March 15th Notice

Chadron Public Schools will be open tomorrow (3/16) and remain open until directed otherwise by Panhandle Public Health District. If your child is sick or will be absent, please contact your child’s school and keep them home. Our goals are:

(1) Keep students & staff as healthy (physically, emotionally, and mentally) as possible so we can remain open as long as possible.

(2) Keep our health care system healthy-thus we need to do what we can to reduce the spread.

Penny Carnival Fun and Raffle Winner...

Chadron Primary School hosted the 4th Annual Penny Carnival last week and students and families had a great evening.  Everyone enjoyed a variety of booths and snacks throughout the night and students received stamps in a passport that earned them building bricks.  We want to thank our Parent Involvement group and the volunteers who helped coordinate this wonderful event.  We also want to thank everyone who donated Lego building bricks and money to make this night possible.

* A huge thank you to Marcus Dykes at the Chadron Record for the fabulous photos!

Draegan L was the winner of our raffle!

Dr. Seuss Week and Activity Day

Chadron Primary School hosted a recent Dr. Seuss Week along with a day of curricular activities surrounding Dr. Seuss books.  Students enjoyed a dress up week based on a book of Dr. Seuss and the final culmination of events was a day of fun activities that promoted each of the core subject areas.  Teachers designed a variety of stations for students to explore and we want to thank our Title 1 teacher Mrs. Ritterbush and all of our staff who helped coordinate and extend our children's learning.

Book It ~ February

Book It is a nation-wide program sponsored by Pizza Hut and students are able to receive personal pan certificates from Pizza Hut; students at Chadron Primary School have continued to read their hearts out!!  Students have been setting goals and zipping through pages and were recently awarded prizes for turning in their Book It calendars for February.  Chadron Primary School Title 1 teacher Mrs. Ritterbush is adding to this year's fun by adding small Dr. Seuss prizes students can select with completed calendars.  Congratulations to these students for a job well done and keep up the great job with reading!

Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus

Kids, this comic is for you.

It's based on a radio story that NPR education reporter Cory Turner did. He asked some experts what kids might want to know about the new coronavirus discovered in China.

To make this comic, we've used his interviews with Tara Powell at the University of Illinois School of Social Work, Joy Osofsky at the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans and Krystal Lewis at the National Institute of Mental Health.

Print and fold a zine version of this comic here. Here are directions on how to fold it. To read this comic in Chinese, click here.

Please click here to read:

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/28/809580453/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-new-coronavirus

From Dr. Winchester, Superintendent of Chadron Public Schools..

Chadron Public Schools will have classes Monday as scheduled. There will be no After School Program next week due to the extended spring break for CSC. We’ve been in contact with local, district and state officials and health departments regarding this dynamic situation. A press release with more information will be released Monday at 1:30pm.

Recent testing for COVID -19 is negative

The test result for the parent of the Chadron student has tested negative for COVID-19.  No further testing for COVID-19 in this situation is needed.  

Panhandle Public Health District supports the decision to limit spectators at the Boy’s State Basketball tournament as a public health measure to prevent the spread.  Social distancing at this early stage in our area will make a big difference on the impact of COVID-19.  

Panhandle Public Health District continues to monitor the unfolding COVID-19 epidemic to anticipate its impact on the Panhandle.  We are working as a unified command with Region 21, 22, and 23 Emergency Managers, and Scotts Bluff County Health Department on this evolving situation.  We will continue to communicate important updates to the public and our partners. The CDC is putting out updated guidance daily; for the most up to date information visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

We recommend that you call public health (308-262-5764) if you develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or difficulty breathing, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or have recently traveled to an area with ongoing spread.  Please call before seeking health care. Public health is working with health care providers, the state health department, and CDC to determine if there is a need to be tested for COVID-19.

Residents are also encouraged to review their family preparedness plans in the event that coronavirus disease 2019 continues to spread in the United States. 

People can help protect themselves from COVID-19 and other respiratory infections by:  

• Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with sick people and stay home if you are sick. Social distancing has been key in reducing spread.  
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

The CDC does NOT currently recommend the general public use facemasks.

PPHD is working with state health officials to continue to take action to prevent the spread of disease and protect the health of Nebraskans, including:

• Sharing the latest guidance and information with hospitals, health care providers, first responders, and local and state labs.  We have been holding weekly updates with hospitals and clinics.
• Assessing our health care system’s readiness to identify, monitor, and treat patients with coronavirus disease 2019. 
• Engaging in active and ongoing communication with state and federal partners as part of the overall national response to this emerging public health threat.
• Reviewing and enhancing response plans with emergency management and partners to be ready for the detection of COVID-19 in the panhandle.
• With the state and other local health department partners, we have a system in place to track and monitor cases in an effort to immediately detect secondary cases and minimize the potential for ongoing, undetected, person-to-person transmission.  There are no cases in the Panhandle.  

To learn more about COVID-19, go to https://www.cdc.gov/covid19.

PPHD will keep you posted in this quickly changing environment.

Panhandle Public Health District is working together to improve the health, safety, and quality of life for all who live, learn, work and play in the Panhandle.  Our vision is that we are a healthier and safer Panhandle Community.    Visit our website www.pphd.org.