Peirce Nurse Blog

Family

tharrah — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:46:07 +0000

A lot of health teaching has been going on at school. The 5th grade learned a lot about their changing bodies as they start to enter a new stage of life. Puberty! Mrs McQueeny’s class learned about family and inherited traits. We had fun talking about curling our tongues and hitch hiker’s thumb. The students are taking a survey home to see what traits they might have inherited from you. Speaking of family, Wuzzy arrived in the first grade today to talk about different family make-ups. I learned a lot about the student’s own families and they learned a little something about me. Ask your children what they learned about my family! Second graders were read the story “I like me”. We learned about each person’s “uniqueness” and to accept our friends even though they may be different from us.

With all this emphasis on family, I hope all of you can find some quality time this week to spend with your wonderful, special, unique children!

School Health in February

tharrah — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:48:16 +0000

The nurse’s office has had a steady business in the month of January. There has been some “GI” issues in neighboring communities but at the Peirce School I have not seen much at all. For the most part Peirce School has had a very healthy couple of months (and we have not seen any cases of headlice recently)

This gives me the oppurtunity to walk around to the classrooms to visit or teach lessons, or just to say Hi!

In the month of February I will begin my Great Body Shop lessons. I love teaching your children and I think they like to see a new yet familiar face teaching health. You should be receiving parent letters from your child’s teacher informing you of what the upcoming GBS lesson will contain.

I will also be in the gym measuring heights and weights on the students. I will gather the body mass index numbers for the state’s new BMI initiative for grades 1 and 4.

Stay warm! I’m going to curl up with a good book, a warm blanket and my loveable puppy.

Upcoming info session for parents

tharrah — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:58:54 +0000

From: MGH Patient and Family Resource Center [educationprogram@moodandanxiety.ccsend.com] on behalf of MGH Patient and Family Resource Center [educationprogram@partners.org]
Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2012 3:20 PM
To: Sheetz, Anne (DPH)
Subject: Upcoming Patient and Family Education Program 02/11/2012

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PLEASE JOIN US for the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Psychiatry’s Understanding Anxiety and Stress: Treating Illness and Supporting Resilience. This event will benefit patients living with anxiety and their families.

Presented by:
The Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry
The Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders
The Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine
The Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Academy
Sponsored by:

The Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation

Target Audience:

This free educational program is designed exclusively for patients living with anxiety and their families.

Topics:
The Spectrum of Anxiety Disorders: What are they and how do they differ?
Psychotherapy Approaches to the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders.
Medication Approaches to the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders: What is the evidence?
Evidence Based Self Care Practices: The Role of Mind Body Medicine in Stress and Anxiety.
Date:

Saturday, February 11, 2012
10 am – 3:15 pm, with check-in from 9:15-10 am
Complimentary coffee, tea, and lunch will be served.

Location:

Massachusetts General Hospital
The Starr Center Auditorium
Charles River Plaza, 185 Cambridge Street, 2nd floor
Boston, MA

Cost:

The program is offered at no charge for patients and their families.

Registration:

Seating is limited and pre-registration is required. To register or learn more about the program, visit www.mghpatientfamily.org or call 617-724-8318.

Contact Information
phone: 617-724-8318
e-mail: educationprogram@partners.org

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Massachusetts General Hospital – Psychiatry Academy | One Bowdoin Square, 7th Floor | Boston | MA | 02114

December Post

tharrah — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:17:39 +0000

The first of the year is upon us and the beginning of the school year behind us. Here are some of the things that have been going on in the health office this fall.

All students have had their hearing and vision screened, and the fifth grade has completed postural screening. Referrals have been sent home to those who did not pass the screenings. Many students have also had head lice screening. We completed the town Flu clinic and the SMILE dental team visited. Several students took advantage of the program.

I’m pleased to say that the student population is quite healthy. No major illness is “going around”. I’d like to think that is because we are pro active on preventative care here at Peirce. Our Great Body Shop lesson this past fall was all about germs and their transmission. The first grade has been getting health lessons from Wuzzy. I’m also happy to inform all that there is currently no active cases of head lice here at Peirce. The few students that did have it this fall have completely eradicated it!

I have more good news. My hours at the Peirce School have been increased. I am now in everyday from 8:30AM to 1:30PM. So far, these hours have been working out quite well.

For the new year I wish for continued health to all.

