agreed to be our Pup Press editor. I want to start my first article of the year by thanking her for taking on this big job!
I promised this week I would share with you who you can go to for specific questions you may have. Ms. Davidheiser, our fabulous assistant principal, and I share responsibilities, and our Head Teacher, Ms. Tyshler, is also someone you may be reaching out to.
Don’t worry if you can’t remember who to go to for something. We will help to direct you to the right person. As always, if you have a question about something in a particular classroom, please speak to the classroom teacher first. They are eager to work with you and we will direct you back to them if you have not already spoken to them.
Go to Ms. May (kjmay1@seattleschools.org) for:
Questions about grades preschool–3rd grade (plus Ms. Damitio’s class)
Coordination with Friends of Thurgood Marshall
Questions related to school-wide communication
Hiring Teams and Training
Our building schedule
Arts Team, Building Leadership Team
School pictures/yearbooks
Assemblies
Academic Parent Teacher Teams
Go to Ms. Davidheiser (csdavidheise@seattleschools.org) for:
Questions about grades 4th and 5th, English Language Learners and Specialists (Art, Music, and PE)
Questions about recess
Discipline Plan for the building
Special Education/504 Plans/coordination with nurse of health plans
Field Trips
Schoolwide Enrichment Model
Attendance
Building Safety Plan and Protocols
Go to Ms. Tyshler (altyshler@seattlschools.org ) for:
Individual disciplinary situations
Our Schoolwide Positive Behavior Plan
Go to Ms. Matsui (School Counselor) and Mr. Hawkins (Family Support Worker) for:
Mental Health or parenting referrals
Community Resources
Best,
Ms. May
Information from the state Ombuds Department
The Washington State Governor’s Office of the Education Ombuds (OEO) is an independent state agency that helps to reduce educational opportunity gaps by supporting families, students, educators, and other stakeholders in communities across WA in understanding the K-12 school system and resolving concerns collaboratively. OEO services are free and confidential. Anyone can contact OEO with a question or concern about school.
OEO listens, shares information and referrals, and works informally with families, communities, and schools to address concerns so that every student can fully participate and thrive in our state’s public schools. OEO provides support in multiple languages and has telephone interpretation available. To get help or learn more about what OEO does, please visit our website: https://www.oeo.wa.gov/en; email oeoinfo@gov.wa.gov, or call: 1-866-297-2597 (English; interpretation available).
Information from Nurse Colima
Hello and welcome to the new school year. I am the full-time nurse at Thurgood Marshall. I look forward to working with you this year to keep your child healthy and ready to learn! Here are a few helpful things to remember.
• Students who have diarrhea, vomiting, or a fever must be sent home. • Students must be diarrhea/vomit/fever-free (without the aid of medicine) for 24 hours before returning to school.
• Not every child will be sent to the nurse’s office. Teachers and staff do a great job of triaging situations (e.g. stomachache—is the child hungry or do they need to use the toilet?) so students maximize their classroom time and education.
• The nurse cannot give out medications, apply antimicrobial ointment, or apply topical anti-itch cream without a prescription on file. Students should not have any medicines, creams, inhalers, supplements, or similar products in their possession unless accommodation has been made ahead of time. This would include a provider Medication Authorization form. All medications are kept in the nurse’s office. If your child has an epi-pen, seizure medication, inhaler, or other prescribed medication for routine or emergency administration during school hours, a Seattle Public Schools Medication Authorization form must be provided, along with the medication. Please contact Nurse Colima if you need help accessing this form. • If your child takes daily medication at home in the morning or evening it is best practice to have a 3-day supply at school in the event of an emergency. This would include anti-seizure, ADHD, hypo/hyperthyroid medications, etc. Please contact Nurse Colima to help facilitate this process. • If your child has frequent earaches, headaches, or strong menstrual cramps it might be a good idea to have their provider fill out a Medication Authorization form for acetaminophen or ibuprofen as needed. • The nurse cannot call/Talking Points text/email parents/guardians for every nurse’s office visit. Most often the nurse will send a Talking Points text. Examples of when the nurse will contact a parent/guardian:
Fever/diarrhea/vomit or other reason that may require a pick-up
Head injury
Emergency medications administered at school (inhaler, epi-pen, etc.)
Frequent nurse office visits
Significant cut or other injury
Nosebleed that lasts longer than usual or required a clothing change
In health, Nurse Colima
Colima Gibbons, RN (she/her)
School Nurse
Thurgood Marshall Elementary
Seattle Public Schools
Monday – Friday 7:25 am – 2:55 pm
Wednesdays 7:25 am – 1:40 pm
SPS Phone: 206-252-2807
Confidential Fax: 206-743-3177
cmgibbons@seattleschools.org
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