Families can contact your students school directly or email the health services department with any questions or concerns.

healthservices@basd.k12.wi.us

Sarah is the dedicated Health Aide at Dyer Elementary, where she uses her previous medical background to care for students and ensure their well-being. A proud mom of three children—two of whom are students in the district—Sarah understands the importance of supporting both the kids and their families. She has been a valued team member at Adrian's Custard for 20 years! Outside of work, Sarah enjoys creative crafts and DIY projects, often shopping at Hobby Lobby for her latest projects. Her combination of professional experience, community ties, and caring nature makes her an essential part of the Dyer Elementary staff, and we’re lucky to have her on our team.

In February, BASD Health Services Department's Director of Health, Nurse Jill, and District Nurse Molly will visit all 5K classrooms to give Oral Health Talks. They’ll be teaching students the basics of proper oral care and sharing helpful techniques for maintaining healthy teeth. Fun books and props and used to engage students in learning.

Cavities (also known as caries or tooth decay) are the most common chronic disease of childhood in the United States.1 More than half of children aged 6 to 8 years have had a cavity in at least one of their baby (primary) teeth. More than half of adolescents aged 12 to 19 years have had a cavity in at least one of their permanent teeth.2

Untreated cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning.

The good news is that cavities are preventable. Fluoride varnish can prevent one-third (33%) of cavities in the primary (baby) teeth.3 Children living in communities with fluoridated tap water have fewer cavities than children whose water is not fluoridated.4 Similarly, children who brush daily with fluoride toothpaste will have fewer cavities.5

Dental sealants can also prevent cavities for many years. Applying dental sealants to the back teeth prevents 80% of cavities.6

What Parents and Caregivers Can Do

For Babies

• Wipe gums twice a day with a soft, clean cloth in the morning after the first feeding and right before bed. This wipes away bacteria and sugars that can cause cavities.
• When teeth come in, start brushing twice a day with a soft, small-bristled toothbrush and plain water.
• Visit the dentist by your baby's first birthday to spot signs of problems early.
• Talk to your dentist or doctor about putting fluoride varnish on your child's teeth as soon as the first tooth appears.

For children younger than 2 years, consult first with your doctor or dentist about the use of fluoride toothpaste.

For Children

• Brush their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
• Help your child brush their teeth until they have good brushing skills. If your child is younger than 6 years, watch them brush. Make sure they use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and always spit it out rather than swallow.
• Ask your child's dentist to apply dental sealants when appropriate.
• Drink tap water that contains fluoride.

All information is from the CDC website.

Flossing your child’s teeth is an incredibly important, yet often overlooked, part of a dental health routine. We know brushing at least twice a day is the standard, but brushing alone doesn’t take away all the plaque on your child’s teeth. Dental floss cleans the hard-to-reach places between their teeth and under their gums. Flossing reaches those tricky spots, reduces the amount of bacteria and plaque in the mouth, and lowers the risk of cavities developing. Taking proper care of baby teeth through brushing and flossing lays a strong foundation for a healthy smile.

Many parents are hesitant to floss their children’s teeth or don’t know when to start. Teaching your children how to use floss at home starts them on this healthy habit at an early age. Here are some handy tips about flossing your child’s teeth. You should start to floss your child’s teeth once two of their teeth begin to touch. This usually happens once their primary molars erupt, around the age of 2 or 3. Begin to floss your toddler’s teeth once a day for a couple of minutes. Even if your child’s teeth don’t quite touch yet, you can still introduce the concept of flossing in addition to a good brushing routine. Getting your child used to the feeling of flossing can make the transition easier later on. The earlier healthy habits start, the better!

A gentle touch and patience is the key. When flossing your child’s teeth, floss gently to avoid damaging your child’s teeth or gums. If you’re using traditional dental floss, wrap a length between your index fingers or thumbs. Gently floss between the teeth and move it up and down along the surface of each tooth and down to the gumline. If you’re having trouble using regular floss, try floss picks. They are more kid-friendly, more comfortable to hold, and come in all sorts of shapes, colors, and flavors.

Information taken from Children's Dental Health website.

