In July, NASN launched a new program for school nurses to provide free discount prescription drug cards.  Recipients do not need to be citizens or prove eligibility.  See below for participating pharmacies and the information I received regarding the program.  Please email me with the names of those you want enrolled (williams_wendy@asdk12.org) and I will reply back with your card(s).  Please note, each card is person specific, so if you want one for every member of your family, I will need to send you one for each person.

Free Discount Prescription Drug Card
As a school nurse, you know how expensive medications can be, particularly if you, your co-workers, your students or their families are un-insured or under insured.  This program is being provided to you to help lower their prescription drug costs. This is NOT insurance.  This is a discount program that works at a large number of pharmacies and grocery stores.   This card can be provided to anyone associated with the school(s) that you serve.  You, your family, staff members, volunteers, any or all students and their families.   Simply create and print the FREE Prescription Drug Card below and receive savings of up to 75% (discounts average roughly 30%) at more than 54,000 national and regional pharmacies. This discount card can be used as your primary discount plan or it can be used on prescriptions not covered by an insurance plan. This program also includes other value added discounts on things like diabetes supplies, hearing aides and glasses.

Please enter the name and email address in the box below and a printable membership card will be generated.  If the recipient does not want email updates, you can enter NONE into the email line.  There is no application/enrollment or eligibility required. This program has “LOWEST PRICE” logic to guarantee the best deal on your prescriptions. (You pay the lower of a discount off Average Wholesale Price – AWP, discount off MAC Pricing, or Pharmacy Promotional/Retail price.) This card is pre-activated and can be used immediately!!
Card are accepted at the following pharmacies:

The 2nd annual Camp Erin Anchorage, a no-charge camp for grieving children and teens, is accepting camper applications for the camp weekend which will be held Friday, September 24- Sunday, September 26, 2010, at Camp Carlquist in Chugiak.  Hospice of Anchorage’s Forget Me Not Grief Program is offering the camp in partnership with The Moyer Foundation.  The Moyer Foundation partners with healthcare and bereavement organizations in local communities to help fund, develop and grow Camp Erin nationwide.

Camp Erin is designed for children and teens ages 6-17 who have experienced the death of someone close to them.  It is a weekend-long experience filled with traditional fun camp activities combined with grief education and emotional support- led by grief professionals and trained volunteers.  Camp Erin provides a unique opportunity for peer bonding between children and teens facing a similar life circumstance.

“I was devastated, and it was a struggle sometimes for me to get my two brokenhearted children dressed and ready for school, but after the camp the kids started laughing again and we were able to have fun again, and that really helped me deal with my own heart.”
– Karl, Camp Erin Parent

“I got rid of tears I knew I must.”
– 9 year old camper

Click here for the flyer and registration information.

Immunizations Due

Many students will need immunization boosters prior to school starting and during the school year.  The immunization must be received and documentation provided to the school prior to attending classes.  The State of Alaska has a strict “NO SHOT, NO SCHOOL” policy.  Reminder letters are mailed out monthly and several months prior to your students immunization due date.  Free immunizations are available at a variety of locations, please contact me with any questions or concerns.

Allergy/Anaphylaxis

Steller Secondary is a LATEX-FREE 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 student is prescribed an inhaler we must have an Asthma Action Plan on file. If you need a copy of the Asthma Action Plan to take to your doctor please contact the school nurse.

PE Excuses

If a student will need to be out of PE for more than three days a written request from a physician is necessary.  The excuse must specify the length of the absence (including the return date,) and the reason for it.

Medication

If your child requires medication during the school day please contact the nurse 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 medications must be counted by the nurse in view of the parent/guardian. For questions regarding medication administration at school please call the nurse.

Food Donations

The nurse’s office is running low on cup-o-noodle lunches and out of breakfast or snack items such as instant oatmeal, granola bars, apple sauce, gram crackers etc.  If you were able to make a donation, it would be greatly appreciated by the many Steller students who come in needing a blood sugar pick-me-up or forget to bring a lunch.  Rest assured, you will be notified if your student becomes a “frequent flyer” for food.

