Hello STEM Community,

My name is Dana Fink (she/her pronouns) and I am very excited to join Boren STEM this year as your school social worker.  I have been a school social worker for 8 years both here in West Seattle and in my former home of Philadelphia, PA.  Prior to working in schools I was a therapist specializing in children and family services.  My family and I moved to West Seattle ‘temporarily’ 3 years ago.  However, we fell in love with the Pacific Northwest and decided to stay.  I’m a novice hiker, love tofu banh mi, playing four-square at recess, and Minecraft.

I feel privileged to team up with the amazing Danielle Blechert to help serve you and your students.  I will be working Monday-Thursday, primarily with our elementary grades.  Ms. Danielle will focus her skills and care on our middle school.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions, needs, or just to say ‘hi’.  

Services your school social worker provides:

• Individual counseling with students to address various topics, e.g. trauma, anxiety, serious illness of student/family member, social or friendship problems, etc.
• Small group intervention, e.g. social skills groups, anxiety support, grief and loss support, mindfulness, etc.
• Classroom lessons focused on social-emotional topics like communication skills, healthy relationships/friendships, and problem-solving.
• Family consultation 
• Connection to community resources; this may include referrals to mental health services or community organizations that help with things like immigration, housing, clothing/food.
• 504 Coordination

How to access services

Anyone can request services for a student if concerns arise. Referrals can be sent to the social worker by families, teachers, administrators. Students can also self-refer.  I can be reached Monday-Thursday at dmfink@seattleschools.org or 206-252-8465. 

Seattle Public Schools’ Business Intelligence and Health Services teams partnered to design a public-facing dashboard showing confirmed COVID-19 cases at Seattle Public Schools. The dashboard is refreshed weekly on Mondays. To view information specific to Louisa Boren STEM K-8, click to Page 2 as shown in the image below.

Identifying Close Contacts

Seattle Public Schools has employed contact tracers to email and/or call families whose child is in class with another student who tests positive for COVID-19. Communication and quarantine protocols, as well as definition of a close contact can be found on the Seattle Public Schools’ website under health resources. Students who are fully vaccinated are not required to quarantine after a close contact unless they develop symptoms.

Keep Students Home When Sick

Any student showing signs of illness must be kept home until they receive a negative test and for 24 hours after symptoms have improved. Students can get a COVID-19 test at school. You will need to show a paper or electronic copy of the negative test result to school office staff before your child returns after staying home for an illness. Without a negative test, students can return to school10 days after symptoms first appeared, and if symptoms have improved.

Keep a student home if they have any of the following symptoms (unless they are explained by a pre-existing condition, such as asthma):

• Fever (100.4 ̊F / 38 ̊C or higher)
• Cough
• Loss of taste or smell
• Chills
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle pain or body aches
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

If you have difficulty accessing this dashboard or have questions or concerns, please contact Seattle Public Schools by emailing csh@seattleschools.org.

Read more information on the Seattle Public Schools’ website under health resources.

Everyone is invited to attend PTA Meetings, held the second Thursday evening of each month. For
now, meetings will be held via Zoom. Due to “zoombombing” last year, the Zoom link is only
shared to registered PTA members or those who request to join the meeting by emailing PTA
Vice Pres. Kate Moore at vp@stemk8pta.org. Join our first meeting of the school year
this Thursday, Sept. 9 from 6:30 – 8:00 PM.

Please complete these school forms at your earliest opportunity. Several forms are required from all students, including Emergency Information and FERPA.

Go to https://www.seattleschools.org/news/start-of-school-forms/, download each form in your preferred language, complete it, save and then email to borenk8stem@seattleschools.org. If you would like printed forms, please contact the STEM K8 office at 206-252-8450.

Even though breakfast and lunch is offered free to all students this year, if you qualify for free and reduced lunch, please complete the application. It plays a significant role in the funding STEM K8 receives.

Thank you!

Students will be distributed devices (grade-appropriate laptop or ipad) starting the first week of school. Seattle Public Schools is asking for a $25 usage fee, but this fee does not apply to students eligible for free and reduced lunch. Payment can be made by check, made out to Seattle Public Schools and write
“device fee” in the note section; or online via School Pay (see link for instructions). 

To receive a device, students need:
a) to have returned their device last year, or if they kept it over the summer and it works, let their
teacher know they are going to continue using it (recommended)
b) to give their homeroom teacher a parent and student signed copy of the Student 1:1 Laptop Device
Agreement. Translations can be found at translated device agreements.

Make sure you are getting updates from the school. Louisa Boren STEM K8 is adding Talking Points, a text and app-based communication tool that supports translated two-way communication and using  phones.  Look for updates here on the PTA website, and also social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The SPS website at www.seattleschools.org offers translated, updated information and the school website will be revamped soon.

STEM K-8 does not send school supplies lists. We ask families to provide a backpack, water bottle, and if possible $50 contribution for supplies (not required). The contribution will ensure that all students receive the same grade-level supplies, regardless of their ability to contribute. If you can, consider giving a little extra to cover the students who cannot contribute.

This coming school year, students will have Early Release Wednesdays, with school getting out at 2:10 PM.