SUPPORT SERVICES

PEC student support services include:

• Resource Coordinating Team
• Resource Room Teacher
• School Psychologist
• School Social Worker
• Speech Therapist
• Support Services Coordinator

(Click on name to send email to staff member)

Barbara Harris - Special Education
Darlene Dorsette - Special Education
Melba Jackson - Special Education
Cheryl Williams - Special Education
Howard Webb - Conflict Resolution Specialist
Chandra Miller - Social Worker
Michelle Comer Abney - Speech/Language Therapist
Anita Johnson - Tutor
Kimberlee Brown - Tutor

THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROCESS

Local school districts and public school academies follow the same procedure in evaluating a student for initial special education eligibility and developing the Individualized Education Program (IEP). The chart below describes the process:

The Instructional Support Team (IST):

• Will provide safety, structure, strategies and success
• Will meet children where they are academically and encourage growth without criticism or judgment
• Will set goals that will stretch them just enough to utilize more of their potential
• Will discover a child's best learning style, through one-on-one interaction and response and provide strategies that will enhance his/her progress
• Will provide positive experiences where one success will build on another

How is a child placed into special education?
A parent, teacher or other person knowledgeable about the child refers children because it is suggested that there may be a disability that adversely affects educational performance. After parental consent is obtained, the child must be evaluated by a Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team (MET) to determine his/her eligibility. The MET may include: the teacher, school psychologist, speech therapist, special education teacher and social worker. According to specific criteria defined by the law, the Individual Educational Planning Committee (IEPC) confirms the eligibility and the least restrictive program and services that meet the child's needs Placement in special education is not automatic.

What Is The Program Goal for Special Education Students at PEC?

• The goal of special education is to help each child become a functional, adaptable, flexible learner who can live, work and learn in the mainstream of life.
• All students experiencing academic and/or behavior difficulties may not have a disability or require special education to meet their individual needs. In many cases, modifications to the regular education program will address a child's particular needs without resorting to unnecessary evaluation or special education services.

The Plymouth Educational Center has a specific process designed to identify students with needs and provide early assistance strategies for the teacher and parent that are aimed at helping the child experience success in the classroom. Using a collaborative staff approach, alternative or modified learning instruction and/or behavior management techniques may be developed to improve the child's performance.

PEC Support Services Manual

To read the complete information on PEC's Student Support Services, please see the following link:

Click to read the PEC Support Services Manual (PDF File)

You need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the documents listed above. If you do not have it on your computer, please click the link to download for free.

WHEN A CHILD IS SICK

The Sick Child In School

REMINDER! - If your child has, or has had chicken pox recently, do not give aspirin-containing medication to reduce fever. Aspirin has been associated with Reyes Syndrome if used to help a child who is ill following a bout with chicken pox.

If your child is ill during school hours, have him/her picked up as soon as possible. The longer a child remains in the health office, the more he/she is exposed to other ailments and is exposing other students to his/her illness.

Do not send a child to school who has been vomiting during the night or in the morning before coming to school. It takes more than a few hours to recuperate from an intestinal ailment. This is best for your child and reduces the exposure to the other students. Note: most intestinal viruses (as well as other conditions) do not have a fever as one of the symptoms.

The above rules apply if the student has a fever (100 degrees or more) or rash. If your child has a rash that resembles any of the communicable diseases, he/she will be sent home and a doctor's note required for re-admittance.

Transportation for a child is the parent's responsibility. Please be sure to have adequate back-up contacts in case you are unavailable if your child becomes ill. A sick child may feel anxious if we cannot find a parent or "back-up" relative or friend to take him/her home. Update your emergency cards as needed throughout the year.

The Sick Child At Home

If your child is absent due to illness, notify the school in the morning (24-hour voice-mail is available to receive messages).

If you have a concern about sending your child to school, call the school nurse before sending the child. This may save you a trip to the school.

Inform the health office if the child has a contagious Illness. Some members of our population are considered "at risk" for certain conditions. This enables us to alert them as they may need to notify their health care providers.

SEASONAL REMINDERS
REMINDER!!!! PLEASE BE SURE TO SUPPLY YOUR SCHOOL NURSE WITH CURRENT MEDICATION (I.E. EPI-PEN, BENADRYL, ETC.)

