Category: News

UPDATE: Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Posted on | by eeueditor
We understand that this is a difficult time to know what to do to keep your family safe. We want to share the most current school-related information so you can plan accordingly. You’ve probably heard there are more cases and deaths in King County related to novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

We will continue to keep you updated on coronavirus as things develop at the EEU, Seattle Public Schools, and the University of Washington. That said, there have been a few developments over the past few days:

  1. Seattle Public Schools has canceled all large, school and district-sponsored community events to be in alignment with the Public Health directive to avoid all large gatherings.
  2. Also following Public Health recommendations, the University of Washington is moving all of its undergraduate and graduate classes online starting Monday, March 9, through the end of winter quarter, March 20. The UW Campus and business operations will remain open.
  3. There has been one UW staff member with a presumptive positive test for the coronavirus. That staff member did not have contact at the EEU — they worked on upper campus — and is now in self-isolation at home. 
To be clear: we are still open, as are all Seattle Public Schools, in accordance with Public Health’s recommendations. If Public Health, Seattle Public Schools or the University of Washington determines schools should be closed, we will close. Until that time, we will continue to keep classrooms open. We are following Public Health’s recommendation and Seattle Schools current policy regarding large school gatherings and postponing the following events:
 
March 10 — Dad’s Night
March 29 — Heritage Night
 
Our top priority is the health and safety of our students and staff, and we will follow the guidance of health experts in this evolving situation. If you have any questions, please contact the front office.

What We are Doing About Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Posted on | by sherert9@washington.edu
Dear families and staff, 
As you may have heard, there have been additional cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) that have been confirmed in king county and 2 deaths that have been attributed to this virus. As with the rest of the community, our hearts go out to the family and friends of these individuals and those personally affected by this outbreak.

We would like to assure you that we are working with the University of Washington, Seattle Public Schools, the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families, and all of our partner agencies in order to be as prepared as possible to protect the health of our EEU community.  Currently, there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 in Seattle Public Schools or the University of Washington community, including the EEU and Haring Center.  The work we are doing here includes encouraging our staff and visitors to monitor their own health, practice good hygiene, and stay home if feeling sick.  We are monitoring the health and attendance of our students and staff and planning for any potential changes that would need to be put in place in an effort to minimize the spread of the disease should we have any exposures.  In addition, we continue our current cleaning practices using the King County Public Health recommended bleach solutions to clean all surfaces in our classrooms and bathrooms as well as the toys used in the classrooms.  We have also been reviewing proper hand-washing with our kids and praising their efforts to keep our community healthy.

Following are some guidelines from the CDC and Seattle King County Public Health:

When to seek medical evaluation and advice

While the number of cases is increasing, the vast majority of the illnesses around the world are mild, with fever and cough. If you or a family member has symptoms like cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, contact your regular medical provider. Public Health recommends not going to the emergency room unless there is a critical need. Public Health also recommends seeking medical advice if you are over 60 and have an underlying medical condition.

How to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Coronaviruses, including COVID-19, spread between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) via coughing or sneezing. It may also spread by touching a surface or object with the virus on it. The same good health habits that prevent other viruses like the flu, also prevent the spread of COVID-19 and decrease the risk of getting sick:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, with 60% alcohol, if soap and water are not available.
  • Cough into a tissue or your elbow (not your hand), then throw tissue away and wash your hands.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid contact with people who are sick and stay home when you are sick.
  • Keep students home if they are running a temperature or they report not feeling well or appear weak or ill.
  • Consult your healthcare provider if you or your child has health conditions that put you at increased risk.

These prevention steps are critical to keeping our community healthy, so we are also reinforcing with our staff and the kids the importance of handwashing, coughing into your elbow, and staying home with any fever or illness.  You can help by reinforcing these steps as well.

As things are changing rapidly, we will continue to stay in touch as new information becomes available and if we need to made any adjustments to our school schedule.

