KES May Newsletter & Assembly

Hi KES Families, Here is our  May Newsletter . I've also attached it as a PDF.   Today we had Becky Curran Kekula visit with all of the students Kindergarten-2nd Grade  to share her important story, experiences, and promote diversity, inclusion, and acceptance for all. We are lucky to have had this wonderful learning opportunity. Becky educated us and motivated us through her life journey to raise awareness and provide more and equal opportunities for people with disabilities. Becky also read the book “Louie's Together Playground", a children's book about a llama with  dwarfism who builds a disability inclusive playground in his town. Let us know if you have any questions. Thank you, Kerri Whipple

Tuesday, May 02 2023

Kindergarten Information Night

Kindergarten Information Night 2023 April 24, 2023, 5:00 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. Adults Only Kingston Elementary School Cafeteria 150 Main Street Kingston, MA 02364 At Kindergarten Information Night, Parents/Guardians will have the opportunity to learn everything they need to know about Kindergarten in order to prepare themselves and their children for the coming school year. Families will get to meet and hear from the Principals,  learn about a typical Kindergarten day, learn about curriculums and programs, specialists, support staff, tour the school, and see the inside of the Kindergarten classrooms! We hope you can join us and look forward to meeting you and your children. Dr. Whipple, Mr. G, and the KES Kindergarten Team

Tuesday, Mar 21 2023

Covid test kit expiration dates

A Message from your school nurses Please have a healthy and rejuvenating winter break. We look forward to warmer weather and the signs of Spring to come. We have had many questions regarding the update of Covid tests and expiration dates. Please see the information below that may be helpful with the extension dates. If you have any questions please contact your school nurse. BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 Ag Card Product Expiry Update It has been verified on the FDA website that these tests have been extended to be 22 months from date of manufacture (letters with additional information can be found here and here ). However, PLEASE NOTE that Abbott’s website to look up the expiration date is not yet updated to reflect this extension. Regarding the iHealth test expiration date extension: On January 11, 2023 the FDA extended the expiration date of iHealth COVID-19 at-home tests by an additional 3 months. iHealth COVID-19 at-home tests may be used for up to 15 months from the date of manufacture.  Find the new expiration date at https://ihealthlabs.com/pages/news . Please note, as of today, unfortunately, their website is not yet updated to reflect the new dates.  School Nurse Contact Info Kingston Elementary School Jody Lunn 781-585-3821 ext. 5311 Kingston Intermediate School Rebecca Deaton 781-585-0673 ext. 5507 Dennett Elementary School Ryann Camara 781-585-3659 ext. 6505 Halifax Elementary School Derilyn Byrne 781-293-2581 ext. 6307 Silver Lake Regional Middle School Nicole Dickinson 781-582-3555 ext. 3236 Silver Lake Regional High School Penny Svenson 781-585-3844 ext. 1013 SLRSD Nurse Leader Carol Beck 781-582-3566 ext. 3304

Friday, Feb 17 2023

Massachusetts required immunizations in the schools ...

