TIME OFF
DATES NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO REQUEST TIME OFF
JUNE 5- JUNE 16, 2023
BLS NURSE CHECK-IN SURVEY
Check it out here.
NURSE TEAM PRIORITIES FOR 23/24 SCHOOL YEAR
Please sign up to be on one or more Priority Teams. Your input is needed!!
Priority #1 Standardized Onboarding Process – 5 nurses have signed up!!!
Priority #2 More Flexible Scheduling – 4 nurses have signed up!!!
Priority #3 Continuation Expansion of NOSA Role – 2 Nurses have signed up – (We need more!!)
NURSE MEETING
NEXT NURSE MEETING
Middle School Nurse Meeting
Wednesday, May 17th
230-330
(Tami is going to attempt to set it up with Microsoft Teams.)
UP COMING NURSE MEETINGS
High School Nurse Meeting
Wednesday, May 24th
830-930
Microsoft Teams
Last Nurse Meeting
Wednesday, June 7
230-4
Location TBD
COVID COVID COVID
- 5-DAY ISOLATION IS NO LONGER REQUIRED.
- Students may return to school/school sponsored activities when they have been fever free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medications) and symptoms have improved. (Tami will update the websites and Nurse Manual.)
- NO MORE CASE REPORTING!!!
The communications below are being sent out to families and staff today, 5/12/23.
To BLS families:
The COVID-19 federal public health emergency declaration ended on May 11, 2023, and as such the Oregon Health Authority has updated its COVID-19 Response measures for the general population, including K-12 schools. These updates include changes to positive case reporting and isolation time period.
Starting Friday, May 12, 2023:
Students attending Bend-La Pine Schools who test positive for COVID-19 will no longer be required to isolate for 5 days. Students may return to school/school sponsored activities when they have been fever free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medications) and symptoms have improved. “Individuals who test positive are asked to avoid contact with individuals at increased risk for severe disease, including older adults and those with underlying medical conditions; and consider masking for 10 days.” – OHA
Reporting positive cases to the schools is no longer required.
COVID-19 Home Tests:
Bend-La Pine Schools will continue to have iHealth COVID-19 test kits available for use while supplies last through OHA. Parents/guardians should contact their student’s school to obtain tests.
Vaccination Information:
COVID-19 vaccination continues to provide significant protection against serious illness and hospitalization. For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccination locations, visit: the Deschutes County Health Services COVID-19 Vaccine home page.
For more information on the updated OHA COVID-19 response measures, visit the OHA news release: State lifts COVID-19 response measures as federal emergency ends.
To BLS staff:
The COVID-19 federal public health emergency declaration ended on May 11, 2023. The Oregon Health Authority has updated the COVID-19 response measures for the general population, including K-12 schools. These updates include changes to positive case reporting and isolation time period, and employee vaccine reporting requirements that school districts were mandated to follow under emergency Administrative Regulation OAR 333-019-1030.
Starting Friday, May 12, 2023:
Bend-La Pine Schools staff who test positive for COVID-19 will no longer be required to isolate for 5 days. Staff may return to work when they have been fever free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medications) and symptoms have improved. “Individuals who test positive are asked to avoid contact with individuals at increased risk for severe disease, including older adults and those with underlying medical conditions; and consider masking for 10 days.” – OHA
Reporting positive cases to office managers/supervisors is no longer required.
Starting Saturday, June 17, 2023:
Oregon school districts will no longer be prohibited from employing staff who have not submitted either proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a medical/religious exception. Beginning on that date, the district will no longer collect that information as a prerequisite for hire. In the meantime, the district is assessing the state’s requirements for vaccine/exception record retention.
Employees who were granted a medical or religious exception to the vaccination requirement no longer are required to do weekly COVID-19 testing.
COVID-19 Home Tests:
Bend-La Pine Schools will continue to have iHealth COVID-19 test kits available for use while supplies last through OHA. Staff can contact any school site to obtain tests.
