Influenza Information!

We are seeing an especially  high increase in flu cases across the state....be sure to read the following information and reach out to me with questions or concerns!

What is influenza (also called flu)?

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness.

What are the signs and symptoms of the flu?

People who have the flu often feel some or all of these signs and symptoms that usually start suddenly, not gradually:

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills

• Cough

• Sore throat

• Runny or stuffy nose

• Muscle or body aches

• Headaches

• Tiredness

• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in young children than in adults

How does the flu spread?

The flu virus is spread mainly by tiny droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less often, a person might also get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.

When can a person with the flu spread it to others?

You may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. Although people with the flu are most contagious in the first 3-4 days after their illness begins, some otherwise healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick. Some people, especially young children and people with weakened immune systems, might be able to infect others with flu viruses for an even longer time.

Should I get the flu vaccine now?

It is not too late to get vaccinated. All people 6 months of age and older are recommended to annually receive the influenza vaccine.  Children 59 months and younger must receive the flu shot prior to December 31^st to remain in school.

How can I protect my child from catching the flu?

Take everyday preventive actions that help slow the spread of germs that cause respiratory (nose, throat, and lungs) illnesses, like flu.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick and limit contact with others while sick to keep from infecting them.

• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs that can cause respiratory illness.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw it in the trash after you use it and wash your hands.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.

• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs that can cause respiratory illnesses like flu.

• Stay home for at least 24 hours after fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.

Teach your child to:

• Cover cough and sneezes.

• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are no available, an alcohol-based hand rub can be used.

• Get in the habit of not touching their eyes, nose or mouth.

• Not share “bites” of finger foods, spoons, forks, drinking cups or bottles with friends.

What should I do if my child is sick?

• As always, you should keep your sick child home. Do not send them to school/daycare. Use your judgement to decide if your child can recover at home with rest and fluids or needs to see a doctor. Call your family doctor if you have questions and follow their advice.

• Although antibiotics are not effective against viruses, antiviral medicines can help shorten the flu’s course. These medications are available only by prescription and are usually not needed in mild cases. Once again, you should follow your family doctor’s advice about your child’s care.

• Keep tissues close to the sick person and have a trash bag within reach.

• Children who are sick with flu-like illness should stay home until they are fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medications and are able to participate comfortably in activities.

 

For more information go to the New Jersey Department of Health flu website at

http://nj.gov/health/cd/topics/flu.shtml and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm

 

Coxsackie/HFMD

 Hello Cozy Lake Families, 

Funny thing...I am actually really glad to be finally posting about something other than COVID!

HFMD is making a visit to Cozy Lake and from what I hear, our community. Here's what you need to know. 

HFMD is a common childhood virus that usually results in mild symptoms.  A person with HFMD may have all or some of the following symptoms:

• Fever
• Sore throat
• poor appetite
• tiny sores in the mouth
• skin rash (flat or bumpy red spots-may have blisters)

HFMD is very contagious and can spread from close personal contact and/or through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.  Generally a person with HFMD is most contagious during the first week of illness, but can remain contagious for days or weeks post infection.  Some people who are exposed and infected with HFMD do not develop any symptoms.  If symptoms occur, they usually develop 3-5 days post exposure.   

HFMD has no specific treatment.  The virus just needs to run its course.  As always, we encourage increasing fluids and eating a healthy diet to boost the immune system. 

To prevent the spread of HFMD, we ask students with signs or symptoms of HFMD to stay home until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine, in addition to ensuring any blisters have scabbed prior to returning to school.  Please alert me if you suspect HFMD so that I can keep track of cases here at Cozy. 

In addition, we reinforce healthy hygiene habits with all the students, including but not limited to the importance of frequent and effective handwashing, germ prevention skills and covering their coughs and sneeze.  Please help us by reinforcing these skills at home as well. 

We also requested our maintenance team do a sanitizing surface-focused cleaning on any classrooms where we have known cases. 

Keep in mind that this is merely another annoying but common virus and it too shall pass.  As always, reach out to  me with any questions or concerns at (973) 697-4777 ext. 5535

Vision Screening

Good afternoon Cozy Lake Families, 

The Lion's Club will be here at Cozy Lake on Friday, October 14th to offer a vision screening for all students.  The screening takes less than a minute.  The screeners merely take a picture of the student's eyes with a tool that picks up vision discrepancies that otherwise could be missed.  

In order for your child to be screened, you will need to complete, sign and return a permission slip.  Permission slips will go home in your child's backpack this week.  Please keep a watch out for them and if interested, return them to me by October 7th.  

