WELCOME TO MRS. ROSA'S HEALTH ROOM
AQUIDNECK SCHOOL
2009-2010
Dear Aquidneck students and families,
Welcome back to a new school year! This is my first year at Aquidneck School and I look forward to meeting all of you. I also welcome our new students and of course my former JFK friends. I have been a certified school nurse-teacher for 22 years. School nursing is a specialty area of nursing that focuses on childhood illness prevention, wellness promotion, health services, and health education. I have worked with students of varied developmental levels and needs from pre K- grade 12.
The start of a new school year is a great time to review our school policies to ensure the health and safety of all our students:
The R.I. Department of Health requires each new student to have a physical exam. Exams need to be within 12 months prior to the 1st day of school or 6 months after school entry.
Immunizations need to be up to date or sign an exemption form. Requirements are as follows:
one (1) varicella/chicken pox vaccine, two (2) doses of varicella for kindergartners, or history of disease
two (2) doses MMR/measles, mumps, rubella vaccine
three (3) doses hepatitis B vaccine
four (4) doses polio vaccine
five (5) doses DTaP/diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis vaccine
kindergartners also need to have a lead test and vision screening prior to entry
Medication policy- If a child requires medication during school hours; a form must be signed by the doctor and parent/guardian. All medications must be labeled by the pharmacy. Please ask the pharmacist for 2 labeled bottles, 1 for home & 1 for school. All medications are kept in the Health Room. Please do not send "over the counter" medicine to school with your child. In the elementary schools we can administer acetaminophen/"Tylenol" and ibuprofen/"Motrin" on a very limited basis with parental permission on an as needed basis.
If your child has a health condition, allergy, or other medical concern please contact me to set up a health care plan.
Please keep children home when they are sick. They will recover quicker and it helps stop the spread of germs.
Children should stay home after vomiting &/or persistent diarrhea
Children with a fever should stay home until fever is gone for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication
- Children with sore throat, frequent cough, loss of appetite, fatigue and inability to fully participate in class due to these symptoms should stay at home.....We offer these guidelines each year but this year with the H1N1 virus issue we are stressing them more than ever. Let's work together to stop the spread of this virus. Please keep up to date with the latest Flu info at http://www.flu.gov/plan/school/schoolflutoolkit.pdf..
Research is showing us that the decrease in physical exercise combined with poor nutrition is leading us to a generation ofoverweight children. There are significant health conditions that accompany this trend.
On many levels we are trying to manage this rising health problem. We have federal and state health department mandates for pediatric nutrition and physical education. The Middletown School Department has a Health and Nutrition Policy and a Health and Wellness Advisory Council. We support these policies by distributing and reinforcing nutrition information to our students and their families.
We all need to eat food everyday; so it is important that we make healthy choices. I like teaching the concept of "everyday foods" vs. "sometime foods". This model, along with portion control, can help all of us maintain a healthier diet.
In addition to nutritious foods at mealtime, growing children also benefit from healthy snacks. All of ourstudents should bring a mid-morning snack to school everyday. Some good choices are: fresh fruit, dried fruit, cut up veggies, sliced cheese, yogurt, whole grain crackers, a ½ sandwich, mini bagel with cream cheese, low sugar cereal, orpopcorn. Water is the perfect thirst quencher any time of day.
Physical activity plays a vital role in all of our lives. Aim for at least 30 minutes of active movement 5 days a week for every member of your family. There is a direct link between TV watching and being overweight. So turn off the TV, videogames, and computers and move your body. Not only will you look and feel better, you will sleep better too.
Sleep plays a critical role in our health. Children especially need a bedtime routine that is calming, predictable, and allows for 8-10hours of restful sleep. Many studies have proven that TV's and computers should not be in our bedrooms.
The start of a new school year is a perfect time to start some of these healthy traditions! Please don't hesitate to call me at school, 847-4921, if I can help you in any way.
Mrs. Rosa, RN, school nurse-teacher
