The Middleton School District strongly encourages students to be in attendance each day. We believe that student absences do have a negative impact on student learning. High student absenteeism is the factor most associated with high dropout rates. Student absences also affect the state financial support received by each Idaho School District to educate your child(ren).

Excessive student absenteeism is often a result of one or more of the following six factors:

1. Students who have excessive student absenteeism often have a less favorable impression of school. These students may need to be reassured that they are respected for who they are, be required to do their best and be provided the help to achieve their best.

2. Students who have excessive student absenteeism often perceive parental discipline as being lax or inconsistent. The need for daily attendance at school and the impact it has on the student’s overall education may not have been reinforced.

3. Students who have excessive student absenteeism often believe parents are attempting to exert more control over them.

4. Students who have excessive student absenteeism feel academically inferior to others. These students often cannot keep up with the schoolwork or are failing and may need additional assistance with their schoolwork.

5. Students who have excessive student absenteeism experience more than the normal family conflicts at home.

6. Students who have excessive student absenteeism may feel less socially competent in class. These students may not have experienced positive relationships with other students and may not feel safe at school.

All of these variables are interrelated and therefore, success in increasing student attendance is more probable if community members, organizations, parents, students and school staff share in the tasks of identifying solutions to all these concerns.

The School District supports “quality learning and superior performance for all.” To achieve these goals -- parents and students must form a working partnership with our schools and their staff. One important aspect of this partnership is good school attendance, which helps fund our schools. Our average daily attendance (ADA) is computed to determine how many dollars we get and each child present (every day) allows us to collect about $1,300 per student annually. When students are present for critical academic instruction, they are able to master academic material and life skills knowledge. This knowledge will enable them to achieve success in higher education and the future world of work. Good daily attendance correlates directly with success in school. Punctuality and good attendance are life skills modeled by parents, which will carry over into adulthood. Parental attitude sets and example, which has a great impact on children. Parents need to let their children know how important school is to their future success. The School District will continue striving to provide a quality and meaningful education that will prepare all Middleton students for the future. Parents in partnership with the school and community can make sure their students attend school daily; complete the academic requirements, graduate from high school, and learn the values and skills needed so they can be successful in the world of work. Through this partnership, the goal of “quality learning and superior performance for all” will be attained.

Here are some suggestions as to how parents can assist us in improving your child’s school attendance:

 Talk with your child about the importance of attending school regularly and determine if there are specific reasons your child does not want to attend school. If the reasons given are specific to school, talk with the child’s respective teacher about his/her concerns.

 Avoid scheduling family trips or doctor appointments during school hours.

 Make sure your child stays healthy by eating nutritious food, getting enough sleep and exercise.

 Do not accept excuses for why your child ‘must’ miss or be late for school.

 Discuss with your child what happens each day at school. Support school rules and consequences for skipping class and being tardy.

 Lead by example. Parents, who regularly attend work, set a good example for consistent school attendance by their child.

 Show your child why education is important. Give specific examples of how education helps people succeed.

MIDDLETON SCHOOL DISTRICT #134

Guidelines for Novel H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)

Middleton School District Board Members, Administration and Nursing Staff are working closely with Southwest District Health Department to monitor the anticipated arrival of H1N1 flu. Our goal is to implement the best strategies to prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu and other contagious diseases within our student body and staff at each school and throughout the District, by utilizing the following steps:

 Following Middleton School District Health Guidelines regarding any student illness. Students will be sent home when:

• There is uncontrolled or non-contained bodily fluid such as blood, vomit, diarrhea or nasal secretions.
• A temperature of 100.2 degrees or higher is present.
• An undiagnosed rash is present.
• Signs/symptoms of illness are present, such as, but not limited to, uncontrolled cough or pinkeye.

 Promoting good hand hygiene.
 Encouraging covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.

Flu can spread easily from person to person. Parents are invaluable in helping prevent the spread of illness at school. Here are a few things parents can do:

 Teach children to wash their hands often. The swine flu virus can survive on
surfaces for 2 to 8 hours. It is transferred when an individual contacts the virus and then touches their eyes, nose or mouth before washing their hands.
 Besides frequent hand washing, washing with an antimicrobial (such as Hibiclens Antiseptic
Wash) can reduce the risk up to six hours between hand washing. Use hand sanitizers
frequently when a sink is not available.
 Avoid crowds.
 Teach children not to share personal items.
 Teach children to cover their cough or sneeze.
 Get plenty of sleep to keep the immune system strong.
 Know the signs and symptoms of the flu:

• Fever of 100.2 degrees or higher, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, feeling tired (may also vomit or have diarrhea).

 Do not send children to school if they experience the above symptoms and are
sick. Isolate ill individuals from the rest of the family and community.
 CDC recommends individuals stay in isolation for 7 days after the onset of illness
or for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever without using fever-reducing drugs.
 Call your family physician if you have any concerns regarding your child’s
illness.

For the most current information about the flu, visit www.flu.gov, call 1-800-CDC-INFO or contact one of our two school nurses (Merrilyn Jefferies and Carolyn Cramer).

Children who are sick should be kept home. Flu symptoms include fever (100° F or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea. If your child becomes sick, please let us know his or her symptoms when you call to report the absent. Your child may return to school once his/her fever has been gone for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medications.

Health officials say most students will recover with good common sense practices at home and without needing medical care. They recommend that parents should use the same judgment about whether to take an ill child to the doctor as they would during normal flu season. Parents are advised to seek medical care if their child has:

* Fever above 100° F,
* Fast breathing or trouble breathing,
* Bluish or gray skin color,
* Not urinating or no tears when crying,
* Not drinking enough fluids,
* Sudden dizziness,
* Severe or persistent vomiting,
* Confusion,
* Being very sleepy or confused,
* Being so irritable that nothing makes the child feel better,
* Pain or pressure in the chest or stomach area,
* Flu-like symptoms improve but return with fever and more severe cough.

H1N1 Influenza – Preventive Measures We Are Taking As A District

1) School nurses and other staff will continue to teach children about

• proper hand washing
• coughing etiquette and
• not sharing food and beverages

2) Using a strong disinfectant/cleaner to disinfect the main building student contact surfaces.

3) Teachers are asking students to sanitize their desks at the end of each day.

4) Hand gel available for added protection throughout the day, when hand washing is not convenient.

The Middleton School District Board members unanimously approved the following as the date, time and location of their regular monthly meetings:

Date: Second Tuesday of each month
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: District Office Boardroom
5 South 3rd Avenue West
Middleton, ID 83644

A School Board meeting is not a public forum; rather it is a time for the patrons and visitors to listen and observe both the discussion and actions of your elected School Board members. Audience participation (at the discretion of the School Board) may be allowed as a signed in visitor or as an individual/group who has submitted an advance written request.

Individuals and groups wishing to address the School Board should deliver a written request to the Superintendent’s office by 4 pm, seven days prior to the scheduled School Board meeting. No action on your item will be taken at that time. However, action could be scheduled for a subsequent meeting of the School Board.

Individuals approved to address the School Board will be limited to three minutes in duration. Delegations or large groups approved to address the School Board will be limited to fifteen minutes in duration and have one designated spokesperson.

As elected representatives, School Board members encourage your input to them, prior to monthly meetings as well as your attendance (as patrons) at their regular monthly meetings, PTA meetings, Booster Club meetings and other school related events.