A Germ-Free Classroom

 

Minimizing the risk of illness is a healthy idea. Below are some ways to keep your classroom and school healthy, all year long. Educate your students and make them aware of their part and responsibility in helping keep your school environment and themselves healthy. Well-maintained schools not only minimize the spread of germs and illnesses but they also make students, school personnel and parents feel safe, valued and respected.

• Always cover coughs and sneezes. Teach students to cough into their elbows.
• Keep hands away from the eyes, nose and mouth.
• Wash hands often! Put sticky notes around to remind everyone. Students can remind one another too!
• Learn how to keep your mouth off the drinking fountain and these should be cleaned daily.
• Don't share water bottles, hair brushes, or make up.
• Exercise! It keeps the immune system healthy.
• Sleep. Nothing cures and readies the body more than sleep.
• Clean Desktops. Apparently desks are 400 times dirtier than toilet seats. Solution: Spend 10 minutes every Friday cleaning desks, pencil sharpeners
• Backpacks. Have students wash their backpacks every weekend.

Hidden Sugar Everywhere - Read Your Labels!

Sugar comes in many forms. You may have seen things like barley malt, high fructose corn syrup, brown sugar, honey, cane juice, maltodextrin, corn syrup, maple syrup, dextrose, molasses, fructose, powdered sugar, glucose, raw sugar, and sucrose. These are ALL forms of sugar. According to the USDA the average American consumes about half a pound of sugar a day. The World Health Organization thinks the world is eating too much sugar and they recommend that people decrease their intake to 6 to 12 teaspoons of added sugar per day. The study suggest that people who eat large amounts of sugar are at higher risk of dying prematurely from heart problems, diabetes and cancer, among other conditions. Even for those of us who think we do a good job of monitoring our sugar intake, here are a few places we may not think of....

Attendance Matters

Each year between 5 million and 7.5 million U.S. students miss a nearly a month of school. We here on Kauai strive to give our keiki the tools needed to be successful in life. We need your help as parents and guardians however to bring them to school on time, everyday, for the whole day in order to give them the best opportunity possible.

Did you know that chronic absenteeism, which is when a child misses 15 or more days of school a year for ANY reason,  can predict if your child will be held back a grade level? It might seem like common sense but children who come to school do better than those who don't. Now some of you might think 15 days? No way my child has missed 15 days of school. But when you break it down if your child misses just 2 days of school a month each month during the school year, your child will have missed more than 20 days of school making them chronically absent!

Missing 15 days of school is equivalent to approximately 90 hours of instructional time. Being absent doesn't only affect one child, it affects everyone. When a child is absent the teacher must take time to review the missed material to get the child caught up which delays the lesson plans for the whole class. And when you have multiple students out at various times, you can see how quickly absenteeism can take its toll on a class.

Being chronically absent in elementary puts your child at risk for dropping out of school. If you allow your child to stay home from school you are teaching your child that it is okay to not go to school and when they get older and reach intermediate and high school they will already have it ingrained in their mind that it is okay to miss school.

Attending school on time each day teaches your child good life habits that will carry on into adulthood. If we can instill these habits at an early age, your child will learn to value attendance and punctuality when they become adults and will use these habits when begin they career. I know it is along way from now but teaching good habits now is a lot easier than breaking bad habits later.

You might be asking yourself, well when should my child stay home from school? Your child should stay home from school when sick or in the event of a family emergency. If your child has a chronic condition requiring special attention please let someone at the school know, that way we can work with you to provide the necessary accommodations for your child to be in school!

Here are a few things you as parents and guardians can do to help your child attend school...

·       Stick to the basic routines (going to bed early, waking up on time, etc.) that will help your child develop the habit of on-time attendance

·       Talk to your child about why going to school every day is important. If your child seems reluctant to go to school, find out why and work with the teacher, administrator or afterschool provider to get them excited about going to school

·       Come up with back up plans for who to turn to (another family member, a neighbor or fellow parents) to help you get your child to school if something comes up

·       Reach out for help if you are experiencing tough times that make it difficult to get your child to school 

·       If your child is absent, work with the teacher to make sure she or he has an opportunity to learn and make up for the academics missed

Help us to achieve our goals of

·       Having 100% attendance!

