Notes From the School Nurse             Adolescent children need plenty of sleep each night.  Research shows that 9-10 hours a night are beneficial during the growth and development of students during this stage of development, much like it was during their first year of life.  We know that homework and activities make it hard to get to bed, but a normal and sometimes early bedtime will be a great benefit for your child.  Hormonal changes during puberty increase the demand for good nutrition.  Teens need an extra serving of calcium daily and breakfast is a necessity.  When I talk with my students about the need for a healthy breakfast I explain that if their bodies are empty when they come to school they are not going to get very far.  We need to make sure our bodies have fuel so they start well in the morning.  Studies show that a good nights rest and breakfast go a long way in the student’s ability to focus and concentrate in the classroom.  Parents, please insist on sleep and good nutrition with your children. Sincerely, Linda Perez     Immunizations Please make note of the following immunization requirements for entry into school established by the Nebraska State Department of Health: 7th Grade and ALL transfer students from out of the state of Nebraska: - 3 doses of DTaP, DTP, DT, or TD vaccine, with one given after the 4th birthday - 3 doses of Polio vaccine - 2 doses of MMR vaccine, given after 12 months and separated by at least one month - 3 doses of Hep B vaccine All students will be required to have 2 doses of MMR vaccine. Medications A copy of the new district medication form is included in the newsletter. No medications will be given without written order from your doctor and written permission from a parent. This includes over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, Tylenol, throat lozenges, etc. Under no circumstances will medication be administrated that is not brought to school in the prescription or original labeled container..   PE Participation We know from time to time students cannot participate in P.E. due to illness or injury. Please send us a note if your child cannot participate in P.E. We have set a guideline of three (3) gym passes per semester without requiring a doctor’s note. More than three passes per semester will require a doctor’s note. If your child has a chronic illness that limits P.E., call the nurse to discuss your child’s needs with her. If the doctor doesn’t want your child to participate in any P.E. activity, a note must be obtained from a medical doctor. Asthma - If your child has asthma please return the Asthma Action Plan at the beginning of the year. This is important information for the nurse to have on file to assist her in caring for your student if there is a problem.   Cold Weather Junior High students hate to dress for cold weather. Some students don't wear a coat in subzero weather. Please encourage your child to dress for the winter cold. It is not uncommon to see a student in several inches of snow without socks on their feet. In subzero weather, hats, gloves, and a coat are a must. We see a couple of frost bites a year! Let's bundle them up and keep them healthy.   School Physicals All incoming seventh grade students and anyone transferring from outside the state of Nebraska must have a physical exam.  The physical needs to be turned in to the school nurse prior to the entrance of school.  This physical can also be used for sports participation.   Emergency Cards In an emergency situation or severe weather, it may be necessary for someone other than the parent or guardian to pick up a child at school. The school will not accept telephone authorization. All students are required to have an emergency card on file in the Nurse's office. These were given to each student during the first week of school. If you have a change of address during the school year, please contact the school so that emergency cards can be updated.     Eye Exams The Papillion Lions Club helps families that meet certain income guidelines with eye exams and glasses. If you are in need of glasses and can not afford them, call the school nurse to see if you qualify for assistance from this organization. If you received a note from the nurse about your child's vision or teeth, please let her know if follow-up care has been provided.   Contact Problems We have been having a problem reaching parents when they are on the internet. Please provide us with an alternative phone number such as a cell phone, if you have one, so we can reach you if your child has a problem.   Sleep Children who are growing through puberty need similar sleep to when they were growing in their first years of life. Please help them stick to a regular bed time. We see students in our office every day who are simply very, very tired. Please call us with any concerns. We care about your child's health and want them to be successful in school. "Healthy Hints" Wherever people gather, the potential for disease transmission is greatly increased. Schools are no exception. Colds, flu, and head lice can be present in our school population at any time. Other viral and bacterial infections such as chicken pox, strep, "mono", staph, intestinal (stomach) infections, etc., can also occur. To reduce the risk of transmission, please note the following "Healthy Hints". 1. Do not send your student to school if he/she has diarrhea, vomiting, rash, fever or other obvious symptoms. 2. Keep your student at home until the temperature has been normal and the other symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting, rash, etc.) have subsided for 24 hours without The use of Tylenol. 3. Report all excessive or prolonged vomiting, diarrhea, rash or fever to your physician. Dehydration can occur quickly, especially in younger children. 4. Encourage your student not to share clothing, and/or food or drinks with each other. 5. Review with your student the importance of hand washing before eating, after using the restroom 6. Do not send homemade treats to be shared by students and staff if there has been an illness in your home. 7. Please report the nature of your student's illness when calling in their absences that Mrs. Perez, RN, the school nurse, can follow up with you if needed. If you have any questions or if we can assist you in any way, please contact Mrs. Perez, RN at 898-0424. Messages may be left with the paraprofessional in the health office if the RN is at another school.                                           Go Back to the PJH Homepage!