A Message from your school nurses Hello Everyone: Please find the below information as a reminder to keep your child's immunizations up to date.  These are the Massachusetts state requirements for students preschool through grade 12. Please check in with your school nurse or pediatrician to make sure your child is up to date with their required immunizations. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to your school nurse.   Requirements   apply   to   all   students   including   individuals   from   another   country   attending   or visiting classes or educational programs as part of an academic visitation or exchange program. Requirements apply to all students, even if over 18 years of age.   Childcare/Preschool¶†Attendees <2 years should be immunized for their age according to the ACIP Recommended Immunization Schedule. Requirements listed in the table below apply to all attendees ≥2 years. These requirements also apply to children in preschool classes called K0 or K1. Hib 1-4 doses;  the number of doses is determined by vaccine product and age the series begins DTaP 4 doses Polio 3 doses Hepatitis B 3 doses;  laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable MMR 1 dose;  must be given on or after the 1st birthday; laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable   Varicella 1 dose;  must be given on or after the 1st birthday; a reliable history of chickenpox* or laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable Grades   Kindergarten  – 6¶† In ungraded classrooms, Kindergarten requirements apply to all students ≥5 years.   DTaP 5 doses;  4 doses are acceptable if the fourth dose is given on or after the 4th birthday. DT is only acceptable with a letter stating a medical contraindication to DTaP   Polio 4 doses;  fourth dose must be given on or after the 4th birthday and ≥6 months after the previous dose, or a fifth dose is required. 3 doses are acceptable if the third dose is given on or after the 4th birthday and ≥6 months after the previous dose Hepatitis B 3 doses;  laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable   MMR 2 doses;  first dose must be given on or after the 1st birthday and second dose must be given ≥28 days after first dose; laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable   Varicella 2 doses;  first dose must be given on or after the 1st birthday and second dose must be given ≥28 days after first dose; a reliable history of chickenpox* or laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable       Grades 7 – 12†In ungraded classrooms, Grade 7 requirements apply to all students ≥12 years.   Tdap 1 dose;  and history of DTaP primary series or age appropriate catch-up vaccination. Tdap given at ≥7 years may be counted, but a dose at age 11-12 is recommended if Tdap was given earlier as part of a catch-up schedule. Td or Tdap should be given if it has been ≥10 years since last Tdap   Polio 4 doses;  fourth dose must be given on or after the 4th birthday and ≥6 months after the previous dose, or a fifth dose is required. 3 doses are acceptable if the third dose is given on or after the 4th birthday and ≥6 months after the previous dose Hepatitis B 3 doses;  laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable.  2 doses of Heplisav-B given on or after 18 years of   age are acceptable MMR 2 doses;  first dose must be given on or after the 1st birthday and second dose must be given ≥28 days after first dose; laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable Varicella 2 doses;  first dose must be given on or after the 1st birthday and second dose must be given ≥28 days after first dose; a reliable history of chickenpox* or laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable   Meningococcal Requirements   Grade 7-9 1 dose ; 1 dose MenACWY (formerly MCV4) required. Meningococcal B vaccine is not required and does not meet this requirement. Grade 11-12‡ 2 doses ; second dose MenACWY (formerly MCV4) must be given on or after the 16th birthday and ≥ 8 weeks after the previous dose. 1 dose is acceptable if it was given on or after the 16th birthday. Meningococcal B vaccine is not required and does not meet this requirement.     Meningococcal Vaccine Phase-In Schedule   2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024 1 Dose MenACWY Grades 7-8 Grades 7-9 Grades 7-10 2 Doses MenACWY Grades 11-12 Grades 11-12 Grades 11-12     https://www.mass.gov/doc/immunization-requirements-for-school-entry-0/download   105 CMR 220.000 Immunization of Students Before Admission to School School Nurse Contact Info Kingston Elementary School Jody Lunn 781-585-3821 ext. 5311 Kingston Intermediate School Rebecca Deaton 781-585-0673 ext. 5507 Dennett Elementary School Ryann Camara 781-585-3659 ext. 6505 Halifax Elementary School Derilyn Byrne 781-293-2581 ext. 6307 Silver Lake Regional Middle School Nicole Dickinson 781-582-3555 ext. 3236 Silver Lake Regional High School Penny Svenson 781-585-3844 ext. 1013 SLRSD Nurse Leader Carol Beck 781-582-3566 ext. 3304  

Friday, Jan 27 2023

Flu/Covid protections through the Holiday Season

A Message from your school nurses Wishing you all a safe and healthy Holiday Season. Many of the steps we take to prevent COVID-19 can also help prevent the flu. Taking these steps AND getting vaccinated are your best protection against the flu. Learn the steps you can take to prevent the flu. Use covid tests before returning to school in January, mask up if kids want to, and stay home if sick.   GET YOUR FLU/Covid SHOT TODAY. PROTECT YOURSELF. PROTECT YOUR FAMILY.    December 22, 2022  Dear Parents and Guardians:    On December 9, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expanded the use of updated  (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6 months through 5 years.  Now virtually all children across the    Commonwealth are eligible to get the updated vaccine.   The Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics  remind  you to have your child vaccinated, especially in advance of upcoming holidays.  The COVID-19 vaccine  has been shown to be safe and effective in protecting against serious illness, hospitalization, and death.   The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is also alerting residents that flu activity is much higher  than usual for this time of year – in the Commonwealth and nationally – and urging residents of all ages to also  get vaccinated against influenza. DPH and AAP remind you that COVID and flu shots may be given in the same  visit.   While families may feel most comfortable getting their youngest children vaccinated by their primary care  provider, please note that some retail pharmacies are also able to vaccinate children ages 3 and older.  More  information is available at  www.mass.gov/CovidVaccineyoungkids .  As a reminder:  the COVID vaccine is safe, free for all, and no ID or insurance is needed to be vaccinated.   Getting your family vaccinated against COVID and flu is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones.  We appreciate your help to keep our communities safe and healthy.   Sincerely,  Margret R. Cooke, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Public Health  Mary Beth Miotto, President, American Academy of Pediatrics - Massachusetts Chapter  Jeffrey C. Riley, Commissioner, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education   Amy Kershaw, Acting Commissioner, Department of Early Education and Care What is the difference between Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19? Influenza (flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) first identified in 2019. Flu is caused by infection with a flu virus ( influenza viruses ) . From what we know, COVID-19 spreads more easily than flu. Efforts to maximize the proportion of people in the United States who are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines remain critical to reducing the risk of severe COVID-19 illness and death. More information is available about COVID-19 vaccines and how well they work . Compared with flu, COVID-19 can cause more severe illness in some people. Compared to people with flu, people infected with COVID-19 may take longer to show symptoms and may be contagious for longer periods of time. You cannot tell the difference between flu and COVID-19 by the symptoms alone because they have some of the same signs and symptoms.  Specific testing is needed to tell what the illness is and to confirm a diagnosis. Having a medical professional administer a specific test that detects both flu and COVID-19 allows you to get diagnosed and treated for the specific virus you have more quickly. Getting treated early for COVID-19 and flu can reduce your risk of getting very sick. Testing can also reveal if someone has both flu and COVID-19 at the same time, although this is uncommon. People with flu and COVID-19 at the same time can have more severe disease than people with either flu or COVID-19 alone. Additionally, some people with COVID-19 may also be affected by post-COVID conditions (also known as long COVID).   School Nurse Contact Info Kingston Elementary School Jody Lunn 781-585-3821 ext. 5311 Kingston Intermediate School Pamela Maynard 781-585-0673 ext. 5507 Dennett Elementary School Ryann Camara 781-585-3659 ext. 6505 Halifax Elementary School Derilyn Byrne 781-293-2581 ext. 6307 Silver Lake Regional Middle School Nicole Dickinson 781-582-3555 ext. 3236 Silver Lake Regional High School Penny Svenson 781-585-3844 ext. 1013 SLRSD Nurse Leader Carol Beck 781-582-3566 ext. 3304