Vaccination Information:
COVID-19 vaccination continues to provide significant protection against serious illness and hospitalization. For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccination locations, visit: the Deschutes County Health Services COVID-19 Vaccine home page.For more information on the updated OHA COVID-19 response measures, visit the OHA news release: State lifts COVID-19 response measures as federal emergency ends.
CONCUSSION EDUCATORS CONFERENCE TIDBIT
Dr. Brian Evans
Anxiety = Fear and loss of control. This then promotes catastrophic thinking, increased somatic body tension (headaches, fatigue, dizziness). Then avoidance becomes the problem.
- “Invisible illness”, kids don’t feel believed. We should validate their experience, be empathetic. Then educate the above pathway of emotions leading to physical manifestations.
- Techniques: Validate, Educate, Normalize, Support, Reassure, Language (watch what you say and how you say it, i.e. temporary disruption of brain processes vs brain injury)
Cognitive Behavioral therapy:
1. Target unhelpful thinking. Open/accept thoughts, but not believe them. “If I leave the house, the sunlight will cause a severe headache and further brain damage.”
2. Target problems of avoidance
3. Target problems based on a learned pattern of somatic manifestations
4. Learn better ways of coping
Increasing anxiety – Find ways to promote more parasympathetic states.
One strategy is the 5-4-3-2-1 technique to get out of your head and into your life:
- See 5 things
- Hear 4 things
- Touch 3 things
- Smell 2 things
- Taste 1 thing
SAFETY DEPARTMENT
Safety page on the Portal has a fresh look and new content.
Check out the updated Safety page on the Portal for a one-stop-shop for the tools you use most often. In addition to quick links, policies and newsworthy items, you will also find a link to request camera, Raptor, technology and facilities support.
Effective June 17 the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for public and private school teachers, staff and school volunteers (OAR 333-019-1030) will be lifted.
This means that after June 16, teachers, school staff and volunteers in schools will no longer have to provide proof of vaccination or have a valid medical or religious exception on file to be in direct or indirect contact with students. Being up to date on COVID-19 vaccines continues to offer significant protection against serious illness and hospitalization.
Warm weather reminders:
- Main entrance doors will remain unlocked during school/staff hours.
- All other exterior doors should remain locked during the school day/teacher contract day.
- Exterior doors may not be propped open and left unsupervised.
- Doors may be opened when supervised by a staff person who is within ‘arms reach’ of the door Staff should report concerns of unsupervised, open doors to their administrator and or safety committee for resolution.
- Schools that are not designed to facilitate the locking of all exterior doors, other than the main entrance, will develop a safety plan with the director of elementary, middle or high school programs and the district school safety director. This plan will be reviewed annually.
- Schools with secure vestibules must not override security systems by propping doors or by any other means.
- Violations may be subject to discipline.
IT – WEBEX
From Scott McDonald
This past year, overall usage of WebEx has gone down significantly across the organization. Although many of us still rely on a virtual platform for meetings and professional development, we are using it far less to interact with students. Currently, we support two video conferencing platforms Microsoft Teams, and Cisco WebEx. Our intention is to make a slow transition to exclusively use Microsoft Teams for the 2023-24 school year. There are several compelling reasons for Bend-La Pine Schools to switch to MS Teams, including additional services, integration with email and calendar, and reduced cost. Although many staff have been using Microsoft Teams for years, it is new for students. Currently, we are beginning a trial with our Bend-La Pine Online students. If you or someone at your site often work with students virtually, we would encourage you to be a part of our trial.
Please note that any staff user can still participate virtually in any platform (WebEx, Zoom, Google Meet, etc) the same way they can today. However, those who host meetings with staff or students will be encouraged to use Microsoft Teams. For some, I am certain this is an impactful change. Please feel free to reach out to me directly by email with any specific questions or concerns.
NURSE CONCUSSION/BRAIN INJURY REPORTING FORM
Please remember that you are required to complete the Nurse Concussion/Brain Injury Reporting Form for any concussions/brain injuries reported at your school.
