November 2025

November 2025
November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month
Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the world. About 1 in 10 people in the United States may have a seizure in their lifetime. This means that someday you may need to help someone. The Epilepsy Foundation offers a variety of educational and training programs on epilepsy. Seizure First Aid Ready provides free training and education to the public on the Epilepsy Foundation’s basic procedures for responding to someone having a seizure. Anyone can take this 30 minute course to learn about seizure first aid basics.
Food Allergy Buddies Program
The Food Allergy Center at Mass General Brigham for Children is continuing the Food Allergy Buddies Program during the 2025-2026 school year! This mentorship program fosters a supportive community by grouping high-school-age mentors (Bigs) with elementary-school-age (Littles) and middle-school-age children (Middles) who have food allergies. Find out more about the program here.
Health Office Happenings
Immunization Exclusions
Last week, our nursing staff sent letters home to families whose students are missing immunizations required for school attendance. These letters alerted families that they have until the end of November to bring updated immunization records to the school nurse, or their child will be excluded from school effective December 1. If you have received a letter informing you your student is missing immunizations required for school, and are having difficulty accessing needed immunizations, please reach out to your school nurse for assistance.
Health Tips
Helmet Safety
Even with a helmet, it is critical that your child or teen avoids hits to the head. A helmet’s effectiveness is maximized when these important conditions are met:
Proper Fit: The helmet must be the correct size.
Maintenance: Keep the helmet in good, clean condition.
Age Appropriate: Use a helmet designed for the child’s age and the activity.
Certified: Ensure the helmet carries the appropriate safety certification.
Consistent Use: The helmet must be worn every time during the activity.
Correct Wear: Ensure the helmet is worn correctly, covering the forehead.
Bike helmets are designed to protect from one serious impact. Replace a bike helmet if its damaged or involved in a crash.
For more information and to get a HEADS UP on bike helmet safety please visit this link.
Recipes
An Easy No-Bake Treat: Cornucopia Popcorn Snack Mix
Ingredients
- 6 cups popcorn old maids removed (about 1 bag of microwave of popcorn)
- 16 oz. package Log House Vanilla CandiQuik Candy Coating or similar candy coating/almond bark
- Half of a 12 oz. bag of Snyder's of Hanover Butter Snaps or pretzels of choice
- 8 oz. can salted nuts of choice
- 2 cups of Bugles or more to taste
- Candy of choice such as M&M's, Reese’s Pieces, and/or candy corn
- Decorative sprinkles of choice
Instructions
Pop your popcorn using your preferred method. Remove any old maids or unpopped kernels and place in a large bowl. Melt candy coating according to the package directions then mix with your popcorn, stirring until evenly coated.
Spread the candy coated popcorn on wax paper or parchment lined baking sheet(s) to set.
Add your decorative sprinkles to your popcorn while the coating is still warm and allow it to cool.
Once the candy coating is set, (about 20 - 30 minutes) break into pieces.
Combine with Bugles, salted nuts, pretzels and candy of choice.
Store in airtight container until ready to serve.
Activities for Body & Soul
November is Native American Heritage month.
Honor it by visiting the ongoing free “Native Water; Native Lands” exhibition at Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester
Get your body moving and visit trails on a site Indigenous Peoples called Quascacunquen also known as The Old Town Hill in Newbury.