USDA Lunch Guidelines 

You may have seen on TV or read in the newspaper that the US government (USDA) is changing the guidelines for school lunches.  Mrs. Dugan, our cafeteria manager says that many of the new menu items are already in place at St. Lawrence.  We serve low-fat or fat-free milk and have lowered the sodium (salt) and fat in all lunches for several years.  Whole grain bread is being served and soon whole grain pasta and tortilla shells will be offered.  We already serve some fresh veggies and dip, but more fresh vegetables and fruits will be on the trays soon!    Obesity continues to be a problem in this country.  St. Lawrence wants all its students to be healthy and ready to learn.  

Health News from Nurse D-C for Sixth-Grade parents!!!!!!    The State of Ohio requires that students must have a T-dap (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis) immunization booster by the start of the 2012-2013 school year.  Please check with your doctor and send in proof if your student has already received this shot.              

Thank you for your cooperation

Hand Sanitizer 

Thanks to the kindness of an anonymous donor we are sending home a small bottle of hand sanitizer with every student.  We hope that this extra reminder to “wash your hands” will help decrease the coughs, colds, diarrhea, vomiting and all other contagious problems being experienced within our families and our schools this winter!  Remember hand washing is the best defense against illness!

Hand Washing 

I need to remind everyone that hand washing is the #1 best way to keep from getting sick!  We are seeing a lot of different symptoms among the children lately, such as colds, coughs, vomiting and diarrhea so extra efforts should be taken.  Don’t forget to wash your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer after you use the bathroom, before you eat, after you blow your nose, and if you forget to cough in your sleeve and use your hands be sure to wash them!  You should also wash hands when you get home from school and after you have been playing with your pets. Stay Well and Healthy!

Dental Sealant Program 

TODAY parents of grades 2-8 students will find packets in their Thursday envelopes about the dental sealant program.  The Cincinnati Health Department Dental Team will be here February 13-17 to do dental exams and sealants.    

The dental sealant program is my favorite health program each year.  It’s effective, painless and FREE!  To make it fun we will enter classes who return 100% of the forms completed and signed in a drawing for a pizza party!!  My goal is to have every form returned, completed and signed, and at least 110 students screened!

Please be sure to check “yes” or “no” and sign in BOTH places marked.

Everybody SMILE!

2012 is here! 

Let us make at least some small changes to live healthier lives.  Maybe reducing the amount of "fast food" by making burgers and fries a sometimes treat only!  Skip the elevator and take the steps.  Get more sleep - turn the TV off and go to bed early!  Adults should try to get the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep a night.  Make an effort to find time for a little bit of relaxation every day, perhaps by enjoying a hobby, catching up with a friend with a phone call or over lunch, or simply by praying.  Everyone needs a little down time.

Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy 2012!

Flu Season

We had 85 students in Preschool through Grade 8 who received a free seasonal “flu” vaccine this week from the Cincinnati Health Department.  A big thank you goes out to our terrific volunteers-Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Kinney!   

Parents and Grandparents don’t forget to get your seasonal flu vaccine (Seniors, Medicaid pays for it!)  Most pharmacies, as well as your family doctor can now give the vaccines.  NO ONE wants the flu!   

Remember seasonal flu can be serious to young children, seniors, those with asthma and other breathing problems, and those who are immune compromised.    

Please everyone keep washing your hands with soap and water (or hand sanitizer).  Don’t forget to “cover your cough”.

Price Hill Dental Clinic Has a Pediatric Dentist on Staff!

WOW! Great News!  The Price Hill Dental Clinic at 2136 W. 8th Street now has a Pediatric Dentist on staff.  This means that all students in preschool through grade eight can now receive dental care right here in the neighborhood.   

Call Rose at 357-2704 to schedule an appointment soon.  Remember that “baby teeth” are important too.  They hold a spot for permanent teeth and decayed baby teeth can cause pain and infection.   

The Cincinnati Health Department will be at St. Lawrence School in February, 2012 for grades 2 through 8.

Policy on Lice

The cooler weather of fall has arrived and unfortunately so has LICE!   Lice are very small insects (the size of a sesame seed), which live on your head.  They bite and feed on blood.  They lay eggs called “nits” which attach to the hair shaft.  Nits are white or gray and feel hard like a seed.  Lice do not jump or fly but can move very fast!

Lice do not spread disease but cause intense itching of the scalp.  St. Lawrence School has a “No Nit-No Lice” policy for the comfort of all our students and so we will have the very best environment in which our students can learn.