·       Increasing awareness of chronic absences

·       Giving every child the opportunity to learn and grow in school

·       Educating families and students about the importance of school attendance and avoiding absence unless a child is truly ill

·       Students coming to school on time and staying in school the whole day!

Remember as we strive to do our jobs here at school to educate your children we need you to do your part as well and that means making sure your child comes to school on time, everyday, the whole day. If you would like more information please talk with our staff on how we can help. You can also visit www.attendanceworks.org which is a great resource for parents on the importance of attending school.

Summer Send Off

Summer is almost here and while it may be a break from school, it shouldn’t be a break from staying healthy and being safe. Here are some ways you and your family can have a healthy summer.

1.       Avoid Summer Snacking- While you have been waiting all school year to just relax, instead of reaching for that candy bar or soda choose a healthier option. Instead of a candy bar how about a nice refreshing piece of fruit. Thirsty? Nothing hits the spot better than an ice cold glass of water. Just because school is over doesn’t mean our healthy habits are too!

2.       Water Safety- One of the top activities here in Hawaii during the summer is to “go beach.” Stay safe by always having an adult supervise children while at the beach or pool. Even if they can swim it is always best to have someone watching. Being surrounded by water it is probably a great idea to learn how to swim. Enroll your child in swim lessons this summer!

3.       Sun Protection- You know summer days can be scorchers. Sun burn and skin cancer is no joke, so make sure you cover up your child and frequently apply sunblock while out and about.

4.       Prevent Injuries- Emergency room visits during the summer have shown to increase. Keep your children safe by always supervising them when on playgrounds, ensuring proper protection when riding bicycles, and educating your children on fire prevention, microwave use, and living with pets.

5.       Stay Active- There are so many great FREE activities to do here in Hawaii. Go to the beach, go hiking, play at the park, the list goes on. Don’t just lounge around the house all day. Remember children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day.

We hope you have a wonderful safe and healthy summer, remember

DOE Registration Requirements

Easy as 1-2-3

It's that time again. As parents get ready to register their young ones for Kindergarten in the Fall, the big question of "What do I need to register my kid?" arises. No fear because I got you covered. It's as easy as 1-2-3. Continue reading below to find out what 3 things are required by the DOE for your child to attend.

FIRST thing your child is going to need is a TB (tuberculosis) clearance. If your child does not have a TB clearance done within one year of the first day of school, you will NOT be able to even register for school. Don't be caught by surprise, take your child to their doctor's office to have one done. Don't have a doctor or don't know where to go? No worries, the Public Health Nurses will take care of you. 

State Law Requirements

          

           Kauai PHN Section: Dept. of Health Building

                                   3040 Umi Street

                                Lihue, Hawaii 96766

                                  Phone: 241-3387

                           Monday 1:00pm – 4:00pm    

                       Wednesday 1:00pm – 4:00pm

SECOND thing registrars will look for is that your child has their Form 14 (F14) completed, which is essentially a physical completed by your child's doctor/nurse practitioner/physician assistant prior to entering school. While it is required that your child have one completed prior to the first day, we will accept an appointment slip from your doctor if you are unable to get one done before the first day. BUT don't wait, get it done now so that you are smooth sailing the rest of the school year.

FORM 14 with highlighted required fields

THIRDLY there is a list of immunizations required by the DOE determined by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The ACIP determines which vaccines are necessary to keep our children safe from preventable diseases. Matter of fact, the World Health Organization provided a statement this week saying that approximately 20% of the kids around the world are not receiving recommended vaccinations leading to approximately 1.5 million deaths around the world from diseases that could be prevented. While your child maybe allowed to attend school on the first day, we again require appointment slips to get your child up to date and protected. See the list below.

School Immunization Requirements

Does your child have all 3 of the requirements? Congratulations your child is ready to register for Kindergarten. If not don't fret, let us help you get your child ready for the first day. Visit the Nanaikapono front office during office hours and they can help. Or visit the Hawaii Department of Health website.

  

Mononucleosis aka "Mono"

Infectious mononucleosis—sometimes known as “mono”—is caused by infection with a virus called Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Symptoms vary but may include swollen lymph glands, sore throat, and tiredness. There are usually no complications, although it may take several weeks for mononucleosis to clear up completely. 


What is Mononucleosis? 

