June 2026

SPS Nursing will be switching our standing order antihistamine from diphenhydramine (Benadryl) to cetirizine (Zyrtec) starting with the 2026-2027 school year!

Why cetirizine? Unlike Benadryl, which causes drowsiness and other unacceptable side effects, cetirizine, a second generation antihistamine, is able to better treat allergies by being more effective at suppressing histamines, is less likely to cause drowsiness and lasts a full 24 hours, all while starting to work within 20-60 minutes and lasting 24 hours! Many professional medical organizations, including the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, list cetirizine as the first line treatment for non-life threatening allergies, including hives (urticaria). In order for nurses to give your child cetirizine in the 2026-27 school year, we will need your permission. Please be sure to sign the Parent Permission to Treat (PTT) form once the link is shared in September.

Warm, sunny days are finally here in New England!!. The perfect time for children to spend time playing and exercising outdoors, and it's important they enjoy it safely.

Children’s skin is more sensitive to UV rays, and sunburns during childhood can raise the risk of skin cancer later in life. Remember that you can get sunburn even on cloudy days because up to 80% of the sun's UV rays can get through the clouds. Also, UV rays can bounce back from water, sand and concrete.

What is UVA & UVB?

UVA and UVB refer to different kinds of ultraviolet radiation. Exposure to UVA and UVB can be harmful and cause cancer. Sunscreens protect from UVB rays, but not all sunscreen product screens out all UVA rays. Some may advertise UVA protection, but no criteria exist in the U.S. for measuring and labeling the amount of UVA defense a sunscreen provides yet.

What is Broad-spectrum protection?

“Broad-spectrum” indicates that a product shields against UVA and UVB. It does not guarantee protection against all UVA wavelengths, however. Most broad-spectrum sunscreens and sunblocwith an SPF of 30 or higher do a good job against UVB and short UVA rays. If they also contain avobenzone, zinc oxide, or titanium dioxide, they should be more effective against the entire UVA spectrum.

Serves 4 to 6

This colorful pie, loaded with every color of the rainbow, takes veggie pizza to a whole new level. It’s a great way to put your farmers market haul to work, and makes firing up the oven totally worth it.

Think of these colorful toppings as suggestions. There’s so much room for experimenting and really making this your own creation. Do you have a soft spot for blue potatoes or purple cabbage? Consider swapping either one in, in place of the red onion. If tomatoes aren’t your thing, try a sliced red bell pepper inside, or swap broccoli for your favorite green veggies.

Don’t skimp on the veggies when adding the toppings. As the pizza cooks, the vegetables will spread apart slightly. Piling them on the crust close together will ensure you get a fully loaded rainbow pie with a colorful array of veggies in every bite.

Don’t skimp on the veggies when adding the toppings. As the pizza cooks, the vegetables will spread apart slightly. Piling them on the crust close together will ensure you get a fully loaded rainbow pie with a colorful array of veggies in every bite.

Looking for a fun way to keep your kids entertained and active this summer?

The "Kids Bowl Free" program is available in Massachusetts at participating bowling alleys, offering two free games per day for children 15 and under during the summer. To participate, you must register online at kidsbowlfree.com. Although the program is free, there may be additional costs, such as shoe rentals. A complete list of participating centers can be found on the Kids Bowl Free website, offering options to sign up for either a "Just the Kids" plan or a "Family Plan" that allows adults to join in for a fee.