HEALTH OFFICE

Mc CLELLAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MRS. J. DiMATTIA, RN

Current News

To all the students at McClellan Elementary School who took the time to “Care and Share” for children with Diabetes in October…” THANK YOU ”

With your help, McClellan raised $3,590.60 for the American Diabetes Association. The money will go for Pediatric research and development of new products and treatments.

That is terrific! Each child who raised $5.00 or more received a prize or prizes.

We had a beautiful day to walk around the school building after lunch.

Hopefully we will be able to participate in the “Walk for Diabetes” next year during April or May.

PENNIES…PENNIES…PENNIES…

One penny…alone…doesn’t really matter, what can you buy? But…a lot of pennies, together, can be powerful. You and your child can be powerful in helping someone with Leukemia/Lymphoma. Please take the time and read the rose colored paper that your child brings home in the near future.

I know there are many fund raisers here at school and this year the Health Office has gotten involved…too. I would like to participate in the Diabetes Walk yearly and I’m doing the Pennies for Lymphoma/Leukemia this year for several reasons.

First, we had a substitute teacher in our district with Lymphoma and second, “Pennies” are such a nuisance…you have too many when you don’t need them and when you need one…you don’t have them!!! So let’s start our Spring cleaning with gathering our PENNIES.

 McClellan School will be collecting PENNIES during the month of March. Your child may also bring in other coins and bills, but the focus is on PENNIES.

I have asked The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to waive the prizes. Our children need to give and not always receive…that is material things. They will receive the feelings of power and self-satisfaction knowing that they “make a difference” by helping someone.

So…please check the car, the couch and the drawers for those extra PENNIES and fill our containers during the month of March.

If I may quote, Kahlil Gibran, a Lebanese-American writer: “There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.”

You may also donate online. Go to www.schoolandyouth.org/wpa/donate and click on to McClellan Elementary School to donate.

Thanks

KINDERGARTEN Physicals were done on February 22, 2007 by

Dr. D. Giger our school physician.

Any student, Kindergarten or new, who hasn’t completed and turned in a Private Physical form has been notified to have an exam done in school or by their private physician.

Dental exams are required in K and Grade 3. If your child doesn’t have the proper number of dental exams on their medical record you have been notified. Please have the appropriate forms completed and returned to school ASAP.

SNEEZING AND COUGHING

We’ve all been taught to sneeze/cough into a tissue…throw it away…and then wash our hands. But NOW we are being retrained to sneeze or cough into our elbow area!

Think about it…our hands touch everything…but our sleeves/elbow area doesn’t open doors, answer the phone, or press numbers on a calculator, computer, or push ”start “ on the microwave. Would this cut down on the germs spreading? Absolutely!

Your child will be introduced to the concept of sneezing or coughing into the elbow area. Please go to www.coughsafe.com and view the video with your family. You may have to go to the site, “Why don’t we do it in our elbows?” to see the video. Let me know what you think! You may email me at jdimatti@wjhsd.net Thanks.

The children are also reminded to wash their hands correctly and keep them away from their eyes, nose and mouth. Let’s stay healthy.

HANDWASHING

Are you using antibacterial soap to wash your hands? Are your hands and cuticles dry and cracked? And this is the MOST important question…DO WE NEED TO USE ANTIBACTERIA SOAP???

Although there is a controversy concerning these questions, proper hand washing with soap and warm water is sufficient to decrease the number of germs on the hands.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) www.cdc.gov and National Institute for Health (NIH) www.nih.gov proper hand washing with regular soap is adequate. Please go to the CDC and NIH site to check out the scientific data concerning hand washing and these two sites: www.vermontsoap.com and home.howstuffworks.com/question692.htm

National Dental Month

February was National Dental Month. Remind your children to brush their teeth correctly and remember to floss and have regular check ups with your dentist.

Kindergarten students have been instructed on brushing and flossing their teeth. They each got a turn to demonstrate to the nurse the proper way to brush and floss.

For more information go to www.ada.org.

THANK YOU for visiting the McClellan Health Office Web Page

WHO ate the candy?