Nurse Wendy

The Anchorage School District and Food Bank of Alaska are participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be made available and FREE to all children 18 years of age and under. Acceptance and participating requirements for the program are the same regardless of race, sex, color, age, disability or national origin.  Meals will be provided at these sites and times (click here).  Free summer meals for children

Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any USDA-related activity should write or call USDA, 14^thand Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, DC 20250-9410, (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). The Anchorage School District and Food Bank of Alaska are equal opportunity providers.



There has been a recall on Children’s Benadryl, Tylenol, Motrin, and Zyrtec.  Attached is the specific recall list and the CDC announcement regarding the recall.  Tylenol Recall

Building Our Youth’s Developmental Assets

Each month, in addition to the Nurse’s Notes, I will include The Search Institute’s “Ideas for Parents” a mini-newsletter containing suggestions and ideas on how to build your child’s assets.  This month’s focus is Boundaries & Expectations: Positive Peer Influence.  More information can be found at the Safe & Drug Free School’s link via the ASD website, The Search Institute www.search-institute.org, or by contacting me directly.  I also have a great book on developmental asset building in Alaskan youth if you are interested.

Spring Intensives & Travel

If your student is participating in travel or an overnight intensive, the health office will need updated medical and medication information.  Please check with your student as he/she should have paperwork for you to review and return to the health office prior to intensives.

Student Medication

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 MEDICATION IN THE NURSE’S OFFICE BY 11:00am, Thursday, May 20, 2010.  Per ASD policy, any medication not picked up will be turned into ASD Health Services and destroyed.

Immunizations Due

Many students will need immunization boosters before the end of school and over the summer.  The immunization must be received and documentation provided to the school prior to attending classes.  The State of Alaska has a strict “NO SHOT, NO SCHOOL” policy.  Reminder letters are mailed out monthly and several months prior to your students immunization due date.  Letters for immunizations due over the summer will be mailed in May.  Free immunizations are available at a variety of locations; please contact me with any questions or concerns.

Prom and Graduation Parties

Prom night and graduation are soon approaching.  We want this to be a time of fond memories and not a reminder of a tragic event.  Please take the time to remind your sons and daughters about the safety issues and consequences of drug and alcohol use.  Remind them that it impairs judgment, lowers inhibitions, and can cause alcohol poisoning/overdose, all of which increase the risk for motor vehicle accidents.  Lets work together to keep our students safe.

Donations

Lunch, snack, and drink donations are 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.  Suggestions for donations include: soup cups, granola bars, oatmeal, juice boxes, etc.

Nurse Wendy

Building Our Youth’s Developmental Assets

Each month, in addition to the Nurse’s Notes, I will include The Search Institute’s “Ideas for Parents” a mini-newsletter containing suggestions and ideas on how to build your child’s assets.  This month’s focus is Support: The Nurturing Nature of Support.  Click here to download. More information can be found at the Safe & Drug Free School’s link via the ASD website, The Search Institute www.search-institute.org, or by contacting me directly.  I also have a great book on developmental asset building in Alaskan youth if you are interested.

Spring Intensives & Travel

If your student is participating in travel or an overnight intensive, the health office will need updated medical and medication information.  Please check with your student as he/she should have paperwork for you to review and return to the health office prior to intensives.

Donations

Lunch, snack, and drink donations are 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.  Suggestions for donations include: soup cups, granola bars, oatmeal, juice boxes, etc.

Nurse Wendy

Class 1 Recall: a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.

WHAT PRODUCT:
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein ( HVP):  Used as a Flavor enhancer in multiple products nationwide.  These are some of the categories of items that may contain HVP:

Bouillon Products
Dip and Dip Mix Products
Dressing and Dressing Mix Products
Gravy Mix Products
Pre-Packaged Meal Products
Prepared Salad Products
Snack and Snack Mix Products
Soup Mix Products
Stuffing Products

Click here to see the most current  list of items and lot numbers as it is being updated continually:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is actively investigating findings of Salmonella Tennessee in hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) manufactured by Basic Food Flavors, Inc., in Las Vegas, NV. HVP is a flavor enhancer used in a wide variety of processed food products, such as soups, sauces, chilis, stews, hot dogs, gravies, seasoned snack foods, dips, and dressings. It is often blended with other spices to make seasonings that are used in or on foods.

WHY:
An ingredient used in the seasoning (HVP) has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

DISPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS:
Place product in a sealed container or trash bag for transport to a public landfill.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Use this web site to access detailed info: www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm