St. Agnes

April 2010 Note

4/12/2010

April, 2010 Dear Parents; Thank goodness for Spring! The warm weather, sunshine and lovely flowers are truly a blessing for us after the winter. If warmth and beauty are the upside, pollen must be the downside of spring. We’ve been seeing lots of spring allergies and the weatherman keeps reporting those increasing pollen counts. If your child is really bothered by the itchy, watery eyes and sniffles that go along with hayfever, please ask your doctor about it. A little treatment can go a long way to improving your child’s day!

Of course, spring can also bring severe weather to the Ozarks. Please take a minute to think about your tornado plan. Is the entrance to your “safe room” easily accessible, even in the middle of the night? This is a good time to remind the children about lightning safety. Do they know that metal baseball bats are very good conductors of electricity? Do they know about not sheltering under a tree in a thunderstorm? The Springfield/Greene county Department of health has 2 very good references for tornado and lightning safety. Their website is www.springfieldmo.gov

I read some statistics the other day that I want to share with you. They come from the Family Education Network and concern drug use and underage drinking. “In the next 24 hours, 15,006 American teens will use drugs for the first time.” “More than half of the nation’s 6th to 12th graders drink alcoholic beverages.” Wow! I have a 6th grader and the thought of her drinking now makes cold chills run down my spine. The question that went along with these statistics was as follows: Will your teen be one of them? I know from personal experience that talking with your children about alcohol and drug use isn’t easy. I also know that it’s vital. So, how do we reconcile these two things? Here are some things recommended by people who do this for a living.

First, look at the example you set for your children. We are still the most important role model for our children. That won‘t last forever, so use it while you can! Do your children see you being responsible about alcohol use? We really do have to practice what we preach if we want our kids to hear the preaching.

Second, ask your kids what they already know. Be prepared to listen and not condemn. If your child tells you about a friend who is using alcohol or drugs you will need to carefully help your child decide what to do. Panic and forbidding the friendship won’t help. Help your child learn how to refuse the offer of drugs or alcohol and how to stay safe. Make sure your child knows that you will come instantly and get them if they are somewhere unsafe and call. If you do have to pick them up, be sure you are supportive of them.

Finally, give them the facts they need to be safe. It’s OK to remind them that alcohol use is illegal at their age. The illegality, the “my parents would absolutely kill me” all are good reasons for children to present to their peers when invited to join in on alcohol or drug use. Give them some reasons to say no! Health concerns, religious or moral beliefs, not wanting to disappoint a coach all are reasons kids can use when they are saying no. Of course, avoidance of the situation is best but sometimes they’ll be caught by surprise. And, no, “everyone” isn’t drinking or using drugs. Remind them of that!

We’re almost at the end of the school year. Let’s move into summer in good health. Beverly Talty, R.N.

March 2010 Note

3/17/2010

March, 2010

Dear Parents; The calendar tells us that spring is right around the corner but the weather sure has me fooled! I’m ready for some warm, sunny weather. Many of us will move our exercise routines outdoors now and I’ve attached an exercise safety letter. This information is very kindly provided by Mr. Dwayne Doran, Director of Safety and Security for St. John’s. If you are reading this on the webpage there should (!) be a link to follow. If you received this in the mailbag, the letter is included. I’d like to thank Mr. Doran for letting me include his informative articles this year. Every one of them is packed full of good information! We’ve seen an increase in illnesses in most of our schools this month. Fevers and tummy bugs seem to predominate. Please remind your children of the need to practice good hand washing and cover their coughs and sneezes. I’ve seen that many of the local pharmacies are still offering H1N1 flu vaccinations. We were so blessed that the H1N1 flu wasn’t as bad as was feared but it’s still not too late to get a vaccination for your child or yourself. If you are the parent of a preschool child you have received a letter about the upcoming Amblyopia screening at all of our schools. This free program is provided by the Missouri Lion’s Eye Foundation. We are so blessed to be able to offer this to our families. The screenings will take place in March and April but to have your child screened you must return the permission form. Please call me or Mrs. Halter if you have any questions. This is the time of year to look at some safety gear for your children. A mouth guard is cheap protection for that expensive, orthodontist-enhanced smile. I know children like to “feel the wind in their hair” when on their bikes but a helmet is a must to protect that smart brain. Scooters and skateboards require elbow and knee pads in addition to helmets. Please look at the activities your child is involved in and update the safety gear as needed. Finally, take a look at the safety seat your child sits in. They’ve grown this year! Please make sure the seat is the correct size for their height and weight. Children (and adults) should ALWAYS be buckled up in the car and, of course, the back seat is the safest place for your child. Two of my children have gotten big enough to sit in front and it was nerve-wracking for the first few weeks! I know that when they’re as big as I am they are OK in the front seat but it still feels weird. Whatever fun things you have planned for spring I hope you are healthy, safe, and happy. God bless you and your family. Beverly Talty, R.N. School Nurse