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Edison Language Academy – Together Through Two Languages (310) 828-0335 www.edison.smmusd.org
ANNOUNCEMENTS LOST AND FOUND – We gave a huge quantity of lost clothing to charity at the end of last year. Kids forget and misplace jackets and other items – it’s predictable. To increase the likelihood of finding lost items, write your child’s name on lunchboxes, sweaters, sweatshirts, water bottled, etc. Check the Lost and Found weekly for missing items. If you are picking your child up at school, ask about missing items immediately and ask your child to check the playground, lunch area, or lost and found before leaving campus. DRESSING TO STAY DRY ON RAINY DAYS – Winter can be rainy. Ideally, children should wear rain boots and waterproof slickers/jackets with hoods, and bring an umbrella. The kids have to move around the campus and tennis shoes, jeans and sweatshirts tend to get wet and stay wet all day. When you have rain gear that your child has outgrown, consider donating those items to the school to share with other families. We’d also appreciate any donations of umbrellas to classrooms. If providing rain gear is difficult on your family’s budget, please talk to Yoly and let us see how we might be able to help.
5th GRADE CATALINA REMINDERS – We’re getting close to the 5th grade trip to the Catalina Island Marine Institute (January 31-February 2). Please make sure to turn in any outstanding payments and make sure your child’s permission slips and medical forms are complete. Prepare any necessary medications and doctor’s authorizations to be checked by the school nurse. MLK KINDNESS AND JUSTICE PLEDGE – “During the Kindness and Justice Challenge, I promise to be courageous, include others, be respectful and responsible, act non-violently and celebrate the ways that I can improve the world that surrounds me.” - Join Us!
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK: STAYING HEALTHY IN COLD AND FLU SEASON Cold and flu season is here! The average child will get colds six to eight times a year – making them feel miserable and sometimes causing them to miss school (and making parents miss work). Here are a few tips to get through this season as healthy as possible. Colds and flu are caused by viruses – a type of germ that infects cells and makes us ill. Common culprits are: 1) head colds (rhinoviruses) -- viruses that infect the nose and give us runny and stuffy noses; 2) stomach flu (enteroviruses)—viruses that infect our gastrointestinal tract, causing sore throat, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; and; 3) the flu (influenza virus) – the best of the above viruses, plus fever and chills! There are no medicines we can take to kill the viruses that cause colds and flu. We have to rely on our immune systems to protect us and try to avoid getting infected in the first place. Experts generally agree that these three steps are best way to prevent infection from these viruses: 1. Wash your hands! Lather up with soap and warm water for 20 seconds (sing “Happy Birthday” twice to mark the time). Then rinse and dry hands well. Wash after going to the bathroom, before eating, after coming in from outside, after using a tissue, and when the hands look dirty. If soap and water aren't available, use hand sanitizer instead. 2. Don’t share food, cups or utensils! You’re also sharing germs and people are often contagious before they start coughing or sniffling. 3. Cough into your arm. Teach your child to cough or sneeze into the inside of his or her elbow. It’s an excellent way of keeping germs off the hands where they are more easily spread. Other things that help prevent infection include keeping immunizations up to date and asking your child’s health care provider if a flu vaccine is a good idea. And, make sure your children are giving their bodies the resources they need to keep their immune systems strong – especially good food and good sleep. Sleep is important for immune function, with young school-age children needing 10-11 hours of sleep per night with “tweens” needing 9-10 hours per night. Children with fever should stay home from school until the fever has gone away and your child is feeling better. A mild cough and/or sniffles may persist for several days. It’s okay to go back to school as long as your child is generally feeling back to his/her usual self. So that’s it: wash your hands, don’t share food or drink, sneeze into your elbow, get your shots, make good food and sleep a priority, and if someone does get sick, stay home if you have a fever to rest and get better. (Publications from Dr Akiko Hall (Pediatrician at PacMed’s Canyon Park clinic location) and Denver pediatrician Jerry Rubin, MD, co-author of Naturally Healthy Kids were consulted in writing this article)
January 17 ELAC Meeting 8:30-9:30 am
January 17 4:00-6:00 pm SITE Council Meeting
January 24 8:30-9:30 am PTA Association Meeting Community Room