NOTES FROM THE NURSE

Susan Caracciolo: scaracciolo@sainttimothyschool.org

Pediculosis (Head Lice)

The winter season brings an increase in cases of head lice among school children. It can happen to any child and is nothing to be embarrassed about, so if you determine that your child has a case, please notify the school nurse directly to assist with the spread of further cases. If you receive a letter in your child's envelope, then a case was reported in that class. Follow the information sent home at that time. Detailed information on the life cycle of lice, how to find it and treat it is available online at http://www.ridlice.com.

WHAT ARE HEAD LICE? The head louse (pediculous capitus) is one of three types of lice that infest people. Head lice are tiny insects (about 1/10 to 1/8 of an inch long) that live in human hair and feed on human blood. They multiply rapidly laying little silvery-colored oval-shaped eggs (called nits) which they glue to the base of the hair, close to the scalp.
CAN YOU SEE HEAD LICE? Although it's hard to see head lice, you can see the nits if you look closely. They are most often found in the hair behind the ears and at the back of the head and neck. Nits should not be confused with dandruff. Dandruff can easily be flicked off the hair; nits cannot because they are firmly attached to individual hairs. 
HOW ARE HEAD LICE SPREAD AND HOW LONG IS A PERSON ABLE TO SPREAD THEM? Head lice have no wings and do not fly or jump; they crawl. They are spread through direct contact with an infested person, or with shared items such as combs, brushes, towels, pillowcases, hats, headphones, other headgear, and clothing. 
HOW LONG DO LICE LIVE? Head lice need human blood to survive. They usually do not survive for more than 2 days away from the human body. The nits (louse eggs) cannot hatch at the lower temperatures found away from the scalp. Therefore, please remind your children not to share hats and scarves.
WHAT IS THE TREATMENT? Treatment should be given only to people who have active lice or viable eggs present. The recommended treatment is a medicated shampoo that contains either pyrethrin, such as RID, A-200, or Clear brands, or permethrin, as in the Nix brand. A second treatment 7-10 days after the first is recommended to assure that no nits have survived. The hair should be carefully checked and nits removed every day for 2 weeks to be sure the infestation has been cured. 

Chickenpox/Varicella: If your child develops chicken pox, please report this to the school clinic ASAP.

From WebMD: Chicken pox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It can spread easily. You can get it from an infected person who sneezes, coughs, or shares food or drinks. You can also get it if you touch the fluid from a chickenpox blister. A person who has chicken pox can spread the virus even before he or she has any symptoms. You are at risk of chickenpox if you have never had the illness and have not had the chickenpox vaccine.

The first symptoms of chickenpox often are: a fever, a headache and a sore throat. You or your child may feel sick, tired and not very hungry. The chickenpox rash usually appears about 1 or 2 days after the first symptoms start. Some children get the chickenpox rash without having a fever or other early symptoms. It usually takes 14-18 days to get the symptoms of chickenpox after you have been around someone with the virus. This is called the incubation period.

After a chickenpox red spot appears, it usually takes about 1 or 2 days for the spot to go through all its stages. This includes: blistering, bursting, drying, and crusting over. New red spots will appear every day for up to 5 to 7 days. Your child can return to school when all blisters have crusted over. This is usually about 10 days after the first symptoms start.

More information is available at http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/Chickenpox-Varicella-Topic-Overview.

Strep. Throat: Symptoms of strep. include, but are not limited to, the following: fever, sore throat, nausea, unknown sand-paper trunk rash, headache, etc.. If your child complains of any of these symptoms repeatedly, please follow-up with your Pediatrician.

Pandemic Planning: A resource is available from the CDC for parents on planning in the case of a pandemic flu available for viewing online.

Methicilllin-Resistant Staph Aureus (MRSA): On October 19, a letter regarding the recent news reports on MRSA was sent home to each family from Dr. McNiff, the Superintendent of Schools in the Arlington Diocese. His letter, along with an accompanying Fact Sheet on MRSA is available for viewing online. For more information, visit the Virginia Department of Health website at: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov.

