January 15, 2010

Up In the Air

The murky, smoky haze that has recently blanketed the valley is undoubtedly cause for concern. The air quality in northern Utah, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is ranked among the worst in the nation. Consider: The air we take in as we head to work, home and school is more polluted than the air in such major U.S. metropolitan areas as New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Principals have been asked to use their good judgment when deciding whether the weather, including air quality, is too extreme for outside recess and exercise time. They've also been asked to follow guidelines established by health and environmental-protection agencies. The following are Web sites that help Canyons District administrators breathe easier as they face those day-to-day decisions:

http://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=aqibasics.aqi#sens

http://www.airquality.utah.gov/slc-currentconditions.html

http://www.cleanair.utah.gov/listserv.htm

Academic, Facilities Proposals

The Canyons School District community, which includes teachers, parents and students, is being asked to deliberate and provide feedback on several proposals that, if realized, would result in a differentiated-diploma program, reconfigured grade levels and a capital facilities improvement schedule.

The Board of Education on Dec. 1 gave preliminary support to the proposals, but also directed the District Administration to make presentations to various stakeholder groups to gauge interest and support. More than 15 presentations were planned during January — all done to provide information and gather feedback.

Information about the proposals, as well as the PowerPoint presentation that is being used during the meetings with stakeholders, can be found on the Canyons District Web site at New Diplomas, Academic and Facility Adjustments Proposed

We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please feel free to send those to communications@canyonsdistrict.org

H1N1 Immunization Clinic

Canyons District Nursing Services, in conjunction with the Salt Lake Valley Health Department, will be offering free vaccinations for the H1N1 virus to all Canyons District employees. The vaccination clinic will be Wednesday, Jan. 20, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Eastmont Middle School, 10100 S. 1300 East, Sandy.

Please bring your employee ID badges.

While incidents of H1N1 have decreased in recent weeks, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services believes another wave of illness may begin soon, and strongly encourages individuals to take advantage of vaccination opportunities.

There are a few situations in which a person should not receive this vaccine.

Please note that if you have any of the following you should not be vaccinated and you should contact your health care provider for guidance:

• Allergy to eggs
• Any other serious allergies
• Serious reaction to a previous dose of flu vaccine
• Had a Guillain-Barré Syndrome (a type of temporary severe muscle weakness within six weeks of receiving a flu vaccine)

The District nurses wish to thank faculty and staff for their support in helping them advocate for and improve the health and well being of Canyons District employees.

Does a Body Good

If you've made a New Year's resolution to exercise more, think about taking your teenage sons or nephews to the gym with you. The results of a study in PNAS Early Edition show the importance of getting healthier between the ages of 15 and 18, while the brain is still changing. "Boys who improved their cardiovascular health between ages 15 to 18 exhibited significantly greater intelligence scores than those who became less healthy over the same time period. Over a longer term, boys who were most fit at the age of 18 were more likely to go to college than their less-fit counterparts." Read more: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091207143351.htm

Canyons District Night at Brighton Resort

If you can't make it to the gym, then grab your skis or snowboards and hit the slopes at Brighton Resort on Friday, Feb. 19. All students, patrons and employees are invited. Lift passes are $20 for those who bring the coupon featured on the Canyons District Web site. Participants also will need a student body card or employee ID badge the get the special price. The coupon can be accessed at Ski and Shred Night with Superintendent Doty

One last thought...

"How can it be, in a world where half the things a man knows at 20 are no longer true at 40 — and half the things he knows at 40 hadn't been discovered when he was 20?" — Arthur C. Clarke