If you have any questions about this or another issue, as always, do not hesitate to reach out to me at (973) 697-4777 ext 5535 or jluisi@jefftwp.org. 

COVID 2022-2023

 Hello Cozy Families, 

I am excited to say we are finally moving forward and leaving much of the COVID craziness behind.  As with most complicated issues, this path forward is likely to not be a straight line!  We will probably take 2 steps forward and 3 steps back at times, but just know we are definitely moving in the right direction.  

Dealing with COVID issues has been frustrating for all of us.  I ask for your patience and understanding as we continue to navigate the NJ Department of Health recommendations and District Protocols.  

Trust that I am advocating for you with the goal of ensuring all your children feel safe, happy, healthy and in the classroom ready and able to learn. 

As always, if your child has signs or symptoms of illness, please keep them home and reach out to me for further guidance related to testing options and/or need for further physician evaluation.  

We are no longer contact tracing and quarantining close contacts. That said, the NJ DOH is requiring a notification is sent to alert families of potential exposures.  Therefore, if there is a positive case in your child's class or on your child's bus that we are aware of, we will send a Blackboard message to alert you. 

I am sure to have more information shortly, so stay tuned. 

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or concerns. 

Important Health Office Information

 The following links will provide you with useful information to review and refer to throughout the year.  Click the link to access the information listed below...

District Medication Policy

Cozy Lake School Food Policy

Non-Food Birthday Celebration Ideas

Cozy Lake Breakfast and Lunch Program

Head Lice Information


As always, if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to me at
(973) 697-4777 extension 5535. 

MISSING: PHYSICAL & IMMUNIZATION RECORDS

Hello Cozy Lake Families, 

I am still missing a large number of updated immunization records and physical exams on our new Kindergarteners.  These are required for attendance in K-12 public school in NJ.  If you have not done so already, please forward your updated records to me asap.   

If I am missing documentation on your child, I will reach out to you by the end of the week.  Please be sure to follow up with me asap to assist me in ensuring your child's records are complete. 

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.  As always, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to me at (973) 697-4777 ext 5535 or jluisi@jefftwp.org.  

Welcome to Cozy Lake Elementary School's 2022-2023 School Year!

Welcome To Cozy Lake!

You are gonna LOVE it here!

Thank you for visiting my blog.  Here you will find important health and wellness updates, requests and more!  

The kindergarteners and first graders had an awesome first day back and we can't wait for our pre schoolers to join us on Monday.  

IMPORTANT REQUESTS AND INFORMATION:

• There are a number of families that owe me updated immunization records and/or physicals.  If that is you or you are unsure, please reach out to me to make sure your child's medical records are complete. 
• If you haven't already, please complete the Emergency Medical Information Form.  If you need one, email me and I will forward one to you. 
• If your child has a chronic medical concern and we have not yet spoken, please reach out to me so we can ensure I have the medication and paperwork necessary for me to meet their needs during the school day.
• If your child has a food allergy or sensitivity and you would like them to eat cafeteria prepared food, please be sure to check the menu/ingredients daily to ensure food served is safe for your child (see Food Services link on district website).  All food served in the cafeteria is peanut/tree nut free. 

I will be posting more information shortly so stay tuned! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.  I can be reached by  email at jluisi@jefftwp.org or via phone at (973) 697-4777 ext 5535. 

Have a great day!

WE'RE ALMOST THERE... (& A FINAL COVID UPDATE)

 Hello Cozy Lake Families, 

Summer is almost here!!!

We have sure been through a lot together this year.  You have been so incredibly supportive, understanding and patient as we have all worked to navigate this very difficult COVID year. I can not thank you enough.  It has been my pleasure serving as your school nurse this year despite all.  

I have not posted in awhile because I was hopeful we would have new clear guidance from the NJ Department of Health that I could confidently communicate to you all.  Unfortunately, we have not received anything new since February, but I will leave you with an overview of where we stand now to help you get through the summer. 

At this time, the DOH continues to require those who test positive for COVID to isolate for 10 days from test date or the symptom start date (which ever came first).  The test date or the symptom start date is considered 'day-0').  On day 6-10, isolation can be lifted if the infected person wears a mask and continues to avoid close contact with others (avoids being within 6 feet of others for more than 15 min.). 

Close contacts are still considered those who were within 6 feet of a positive person for more than 15 min. during the positive person's infectious period (infectious period is considered 2 days prior to test date or symptom start date through day 10).  Close contacts, who are unvaccinated, are still recommended to quarantine for days 0-5 post exposure and wear a mask and distance self for days 6-10 post exposure.  

