WVDE Child Nutrition Releases
a New Toolkit to Assist Parents
and Students with Nutrition

October 26, 2009

Dear Parents/Guardians:

As you may have heard, a new influenza virus, called the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, was first identified in the United States in late April 2009.  Many children have gotten 2009 H1N1 infection and there have been large outbreaks in some schools across the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended that children and young adults aged 6 months through 24 years be vaccinated against 2009 H1N1 when the vaccine is available. 

Vaccination is the best way to protect your child from this potentially serious disease.  The Jefferson County Health Department is working with your child's school to give the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine to children at school.  We will hold vaccination clinics for the elementary schools beginning November 10, 2009. Elementary children are expected to need two doses of vaccine spaced about 4 weeks apart.  There will be no cost to you for this vaccine. The schedule for the Vaccine Clinics is listed below:

Enclosed you will find the "2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Consent Form" .  Please complete this form and return it to your child's school by October 30, 2009. This form includes options allowing you to either accept or refuse the vaccination for your child.  Only students who return the consent forms granting permission will be vaccinated.

If you have any questions about the vaccine or the vaccination clinics, please call the Jefferson County Health Department at 304-728-8416 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  Please visit the CDC's 2009 H1N1 influenza web site at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ and also http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/parents for information especially for parents. Your child's health care provider also can answer your questions about the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus and will be able to give your child the seasonal influenza vaccine and may be able to give your child the 2009 H1N1 vaccine.

Sincerely,

Susan K. Wall
Superintendent

Great News from Jefferson County Schools!

In the fall of 2010, a new elementary school at Breckenridge, on Job Corps Road, will open its doors to approximately 500 students, thus eliminating the need for the portable classrooms at C.W. Shipley Elementary School and T.A. Lowery Elementary School.

So, we welcome you to the website for this new school. On the site, you will find information about the new principal, Mrs. Kelly Dodson-Osborne, and Mrs. Tracey Brinson, the head teacher, of this modern, state-of-the art facility.

Please view the photographs that display the progress of the site construction. Examine the re-districting maps to determine where your child or children will attend school in the 2010-2011 school year.

The re-districting plan is available for viewing at http://boe.jeff.k12.us/newschool

Follow the link above to the plans and for available updates on upcoming events involving this new elementary school. If you have any comments or questions, please email Susan Wall , Superintendent, or Pat Blanc , Assistant Superintendent. If you have any questions concerning construction, please email Ralph Dinges , Assistant Superintendent.