Rappahannock County Public Schools

School Board Office - 6 Schoolhouse Road

Washington , Virginia 22747

Telephone (540) 987-8773   FAX (540) 987-8896

Email: div078@pen.k12.va.us

Website: http://rappahannock.va.schoolwebpages.com/

Oct. 17, 2007 RCPS Facts 4U

Update on Infection Situation: As promised in a previous RCPS Facts 4U, we will make public notification(s) of doctor-confirmed cases of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). On Oct. 16, we received written notification from a doctor's office that they had diagnosed a second RCHS student with MRSA. The doctor treated and released the student. In addition to the deep cleaning / disinfection done at both schools and on school buses on Oct. 10-11, our staff remains vigilant in reminders to all employees and students to wash hands with soap and warm water regularly. At RCHS staff will install hand sanitizers at the entrance to the cafeteria. Employees will continue regular disinfection procedures recommended by the hospital infection-control department of wiping down and spraying surfaces with specially formulated Clorox and Lysol products as appropriate.

Results of Recent Competitions :

•· The Panther Band earned a second place trophy in the James Wood Invitational on Oct. 13.

•· The Panther Varsity football team was defeated by Clarke County on Oct. 15, but proved Rapp belongs in the Bull Run  District by scoring two TDs in the 4^th quarter. The final score was 26-14.

•· The Panther Varsity Volleyball team traveled to Strasburg on Oct. 15 to take on the Rams in a battle of teams with undefeated records in the Bull Run District. The Panthers jumped out to a 2-1 lead in games, but ended falling to Strasburg 3-2 in five games.

Freshman Football Game Originally Scheduled for Oct. 15 Will be Played Wed., Oct. 17 at 4:30

Division Leadership Team Hears Strategies to Improve Communication: A major goal of the RCPS is to improve communication within the schools and between school and home. We have purchased voice-over Internet phones so classrooms can communicate with the offices. We also purchased Alert-Now programming to enable us to quickly send automated messages to the homes and cell phones of parents and employees. The Division Leadership Team (DLT) of parents, teachers, support staff, administrators and school board members heard reports from both Principals at the DLT's  October meeting on ways the schools plan to improve communication.

RCES Strategies to Improve Communication :

·   Within School - Publish minutes of all meetings and put on computer system in shared folder. Principal will continue to publish weekly updates to staff.

·   School to Home - Principal will continue to send monthly newsletter to families in Tuesday Folders. Principal will send Nutrition Nuggets Newsletter home in Tuesday Folders monthly. Teacher websites will be required to be up-to-date second semester (Incentives will be considered).

·   School to Community - Continue to keep marquee up to date with PTO assistance. Two positive newspaper articles will be submitted to the local paper (one each semester) for the 2007-08 school year.

RCHS Strategies to Improve Communication:

·   RCHS teachers will send home interim reports for every student in every subject half-way through each six week period.

·   RCHS teachers will send home report cards through the students each six weeks. Report cards will be mailed home at the end of each semester.

·   Every RCHS teacher will identify one communication goal to work on for the year as part of their personal performance target goals.

·   All staff will be given a monthly calendar listing all activities for that month to include meetings, facilities use, and athletic competitions.

·   RCHS teachers will give written or verbal positive student feedback to parents on a regular basis.

·   The RCHS National Honor Society students, in conjunction with the Athletic Director, will regularly update the marquee in front of the school.

·   RCHS faculty and staff will make ongoing attempts to respond to parent phone calls and e-mails in a timely manner.

·   RCHS Student Council Association officers will deliver morning and afternoon announcements on a daily basis.

·   RCHS Teachers will be encouraged to post up-to-date classroom websites.

Note: Another major goal is to improve Math performance of students. A report will be made to the School Board on strategies to improve in this vital area at the Board's November meeting.