That said,  it is extremely challenging to control the spread of COVID without negatively effecting everyone's  mental health.  Therefore, be sure to enjoy the summer!  

If you or a loved one gets COVID, remember that our bodies will fight it, develop a certain degree of immunity and be stronger for it.  Enjoy your BBQs, your family, your celebrations, your grandparents and your important milestones.  We have all missed so much these past two years and it's time we  refocus on what's important...faith, family and friends!

So, with that, I leave you for the summer!  If you have any questions or concerns, I am still here for you.  You can reach me via email at jluisi@jefftwp.org.  

Have a great break everyone!

 

Friday, February 25th: Importance of Sleep

 Kids frequently come to the nurse's office in the morning with the complaint of being tired.

Our kids need 10-11 hours of sleep a night.  Bedtime problems can start for a variety of reasons.  Homework, sports and after-school activities, computers, TVs, mobile devices, and hectic family schedules all can contribute to kids not getting the sleep they need.

When kids don't get enough sleep they can become hyper or irritable, and may have a hard time paying attention in school.

Therefore,  it is important to have a consistent bedtime, especially on school nights.  Leave enough technology-free time before bed to allow your child to unwind before lights-out.  A good rule of thumb is switching off the electronics at least one hour before bed and keep TVs, computers, and mobile devices out of kids'  bedrooms.

Sooo, kids, if you wake up at 7am for school, your bedtime should be between 8-9pm. 

If you have trouble falling asleep, be sure to turn off TV and devices by 7pm!

Thursday, February 24th: Exercise!

 Today our theme is the importance of exercise.  Please reinforce the following with your children at home....

Kids exercise all the time without even thinking of it.  They run around outside, play kickball at school, play sports, dance...even walking the dog is considered exercise!

When we exercise and stay active, we make our bodies stronger. It feels good to have strong, flexible bodies that can do all the things we enjoy. 

Exercising can also put you in a better mood.  When we exercise, our brains release chemicals that make you feel happier.  It's just another reason why exercise is a good idea. 

Most importantly, when we exercise, we make our heart happy.  Your heart is a muscle.  It works hard pumping blood every day.  When you exercise, your heart has to work even harder.  This gives the heart a workout and your heart gets stronger. 

These are just some of the many reasons why it is important to exercise every day.  We should all aim to get at least 60 minutes of exercise each day. 

Thank you for participating in our Wellness Week Activities.  If your child did the Wellness Challenge, be sure to send the completed form in to their teacher for a chance to win a jump rope!

As always, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to me at (973) 697-4777 ext. 5535.

Wednesday, February 23rd: Be Comfortable with Who You Are

Today's kids are growing up with continuous influence from social media, movies, TV, video games, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snap chat, and more.  There is a strong tendency for kids these days to compare themselves to the images projected and glorified on social media.  Now more than ever before, it is important for us to frequently remind our kids that they have unique skills and talents that make them important, special, wonderful and loved.

Today, during Wellness Week, we celebrate "being yourself", "being confident" and "being comfortable with who you are".  This is a lesson we all  need to remember on a daily basis, no matter how old or young we are.

The Kindness Pledge helps to encourage our kids to refocus and start the day on the right path.  Please consider learning and reciting the following with your kids;

"I pledge to myself on this day, 
To try to be kind in every way, 
To every person big and small, 
I will help them if they fall. 
When I love myself and others too, 
that is the best that I can do. 
Today the choice is mine!"

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to me at (973) 697-4777 ext 5535.  

Tuesday, February 22 Eat a Rainbow

 

Why are they so many songs about rainbows???  Because they are amazing and beautiful-not just in the sky, but also on the dining table!  "Eating a rainbow" helps your body get a complete range of nutrients.

What does it mean to "eat a rainbow"?

Choose a variety of different-colored whole foods throughout the day and week.  The more naturally occurring colors on your plate at each meal or snack, the better.   It DOES NOT mean making a rainbow with artificially colored foods like Gummy Snack, Popsicles, or Soda. 

Fruits and vegetables get their color from naturally occurring micronutrients-such as vitamins and phytonutrients-which are essential for good health. One key function of these nutrients is antioxidants, which include beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, and vitamins A, C, and E.  Not all antioxidants have color, but eating a colorful range of food helps you get them all. 

So kids....be sure to eat lots of fruits and veggies with each meal so your plate has all the colors of the rainbow!

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to me at (973) 697-4777 ext. 5535.

 

Wellness Week: February 22-25 , 2022

 

Hello Cozy Lake Families!

I hope you are all staying warm and healthy this winter season.

