New castle Schools’ efforts to stem the spread of coronavirus infections recently added another weapon to its arsenal provided by HealthCorps, a national nonprofit committed to eliminating health inequity in at-risk communities.
Margo Burgard, Newcastle Schools’ HealthCorps coordinator, says she appreciates how school administrators, staff and teachers have gotten behind the effort to distribute COVID-19 health kits as part of its #SaveTheStudents campaign.
The effort is in conjunction with Kinsa, a health technology company that helps communities stop the spread of infectious diseases.
“Teachers and staff are on board with it,” Burgard said. “It’s a really cool project to be able to work on.”
Burgard says the kits include a Kinsa thermometer, instructions on how to use it, a mask and information regarding mental health, often a neglected subject regarding the effects of the pandemic on students.
Access to a schoolwide program to monitor symptoms and protect from outbreak are also part of the package. So far, approximately 250 of the 400 kits received have been distributed.
Jennifer Beer, Newcastle High School principal, said this effort can play an important role in fulfilling the district’s number one concern – protecting students.
“The safety and health of our students is our top priority,” Beer said in a press release. “HealthCorps has been an extremely valuable partner for our students and staff during this time. The Kinsa kits provide much needed resources for our students and parents as they continue to monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms.”
Burgard said Newcastle Schools’ Superintendent Melonie Hau has emphasized the importance of teachers getting vaccinated.
“Within the school district, Superintendent Hau has pushed for teachers to get vaccinated as soon as possible,” Burgard said. “Almost all were vaccinated last week.
“Right now, everyone wears masks. In classrooms they try to social distance as much as possible by spacing desks out. Quarantine protocols for sporting events are in place.”
Nationally, HealthCorps maintains a network of schools in which a coordinator is embedded in high-needs schools to mentor students, teach health related workshops and promote a variety of after school activities.
Burgard joined Newcastle Schools’ as its HealthCorps coordinator in November 2020.
The Chickasaw Nation sponsors HealthCorps in Newcastle, Marietta, Davis, Kingston and Purcell, Oklahoma public schools.