Welcome to the New School Year!
Welcome to the new school year!
Breakfast can be purchased in the cafeteria in the morning BUT not on Thursdays. Please remember to provide healthy snacks every day and a larger one on Thursdays due to no lunch.
Please follow any classroom specific food restrictions such as for no tree nuts or peanuts in food to be consumed in the classroom. The best way to keep those with life-threatening allergies safe is by avoidance of contact.
New orders and permissions are required at the beginning of every academic year (August/September) for Epipens/epinephrine auto-injectors and inhalers. Be sure to sign all forms where indicated too.
I suggest that you protect your children from insect and tick bites with insect spray before school. That is what is recommended by the CDC.
TICK FACTS
What are ticks?
Ticks are bugs that feed on the blood of mammals, birds, and reptiles. Deer ticks and dog ticks are found throughout Massachusetts and may spread different disease-causing germs when they bite. Ticks are generally found in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas. Ticks do not fly or jump. They attach to animals or people that come into direct contact with them.
Deer ticks: Both nymph (young) and adult deer ticks will bite humans. The highest risk of being bitten by a deer tick occurs throughout the spring, summer and fall seasons. However, adult deer ticks can also be out searching for a host any time winter temperatures are above freezing. Deer tick nymphs are the size of a poppy seed and deer tick adults are the size of a sesame seed.
Dog ticks: In general, only the adult dog tick will bite humans. The highest risk of being bitten by a dog tick occurs during the spring and summer seasons. Adult dog ticks are about the size of a watermelon seed.
How can I protect my family from tick bites?
The single most important thing you can do is check yourself for ticks once a day. Favorite places ticks like to go on the body include areas between the toes, back of the knees, groin, armpits, neck, along the hairline, and behind the ears. Remember to check your children and pets, too. Remove any attached tick as soon as possible.
Use repellents that contain DEET on exposed skin and those that contain permethrin on clothing. Be sure to read product labels to ensure safe and proper usage.
Stick to main pathways and the center of trails when hiking.
Wear long-sleeved, light-colored shirts and long pants tucked into socks. This will keep ticks away from your skin and make it easier to spot a tick on your clothing.
Talk to your veterinarian about the best ways to protect your pets from ticks.
There is currently no human vaccine available to protect against Lyme disease or any other tick-borne disease found in Massachusetts.
What should I do if I find a tick on myself or my child?
The tick should be carefully removed as soon as possible. The longer an infected tick remains attached to a person or animal, the higher the likelihood of disease transmission. Use fine-point tweezers to grip the mouthparts of the tick as close to the skin as possible. The tick should not be squeezed or twisted but pulled straight outward with steady, gentle pressure. You should not apply kerosene, petroleum jelly, nail polish, or a hot match tip to remove the tick; these measures are not effective and may result in injury. Notify your health care provider if you have been bitten by a deer tick, or if you develop a rash or other flu-like symptoms following a tick bite.
Further information can be found on the following web sites:
www.mass.gov/dph and www.cdc.gov
Also visit our Conant Health and Wellness site for more general information!
Healthy wishes!
Heather
Resilience is a key skill for children to learn.
Heather Makris, BSN RN NCSN
Luther Conant Elementary School Nurse
https://abschools.org/cms/one.aspx?pageId=6252188
(978)266-2550
(978)264-3329 fax