Deadlines for Students Planning to Go To College (From RCHS Guidance Dept. website) http://rappahannock.va.schoolwebpages.com/education/components/calendar/calendar.php?sectiondetailid=2597&sc_id=1192558633

Oct. 17th - College Fair at Germanna Community College; PSAT given at RCHS

Oct. 24th - Early College Applications Due (November 1 Deadline)

Oct. 27th -  ACT Test

Oct. 30th - December SAT Registration Deadline

Oct. 31st - Prudential Spirit of Community Award/Application Due

Nov. 1st -  Early College Applications Due November 1

Nov. 2nd - Regular Registration Deadline for December ACT Test

Nov. 3rd - SAT

RCPS Events Oct. 17 - 24 :

17th - PSAT Testing at RCHS; 4:00 Cross Country at Millbrook High School ; 4:30 Freshman Football home vs George Mason 

18th - 4:30 JP Volley home vs Wakefield Country Day School; 6:00 JV/Var volleyball home vs Manassas Park 

19th - 6:00 - 8:00 RCES 6/7 grade Halloween Costume Dance Incentive; 7:30 Football at George Mason 

20^th- 9:00 Panther Classic Golf Tournament-Bowling Green North Course 

22nd - Kindergarten Field Trip; 5:00 Scholastic Bowl Tournament at Manassas Park;  6:00 JV/Var Volleyball vs Madison; 6:30 Freshman Football at Strasburg 

23rd - Fall SOL Writing Exam for 11th grade only; 3:50 Math Task Force at SBO;  6:00 JV/Var volleyball at Clarke County 

24th - RCES School Picture Day; Fall SOL Writing Exam for 11th grade only; 10:00 8th Grade Suicide Prevention Program (Auditorium-High School); 4:00 Cross Country- Bull Run District (Home) 

Rappahannock County Public Schools

School Board Office - 6 Schoolhouse Road

Washington , Virginia 22747

Telephone (540) 987-8773   FAX (540) 987-8896

Email: div078@pen.k12.va.us

Website: http://rappahannock.va.schoolwebpages.com/

Oct. 12, 2007 RCPS Facts 4U 

Late Breaking News: The Bull Run District Council has ruled that the Rappahannock vs. Clarke football game will be played at RCHS at 4:00 PM this Monday, October 15. This game was postponed from Oct. 13. Also, the Panther Volleyball Team will face Strasburg on Monday, Oct. 15, at approximately 7:00 in a battle of Bull Run district unbeaten teams. This game was to have been played Oct. 9, but was postponed due to the closing of schools.

RCPS Classes Will Resume Monday, Oct. 15: The RCPS has completed its work in an effort to insure the safety of students and staff. All disinfection of facilities was completed by 10 AM, Thursday, Oct. 11. There was no school Thursday due to Parent-Teacher conferences, and there is no school today due to staff-development meetings.

The only current doctor-confirmed case of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) was the one football player who was hospitalized on Oct. 5. We were informed of the MRSA diagnosis on Oct. 9, the day we decided to close schools for Oct. 10. That student has now been released and his parent told me the young man is "doing well." The School Nurse recommended that several students go to the hospital to be checked out by a doctor. They were all treated and released. As of noon on Oct. 12, the only doctor-confirmed case of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) was the one football player mentioned above.

Note: WE made the decision to close school for Oct. 10 and were NOT required to do so by health authorities. Most other schools who had one or more cases of students with MRSA did NOT close. We closed schools to take the precautionary steps to protect the health and safety of our students and employees.

If other cases of MRSA are confirmed by doctors, we will notify the public. We will be vigilant in following the recommendations of the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Infection. The following information was copied from the CDC website which is http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa_ca.html

Overview of Community-Associated MRSA

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a type of staph that is resistant to certain antibiotics. These antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened immune systems (see healthcare-associated MRSA).

MRSA infections that are acquired by persons who have not been recently (within the past year) hospitalized or had a medical procedure (such as dialysis, surgery, catheters) are known as CA-MRSA infections. Staph or MRSA infections in the community are usually manifested as skin infections, such as pimples and boils, and occur in otherwise healthy people.

What is community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA)?

