October 2011
It is common for the schools to see cases of head lice at this time of year. When the nurse is notified of a case, all of the children in the particular class are screened and a notice is sent home to the parents. If there is a sibling at any of the schools, those children and their classmates are also checked. Additionally, children who attend either EASY or Woodlot are also screened if necessary. Children who are identified as having lice need to be treated with a pesticide shampoo and have their hair carefully combed out at home to remove all nits before they can return to school. These children are then brought to the Health Office by the parent (not by the school bus) to be checked again prior to re- entering the class. Parents are advised to continue checking their children daily since lice can remain dormant on the hair for up to 30 days. Unlike dandruff that is easily dislodged from the hair, nits adhere tightly to the hair shaft and will only come off if pulled to the end of the hair shaft. In classes where a student has lice, the custodian will provide plastic bags in which each child will store his or her coat and book bag.
There are some things we can do to help reduce the spread of lice: do not share hats, scarves, combs, hair accessories, or sports helmets, with other people; store hats and scarves in the sleeves of jackets rather than on hooks in the classroom closet; check your child frequently and regularly for lice or nits; always keep your child’s hair off the shoulders; use hair gels, hair spray, or leave-in conditioner whenever possible; consider using a shampoo that contains tea tree oil since lice are repelled by the scent; rub a small amount of olive oil on your child’s head after shampooing to make it more difficult for the lice to grip and lay eggs.
Remember to notify the school nurse if you suspect your child may have lice. Additional information is available on request. Thank you for your cooperation.
Nina Feiman, RN 793-6130 Ext. 5313
Welcome Letter - September 2011
LICE UPDATE: The primary defense against the spread of head lice rests with the parents/guardians of the children in our school. Parents who notice their child scratching or actually see "something" in their child's hair, but do not treat the child nor keep him/her home are putting all the other children and staff at risk. If you are unsure about what you are seeing in your child's hair, call the school nurse or your doctor and have the child checked before he goes to class. Children who are identified as having lice need to be treated with a pesticide shampoo and have their hair carefully combed out at home to remove all nits before they can return to school. The use of hair gels, hair spray, leave in conditioners, products containing tea tree oil, or a small amount of olive oil rubbed in the hair, are all deterrents for lice. Again, please do NOT send your child to school if you suspect that he or she might have lice. Also, please contact the school nurse immediately to alert me to a possible case so that I can take appropriate action to reduce the spread of lice.
Thank you for your cooperation.
NUT FREE ZONE: Please be reminded that foods containing nuts, prepared with peanut oil, or produced in factories that make nut products (information usually on package labels as required by law), may not be brought into any classrooms for parties or snacks.
IMPORTANT REMINDER for PARENTS & GUARDIANS: Please inform the school promptly of any phone number (home, work, cell) changes for you and/or the people listed as emergency backups for your children. This information is vital in case your child becomes ill at school or there is an early dismissal due to inclement weather.
GYM CLASS/RECESS RESTRICTIONS: A doctor's note is required if your child needs to be excused from gym due to an injury or illness. Your child will not be able to return to gym/recess unless a doctor's note is received that gives him or her clearance. Please note that if your child is excused from gym, that means that he or she is also excused from recess time. A parent may excuse his or her child for one gym class by sending in a written note.
Physical Education is an important part of your child's day and a mandated part of the curriculum. Exercise, physical activity, and attention to good nutrition, are all excellent tools to combat the rising rate of obesity seen throughout the nation.
For those children who are not sports minded, they will learn valuable skills such as exercise routines, teamwork, coordination, heart healthy habits, and more, by participating in gym classes twice a week.
The following is the state mandated screening guide
for students in grades 2 - 5
Vision - Grades 2, 3, 5
Hearing - Grades 3, 5
Scoliosis - Grade 5
Physical Exam Reports - Grades 2, 4
Dental Report - Grades 2, 4
Vision and/or Hearing tests may be administered to students in other grades at the request of the parent or guardian, or the teacher. Parents/Guardians will be notified promptly if there are any problems detected in the screenings. Please contact me at 793-6130, ext. 5313, if you have any questions or concerns.
Nina Feiman, RN
School Nurse