Rising 6th Graders, TDaP Immunization: For school year 2008-2009, the TDaP must be administered prior to the first day of school...there will be no grace periods or extensions.  They are now administering 2 different types of vaccine depending on the age of the student:  the Boostrix vaccine for 10 years old...; the Adacel vaccine for 11 years old.  If your physician wishes to defer the immunization until the student is 11, the parent is responsible for providing a medical exemption to the school from the physician.  If the student had a Tetanus (Td) shot within the last 5 years, they do NOT need to TDaP for 6th grade; however we need documentation reflecting that immunization date from the physician. Please provide documentation of this immunization no later than August 11, 2008.

TB Testing of Volunteers

To ensure the health of our students, the Diocese of Arlington requires that all staff and volunteers provide a medical statement regarding being "free of communicable tuberculosis".  The health statement must be based on the results of either a PPD skin test or chest x-ray (if you have previously tested positive with a skin test).  The original test must be performed within the last 12 months and repeated every 3 years if you are working with the elementary level or every 2 years at the preschool level and aftercare. 

You may choose to have this testing done at any of the following three locations: your physician's office, the local Joseph Willard Health Center (Fairfax),or at the school's INVOVA clinic. 

Upcoming St. Timothy Red Cross Blood Drive, is scheduled for Saturday, May 31st from 7:00am until 1:00pm in the McGivney room. Donors that gave a "double donation" at the last collection, should be eligible to donate at this time..

REGISTER: via the Red Cross website.  Click on "Sponsors for Life" then "Donors Login Here".  Follow the directions to sign in or create an account.  Our sponsor code is "3648". 

For questions concerning the donation of blood including donor eligibility, please call the Red Cross Nurse on Duty help line at 1 -800-272-2048.  Contact Susan Caracciolo to arrange for babysitting.  To volunteer to provide cookies or refreshments, assist with the check-in process or provide sitter assistance (for service hours), please contact Susan Caracciolo.

Immunization News

New Health Assessment Forms:  There is an updated health form from the Commonwealth of VA. Click here to access a copy available to print. 

HPV Vaccinations: Timothy McNiff, Superintendent of Schools for the Arlington Diocese has written a letter to the parents of students in the Catholic Schools explaining the Diocese's position on the public debate about the vaccine against HPV. To read the letter, click here.

Rising Kindergarten Students: It is strongly recommended that a 2nd varicella vaccine be given for kindergarten entry.  By school year 2008-2009, these vaccinations will be required. 

Other Health Immunizations for Consideration: Recommended immunizations for discussion with your pediatrician. Whenever your child receives immunizations, send a copy of the updated immunization to the school nurse to keep the health record of your child up to date.

• 13 yrs or older - Varicella Vaccine - If your child has never had chickenpox or the varicella vaccine, they should receive 2 doses 28 days apart for protection;
• 11-12 yr old - Meningococcal Immunization - Recommended for 11-12+ yr. olds who are going away to sleep-away camps.  This immunization is not mandated until the child enters college;
• 11 yr old females - 2008-2009 likely to have HPV (Giardisil x3 doses) requirement enacted for 11 yr old females; the bill is currently on the Governor's desk and has a parental opt-out language;

Varicella Vaccine (Chickenpox): The Center for Disease Control recently released a revised schedule for the varicella vaccine (chickenpox).  It includes a two-dose schedule for children who have never had chickenpox by the following ages:

• 1st dose: - 12-15 months of age
• 2nd dose - 4-6 years of age (may be given earlier if at least 3 months after the 1st dose)
• Students 13 years old or older should receive 2 doses 28 days apart (if they have never had chickenpox or the varicella vaccine before

In addition to the varicella update, the chickenpox vaccine may be given along with the MMR vaccine (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) known as the MMRV.  Please reference the Chickenpox Vaccine fact sheet and the Minimum Immunization Requirements for School & Day Care (revised 6/06)

