Dear Parents, Students, Staff and Community Members,
The 2009-2010 school year is off to a great start in the
Peninsula School District. This first month of school we
opened with approximately 8,700 students. The
preparation and coordination that goes into starting a
new school year is tremendous, and I thank all staff,
students, parents and our community members for their
contributions to a wonderful first month of school.
As you are aware, we continue to
deal with unprecedented reductions to the Peninsula
School District budget. This past spring, the Board
approved a budget which called for $5 million in
reductions for the 2009-2010 school year. Those painful,
but necessary, reductions were implemented for this
fall. We will continue to share updates and news
regarding state and federal funding and their impact on
our budget.
Strengthening communication is most
important, and we will continue to strive to keep
families, staff and community members involved and
informed. Please take a moment to review the important
information provided below.
H1N1 Flu Virus
The H1N1 Flu virus and the possible outbreaks of illness
among children in school continue to be a concern. Our
district works closely with the Tacoma-Pierce County
Health Department in providing guidelines to prevent the
spread of the virus and in planning for the management
of any outbreaks of the illness that may occur in our
schools. Students are regularly reminded at school to
use preventive measures to reduce the spread of illness,
and we encourage parents to reinforce the same
preventive measures at home.
The Health Department recommends
measures to prevent the spread of H1N1 Flu in schools.
Students and staff with flu-like illness (fever with
cough or sore throat, head and body aches, chills,
fatigue) should stay home and may not return to school
until 24 hours after all symptoms are gone. If a student
complains of flu-like symptoms during the school day,
the parent/guardian will be contacted to take the
student home. If you have any concerns about illness in
your family, contact your health care provider.
Please remember the best means of
prevention for any viral illness include washing hands
frequently, covering sneezes and coughs, and avoiding
contact with people who are sick. The district will be
providing hand sanitizer in each cafeteria. If you would
like more information about H1N1Flu, please visit our
District website at
www.psd401.net.
Free H1N1 Flu Immunization Clinics
The first of two free immunization clinics offered to
students to receive H1N1 flu vaccine was a huge success.
This service is provided to students in the Peninsula
School District through a grant. The District provides
the space and Franciscan Healthcare nurses administer
the vaccine. The second free immunization clinic is
scheduled for:
 |
November 18, 2009 |
Peninsula High School |
4:00 – 6:30 pm |
Drug and Alcohol Forum
The Peninsula School District is again partnering with the Gig Harbor Police Department and several local businesses to host another drug and alcohol forum. It is an opportunity for parents, students and the community to come together and learn about how we can all be a part of helping our youth. Please join us on
Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, in the Peninsula High School Auditorium.
SafeSchools LifeLine
The SafeSchools LifeLine is a completely anonymous,
toll-free tip line that staff, students and parents can
access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a
year about any potential incident such as school
violence, vandalism or theft, drug and alcohol issues,
gang activity, suicide, fights or discrimination. It is
offered free of charge through the Washington Risk
Management Pool. Reports of any unsafe or threatening
activity should be made to the ANONYMOUS Tip Line:
1-866-548-3847. Peninsula School District Code: 162
Budget Information
Now you can follow the latest information regarding our
budget, staffing and enrollment on Twitter. We will be
providing periodic updates about our finances and
support operations. To read the comments or to become a
“follower” go to
http://twitter.com/PSDFINANCE.
Emergency Closures
Soon the fall/winter storm season will be upon us, and
we have prepared information in the school calendar that
was mailed home to you to assist parents/guardians with
Peninsula School District’s procedures and expectations
during inclement weather and school closures. Please use
your calendar as a useful reference and a guideline to
help you understand how weather decisions are made. This
information is also available on the District’s website
at www.psd401.net.
Going Paperless
Our final initiative of going paperless for the Peninsula School District will save us printing and postal costs.
Please assist us with this important endeavor by providing your email address through the following link:
http://sl.psd401.net/email
From this point forward, I plan to discontinue mailing information home. It now becomes vital for your family to check your personal email, school websites, the District website, Master Calendar, and The Gateway and Key Peninsula News for updates and information. Upon request, a hard copy of my periodic correspondence to parents and staff will be available at each school office.
I am honored to serve as your
superintendent and believe that by working together we
will make a true difference for each of our students.
Sincerely,
Terry Nelsen Bouck
Superintendent
bouckt@psd401.net
About Terry Bouck
Terry Bouck was originally from Burien, Washington. He received his undergraduate degree from Central Washington University, his Master’s of Education from Central Washington University and his Superintendent’s Certificate from Seattle Pacific University.
Mr. Bouck started his career with the Tacoma School District as a classroom teacher and went on to become a principal at the middle school level. Prior to his appointment to the position of Superintendent of the Peninsula School District, he served as Superintendent of the American International School in Lagos, Nigeria and as Assistant Superintendent with the Tacoma School District.
He is married to Kristina Bouck, a teacher in the South Kitsap School District. The Boucks have five children and four grandchildren. They reside in Gig Harbor.