If your child has live lice or nits, do not send to school. Check with your doctor or pharmacist for the best method of eliminating lice. Please call so that classmates can be checked.  Your child will need to be checked by the office or school nurse before returning to class.

Head lice can happen to anyone.  Teach your child not to have “head-to-head” contact with other children.  Do not borrow hats, headbands and hair holders of any kind.  Here at St. Lawrence all students use a large plastic bag to hold coats, hats, scarves, etc. 

Reducing Fat in our Diets

The governments latest “dietary guidelines” which outline what we should be eating says we need to reduce the amount of solid fat  (butter/margarine, beef fat) cholesterol (eggs), sugar, salt, fatty meats, and high calorie foods like cookies and cakes.  So what is left to eat that tastes great?  How about foods like crisp apples, pears and grapes!  Cold low-fat or 1% milk goes great with a sandwich.  Try to eat less “fast foods” by cooking from “scratch”, meals such as tossing whole grain pasta with some tomato sauce, lean chicken and spices.  Add dried fruit to unsweetened cereal.  Mix plain yogurt with a touch of honey for a great dessert.  Crunchy vegetables such as celery, broccoli, and cauliflower taste great dipped in a low-fat ranch dip. Eating healthy can become a way of life simply by stopping to think about what you are putting in your mouth. Try it and you might not only like it but feel better for it!

Help with Asthma Medications

If you must pay a co-pay for every asthma or emergency medicine your student needs, there is great news!  The American Lung Association-Schott Foundation Grant money now gives $100 monthly to help families pay the co-pay for Albuterol and steroid inhalers, Epi-pens and Singulair.  All prescriptions must be filled at Remke/Biggs.   

The application is very simple and does not need a doctor signature.  Please call Ms. D.C., your school nurse, at 921-4996 for an application.  Call Gail Seitz at 985-3990 for more information.   

Every student with asthma (even exercise induced asthma) needs an inhaler at school.  If your student needs an Epi-pen you need to supply the office with one to be kept at school.  

 Please be sure to read the blue flyer coming home in the Communication envelope today.  I cannot stress enough the importance of keeping the school office and myself up-to-date on your child’s medical conditions and medications. All information is kept confidential and only shared on a need to know basis. We need to work as a united team to keep our children healthy, safe, and at their best.

Milk Matters

MILK MATTERS- for your Child’s Healthy Mouth-That’s because milk and other dairy foods (foods made with milk) are very good sources of calcium.  

CALCIUM is a mineral that helps make teeth strong and healthy.  Even before baby teeth and adult teeth come in, they need calcium.  Once teeth come in they continue to take in calcium so they can develop fully.

CALCIUM makes gums healthy. Getting  enough calcium as a young adult may help prevent gum disease later in life.

CALCIUM makes jawbones strong and healthy too.  Jawbones need to be strong-they hold the teeth in place!  

A generous grant from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation will make it possible for our kindergarten students to have milk at snack at least twice a week!  Enjoy!

Immunizations

The state of Ohio requires certain immunizations of all students.  Parents of kindergarteners if you have not yet turned in your child’s immunization  (shot) record PLEASE TURN THEM INTO THE SCHOOL OFFICE AT ONCE, if you have not already done so.  If you receive a letter from the school nurse saying that certain shots are still needed, call your doctor for an updated shot record or take your student to your doctor or clinic to receive the needed immunization.  If your student has not received the needed immunizations (or is not in the process) to receive them, he/she will not be able to attend school after October 6, 2011.    Thank you for your cooperation.  We want every student to be healthy and ready to learn!

Hello to all my friends at St. Lawrence School!  

I am delighted to be back for my eighth year of keeping everyone healthy here at St. Lawrence!   Parents if you have a student who is new at our school (kindergarteners and other grades) please be sure we have current immunization records on file in the office at once.  This is an Ohio State Law.  It is also state law that if your student must take medication at school we must have a current medical permission form signed by you and the child’s doctor on file in the school office.  If you have not sent in the necessary forms please do so immediately.  

Health Hints for a Successful School Year:  I hope everyone has a successful and healthy 2011-2012 school year.  Below are a few tips on making this school year the best that it can be.  

• Washing your hands with soap and water is a very important part of staying healthy.  Don’t forget to wash your hands before you eat, after you use the toilet, after coughing or sneezing and when you get home.  

• Get a goodnight sleep.  A child should get at least 8 hours of sleep each night, although some may need 10-12 hours to feel fully rested.  

• Eat a good breakfast every morning either at home or at school.  Include some milk, juice and some protein to get your brain and body moving and ready to learn.