Winter Health Tips

Winter season has arrived. It can can a wonderful time for winter sports and holidays. It can also be a time of sickness and injuries if adequate health and safety precautions aren't taken. Along with freezing temperatures, ice, and snow, comes the flu season.

Colds

The world's most common illness is the more than 100 viruses that cause the common cold. Most people in the United States average 3 colds per year. The virus enters your body through your nose or throat. The virus begins to multiply causing any number of symptoms. Symptoms of a cold can be:

• Sore throat
• Sneezing + coughing
• Runny nose or nasal congestion
• Watery eyes
• Aches + pains
• Mild fever

The best way to treat a cold is to get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids, avoid unnecessary activity, and take a mild pain reliever. Over-the-counter cough and cold medications will not prevent, cure or even shorten the cold, but they may relieve some of the symptoms. Remember to always cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze to avoid spreading your cold to others. Also wash your hands frequently.

There is no vaccine to protect you from catching a cold, but there are ways to decrease your chance of coming down with a cold. To keep up your natural resistance maintain an adequate diet, get enough sleep and exercise. Avoid direct contact with those who have colds and wash your hands frequently.

Influenza

Influenza (flu) is not a serious health threat to most people. For those who have chronic health problems or the elderly, influenza can result in serious complications. About three days after being exposed to the virus symptoms develop suddenly. Flu symptoms tend to be more severe and last longer than those caused by cold viruses. Abdominal cramps, vomiting or diarrhea symptoms of what is commonly called stomach or intestinal flu do not accompany influenza. Children tend to have gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The symptoms of the flu include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Cough and sore throat
• Runny nose
• Soreness, aching in the back, arms, and legs

There is no practical way to avoid exposure to the virus if it occurs in your family or community because it is so highly contagious. Bed rest, lots of fluids, and a mild pain reliever are the best treatment. Caution: unless advised by your child's doctor, a child or teenager with flu-like symptoms should not take aspirin. Aspirin taken with a flu infection has been linked with an increase risk of Reyes syndrome. Use a mild pain reliever that does not contain aspirin. Antibiotics are not effective against flu viruses.

The flu vaccine may not always prevent the illness, but it will reduce the severity of the symptoms and help protect against complications that could develop. The vaccine is only effective for one year. The viruses vary from year to year and it is necessary to get a shot every year. If you plan on receiving the shot, do it early because it takes about two weeks to develop full immunity. However, even a shot in January may protect against a late winter outbreak.

H1N1 News and Information

What is the H1N1 Flu Virus?
It is a flu like virus causing illness in people.

Is the H1N1 Virus Contagious?
The CDC has determined that the H1N1 virus is contagious and is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, much the same way as regular flu.

How does the H1N1 Virus Spread?
The flu viruses spread mainly from person-to-person through coughing or sneezing on a person with influenza. Viruses can also spread when a person touches a surface with flu viruses on it and then touch his or her eyes, nose or mouth.

What Can Parents Do?
According to the center for Disease Control and Prevention, people with H1N1 can pass the virus to others up to seven or more days after they get sick. And children, especially younger ones, might be contagious for even longer.

What symptoms to look for?
Symptoms are similar to regular human flu symptoms and may include:

• Fever
• Sore Throat
• Headaches
• Chills
• Cough
• Body Aches
• Fatigue
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting

If you experience one or more of the following symptoms, seek emergency medical care right away:

• Difficulty breathing
• Pressure or pain in the stomach or chest
• Persistent or severe vomiting
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Flu symptoms that improve and later return with fever and worse cough

How can you protect yourself and your family?
By taking the following precautions:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when you don’t have soap and water to wash your hands
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.  Put the tissue in the trash
• Keep surface clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant
• Try not to get close to sick people

The flu shot is the best way to protect yourself from seasonal flu.

