Salem Public Schools Nursing News

Vision and Hearing Screenings

Our Nurses have begun vision and hearing screenings in the pre-k and kindergarten levels. We hope to have these completed by the end of the month. If your student is found to have deficiencies, a referral letter will be sent home by your school nurse. Please make every effort to schedule an appointment with your PCP, optometrist or audiologist for follow up. The provider should complete the form and return to the health office as soon as possible.

Food Allergy Safety

We would like to take the opportunity to remind everyone about food safety. We have seen an uptick in severe allergic reactions across the district. We kindly ask that you talk to your students about the dangers of sharing food with others during breaks and lunchtime. Many food products do not have clear ingredient lists or are produced in places that have cross contamination with many allergens. Whether your student has an allergy or not, it is imperative that they are aware of the potential life threatening reaction a peer could have as a result of sharing.

Halloween is upon us! Here are some tips to ensure that students of all ages stay safe during all the festivities offered within Salem:

• Walk Safely
• Always be aware! Avoid being distracted by electronic devices while walking.
• Look both ways prior to and while crossing streets.
• Always obey traffic signals and use cross walks.
• Costume Caution
• Consider light reflective clothing, glow sticks and flashlights to be more visible to drivers on dark streets.
• Test make up on a small patch of skin 24-48 hr before applying to ensure that there is no allergic reaction.
• Ensure that masks and wigs are "flame resistant" and fit properly to avoid obstructing vision.
• Safeguard Treats
• Don't eat candy until inspected by a trusted adult at home.
• Only consume treats that are in factory wrappers. Ensure that wrappers are intact and free from evidence of tampering.
• Always check labels for presence of allergens and remove candy that presents a choking hazard from the bags of little ones

For more tips from the FDA, please click HERE

Mummy Meat Loaves

Ingredients

• 3/4 lb. white or yellow potatoes
• Kosher Salt and pepper
• 2 large eggs
• 2 TBSP ketchup
• 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 cup panko or plain bread crumbs
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 medium carrot
• 3/4 lb. ground beef
• 1/2 lb. ground pork
• 12 grape tomatoes
• 3/4 cup low fat sour cream
• 24 oz. peas

For complete instructions, please click HERE

Want to get and about with the family during this fun season in Salem? Here are some ideas to get everyone moving:

• Hallowed Harvest: This event is the only Jack-O-Lantern Festival in Salem. It features a labyrinth, spider web tunnel, pumpkin carving and much more. For ticket information, please click HERE
• Halloween On The Hill: Located at Long Hill in Beverly, this event features a trail of jack-o-lanterns and other seasonal decor to stroll through with music and other activities. Tickets may only be purchased in advanced. For ticket information, please click HERE
• Salem Halloween Smart Hunt: The Smart Hunt is an app which can be dowloaded to a smart phone. It contains a scavenger hunt and walking tour through the city's most spookiest spots. The app costs $10 per download. Please click HERE for more information.