Medications

If your child needs a medication, please ask the physician to space the dosages around school time (for home administration).  If this is not possible, please come to the office and complete the appropriate medication form.  Remember that each medication has its own form.  All medications must be in the original prescription container with the following information: student's name, license prescriber's name, medication name, medication dosage, administration frequency, and the prescription fill/expiration dates.  Medications cannot be administered out of plastic bags or other non-original containers. NO MEDICATIONS (PRESCRIPTION OR NON-PRESCRIPTION) IS PERMITTED IN THE CLASSROOM AT ANY TIME INCLUDING ASPIRIN, TYLENOL, COUGH DROPS, ETC..   All over-the-counter medications must be brought to the office in their original container upon arrival to school.  At the end of the school year, the parents/guardians must pick up the remaining medication.  We are not able to release medications back to the student.  Upon school closure, any remaining medication will be disposed of.  THIS IS FOR THE PROTECTION OF ALL OF OUR CHILDREN!

Medication Authorization Form
For all medication(s), prescribed by a physician, or over-the-counter medications, except Inhalers or Epi-Pens, please print and complete a Medication Authorization Form..

Asthma Medication Authorization Forms
For students with asthma, please download and complete the Inhaler Authorization Form AND Asthma Action Plan.

Allergy Treatment Plans and Authorization Forms
For students with allergies that use Benadryl, please download and complete the Medication Authorization Form AND Allergy Action Plan. 

For students with allergies that use an Epi-Pen, please download and complete the Epi-Pen Authorization Form AND Allergy Action Plan.

Health Forms

For those students who are new at St. Timothy School, please ensure that all "Commonwealth of Virginia School Entrance Health Forms" are in the office before the first day of school.  For those students who have transitioned from preschool to kindergarten, please have the physician's office complete the VA Health Form because of additional lab work/screening information (in accordance with the state's recommendations).

Emergency care forms are due by the first day of school for each child in a family. The school nurse will be contacting any families that have not sent in their forms.  Please print and complete a new Emergency Care Form for any insurance or medical information changes. 

Absences and Sickness

Regarding absenteeism, please reference the Student Handbook.  If your child develops a fever through the night or has an upset stomach from a virus or cold, please give your child a day to recover.  In the Student Handbook, it is stated "a student should not return to school until at least 24 hours after an illness. Temperatures should be normal and other symptoms must have subsided."  If a student is not well enough to go outside for recess periods, they should not be in school.  The student should remain at home until he/she can follow the regular school schedule.

Absence Notification

Student absences must be accounted for by a written note to the classroom teacher upon return to school stating the reason for the absence.  We also ask that you notify the office if your child is absent for more than three days.  Parents of Junior High students must call the office each day that a student will be absent.  Following these simple procedures will decrease the classroom and parental interruptions. 

Commununicable Diseases

If your child contracts a communicable disease, i.e., chicken pox, please inform the school office immediately. (Preschool parents:  Please notify the school of any household communicable disease).

School Celebrations

With the introduction of the Wellness Programs this year, the committee (in accordance with the Center of Disease Control) would like to introduce healthy snacks for classroom celebrations. Below, you will find a list of recommendations for birthday and special occasion celebrations:

Fruits - Fruit Kabobs, Dried Fruits, Frozen Fruits, Fruit Salad, Fruit Cups
Vegetables
Popcorn
Goldfish
100% Fruit Juices or Bottled Water
Muffins (without frosting)
Bagels
Pretzels, Breadsticks, Flatbreads-Whole Grain, Low Salt
Baked Chips-Salsa
Granola or Cereal Bars-Whole Grain
Vegetables
Popsicles-100% Fruit Juice Popsicles
Low Fat or Fat Free Yogurts
Low Fat Yogurt

Birthday Celebrations: Your teacher may instruct you that all birthdays will be celebrated once a month, i.e., the last Wednesday of each month. The room mother will help organize this activity with the snacks, drinks, and paper products.

First Friday Celebrations: We will no longer offer First Friday Donuts. Instead, we will continue with our First Friday Food Pantry.

Holidays and Other Celebrations: These will be organized by your room mothers. Please remember to provide healthy snacks and drinks (in a creative way).

Thank you for your cooperation in providing healthy snacks to our students. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to notify me via e-mail.