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April Marty the Clown Presentation
On Tuesday, April 29th, Marty the Clown and a
dietician from Newton Memorial Hospital presented a
program about nutrition and exercise to our
Kindergarten through 3rd grades. Marti is a
Certified Diabetes Educator from Newton Memorial
Hospital. A registered dietician accompanied Marti
and together they presented nutritional information
in a way that the children found amusing. Topics
that were covered were hunger & fullness cues,
calorie awareness, reading food labels, portion
control, healthy snacking, and medical & emotional
problems associated with being overweight.
May-Mobile Dentists and Smile Programs
On May 21st and May 22nd, Mobile Dentists with the
Children’s Dental Health Foundation, will be at
Montague Elementary School to provide preventative
dental services including dental exams, cleanings,
fluorides and sealants to children whose parents
complete permission slips. All children are eligible
and no child is turned away based on ability to pay.
Grants are readily given with a parent signature.
(No proof of financial status is asked.) Grants
cover oral screenings, cleaning and fluoride
treatment. They also are available to cover co-pays
and deductibles for children in need with dental
insurance. Most dental insurances, including
Medicaid and NJ Family Care, cover 100% of the
preventive services. Every child who participants is
given a “report card” to take home. Dental referrals
are given if additional dental work is needed.
Permission slips will be sent home on or about April
18th.
Unless we have 30 students who will participate, the
Mobile Dentists will not come to our school. As of
5/8/08 we have 13 children enrolled in the program.
Gypsy Moth Larvae Skin Rashes
According to the New England Journal of Medicine,
gypsy moth caterpillars not only consume the leaves
from millions of acres of trees, but they can also
give people a rash. Two studies have found the
larvae’s hairs contain histamine, a substance which
can raise small red bumps (welts) and cause itching
when it comes into contact with human skin.
Gypsy moth caterpillar larvae are particularly
abundant in Montague this spring. Recommendations
are that if your children seem to be allergic to the
larvae hair, they should remain inside to play.
Clothes should not be hung outside to dry as the
larvae crawl onto the clothing via silken threads
they spin. If your children do have reactions, they
can be treated with lotions sold over the counter,
such as calamine. If the itching becomes more
troublesome, medical attention should be sought.
New
Vaccination Immunization Requirements for Entrance
into a NJ School After Sept. 1, 2008
Every child 12 months through 59 months of age,
enrolling in a pre-school on or after Sept. 1, 2008
shall have received at least one dose of PCV
(immunization against pneumonia) on or after their
first birthday.
Every child 6 months through 59 months of age and
attending a child-care center or preschool facility
on or after September 1, 2008 shall annually receive
at least one dose of influenza vaccine between Sept.
1 and December 1 of each year.
Every child born on or after January 1, 1997 and
entering or attending Grade Six on or after
September 1, 2008, shall have received one dose of a
meningococcal-containing vaccine.
Every child born on or after January 1, 1997 and
transferring into a NJ school from another state or
country on or after September 1, 2008, shall have
received one dose of meningococcal vaccine.
Every child born on or after January 1, 1997 and
entering or attending Grade Six on or after
September 1, 2008 shall have received one dose of
Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis)
given no earlier than the 10th birthday.
Children entering or attending Grade Six on or after
September 1, 2008, who received a Td booster dose
less than 5 years prior to entry or attendance shall
not be required to receive a Tdap dose until 5 years
have elapsed from the last DPT/DTap or Td dose.
Children born on or after January 1, 1997 and
transferring into a NJ school from another state or
country after September 1, 2008, shall have received
one dose of Tdap, provided at lease five years have
elapsed from the last documented Td dose.
If you have a child between the ages of 11
and 18, speak with your doctor about a new vaccine
that can help prevent meningococcal disease. The CDC
recommends that all children between 11-18 be
vaccinated against meningitis, which is a
potentially deadly bacterial infection of the brain.
The disease moves quickly, is often mistaken for the
flu, and can lead to brain damage, amputation of
arms and legs, hearing loss, organ failure or even
death in a matter of hours. Early symptoms include
headache, fever, stiff neck, exhaustion, vomiting
and sensitivity to light. A purple rash also may
appear in later stages of the disease.
Spring Cleaning
Some tips for spring cleaning by the New Jersey
Poison Information and Education System are:
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Good
ventilation is the key to getting harsh fumes
from cleaning products out of the house. An
open window or exhaust fan can help to eliminate
the fumes and circulate fresh air.
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Test your
carbon monoxide & smoke detectors to make sure
they are working. Change batteries when you
change the clock for Daylight Savings.
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Read the
labels on household cleaning products. Do not
mix products, which can cause toxic reactions
and fumes.
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Try to clean
when children and pets are not present. Keep
products locked up and clean up all spills
promptly and thoroughly.
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Try to use
natural cleaners to limit air pollution.
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Make sure to
throw away medicines that are not being used.
Check expiration dates frequently.
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If you
suspect poisoning, call the poison control
center for immediate treatment and advise.
1-800-222-1222.
Scoliosis Screenings
The
week of May the 12th, students in grades
4 and 6 will be screened as required by law for
curvatures of the spine and uneven hips which might
be indicators of scoliosis. According to NJ law,
every student between the ages of 10 and 18 must be
screened for scoliosis every two years. Scoliosis
is a lateral curvature of the spine most commonly
detected during the adolescent growth period.
Students will be exempt from this screening upon the
written request of the parent or guardian. If a
written request for exemption is not received by May
12, each child in grades 4 and 6 will be screened
for scoliosis. |
