March 2020

Few Notes from Nurse Kocoski for the month of March.

As many of you are aware, there has been an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by novel (new) coronavirus. The outbreak first started in Wuhan, China, but cases have been identified in other international locations. Our school district is keeping track of this situation through our local health department, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the NJ Dpt of Health. Based on the current information, health officials are recommending local communities and schools take the same steps to protect against the coronavirus as we take to prevent the spread of everyday illnesses like the common cold or the flu:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Cover your mouth and nose with the inside of your elbow when you cough or sneeze
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• The 2019 novel coronavirus is believed to spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, much in the way the flu or other respiratory viruses spread. Symptoms can be fever, cough, or difficulty breathing.

Our staff here at Kennedy, will continue to encourage the healthy habits listed above. Please also continue to reinforce these habits at home with a focus on frequent and effective hand washing.

If your child exhibits signs and symptoms of the flu, please be sure to consult your child's pediatrician for further evaluation. In addition, remember to keep your child home from school for a full 24 hours post fever/diarrhea/ vomiting without the use of fever-reducing medicine and/or according to your doctor's recommendation.

I am hopeful we are over the hump and ready to welcome in a healthy and happy spring season!

Thank you for your all you do from home to help keep our kids and schools safe and healthy!

Updated reliable information from the CDC on coronavirus in the United States can be found at the following link..

Update Coronavirus Information

January 2020

Few notes from Nurse Kocoski for the month of January.

The cold and flu season is starting to increase and we can't seem to get away from coughing and sneezing.To prevent widespread flu in the school, we recommend that your child stay home from school if experiencing flu or cold symptoms. To decide whether or not to send your child to school, please consider the following guidelines. 
Definitely keep your child at home for treatment and observation if he or she has any of these symptoms:

• Fever ‐ greater than 100°F 
• Vomiting (even once)
• Diarrhea
• Chills 
• General malaise or feelings of fatigue/discomfort 
• Weakness or muscle aches 
• Frequent congested (wet) or croup cough 
• Nasal congestion with frequent blowing nose

For fever‐greater than 100°F your child should stay home until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever. This should be determined without the use of fever‐reducing medicines (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen).

To help prevent the flu and colds, teach your children good hygiene habits: wash hands frequently; do not touch eyes, nose or mouth; cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing; use a paper tissue (throw it away and then wash hands) and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Colds and influenza are the most contagious during the first 48 hours. Often when a child awakens with vague complaints (the way colds and flu begin), it is wise to observe your child at home for an hour or two before deciding whether or not to bring to school. Your child should be physically able to participate in all school activities on return to school. Keeping a sick child at home will help minimize the spread of infections and viruses in the classroom.

It is recommended that everyone 6 months of age and older get a seasonal flu vaccine each year. You need this season’s influenza vaccine to protect against the influenza viruses most likely to circulate and cause illness this season.
Here at Kennedy School we are working on deep cleaning and sanitizing classrooms, as well as teaching our students good hygiene habits.
 
Thank you in advance for helping this school year be as healthy as possible.

December 2019

Few notes from Nurse Kocoski:

With winter comes many wonderful things...the holidays, family gatherings, snow, sleigh riding :) But winter is also, unfortunately, the prime time for GERMS and SICKNESS :(There are plenty of preventative measures children can learn in order to ward off illness.  Here are three important things you can frequently remind your children to help keep them healthy the winter season:

1.  WASH YOUR HANDS!  Washing hands with soap and water will help stop the spread of germs. Remind your children to frequently and effectively wash their hands.   Many students forget to scrub for a full 20 seconds or as long as it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" or the "ABCs". 
2. DRINK UP!  We are not usually as thirsty in the winter because the temperature is cooler, but we still need to make sure we are drinking enough fluids.  Encourage your child to drink throughout the day. Be sure to provide water or healthy drink choices for your child during the school day. 3
3. GET MOVING!  Try to make family time for some fun winter activities.  Staying active in the winter months will help maintain health and elevate serotonin, also known as the happy chemical in brains.   When the weather isn't cooperating, try some indoor yoga!  You'd be surprised at how calm and relaxed you feel afterward! 

We are working on vision and hearing screenings. If a student does not pass the hearing screening, it will be repeated within a few weeks and then you will be notified if they did not pass again.Kindergarten-4th grade students sit for an audiometer screening
The referral level for far vision is 20/40, or if there is a two step difference between the eyes. For example, left eye 20/30 and right eye 20/50.
Muscle balance referral is for a student does not pass at near and far distances.
Please understand that a referral does not mean that your child requires glasses. It means that an eye exam by an eye doctor to exam vision and check eye health is warranted. A report will be sent home and it is appreciated that you have your eye doctor fill in the form and then return it to the Health Office.
If a student does not pass the hearing screening, it will be repeated within a few weeks and then you will be notified if they did not pass again. You will be notified if wax appears to be blocking the ear canal. Please follow up if you have any questions. 

Kind regards.