Staph and MRSA can also cause illness in persons outside of hospitals and healthcare facilities. MRSA infections that are acquired by persons who have not been recently (within the past year) hospitalized or had a medical procedure (such as dialysis, surgery, catheters) are know as CA-MRSA infections. Staph or MRSA infections in the community are usually manifested as skin infections, such as pimples and boils, and occur in otherwise healthy people.

How common are staph and MRSA infections?

Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infection in the United States and are a common cause of pneumonia, surgical wound infections, and bloodstream infections. The majority of MRSA infections occur among patients in hospitals or other healthcare settings; however, it is becoming more common in the community setting. Data from a prospective study in 2003, suggests that 12% of clinical MRSA infections are community-associated, but this varies by geographic region and population.

What does a staph or MRSA infection look like?

Staph bacteria, including MRSA, can cause skin infections that may look like a pimple or boil and can be red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other drainage. More serious infections may cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections, or surgical wound infections.

How can I prevent staph or MRSA skin infections?

Practice good hygiene:

•1. Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

•2. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.

•3. Avoid contact with other people's wounds or bandages.

•4. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.

What should I do if I think I have a staph or MRSA infection?

See your healthcare provider.

Are staph and MRSA infections treatable?

Yes. Most staph and MRSA infections are treatable with antibiotics. If you are given an antibiotic, take all of the doses, even if the infection is getting better, unless your doctor tells you to stop taking it. Do not share antibiotics with other people or save unfinished antibiotics to use at another time.

However, many staph skin infections may be treated by draining the abscess or boil and may not require antibiotics. Drainage of skin boils or abscesses should only be done by a healthcare provider.

If after visiting your healthcare provider the infection is not getting better after a few days, contact them again. If other people you know or live with get the same infection tell them to go to their healthcare provider.

Rappahannock County Public Schools

School Board Office - 6 Schoolhouse Road

Washington , Virginia 22747

Telephone (540) 987-8773   FAX (540) 987-8896

Email: div078@pen.k12.va.us

Website: http://rappahannock.va.schoolwebpages.com/

Oct. 10, 2007 RCPS Facts 4U

Schools  Closed Oct. 10 Due to Infection: A student at RCHS was diagnosed and hospitalized with a Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus (Staph) Auras infection known as MRSA. According to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) MRSA does not cause infection unless it enters the body through an open cut or wound. RCHS Principal Robyn Puryear, her staff, and I are working closely with the VDH which has made a number of recommendations. According to a letter to Parents from Ms. Puryear, "We are in the process of implementing an array of control measures, including environmental cleaning, thorough disinfecting of any exposed areas in the school, parental notification, and improving hand washing practices by students."
Although the VDH did NOT require us to close schools, I sent the following notice out on Ms. Puryear's letter: "So that we can do necessary disinfection procedures at the schools BOTH SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED WED., OCT. 10. THE SCHOOLS WILL REOPEN AT NOON THURSDAY, OCT. 11 FOR PARENT CONFERENCES (2-5 & 6-8 PM). ALSO, THERE WILL BE NO AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES WED. OCT. 10."

One of the recommendations the VDH Epidemiologist made was to have the School Nurse screen all football players for symptoms. Three were found to have raised red bumps and were sent to the hospital. The hospital treated (with appropriate antibiotics) and released these three players. Ms. Puryear told me today that the hospital did this "preventive treatment" and did NOT make a MRSA diagnosis, apparently feeling their cases had been caught soon enough to not require hospitalization. The school learned Tuesday that another football player had been diagnosed and treated for the same infection in August. According to the VDH there is no requirement for physicians to report individual cases to VDH, which is why the school was not informed of this case until Principal Robyn Puryear inquired on Oct. 10.

Procedures we are following :

A professional cleaning company is cleaning/disinfecting all athletic areas at RCHS. High School Principal Robyn Puryear, AD Bob Czekaj, Assistant Principal Andy Hipple, various coaches, custodians, and volunteer employees are following the disinfection procedures recommended by the Infection Control office at the hospital to swab down all other areas with a Clorox/water solution. A specially formulated Lysol product will be sprayed on all desks, chairs, door knobs etc at RCHS. RCES Principal Carol Johnson and staff volunteers will work to use the specially formulated Lysol product on all desks, chairs, door knobs etc at RCES. The transportation staff will disinfect the School Buses.

All football uniforms will be washed in commercial washers at high temperatures with disinfectant solutions. Two football coaches volunteered to leave the school at 4 AM today to transport all football pads, helmets, etc to Philadelphia for commercial disinfection.

Additionally, we are in the process of making modifications in the coming weeks to the wrestling room / football locker area to install windows and a high cfm exhaust fan. Provisions will also be made to purchase a commercial washer / dryer to regularly wash / disinfect players' uniforms. The players are issued separate equipment, but we need to also provide separate locker space in the future so that belongings can be kept separate and hung up to dry.

Note: The Football game vs Clarke County scheduled for Saturday Oct. 13 is CANCELLED. It MAY be rescheduled for Monday, Oct. 15

No School Oct. 11 and 12 : On Thursday, Oct. 11, Parent - Teacher Conferences will be held from 2:00 - 5:00 and 6:00 - 8:00. RCHS will hand report cards to parents on parent conference night. On Friday, Oct 12, the RCPS will hold a Staff Development Day.

Student Recognition: Traditionally we have recognized members of State Championship Teams at School Board meetings. The RCPS Administrative Team has decided to recognize students for academic achievements as follows:

· Recognize the RCES students achieving perfect SOL score(s) in 2006-07 at the Oct. 9 School Board meeting

· Recognize the RCHS students achieving  perfect SOL score(s) in 2006-07 at the November Board meeting

· Recognize those RCHS students that Advanced Placement (AP) identifies as "AP Scholars," "Scholars with Honors" and "Scholars with Distinction" at a future Board meeting.

· Recognize those RCHS students that the Cambridge International program identifies as "A" or "A-Star" at a
future Board meeting.

· Recognize those RCES and RCHS students who have made "significant improvement(s)" in some aspect of their job as a student at a future board meeting. A team of teachers and administrators is working to define "significant improvement."

Support RCSSA's Panther Classic Golf Tournament! This tournament will be Saturday, October 20, 2007 at 9:00AM at Bowling Green C.C. (North Course) Front Royal, Virginia. The RCPS urges community members and businesses to support this tournament and other projects of the RCSSA, the sole authorized representative to solicit funds for the RCHS Athletic Department.

Tournament Format: four- person Scramble, Captain's Choice. Hole in one prizes include: a) $1,000,000 (Million Dollar Prize paid out as 40-year annuity). Only Amateurs as classified by the USGA are eligible to win.

b) A Ford Focus courtesy of Rappahannock National Bank and Shenandoah Ford. c) Trips and More!

Door Prizes include dinner for two at The Inn at Little Washington. Lunch provided by Burgers 'N' Things after Tournament.

All Tournament proceeds benefit the Rappahannock County School Sports Association (RCSSA supports the 28 Athletic teams in grades 6-12). For more information including how to register (deadline Oct. 15) or how to sponsor a hole, contact Tournament Director Jim Humbles at JKHumbles@aol.com or call 540- 987-1218. Registration Fee is $75 Per Player. 

Note: Contributions to RCSSA are tax deductible. Funds provided by RCSSA, Headwaters Foundation, Band Boosters, and the RCES PTO for necessary school projects are funds that taxpayers don't have to provide.

Superintendent Provides Enrollment Report to School Board:

In February of each year the RCPS Superintendent makes a projection of student enrollment for the following year as a means of estimating State revenues which are based on March 30 "Average Daily Membership" (ADM). Factors that are considered in making the projection are a) Number of students in the graduating class,

b) Estimates of the size of the incoming Kindergarten class, c) Estimates of tuition students, and d) Estimates of transfers in - out. The Superintendent also reviews the State's projections:

State's Projections 2004-2008

Superintendent's Projections 2004-2008

"A more conservative projection for 2007-08 would have been 977," said Superintendent Bob Chappell. "We expected 88 students to graduate in June 2007 and figured to have around 70 in the incoming Kindergarten class. However, based on inquiries from parents in surrounding counties, I estimated a possible doubling of the number of tuition students from 7 to 14. I also estimated a net increase of 10 in the transfer rate from students previously enrolled in home-schooling or private education."

What actually happened :

Graduates = 88, Kindergarten students in Aug. 2007= there were 56 instead of the estimated 70 (-32)

Tuition students= we have 11 instead of the projected 14 (  -3)

Transfers to-from private education and home-schooling net gain= 8 (two less than expected)    (  -2)

Transfers to-from other public schools= net loss of 12     (- 12)

Foreign exchange students= 7 in 2006-07, 4 in 2007-08   (- 3)

Total number of students subtracted from projected 995= 52 for membership of 943   (- 52)

Finally, Chappell stated: "If my overly optimistic projection of enrollment for this year (off by -5.23%) , has offended anyone, I'm sorry for that. However, I'm in good company. The State missed the projection for Rappahannock by -8.54 % (see above chart).

Varsity Football Wins Two in a Row to Christen New  Stadium: The Panther Football Team defeated Timber Ridge HS on Sept. 28 and Chincoteague HS at the RCHS Homecoming on Oct. 6 to run its record to 2-3. RCHS held its first homecoming at the beautiful football / soccer / track complex at Panther Stadium (track completed 7/07). We thank the taxpayers of Rappahannock County.  We also thank the Board of Supervisors (BOS), the School Board, and County Administrator John McCarthy who worked together to make the new track and field a reality, saving over $275,000 in cost reductions from the original bid. Thanks to former RCHS Teacher / Track Coach Ann Spieker whose foundation provided over $50,000 of the track costs. Thanks also go to the Rappahannock Co. School Sports Association (RCSSA) which donated the funds and labor (including volunteer electrical services by a member of the BOS) to build the new concession stand/press box. The RCSSA also partnered with the School Board to provide 50% of the funding for the fence around the track. More than 120 students participated in the on-field Homecoming festivities: Football players - 43, Marching Band members - 44, Cheerleaders - 21, members of the Homecoming Court - 15. Also, more than 100 RCHS Alums attended the game and registered to join the RCHS Alumni Association .

RCPS Events Oct. 10-17 :

11th - Parent Teacher Conferences 2-5/6-8 PM. NO SCHOOL. RCHS will hand out report cards to parents at the conferences; Noon - 8:00 RCES Scholastic Book Fair is open late; 6:00 JV/Var Volleyball home vs Madison

12th - Staff Development Day (NO SCHOOL) 

13th - 2:00 Football vs Clarke County CANCELLED. MAY be re-scheduled for Monday, Oct. 15.

15th - 4:30 Freshman Football vs George Mason (Decision on cancellation TBA) 

16th - 4:30 JP Volleyball at St. Lukes Lutheran School; JV/Var Volleyball at George Mason 

17th - PSAT Testing - RCHS; 4:00 Cross Country at Millbrook High School 

Message from the Virginia Department of Education: Over the past 12 years, Prudential Spirit of Community Awards have been given to more than 2,000 middle and high school students across Virginia for helping the less fortunate, promoting health and safety, protecting the environment, and serving their communities through many other volunteer activities.  This week the search begins to identify more young Virginians who have made meaningful contributions to their communities over the past 12 months, as the prestigious awards program kicks off its 13^th year.

These awards, presented nationwide by Prudential Financial, Inc., in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), honor outstanding community service by young people in grades 5 through 12.  This year, young volunteers can apply online through www.prudential.com/spirit or www.principals.org/prudential.  Applications must be completed by October 31, 2007, then printed out, signed, and submitted to a middle or high school principal, Girl Scout council, county 4-H agent, American Red Cross chapter, YMCA, or a Volunteer Center belonging to the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network.  Those without Internet access can get a paper version of the application form by calling (877) 525-8491 toll-free.

For more information, please contact Marilyn Elder, mathematics and science grants specialist, Office of Middle and High School Instruction, by e-mail at Marilyn.Elder@doe.virginia.gov, or by telephone at (804) 371-2430.