Thursday, Dec 22 2022

Health Reminder for Thanksgiving break

A Message from your school nurses Hello Everyone: As we go into the Holiday Season please be aware of the increased illness rates for infants and children in our region. Please see the letter below that was sent out from the State Department of Public Health in conjunction with the American Academy of Pediatrics. The District Nurses of Silver Lake hope your Thanksgiving is full of both "Thanks" and "Giving".   Stay well and enjoy the time.   November 1, 2022 Dear Families, The Commonwealth, the Northeast and much of the US are seeing increases in respiratory illness in infants and children. Some of these infants and children are requiring hospitalization for support with breathing and hydration. Emergency departments and other acute care health facilities have been managing significant increases in the number of patients requiring care. Most of these illnesses are caused by respiratory viral infections, including common seasonal viruses like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinovirus and enterovirus, and influenza. Infants and children may be particularly susceptible to seasonal respiratory viral infections during the 2022-2023 fall and winter because they have had limited previous exposure to these respiratory viruses. We anticipate that there could be more respiratory illnesses as RSV continues to spread and influenza season ramps up. The Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics want to remind parents and families about steps to take to prevent illness and stay healthy this season: 1. Vaccinate your children ages 6 months and older against influenza as soon as possible. 2. Vaccinate your children ages 6 months and older against COVID-19; children 5 and older who had their primary series more than 2 months ago should receive an updated COVID-19 booster as soon as possible. 3. Remember, you can get a COVID-19 vaccine and flu shot at the same time. 4. If your infant has been offered treatment with protective antibodies due to their prematurity or another condition, keep on schedule with their monthly treatments. 5. Practice hand hygiene frequently with soap and water or hand sanitizer. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or if a tissue is not available, cover them with an elbow, not a hand. 6. Clean high touch surfaces in your home frequently with household disinfectants. 7. Keep children home from daycare or school who have fever, especially with a cough, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, congestion, runny nose, or sore throat, until they are fever-free for 24 hours without medications that reduce fever. 8. Avoid social gatherings if you or your children are ill. 9. Contact your pediatrician or healthcare provider if you believe your child needs medical care. Your provider can offer advice on whether your child needs to be evaluated in person, tested for COVID or flu, and the best location (doctor’s office, urgent care, emergency room) for care. Thank you for doing all you can to keep you and your family healthy during this fall and winter season. Dr. Estevan Garcia, Chief Medical Officer Massachusetts Department of Public Health Dr. Mary Beth Miotto, President Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics School Nurse Contact Info Kingston Elementary School Jody Lunn 781-585-3821 ext. 5311 Kingston Intermediate School Pamela Maynard 781-585-0673 ext. 5507 Dennett Elementary School Ryann Camara 781-585-3659 ext. 6505 Halifax Elementary School Derilyn Byrne 781-293-2581 ext. 6307 Silver Lake Regional Middle School Nicole Dickinson 781-582-3555 ext. 3236 Silver Lake Regional High School Penny Svenson 781-585-3844 ext. 1013 SLRSD Nurse Leader Carol Beck 781-582-3566 ext. 3304

Wednesday, Nov 23 2022