SPS RN Team Newsletter

Welcome back!

We are looking forward to welcoming our students back and grateful to begin another school year. The first few weeks are exciting and busy with new routines and getting back into the swing of things. The best ways to support this for both children and adults are good nutrition, hydration, sleep, and exercise. Please reach out to your school nurse with any health related questions or concerns.

The SPS RN team is committed to the health and wellness of our school community. We value our partnerships with our parents and guardians this school year to promote and maintain healthy learning environments throughout our schools. Our best wishes for a healthy and successful school year.

With gratitude,

Danielle Gallan, MSN-PH, FNP-C

Stoughton Public Schools has continued our partnership with Care Solace to support the well-being of students, staff, and their family members. Care Solace is a complimentary and confidential care coordination service that can help you quickly find mental health, social services, or substance use treatment options matched to your needs, regardless of circumstance.

If you would like to use Care Solace to help you find a provider:

Call 888-515-0595, available 24/7/365 in any language.
Visit www.caresolace.com/stoughtonschools and either search on your own OR click “Call Now” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.

With the increase in anxiety and mental health concerns for our children, it is becoming more and more evident that getting back to basics with movement, nutrition, being outdoors, and sunlight on our faces is crucial to the mental health of growing children. It is not just kids that benefit from movement and breathing fresh air; us big kids benefit right along side the little ones.

There are a number of organized youth sports in Stoughton and youth club sports facilities that are available to our community. As a Stoughton resident and parent, my children loved playing town sports and my husband and I often would coach or assistant coach when they were little. It is really a great experience of connectedness in the community with lots of healthy movement.

Stoughton Recreation- https://stoughtonma.myrec.com/info/activities/

Stoughton Youth Soccer- https://stoughtonsoccer.org/

STOYAC Football & Cheerleading- https://www.stoyacfootballandcheerleading.org/

Stoughton Youth Flag Football- https://www.stoughtonflagfootball.com/

STOYAC Basketball- https://www.stoyacbasketball.org/

Stoughton Youth Baselball- https://www.stoughtonyouthbaseball.org/

STOYAC Softball- https://www.stoyacsoftball.org/

Stoughton YMCA- https://www.oldcolonyymca.org/sports-activities

Dana Barros Basketball- https://www.danabarros3.com/

Lauzon's Mixed Martial Arts Canton- https://lauzonmma.com/

American Grit/Champions Building Champions- https://americangritmma.com/

Maxx Training Center- https://www.maxxtrainingcenter.com/

Health Services Welcome Letter & Annual Screenings

Please see the above link for important information from the nurses and information on the annual screenings.

Please be on the lookout for Emergency and Health forms for your student(s). More information will be shared with families soon.

Throughout the school district, students have a variety of food allergies. We have clear protocols that are followed to provide the safest learning environment for all students, as up to 25% of new allergic reactions happen in a school setting. We are asking for parents and guardians to review with your children the importance of not sharing or eating other people's food. Your child should never bring food to school for a group of kids. They should only bring food for themselves. Many kids have known life threatening food allergies so if your child brings a snack from home and everyone but one child can eat it, there is unnecessary pressure on the children with allergies. Sometimes, it is unclear what food caused the allergic reaction and food allergies can occur at any age. We are asking for the support of parents and guardians to keep the students safe at school.

SPS Food Allergy Guidelines

Dental hygienists are coming to each school this fall to provide dental exams and cleanings to those who would like to participate. Please reach out to your school nurse with any questions, forms will be sent home and are attached to this newsletter as well.

Wilkins: September 23, 24, and 25

Jones: October 3

South: October 4

Dawe: October 7 & 8

Hansen: October 15

High school: October 16

Gibbons: October 22 & 23

O’Donnell Middle: October 30

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Our goal is to have all staff and students in school each day healthy and ready to learn. If your child is not feeling well or exhibiting signs of illness, or discomfort from an injury or accident; they are not able to actively learn in school. If you are unsure on whether to keep your child home for illness or injury, please call your child's physician or school nurse for further guidance.

Medication must be brought to the school nurse by a parent or guardian. Please do not send medication to school in your child's backpack. If your child is starting a new medication, whenever possible, it is recommended to administer the first dose on a weekend or a school vacation. This ensures that the child can be monitored by the parent or guardian for the initial dose of medication and not miss school. We are unable to administer the first dose of medication (other than life saving medications) in school as children should be monitored for medication reactions and effectiveness during the initial dose.

This link to our Health Services website has helpful information regarding when to stay home due to illness.

Thank you for your help in following these guidelines which are designed to keep the SPS community safe and healthy!

It is that time of year again where the mosquitos are biting.

From the MDPH website:

Avoid Mosquito Bites

Apply Insect Repellent when Outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-menthane 3, 8-diol (PMD)], or IR3535 according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.

Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning.

Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Bites. Wear long-sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors to help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.

Mosquito-Proof Your Home

Drain Standing Water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or discarding items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty unused flowerpots and wading pools and change the water in birdbaths frequently.

Install or Repair Screens. Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.

Protect Your Animals

Animal owners should reduce potential mosquito breeding sites on their property by eliminating standing water from containers such as buckets, tires, and wading pools – especially after heavy rains. Water troughs should be flushed out at least once a week during the summer months to reduce mosquitoes near paddock areas. Horse owners should keep horses in indoor stalls at night to reduce their risk of exposure to mosquitoes. Owners should also speak with their veterinarian about mosquito repellents approved for use in animals and vaccinations to prevent WNV and EEE. If an animal is diagnosed with WNV or EEE, owners are required to report to DAR, Division of Animal Health by calling 617-626-1795 and to DPH by calling 617-983-6800.

More information, including all WNV and EEE positive results, can be found on the Arbovirus Surveillance Information web page at www.mass.gov/mosquito-borne-diseases or by calling the DPH Epidemiology Program at 617-983-6800.