The Spokane Regional Health District will offer the H1N1 vaccine free of charge at a public clinic Saturday, February 6, at Trent Elementary School in the Spokane Valley.  This clinic is open to everyone 6 months and older. For children who are 6 months through 9 years of age, two doses of the vaccine are recommended for the vaccine to be most effective. The clinic will provide the opportunity for children who have already had their first dose to get their second dose.

The Health District is concerned that some people think it’s too late to vaccinate or that the potential for H1N1 influenza illness has gone away. “People are still getting sick from the H1N1 pandemic flu virus in Washington State, but in smaller numbers than earlier,” said Dr. Joel McCullough, Health Officer for the Spokane Regional Health District.  “H1N1 flu started in April of last year so vaccinating now can still protect you from another potential outbreak of swine flu,” McCullough added.

The February 6 clinic is a walk-in clinic; no appointment is necessary. Both the nasal spray and shot versions of the H1N1 vaccine will be on hand. Trent Elementary is located at 3303 North Pines Road.  The clinic will be held in the auditorium from 9:00 am- 1:00 pm.

Those who cannot make it to this clinic are encouraged to schedule a free H1N1 appointment with the Public Health Clinic by calling 324-1648. The clinic is located at 1101 West College Avenue.  The vaccine is also available at many locations throughout Spokane County including many health care providers and pharmacies.

Additional information about the H1N1 (swine) flu can be found on the SRHD website www.srhd.org

If you have questions, please feel free to contact Dawn Epler, RN, Deer Park School District's Nurse at 464-5527.

Last week Vickie Nichols, para-educator at Arcadia Elementary, was the winner of the KZZU radio's "School Star" award.  Vickie was nominated because of her never ending patience, her ability to make kids be the best they can be, and her commitment to perform every task with a smile.  Principal Bonnie Bantis shares that Vickie "...has a heart as big as the moon and she gives and gives to kids and staff all of the time.  She will come early and stay late just to help out.  Vickie never asks for anything and she is always wanting to know what is best for kids."

The Public School Employees Association (PSE) and KZZU Radio (92.9) along with Qdoba are sponsoring a new and exciting award called the "School STAR Award".  Each Thursday beginning in January 2010, a "School STAR" will be selected from the Spokane area and featured during the morning show with Dave, Ken and Molly.  Award winners can be school bus drivers, custodians, teacher's assistants, secretaries, cooks, security guards, playground supervisors and maintenance workers. 

The School STAR segment is a 60 second feature story highlighting how public school employees improve the lives of children throughout the day at school.  Each weekly winner will receive $100.00 from PSE of Washington, pre-loaded gift cards from Qdoba and a plaque.  At the end of the school year, one School STAR grand prize winner will be selected for the year and will win $500.00 courtesy of the PSE of Washington. 

Congratulations Vickie!

On February 10th we will be using the SchoolMessenger calling system to conduct an important phone survey and would really appreciate your participation; if you are a parent or guardian of students in our schools, your home phone will ring around 7:00pm and you will be asked 11 questions regarding access to and use of technology.

We are continually looking for ways to use technology to increase communication with families and thus, we are interested learning more about the level of computer and Internet access in homes of Deer Park students.  Additionally, your input will play an important role in the development of our district's next three year technology plan - to be completed in the month of April.  If you would like to preview the survey questions please click on the "read more" link below.  Survey results will be posted here on this website on Friday, February 12th.

Deer Park High School has early release on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week as the students are participating in semester final exams.  Students are released at 12:10. 

On Friday, both DPHS and Deer Park Middle School have early release for the end of the fall semester.  This allows faculty time to complete grading and report card marking.

If you have questions regarding the schedule, please contact DPHS at 468-3500 or DPMS at 464-5800.

Deer Park High School's two time state champion wrestling team and coach Matt Jorgensen were announced recently as finalists for the Inland Northwest Sportswriters and Broadcasters junior male team and junior male coach of the year respectively.  From the article in the Spokesman-Review:

JUNIOR MALE

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Deer Park wrestling – The Stags produced six state champions and defended their State 2A team championship as a result.

JUNIOR MALE

COACH OF THE YEAR

Matt Jorgensen – Deer Park wrestling coach guided his program to a second straight State 2A championship as the Stags had six individual titlists.

The winners will be announced at the Youth Awards Luncheon on February 24 at the Spokane Convention Center.

After a two week winter break, the Deer Park School District is again open!!

Welcome back to our students, staff and community.  We hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday season and wish them all a Happy 2010.

At its December 21 meeting, the Board of Directors unanimously re-elected Eric Keller as President of the Board of Directors and Carri Breckner as Vice-President of the Board.

Governor Chris Gregoire has directed that flags at all Washington State agency facilities be lowered to half-staff for Pierce County Deputy Kent Mundell who died yesterday from wounds suffered in the December 21 shooting.

Flags will remain at half-staff through January 5.