We want all children in Wisconsin to have access to high-quality, school-based oral health prevention services. Dental sealants prevent 80% of cavities in back teeth, where 9 in 10 cavities occur. Sealants are a quick, easy and painless way to prevent most cavities children get and they can be applied by a dentist or dental hygienist at your child’s school. Applying sealants in schools saves your child time away from class and prevents your child from developing cavities which can cause pain, discomfort, and make eating or concentrating in class difficult. In Wisconsin, 1 in 5 children in third grade has an untreated dental disease which is preventable.

Wisconsin Seal-A-Smile (SAS) is a collaborative effort between the Alliance, Wisconsin Department of Health Services and Delta Dental of Wisconsin. The program’s mission is to improve the oral health of Wisconsin children by providing school-based dental sealants. SAS grantees include dentists, dental hygienists, schools, hospitals, local health departments, community health centers, non-profit agencies and free clinics.

Be sure to return the permission slips that are sent home from your child's school so they can participate.

The Oral Health Talks and Seal-A-Smile program have been completed at Winkler Elementary. All 5K students participated in the Oral Health presentation, and 55 total Winkler students received services through Seal-A-Smile.

Just a reminder to perform regular head lice checks on your child. Checking weekly or even daily is a good idea to catch it early in the event lice are making a new home in your child’s hair. Sleep-overs, slumber parties, taking “selfies” with friends, and sharing hats or hair accessories have been determined to spread lice most often.

Please review the Burlington Area School District’s procedure for lice which can be found on the School Health Services website page. BASD follows recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and National Association of School Nurses.

Please read the toileting expectations guide and be sure to send your student with an extra set of clothing, that is labeled.

Student attendance is crucial for academic success, as regular participation in classes allows students to engage with the material, collaborate with peers, and receive timely feedback from teachers. When students are healthy, well-rested, and in good overall condition, they are more likely to be attentive, retain information, and perform better in their studies. Adequate sleep, a balanced diet, and regular exercise contribute to cognitive function and emotional stability, enabling students to focus more effectively and manage stress. Conversely, poor health and lack of rest can lead to absenteeism and hindered academic performance. However, if a child is sick, it is important to keep them at home to prevent the spread of illness and to allow them time to recover fully. This approach ensures that they can return to school in good health, ready to engage fully with their education. Prioritizing both health and consistent attendance helps students maximize their learning opportunities and set a strong foundation for future success.

If you have a Sick Child during the school year, please keep them at home so that the germs are not shared. Children are sent home with a fever of 100 degrees or higher. Children need to be fever free for 24 hours without being on any type of medication, to return to school. Any questions, please contact the Health Aide for your child's school, or contact the District Nurses via email: healthservices@basd.k12.wi.us

Please be sure to update your Contact Information including Emergency Contacts in Skyward as you register for the school year. Parents are always called first. However, it is very important to have extra emergency contacts listed in the event parents can not be reached and your child is having a medical emergency

The Farmer’s Almanac, which provides annual weather forecasts among a collection of other useful information, says people who live in colder climates are more acclimated to walking on icy surfaces because they have learned to walk like a penguin.

To walk like a penguin, do the following:

• Bend slightly and walk flat footed
• Keep your center of gravity over your feet as much as possible
• Point your feet out slightly – well, like a penguin
• Shuffle your feet and take short steps
• Watch where you are stepping
• Concentrate on keeping your balance
• Keep your arms at your sides and hands out of your pockets
• Go slow

The Farmer’s Almanac also recommends treating your feet by having good winter boots with a large tread or you can wear ice cleats that attach to your shoes and provides gripping power on ice.

Read the full article at OSF Healthcare.

If your student has a severe allergy that requires them to keep epinephrine at school, please have your Medical Doctor complete our Allergy Action Plan Form. If your student has asthma and requires the use of an inhaler at school, please have your Medical Doctor complete our Asthma Action Plan.

For students who take any medications, prescription and over the counter, the proper form must be completed. For prescription medications a Medical Doctor must sign the form. Over the counter medications only require a parents signature. This does include cough drops and any over the counter medications. Parents must bring medications to school, in their original packages, students can not bring their own medications into the building. All medications must be stored and dispensed in the Health Offices.