Salem Public Schools Nursing News

• Puberty Lessons: Puberty lessons will be taking place in district elementary schools this spring. Please be on the lookout for information from your school nurse regarding scheduling. Please click HERE for a list of puberty resources.
• Field Trips: With the arrival of spring comes planning for field trips and outdoor activities. Here are a few tips for ensuring that your student(s) are well prepared for a fun day:
• Ensure that all permission slips are returned to school in a timely fashion.
• If your child has a specific health care need, please contact the school RN to discuss.
• Please make sure to dress your student in layers. Spring days often start cool and end warm. It's always a good idea to have a hat available for your child to shield out the sun.
• Apply sunscreen and bug spray to your child before school.

Spring is in full swing! All of nature's new growth brings unwanted symptoms of seasonal allergies. The body recognizes pollen as an intruder so it signals the immune system to fight resulting in these symptoms:

• Congestion and runny nose
• Sneezing and coughing
• Itchy eyes, nose and throat
• Fatigue

It's often hard to differentiate the symptoms of allergies from an infection. If the culprit is allergies, secretions will tend to be clear. Both allergies and infections can cause symptoms of malaise. Its always a good idea to see a MD if:

• Fever > 100 degrees
• Green nasal secretions
• Persistent headache or pressure in sinus areas (forehead and around nose)

There are many over the counter remedies available to ease allergy symptoms. Contact your MD to discuss which options may be right for you and your family.

Every Sunday before the Boston Marathon, runners enjoy a pasta dinner to fuel their 26.2 mile trek to the city. Here is an easy, healthy pasta bake to feed the "runners" in your life.

Healthy Baked Ziti

Ingredients

• 12 Oz Ziti or Penne Pasta
• 1 TBSP Olive Oil
• 1/2 lb Ground Beef
• 1/2 lb Italian Sausage
• 3 Cloves Garlic
• 1 Tsp Italian Seasoning
• 1/4 Tsp Red Pepper Flakes
• Salt and Pepper To Taste
• 1 Dried Bayleaf
• 32 Oz Marinara Sauce
• 1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese
• 1/2 Cup Mozzerela
• Fresh Basil for Garnish

Instructions

• Please click HERE for full recipe and cooking instructions
• Please click HERE for instructional Video

In honor of the 127th running of the Boston Marathon, we would like to highlight the health benefits of running:

• Improves cardiovascular health
• Improves mood and energy levels
• Maintains bone health
• Lowers risk of chronic disease
• Helps maintain a healthy weight

The best thing about running is that it is FREE and that it uses minimal equipment (outside of supportive footwear) and can be done anywhere!

It is always best practice to consult your MD prior to starting a new exercise plan if you do not regularly exercise. There are many apps on the market that offer "Couch to 5k" plans for those who are new to running. Please click HERE for an example of a beginner running plan.