Medications cannot be left in the nurse’s office over the summer. It must either be returned to the parent or discarded. Please pick up medications in the Nurse’s Office by 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 20th. Remember, any medications which are not picked up by Wednesday, May 20th, 11 a.m. will be destroyed.
We have had many donations for lunch items throughout the year. Thank you to
all who have donated; however, our recent spat of cold, snowy weather
increased the number of students needing lunch. As a result, we still need
some items for students who forget or don’t have lunch. Suggested donations
include: Mac & Cheese (lunch size), granola bars, juice boxes, and plastic
spoons and forks. If you have specific questions please contact the school
nurse.
Thank you!! We appreciate the families who have provided some wonderful snacks and luncheon foods for our Steller students this month.
Our thanks goes to the following students and their parents:
Emily B., Arvin T., Nora C., Bob H., Michael R., Sydney S., Cedars G., Taran H., Chloe & Sylvie B., and Evan R.
These are only the people whose names were on the goodies. We’ve had several folks just drop off donations without identification. We’d like to thank you all too for your generosity – the students here appreciate having some handy food available in the office. We’ve had anywhere from 5 or 6 lunch requests all the way up to 18 per day.
I also want to say how much I’ve enjoyed working with the students, staff, and parents here at Steller. I’ll be leaving after spring break and another nurse will take my place before Wendy returns from maternity leave. It’s been a wonderful experience for me, and I’ll have some good memories to take with me. Rosie, my therapy dog, will miss all the warm hugs and treats as well.
Jaymie Felton, your RN sub
Thanks to all you parents who have contributed to our “food band” in the nurse’s office. It seems like more and more students rely on grabbing a snack to tide them over during the day, and our supplies have dwindled severely.
Special thanks go to the Hefferman family for the case of “Cup-O-Noodles” brought in this week. Steller students really appreciate your generous contribution. Paper cups and bowls would be useful too since we have a small amount of instant oatmeal Top-Ramen and hot chocolate, but nothing to put them in.
In spite of recent contributions, we are running low on our lunch goodies. We could also use some forks and spoons. Still, we are on the downward slope of enduring bitterly cold weather, and the students will be foraging outside the building soon.
Head Lice
Several cases of head lice have been reported at a variety of schools within the ASD, including Steller. Knowledge of a potential problem is key to prevention. As such, I thought it prudent to share a little information regarding head lice with our Steller families. (more…)
Does Eating Turkey Make Me Sleepy?
You’ve been looking forward to Thanksgiving dinner all year: turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Mmm, mmm! But after you finish that second helping of turkey with gravy, you start to feel a little sleepy. In fact you suddenly feel like curling up in front of the TV and napping until next Thanksgiving. Is gobbling up all that turkey really to blame?
Turkey meat contains an amino acid called L-Triptophan, which makes you a little drowsy. Nutrition experts say the real reason you feel so tired after your Thanksgiving feast is mostly because of all those CARBOHYDRATES [Can you say: KAR-BO-HI-DRATES ?] you ate.
Carbohydrates are found in starchy and sugary foods like bread, yams, potatoes and pumpkin pie. Another reason why this special meal might make you drowsy is that eating a big dinner causes more blood to flow to your stomach [to digest the food] and less to your brain thus making you feel less alert.
So how do you avoid that sleepy feeling on Turkey Day?
- Eat small healthy snacks before you sit down
for the big meal.
- Have moderate portions of your favorite foods.
- Drink water during the meal and eat slowly.
- Stop eating when you are full. (There will be leftovers tomorrow!) - Take a walk outside afterward to help with the digestive process. Follow these tips and have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING…. gobble, gobble!
Health Screening
Health Screenings for all 7th, 10th, and new-to-district students are nearly complete. Heath screens include vision, hearing, height, and weight. I will be mailing out MD referrals for students who do not pass their health screening. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me @ 742-4963.
Donations
We have had a good number of donations for lunch items. Thank you to all who have donated; however, as the weather turns colder we are seeing an increase in the number of students needing lunch. As a result, we still need a few items for students who forget or don’t have lunch. Suggested donations include: Mac & Cheese (lunch size), granola bars, juice boxes, and plastic spoons. If you have specific questions please contact the school nurse.
Thank You!
Thank you to the family of Clay K. for donating lunch items.
Thank you to the family of Chloe and Sylvie B. for donating lunch items.
Thank you to the family of Bobby & Tonei G. for donating lunch items.
Thank you to the family of Madelyn K. for donating lunch items.