Staying Warm and Dry

During the rainy/wintry season tuck an extra pair of socks and pants in your child's backpack. Children often come in after a long wait at the bus stop with wet clothes. They'll thank you for the dry warm clothes. Make sure your child has a hat to prevent the loss of body heat on cold or wet days.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a drop in the body temperature to 95 degrees or less. This can be fatal if not detected promptly and treated properly. The blood vessels near the surface of the body narrow to reduce heat loss when the body temperature drops. To make heat, the muscles begin to tighten. The person will begin to shiver if the body temperature continues to drop. The shivering continues until the temperature drops to about 90 degrees. Temperatures below 90 degrees create a life-threatening situation. Symptoms of hypothermia are:

• Forgetfulness
• Drowsiness
• Slurred speech
• Change in appearance (puffy face)
• Weak pulse, slow heartbeat
• Very slow and shallow breathing

If the body temperature drops to or below 86 degrees, a person may slip into a coma. Take a person's temperature if you ever notice any of these symptoms. Call a doctor or ambulance if it is 95 degrees or lower. Wrap the person in a warm blanket to prevent further heat loss. An electric heating pad set on low or a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel can be applied directly to the person's stomach. Give small quantities of warm food or drink if the person is alert. There are several things that shouldn't be done to a hypothermia victim. Do not give alcoholic beverages. Do not give hot shower or bath as these could cause shock. Generally, do not treat hypothermia at home. It is a condition that should be treated in a hospital.

Frostbite

If a child complains of numbness or pain in the fingers, toes, nose, cheeks, or ears while playing in the snow, bring the child indoors. If the skin is blistered, hard to the touch, or glossy, there is a possibility of frostbite. The face (cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead), the ears, wrists, hands, and feet are all parts of the body most affected by frostbite. Frostbitten skin is whitish and stiff and feels numb rather than painful. Be alert for signs of frostbite when spending time outdoors during cold weather. If you notice any symptoms take immediate action. To treat frostbite, warm the affected part of the body gradually. Wrap the affected area in a blanket, sweater, coat, etc. Place hands under the armpits or use your body to cover the affected area if there aren't warm wrappings available. Avoid warming with high heat from radiators, fireplaces or stoves because frozen skin is fragile and can be damaged easily. Do not rub affected areas because friction can damage the tissue. Do not apply snow to the frostbitten area because its temperature is below freezing. Snow will only aggravate the condition. Call your physician and report what you observe. Get emergency medical help if numbness remains during warming attempts.

Outdoor Safety Tips

The arrival of winter does not bring an end to outdoor fun. Unfortunately, the cold weather can also lead to tragedy. Children can enjoy a safe and fun-filled winter wonderland when properly prepared. Know the weather report. If very cold temperatures or severe wind chills exist, avoid outdoor activities.

• Wear comfortable clothes and dress in layers. It is very important to be warm and dry while outdoors.
• Set reasonable time limits on outdoor play.
• Call children in periodically to warm up with warm drinks like hot chocolate.
• Wear a hat, mittens, and a neck guard to protect head, hands, face, neck and nose.
• Wear goggles to protect you from cold, wind, and snow.
• Wear sunscreen even on cloudy days.
• Avoid using scarves and clothes with drawstrings for children.
• Teach children never to touch metal during cold weather.
• Be careful with snowball fights. Many people have been hurt from ice or rocks in snowballs.
• Slippery driveways and sidewalks can be dangerous in the winter. Keep them well shoveled, and apply rock salt or sand to improve traction.
• Children under the age of 10 should not cross the street alone. Make sure they wear appropriate foot wear and clothes with reflective material while walking in snowy conditions.
• Remind children of the rules of pedestrian safety such as walking facing traffic, using sidewalks where available, stopping at the edge of the road before crossing and looking left, right, and left again for traffic. Children should keep looking and listening as they cross the street.
• Know how to prevent and treat cold injuries.
• Never travel or go outside alone.
• Use common sense

Seasonal Reminders Resource Links

http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/immunize/html/pert_cough_txt.htm http://www.commoncold.org/index.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/

HEALTH FORMS

Click on an item in the list below to view and/or print a health form.

• Asthma Management Plan Form (PDF File)
• Over-the-Counter Medication Authorization Form (PDF File)
• Permission for Prescribed Medication (PDF File)
• School-Based Care Plan for the Student with Diabetes (PDF File)
• Health Appraisal (PDF File)
• Individualized Health Care Plan Seizure Care Plan (PDF File)

You need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the documents listed above. If you do not have it on your computer, please click the link to download for free.