Rappahannock County Public Schools

School Board Office - 6 Schoolhouse Road

Washington , Virginia 22747

Telephone (540) 987-8773   FAX (540) 987-8896

Email: div078@pen.k12.va.us

Website: http://rappahannock.va.schoolwebpages.com/

Oct. 3, 2007 RCPS Facts 4U

It's Official! Both Schools Fully Accredited: On Sept. 27 the State announced accreditation ratings for schools for 2007-08 (Based on testing in 2006-07). For the fifth consecutive year both RCES and RCHS are fully accredited! We credit the work of teachers, aides, students, parents, support employees, and administrators for continued success in this area. We are working diligently to make sure that all students learn, with as many as possible at advanced levels.

Friday, Oct. 5, Early Release 1:00 p.m. - Workday

RCPS Crisis Management Plans Updated : School Administrators met as planned during August with County Emergency staff, Sheriff's Department Personnel, and a State Police representative to revise the RCPS Crisis Management Plan.

The Rappahannock County Public School Division has established crisis management plans and policies for how all types of potential crises are to be handled.

Crisis management is part of the school division's approach to school safety. It anticipates potential problems and establishes a coordinated response to minimize the stress and disruptions a crisis might bring to bear on the school division and the community.

Each school has emergency and contingency plans in place to respond to different types of events as they occur. Each school has also established a Crisis Team that is an integral part of the school's emergency management plan.

The school division works closely with local law enforcement, emergency, and fire/rescue agencies to coordinate responses to particular incidents.

The school division uses a variety of methods to contact parents in an emergency:

-Announcements on radio /TV stations (We must depend on the stations to run the announcements.)

-the school website: http://rappahannock.va.schoolwebpages.com/education

-Automated phone messages sent to home phones and parent cell phones. Parents who wish to add their cell phone numbers to the system please call 987-8364 and provide your cell phone number, your child's name, and your name.

-via email through: http://www.schools-out.com/index.jsp

Note: Parents who wish to receive free email alerts from schools-out.com must register on that website.

Note: We will post emergency notifications on the two websites and via the automated phone system described above provided we have electrical / internet service or dial-up phone service.

Note: The Superintendent's office also maintains an email list to contact parents and other interested citizens. Email requests to be added to that list to rchappell@rappahannock.k12.va.us

Safety Drills Will be Held at Both Schools in the Coming Weeks : Staff at the two schools will undergo additional training on the use of the Crisis Management Plans. To provide practice for staff and to familiarize students with the procedures, the Principals plan to conduct safety drills before the end of October. The Rappahannock County Sheriff's Department and the Rappahannock County Emergency Coordinator will have representatives on the scene to observe the drills.

RCPS Events Oct. 3-10 :

3rd - 3:50 Division Leadership Team meeting at SBO; 4:30 Freshman Football home vs Luray; 5:00 Cross Country at Madison County; 7:00 RCES Reading Favorites Night 

4th - 4:30 JP Volleyball home vs Shenandoah Valley Christian Academy; 6:00 JV/Var Volleyball home vs Clarke County 

5th - Early Release 1:00 p.m. Workday; End of RCHS 1st Advisory; 5:00 Powder Puff Football Game RCHS; 6:00   Homecoming Bonfire RCHS 

6th - 8:00 AM Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) at RCHS; 2:00 Homecoming Football vs Chincoteague - Marching Band and Cheerleaders will perform - Presentation of Homecoming Court; 8:00 - 11:00 Homecoming Dance 

8th - 8:30 - 4:00 RCES Scholastic Book Fair; 6:30 Freshman Football at Clarke County 

9th - 8:30 - 4:00 RCES Scholastic Book Fair; 6:00 JV/Var Volleyball at Strasburg; 7:30 School Board Meeting at RCES Library (Note: This location change is just for October meeting.)

10th -8:30 - 4:00 RCES Scholastic Book Fair; 1st grade Field Trip; 5:00 Cross Country at Warren County