Thank you to Dr. Mary Ann Jacob for donating Asthma Education pamplets.
Thanks you to the family of Cedars G. for donating lunch items.
Health Screening
Just a reminder that all 7th, 10th, and new-to-district students will undergo health screening starting in October. Health screening will include vision, hearing, height, and weight. ASD will mail parents/guardians a referral form and you can list any concerns you have about your student’s screening. You may also contact me with any questions or concerns.
Cold & Flu Season
The cold and flu season is upon us. Flu season runs October through April with a peak in February. The flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses, however, different viruses cause them. Because these two types of illnesses have similar flu-like symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them. In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough are more common and intense. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not cause serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations. For more information related to Cold Vs. Flu click here.
Flu shots are now available, and can be obtained from your primary care provider or from a variety of flu shot clinics held around town. For more information, contact your health care provider or call the CDC Immunization Hot Line @ 1-800-232-2522.
School attendance is important, however, a sick student who appears ill should remain home. Please do not send a sick student to school to be examined by the nurse. This may expose others to unnecessary illnesses. *Parents are notified before students are excused from school for illness. Current contact phone numbers need to be provided and updated throughout the year.
Stomach Virus
We have seen multiple cases of the “stomach flu” recently. This is a common illness, which is spread from person-to-person on unwashed hands or food and surfaces handled by a sick person. Thus, the key to preventing the illness is frequent hand washing, especially after using the restroom or prior to eating. Symptoms include a sudden onset of nausea, cramping, chills and fever. Usually, vomiting and/or diarrhea are present. Symptoms generally last 1-3days. It is important to stay hydrated during this time and to remain home until symptoms have been gone for 24 hours.
A Special Thanks…
Thank you to the family of alumni Josh & Melissa Houer for donating bus tokens!
Thank you to all these families for donating lunch and breakfast items!
Family of Jazzmine C.
Family of Evan W.
Family of Brad S.
Family of Bob H.
The Brazell family
Family of Brittney F.
Family of Heidi H.
Shannon
Family of Michaela & Mackenzie C.
Allergy/Anaphylaxis
Steller Secondary is a LATEX-REDUCED environment. Do not bring latex gloves, balloons, or other items made of latex into the building.
Parents of children with a known anaphylactic reaction especially to food, animals, or bee/wasp sting must provide the school with an Allergy/Anaphylaxis Plan completed by a physician. The nurse reviews the plan and gives a copy to the student’s teachers. Teachers are trained to administer the epinephrine auto-injector and it will go with the child on field trips. If you need a copy of the Allergy/Anaphylaxis Plan to take to your doctor please contact the school nurse.
Asthma
If your child requires an inhaler at school we must have an Asthma Action Plan on file. You may obtain one by calling the school nurse.
PE Excuses
PE excuses are cleared by the nurse. If a student will need to be out of PE for more than three days, a written request from a physician is necessary. The request must specify the length of the absence (including the return date,) and the justification for it.
Medication
If your child requires medication during the school day, please contact the me for the required paperwork. All medication must be provided in the original container. The nurse cannot give out any loose medication that is sent to school in a baggie. Students are prohibited by ASD policy from carrying controlled substance medications, such as those prescribed for ADD/ADHD, to school to give to the nurse. An adult must bring in this medication. All controlled medication must be counted by the nurse in view of the parent/guardian. If you have questions about medication administration at school, you can call or email me.
Donations
Lunch, snack, and drink donations are still needed for students who forget or don’t have lunch. Lunch and snack items that do not require refrigeration or freezing and have a good shelf life work best. Here are some suggestions for donations: soup cups, granola bars, cheese cracker snack packs, tuna and cracker snack packs, juice boxes, plastic spoons etc.
Thank You
Thank you to parents and family of Taran Haynes for donating lunches in September!
If you have any questions or your student has any special health concerns, you can reach at 742-4963.
Wendy Williams
Steller’s Nurse
Medication Administration Policy
If your child requires medication (including inhalers or non-prescription medication) during the school day, I will be happy to assist you by giving them safely and reliably.
Before any medication can be administered at school, the parent/guardian must complete the required form to be kept on file with the school nurse. Prescription medications to be given longer than 15 days will require a physician signature. Medication must be provided in the original container. Loose pills that come to school in a baggie will not be given. Please do not send medication (including cold remedies, cough drops, Tylenol, ect) to school for your child to take on their own. ASD policy prohibits students from carrying prescription medication to and from school. It must be transported by an adult. Medication forms must be renewed each year. (more…)