If you would like additional information on what is happening in our area and ways to stay healthy or address concerns, please visit the Seattle King County Public Health website at:

https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/communicable-diseases/disease-control/novel-coronavirus.aspx

We know that families, staff and visitors to the EEU are worried and we are committed to keeping you informed and working with you to keep our EEU community safe,

EEU Health and Safety Team

Remembering Gina Bunster

Posted on | by eeueditor

Gina Bunster passed away last week.  Gina was an EEU alumni parent who gave so much of herself to the EEU community.  She was an advocate not only for her boys here at the EEU, but truly for all children.  She was an incredibly active member of our family council, but most importantly, Gina was a wonderful partner, mother and friend.  Gina always shared herself with the community.  She shared her deep passion for inclusion and her love for gardening and baking. Gina also gave back to the field of early intervention.  Gina was working at Northwest Center as part of an amazing team supporting young children and families with disabilities.  Gina was an essential part of our community and we are going to feel the impact of this loss.

Our hearts go out to Gina’s family. The world has lost a fierce advocate for inclusion and wonderful person.

All Forms Needed to Apply to EEU Preschool/Kindergarten (IEP Only)

Posted on | by sherert9@washington.edu

Hello EEU Families,

The following message is specific to families who have children with an IEP (receiving special education services) who would like to apply for the EEU preschool or kindergarten for the 2020-2021 year.

Seattle Public Schools is running the EEU admissions through the district Open Enrollment process.  However, the forms are a little confusing.  Please see the specific directions and links below:

If you have a child who will be in preschool during the 2020-2021 year and would like to attend the EEU please use the district pdf form: EEU Preschool/Kindergarten School Choice Form. This form allows you to be in the preschool lottery for the EEU.  You can use the submit button on the form or print and email it to: admissions@seattleschools.org (DUE by February 14th)

If you have a child who will be in kindergarten during the 2020-2021 year and you would like to attend the EEU AND you DO NOT intend to apply for other Seattle Public Schools, please use the district pdf form: EEU Preschool/Kindergarten School Choice Form. This form allows you to be in the kindergarten lottery for the EEU ONLY.  You can use the submit button on the form or print and email it to: admissions@seattleschools.org (DUE by February 14th) 

If you have a child who will be in kindergarten during the 2020-2021 year and you would like to attend the EEU AND you DO want to apply for other Seattle Public Schools, please use the district pdf form: Kindergarten Choice Form. This form allows you to be in the kindergarten lottery for the EEU and lotteries for other Seattle Public Schools.  You MUST download this form and hand write “EEU” as an option because it does not appear as a choice in the drop-down menu.  The form MUST be emailed to: admissions@seattleschools.org (DUE by February 14th)

Thank you, Jennifer

Posted on | by sherert9@washington.edu

Jennifer Annable has announced that she will be retiring from Executive Director of the Academy for Precision Learning (APL) at the end of the 2019-20 school year. Between her inspiring work at APL and her amazing tenure as the principal of the Experimental Education Unit, Jennifer has spent her career supporting children, families and professionals to help make inclusion a reality. We cannot overstate her impact on this community. Please join us in thanking Jennifer, a true leader of inclusion.

EEU Now Accepting Applications for 20-21

Posted on | by sherert9@washington.edu

We are now accepting general education applications for the 2020-21 school year.

To access these applications, and learn more about the application process, go to the following links:

Infant Toddler Program

Preschool

Kindergarten

Our application period is from December 1, 2019 to March 1, 2020. We will still accept applications after March 1, but all applications submitted on time will be considered first.

EEU Equity Team Family Survey

Posted on | by eeueditor

We would love to learn more about the experience of all families at the EEU. Our goal is to create a welcoming and supportive community at EEU for each and every family and to meet each child and family’s needs.  We created a survey where you can share what your experience has been at EEU, whether you’re new this school year or have been here for a while. Over the last year, several EEU staff members and families have worked together to create this survey, which we hope will help us better understand your family’s experience. Please consider spending a few minutes to complete our survey and click here.

Please feel free to take a look at our page on the school website to read more about the Equity Team here at the EEU and how we got started.

How you can help keep children safe

Posted on | by eeueditor

We have a number of children who may wander or even run out of a classroom when a door is left open. Please help us keep children safe and remember to close the classroom door when you enter and exit the room. We will be putting up signs on the doors to remind all staff, families and visitors to close the door and keep children safe.

FEAST Program

Posted on | by eeueditor | Leave a Comment on FEAST Program

This week we are officially launching our school wide Food Explorers Mealtime and Nutrition Curriculum. All classrooms will be using the curriculum to present new foods and activities with foods such as cooking projects, art projects, science experiments, and more!

Click here to learn more.