Wellness Week crept up on us quickly.  As we did last year, we will be offering Theme Days and a Wellness Week Challenge for you and your children to participate in.  

Each day, I will post information here on my blog to coincide with the Theme Days.  So check back daily  and be sure to share the info with your kids each night.       

Participation is, of course, optional, but please consider joining in on the fun. 

To start, click the links below to see our Theme Days for the week and to start the Challenge.  

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to me at (973) 697-4777 ext 5535 or  jluisi@jefftwp.org 

Wellness Week Theme Day Flier 2022

Wellness Week Challenge 2022

COVID UPDATE: February 2022

The COVID guidelines for K-12 schools have changed numerous times in the past month.  I will briefly review some of the basics, but please always reach out to me if your child was exposed to a positive COVID case or tests positive and I will be able to help you to navigate the most recent guidelines. 

Basic quarantine/isolation guidelines:

• The basic quarantine/isolation/travel advisory is 5/5/5.   That means if exposed to a positive case, you will need to quarantine for 5 days.  If you test positive for COVID, you will need to isolate for 5 days and if you travel outside the surrounding states for more than 24 hours, you will need to quarantine for 5 days.  
• If you are fully vaccinated and/or tested positive for COVID within 90 days, you do not have to quarantine.

Important additional information:

• A positive case is considered infections for a full 10 days after symptom start date (or test date if they have no symptoms).  A positive case is required to quarantine fully for 5 days. On days 6-10, they can come off quarantine and return to school, however they should continue to wear a mask and physically distance from others BOTH at home and at school during this time.
• If a household member tests positive, it is important to isolate away from them as soon as possible.  The close contact's 5 days of quarantine begins after their last day of exposure to the positive case. Therefore, if the household member is unable to isolate, consistently wear a mask or physically distance at home, the close contact will need to quarantine longer.  

How are close contacts determined in a school setting:

• When the school nurse is notified of a positive case, she must first determine if the positive case was in school during their potentially infectious period. Infectious period is two days prior and 10 days after symptom start date or test date (if no symptoms). 
• The nurse, in consult with the classroom teacher, will review classroom, lunchroom and bus seating charts to determine possible close contacts.  
• In the classroom setting, the students' desks are 3 feet apart and the students consistently wear their masks so the number of close contacts in the classroom setting is limited.
• At lunch, the students are physically distanced, but they do not wear masks.  Therefore, the students sitting adjacent to a positive case are considered close contacts.
• On the bus, the students wear their masks, but they are not physically distanced.  Therefore, the students sitting adjacent to a positive case are considered close contacts. 
• Attendance, vaccination status, duration of contact and previous infection dates are reviewed to determine if a close contact will need to quarantine. 
• Parents of close contacts are then notified. 

What if a classroom has multiple cases of COVID in a short period of time (outbreak):

• Positive cases of COVID are reported to our local health department.
• If there is an increase in the number of cases in a certain classroom/cohort, the local health department, in consultation with administration, will recommend additional measures to be taken based on the circumstances involved. 
• Measures include but are not limited to sending a "parent alert letter", adjusting seating spacing & arrangements, additional cleaning measures and/or switching to a virtual capacity. 

How are absences handled:

• Parents receive a follow up email to confirm quarantine/isolation dates and times.  
• Secretary and teachers are notified of absence and first possible date of return. 
• Parent is requested to reach out to teacher for instructions for virtual learning. 
• Virtual learning is offered to those student who are quarantined/isolated. 
• Please give teachers 24 hours to set up virtual learning for your child.  

Any additional questions or concerns:

• This is actually a very brief overview of the most recent NJ DOH guidelines from January 19, 2022. 
• If you have any additional questions or concerns, please call me or email me @ jluisi@jefftwp.org  or (973) 697-4777 ext 5535
• I will return your call within 24 hours and help you to navigate your individual circumstances. 

Hang in there, everyone....this too shall pass.  

Happy New Year 2022- Take 2

Ok soooo January was NOT fun!  In fact, for many, it was just plain awful! 

Symptoms, testing, masking, distancing, quarantining, isolating, vaccinating, boosting, etc.... 

BUT..

We are into February already and there are brighter days ahead!

So, let us start fresh! 

 

Happy New Year, Cozy Lake Families! 

I want to sincerely thank you all!  You are the most cooperative, understanding, patient and supportive group of families I have ever worked with.  In all my years of school nursing, I have never experienced such a difficult time, while also experiencing so much compassion and kindness.  I guess tough times can really bring out the good in others.  

So, that's our silver lining to take with us into 2022.  Hang in there, everyone!  Spring, warmer weather, and healthier, happier days are ahead!