Infectious mononucleosis is a common, usually mild illness. It is most often caused by infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Since EBV is spread by saliva, close contact such as kissing or young children playing together, spreads the disease. It may take a while before your child recovers completely. Your Doctor may recommend a blood test to be sure of the diagnosis.

What Does it Look Like?

Symptoms of infectious mononucleosis vary, but the most common are:

• Tiredness and fatigue
• Sore Throat 
• Swollen Lymph glands, especially in the neck
• Fever, headache, stomach ache, nausea, rashes and muscle aches
• Symptoms often come on gradually
• Pain in left upper part of the abdomen that may be caused by enlargement of the spleen
• Younger children have mild symptoms or none at all. 

How is Mono Treated?

• For most cases there is no specific treatment that can help your child's Mono clear up quicker.
• Antibiotics are not used because they are not effective against viruses. 
• If your child's tonsils become very swollen, they may receive steroid treatment
• Ibuprofen and acetaminophen may help to reduce fever, headache and sore throat. 
• Make sure your child gets plenty of liquids and a lot of rest
• Your child's spleen may be swollen, so they should avoid any contact sports for a few weeks to reduce the risk of rupture. 

Returning to School   

Your child can return to school when they are feeling better. it may still be possible to spread the virus, so have him or her avoid close contact (kissing, sharing food or drink, lip balm) with other children.

Eating Healthy - Parent Cheatsheet

Skip Navigation

It's no surprise that parents might need some help understanding what it means to eat healthy. From the MyPlate food guide to the latest food fad, it can be confusing.

The good news is that you don't need a degree in nutrition to raise healthy kids. Following some basic guidelines can help you encourage your kids to eat right and maintain a healthy weight.

Here are 10 key rules to live by:

1.    Parents control the supply lines. You decide which foods to buy and when to serve them. Though kids will pester their parents for less nutritious foods, adults should be in charge when deciding which foods are regularly stocked in the house. Kids won't go hungry. They'll eat what's available in the cupboard and fridge at home. If their favorite snack isn't all that nutritious, you can still buy it once in a while so they don't feel deprived.

2.    From the foods you offer, kids get to choose what they will eat or whether to eat at all. Kids need to have some say in the matter. Schedule regular meal and snack times. From the selections you offer, let them choose what to eat and how much of it they want. This may seem like a little too much freedom. But if you follow step 1, your kids will be choosing only from the foods you buy and serve.

3.    Quit the "clean-plate club." Let kids stop eating when they feel they've had enough. Lots of parents grew up under the clean-plate rule, but that approach doesn't help kids listen to their own bodies when they feel full. When kids notice and respond to feelings of fullness, they're less likely to overeat. If they get hungry shortly after, do not allow them a snack or dessert, offer them their leftover meal.

4.    Start them young. Food preferences are developed early in life, so offer variety. Likes and dislikes begin forming even when kids are babies. You may need to serve a new food on several different occasions for a child to accept it. Don't force a child to eat, but offer a few bites. With older kids, ask them to try one bite.

5.    Rewrite the kids' menu. Who says kids only want to eat hot dogs, pizza, burgers, and macaroni and cheese? When eating out, let your kids try new foods and they might surprise you with their willingness to experiment. You can start by letting them try a little of whatever you ordered or ordering an appetizer for them to try.

6.    Drink calories count. Soda and other sweetened drinks add extra calories and get in the way of good nutrition. Water and milk are the best drinks for kids. Juice is fine when it's 100%, but kids still shouldn't have much of it.

7.    Put sweets in their place. Occasional sweets are fine, but don't turn dessert into the main reason for eating dinner. When dessert is the prize for eating dinner, kids naturally place more value on the cupcake than the broccoli. Try to stay neutral about foods.

8.    Food is not love. Find better ways to say "I love you." When foods are used to reward kids and show affection, they may start using food to cope with stress or other emotions. Offer hugs, praise, and attention instead of food treats.

9.    KIDS DO AS YOU DO! Be a role model and eat healthy yourself. When trying to teach good eating habits, try to set the best example possible. Choose nutritious snacks, eat at the table, and don't skip meals.

10.   Limit TV and computer time. When you do, you'll avoid mindless snacking and encourage activity. Research has shown that kids who cut down on TV watching also reduced their percentage of body fat. When TV and computer time are limited, they'll find more active things to do. And limiting "screen time" means you'll have more time to be active together.