Hello and Welcome to the NEW St. Mary's Health Page!!

Practice Healthy Habits:

*Please stay home when you're sick and keep sick children home too.

      * Hats, coats,  jackets, gloves and scarves , please, its cold out there !!!

      *During FLU season avoid indoor crowds and indoor crowded public places.

      *Practice proper cough etiquette - cough into an elbow or new tissue.

        *Don't touch your face, nose or eyes

* try not to touch public railings, escalator railings and public door knobs use your arm to open doors, if you need to hold on to a railing use hand sanitizer, it's available everywhere now.

*Don't share hats or hair brushes or combs except with your family members

* The month of May is Skin Care Awareness Month; please remember to protect your skin and eyes from too much sun exposure with hats, glasses and regular use of sun screen with an SPF of at least 30.

* Remember that this is tick season protect your children from tick bites with light colored clothing to cover their arms and legs while in the woods or heavily wooded areas, tuck pant legs into socks; following your hike remove clothes and put directly into the washer; carefully inspect your child for ticks checking their heads, behind their ears and between toes; ticks are in the nymph phase now and especially tiny (see attachment below for pictures of ticks, and website for tick identification)

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5-12-10

On Monday May 17th grades 5-8 will be screened for scoliosis in the Academy Health Office as  required by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts law Chapter 7, Section 57.

The screening is only for screening purposes and is not diagnostic, all concerns will be communicated to the parents by the Academy Health Office.  The screening consists of a simple observation of the student's back, hips and shoulders.  Early detection of scoliosis in children reduces postural defects through proper treatment and is especially important with the rapid growth in childhood.

Attention to the parents of all students entering Pre Kindergarten, Kindergarten, 3rd and 7th in the fall of 2010.  The Massachusetts Department of Public Health requires proof of a recent (within one year) physical exam for entrance to these grades. For entrance into Kindergaten or Pre Kindergarten proof  of a recent Lead screening is required.  Additionally for entry into 7th Grade an immunization update is required with recent (within 5 years) Tetnus vaccine as well as the required MMR(2) and Varicella (2).  Also recommended but not required are the annual Flu vaccine and the Meningoccal vaccine.  Please keep these requirements in mind when scheduling your child's summer camp exams.  Attached below are the Massachusetts School Health Record Form for first time entry to Saint Mary's Academy (2 sided) and the subsequent exam form (two sided) for those enrolled already.

2-08-10

Please read the following attachment.  It contains information concerning head lice.  Please make sure to inform us immediately if you find this condition happening within your family.  Thank you.

1-4-10

Happy and Healthy New Year!

Please find attached at the bottom of the Health Page permission forms for the H1N1 Flu vaccine and an information sheet on the vaccine.  The H1N1 flu vaccine will be available during school hours for students with completed screening and consent forms. The Town of Longmeadow Board of Health will provide the vaccine to the students at Saint Mary's Academy for no cost.

The vaccine will be offered in two forms the nasal mist or the injectable Flu Shot, parents will select their desired form of vaccine based on the child's health status and their choice. Please read the Flu information sheet also attached to assist you in your decision.

Again, if your child has not yet had the H1N1 Flu vaccine and you would like your child to recieve this vaccine at no cost, during school hours and administered by the school nurse please download, print and complete the attached forms (screening and consent) and return to school as soon as possible. Also for your information please download and read the information sheet provided.

The school Flu clinic will be scheduled once all students have responded. No child will recieve the vaccine without the required screening and consent. Parents will not need to be present for their child to recieve the vaccine.

11-12-09

Still have a good number of students out this week and still a number of students with the H1N1 flu starting to see some cases of the regular flu as well.   If you have access through your pediatritian's office to either of the flu vaccines(H1N1 or seasonal) Please consider having your child vaccinated particularly if your child has any chronic health problems.

11-5-09

Half the number of absentees this week, hopefully we are on the mend.  Please remember to keep children with temperatures greater than 100.0 home for atleast 24hrs after they are fever free without medication.  Keep washing your hands and sneezing and coughing into your elbow, drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest.

10-29-09

Please be advised that there has been several recent cases of Strep in our School in the past week.  Individuals with Strep throat have excruciating throat pain accompanied by difficulty swallowing and even speaking. Fever can be present and the tonsils are often covered with a whitish layer of pus, swollen, and tender lymphnodes can also occur, rash and/ or headache. Some children may complain of stomach ache and may even vomit. 

Cough and runny nose are NOT commonly related to strep throat but it is possible to have both a cold virus and a Strep throat infection. If you suspect you child could have a Strep throat infection your doctor can preform a rapid Strep test and/ or a throat culture can be evaluated in a lab

10-26-09

We have children at Saint Mary's who are out sick and being treated for the Swine Flu. Our plan it to step up all preventative measures at school beginning with hand washing.  Washing with soap and water is best, next best is hand sanitizer. We will be asking everyone entering Saint Mary's to use the hand sanitizer provided at the front door and in the school cafeteria.  We will continue to use it through out the day. 

We will ask for the cooperation of all parents at Saint Mary's to keep their children home if they are sick, especially if they are presenting with cough, fever, headache, sore throat, stuffy, runny nose and sneezing.  If your child is sick with a fever please keep them home for at least 24 hours after they are symptom and fever free without medication.