Notes from the
Ryerson Health Office

Happy New Year!

FLU SEASON:

The time of year may be right, but we haven’t been seeing much flu right now. However…………the Center for Disease Control is still recommending flu shots for those at risk of complications (which means most people).. Seasonal Flu shots as well as H1N1 (Swine) Flu shots appear to be in plentiful supply right now. If your family has not already received the vaccine, please follow your doctor’s guidance in getting it.

ILLNESS PREVENTION:

GREAT NEWS!! I have noticed children being much more conscientious about coughing & sneezing into their elbows! Congrats to parents & teachers for encouraging this ‘illness-preventing’ behavior! One more thing we can all do is to wash our hands.....frequently & thoroughly….…before eating……..after blowing noses or using the bathroom…………. with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds!! How long is twenty seconds? Long enough to sing the Happy Birthday song twice!

VISION & HEARING REFERRALS:

Vision screenings have been completed for Grades 1 to 4, and hearing screenings for Grades 1 to 3. Referrals have been sent for any student who did not meet the state standards for their grade level. Many have already been returned to the Health Office. If you have not already done so, please return completed forms to me as soon as possible. If you feel, at any time during the year, that your child is having difficulty with vision or hearing, please let me know or consult with your physician

A BIG THANK YOU!

To all the parents who volunteered to help with the Vision Screenings this year: To Cynthia Dreier, Hyewon Jeon, Terese Howey, Sheila Popp, Alison Wehrle, Licia Ciotti, Jennifer Houghton, MaryBeth Hughes, Heather Feiner, Jill Lingan, Chris Hennessey and Karen Aranow who all volunteered to help keep students occupied, organized and orderly while they were waiting their turn. A special ‘Thank you’ to Kristi Sweitzer for, once again, putting the parent volunteer schedule together.

OUTDOOR RECESS:

Fresh air is good for the body & soul! We generally go outside for recess if the temperature including wind chill factor is 20 degrees or above and there is no precipitation. Please make sure that your children are prepared to dress appropriately for the weather. Coats, hats and gloves will help to keep your children warm, and their resistance to illness up!

CLOTHING:

I have a need in the Health Office for some clean `gently used’ clothing for life’s little mishaps. Long sleeve shirts would help right now, and pants with elastic waists are the most useful. New boys & girls underwear would also be appreciated.

All items have really come in handy for those students who need to borrow a change of clothing. If your child has been one of them, please wash & dry the borrowed items before returning them to school. And if underwear was one of those items, a new replacement would be appreciated.

SCHOOL ABSENCES:

Please call the health office @ 203-245-6442 or send an email bulyks@madison.k12.ct.us when your child is going to be tardy or absent from school. If you are routed into voice mail, give your child’s name, teacher, and reason for absence. If you would like me to return your call, please tell me the best way to reach you on that day.

COMMUNICATION:

I would like to thank all the parents who have been alerting me when their child was either not feeling 100% in the morning as they left for school, or was given medication, or might need medication during the school day. This information is very helpful in my assessment of your child during the day. Keep those messages coming!!

STREP THROAT:

I have received a few reports of strep infections among our students. The following are a few reminders to help prevent additional cases:

• Advise your children not to share drinks, eating utensils, etc., and encourage them to wash their hands frequently, and keep them away from their noses, mouths, and eyes. These measures will also help prevent the spread of colds & Flu.
• Know the symptoms of strep infection: sore throat, usually but not always associated with fever, headache, pain on swallowing, stomach pain, and nausea & vomiting. Contact your doctor for guidance if symptoms occur.
• If your doctor thinks your child may have strep, and does a throat culture, please do not send your child to school until the results are known.
• If your child does have strep, he/she will need to receive antibiotic medication for at least 24 hours before returning to school. He/she should also feel well, be fever free, and have a good appetite before coming back. (This may take longer than 24 hours.)

Please inform me of any cases of contagious illness, e.g. strep, pink eye, chicken pox, Fifth’s disease, flu. Our goal is to maximize the safety & health of your child when in school and we need your cooperation to be effective in this effort. Thank you!

FURTHER INFORMATION!

Come & visit Madison School Health Services on line. Go to: http://www.madison.k12.ct.us/healthoffice.shtml. There you will find helpful information about the district’s health offices, policies, procedures, and forms; and have access to other links where you can obtain reliable health information.

Once again…………….Welcome to the New Year! I hope it is a happy & healthy one for you and your family.

Sincerely,
Stephanie M. Bulyk, RN, BSN