Head lice info for parents

tharrah — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:43:15 +0000

Head lice info for parents

There’s a new fella in town

tharrah — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:23:15 +0000

If you are a parent of a first grade student, ask them about Wuzzy. He is a teddy bear that spontaneously appears with a letter addressed to the class. He is a health care bear that helps the school nurse deliver important lessons to the class. The children are very excited when Wuzzy writes them a letter. So far they have learned about tummy aches, germs and oral hygiene. Today, Wuz even gave each 1st grader a toothbrush! We will continue to have letters from Wuzzy throughout the school year. He really empowers the students to learn and understand about their bodies.

Most K-5th students have gotten their vision screening done and all 5th graders have completed the dreaded postural screening. Referral letters will go home for any student that has not passed the state required screening. On December 3rd. the Speech-Language and Hearing center will come to Peirce School to perform hearing screening on every student in school. The Speech and Language college students come to our school from NE University. This screening process helps the college students gain vital clinical hours they need to earn before graduation. They do such a nice job with the children and it helps me out immensely.

There has been lice found on a couple of children at school. These students most definately aquired headlice before school began this fall. The two cases have been isolated and treated. I have checked students in the classrooms where lice was identified. There are several new products/shampoos on the market that help prevent headlice. I also learned that a specialist in headlice will be guest speaking at the next PTO meeting. This is valuable information so if you can make it to the meeting I believe it would be most beneficial.

Smile Dental Team coming

tharrah — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:13:19 +0000

“Shine your Smile Day” is coming!

Peirce School is hosting Smile Programs…The mobile dentists on November 17^th

We have invited the Smile Program the mobile dentist to coordinate on-site dental care at our school because we know of how important taking care of your children’s teeth is to keeping them healthy. Best of all, your child can receive dental care at NO COST TO YOU, as Medicaid, CHIP and most other insurances cover 100% of prevention treatment.

The dental team will set up a mini-dental office in our building and provide dental services for all children who return completed forms.

The Smile program has been servicing school, and creating healthy smiles, for over 14 years. All dentists are state licensed and will conduct a complete dental exam.

To learn more about Smile Programs go to mobiledentists.com and watch a short video about the dental care program.

Welcome Back to School

tharrah — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:23:08 +0000

Whew-It’s been a busy start-up in the health office. We’ve gotten quite a few new and transfer students over the summer. I’m still making sure all students have the proper health information on file. Please remember to send in the nurse “emergency forms”. These forms are used in my office; they provide vital information such as any new conditions or health updates you would like to share with me, they give me permission to administer over the counter medication and they provide me with contact phone numbers in an emergency. In the event of an evacuation from Peirce I take these forms out with me. This is the only hard copy we have during this circumstance so it is vital that I have them ASAP.

Vision screening is beginning soon. I will screen every student. Any child who wears glasses for distance will need to wear them during the testing. This screening is for distance and near vision only. It does not test for astigmatism or color deficiency.

On November 17th the SMILE dental team will be coming back to Peirce. Permission forms will be sent out at the end of October.

Shortly you will be receiving information regarding the town wide flu clinics. These clinics will be held at the Ottoson and AHS. More info to follow.

Have a beautiful fall weekend!

Requirements for 2011/2012 school year.

tharrah — Wed, 18 May 2011 16:11:24 +0000

Good Afternoon parents,

Please be advised of the new immunization requirements for incoming kindergarten students. Your child’s Pediatrician should know of these changes. The guideline sheet can be found on the Arlington Health and Nursing Service site (or you can pick up a hard copy from my office.) The site should be up and running by Thurs 5/19/11.

State law requires that a copy of a physical exam conducted at age nine must be a part of your child’s school health record. All incoming 4th grade students must have an updated physical in their school health record.

I will be sending home medication forms to those students who take medication at school or those who have an inhaler or Epi-pen at the school. Every new school year we need updated forms from parents and doctors.

I’m sure we all hope to see the sun soon. The only good news is that the rain helps control allergens in the air. I have seen a decrease in allergy synptoms with in the last week.

SMILE Dental Program Returning to Peirce

tharrah — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:06:10 +0000

Hi Parents,

The smile dental program is returning to our school. This is an easy way for your child to receive their dental screening, cleanings and fluoride treatments at school. (When needed x-rays, sealants and restorative care is also offered). Children with Medicaid are welcomed and encouraged to join us. Every student who participates will receive a new toothbrush.

Those students who participated in the fall are encouraged to have their 6 month check up through the SMILE program. The clinic will be held on May 27th. We will remain on this fall and spring schedule which means your child can be seen at the recommended 6 month intervals right at school.

Flyers will be sent home with students soon. Please check their backpacks within the next few weeks.