SHOELACE REQUEST

Hi Cozy Lake Families-

Surprisingly, I have had an increase in head injuries and bitten lips as result of falls/trips due to untied shoelaces.  If your child wears shoes with shoelaces, please encourage them to practice tying each night.  If their shoelaces come untied during the day and they struggle to re-tie them, please encourage them to ask a friend or an adult to assist them to re-tie rather than leaving them untied and risking an injury.  Thank you so much!

Happy Halloween!

Hello Cozy Lake Families!

We are all so excited for Halloween 2019!  We have so many exciting activities planned for the kids.  I just have a few reminders to ensure our students all remain healthy, happy and safe this Halloween!

• Food will be shared at our Halloween classroom parties.  The list is very limited and, as always, the parties will be activity-based rather than food-based.  If you have any concerns related to the following food list, please reach out to me as soon as possible. This year's food list will include;                
•  Sea Salt (only) Pop Chips
• Rold Gold (only) Pretzels (twists, thins or sticks)
• Plain or double stuffed (only) Oreos &
• Capri Sun 100% fruit juice

• If your child's costume contains a face mask or other accessory that covers their face or head, for safety reasons, please remind your child NOT to wear a mask or face covering during bus transportation. 
• If your child's costume is "complicated" and could present a safety concerns to self or others, please have your child wait till they arrive at school to put the costume on. 

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

LICE INFORMATION

It is common this time of year (after the holidays) to get reports of lice.  Rest assured, we do NOT currently have any known active cases of lice! That said, it is important for everyone to review the following information about head lice in order for us all to stay vigilant and prevent a spread.

Head lice is nothing to be ashamed of.   Cleanliness and personal hygiene have NOT been linked to contracting head lice. If  cases of head lice are reported or found in your child's class, I will check the class for lice.  In addition, the students and I discuss lice and the things we can do to prevent the spread of lice.  I also send a letter home to remind parents to be on alert for signs or symptoms of lice.  I am, of course, sensitive to the students' feelings and treat each case confidentially.     The parents of students with lice are notified and provided with the necessary information to ensure successful treatment.    The students are treated appropriately by their parents and re-checked prior to returning to school.   

The following are important lice facts to keep in mind:

• Lice do NOT jump or fly.  They only crawl.
• Lice spread from DIRECT head to head contact and, therefore, schools are NOT the primary source of transmission.  Camps, sleepovers, playdates, etc. are the common source.
• Once on a head, lice prefer to stay on the head (close to its food source).  Spreading primarily occurs once a full infestation exists and the lice are looking for a new home. Therefore, catching and treating lice early is important.  Please check your children for lice regularly. 
• It takes weeks for lice infestation to occur, so students can be in school with lice for weeks undetected.  Therefore, please reinforce avoiding direct head to head contact with your children and encourage your child with long hair to keep hair tied up in a ponytail or braid. 

Please watch for the following symptoms in your child:

• Intense itching of the scalp.
• Regularly check the nape of the neck and behind the ears for lice eggs (called nits).  Nits are usually whitish ovals that glue themselves to the hair shafts and cannot be removed easily.
• Adult lice are tiny, grayish-brown, wingless insects and shy away from light.  They are harder to see than the nits. 
• If you find lice or any nits, it means your child has head lice. 
• If your child has head lice, please contact me immediately so other children in the class can be checked. If your child has lice, they will need to be treated before re-entering school. Each case will, of course, be treated confidentially.  

***For more lice information, please refer to the Lice Handbook on the Jefferson Township website (click link for District Offfices, then Health Services, then Forms & Documents)

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

NEW Option for Students With Food Allergies!

We have an exciting new program being offered by our Food Service Department for students with food allergies.  We are now offering Allergen Pre-Order Menus.  Of course, all our elementary schools are peanut, tree nut & fish free, but we have been seeing an increase in allergies to egg, dairy, and gluten as well.  Therefore, students, who have these additional documented allergies, can now pre-order meals safely with our new Allergen Pre-Order Menus.

What's new:
Specific staff received advanced, on-going special training on food label reading, cross-contact procedures, and food allergies.  A new system has been established utilizing strict protocols to ensure allergy (peanut, tree nut, fish, egg, dairy, gluten)  free meals are prepared and provided safely for the students with these documented allergies.  The Pre-Ordered Allergy Meals are prepared and packaged separately and labeled with your child's name accordingly.


Here's how it works: 
Special menus are posted 2 weeks prior to the month on the district website (see link for district home/district offices/food services/ allergy pre order menus).  If your child has a documented allergy and you would like to have them purchase from the menu, complete the bottom portion and have your child return to cafeteria 1 week prior to the month. The meals will be prepared and packaged and delivered to the appropriate school with your child's name in time for lunch!

Check out the menus and additional information on the website. If you have additional questions or input, please reach out to our Food Service Director, Eric Ventriglia, at eventriglia@jefftwp.org or (973) 697-3106 ext 5878.  We appreciate any and all feedback to help us make this offering a success.

I hope this is helpful to our many families and students who struggle daily with food allergies.

ALERT....VAPING DANGERS!

Hello Cozy Lake Families,

I know our little ones here at Cozy are too young for vaping but its never to early to at least discuss the dangers of smoking. I have received numerous reports and alerts on the dangers of vaping and most recently received a Public Awareness Alert from NJ Department of Health that I feel is important to share out with all of you.

Electronic smoking devices were introduced into the US market in 2007 and use of these products has skyrocketed to the point that in 2018, more than one in five high school students and about 1 in 20 middle school students reported using e-cigarettes.  This is double the usage from 2017.

In addition, there have been numerous reports recently of youth needing to be hospitalized due to severe respiratory illnesses as a result of vaping.

Because of these alarming trends, the NJ Dpt of Health has created the following resource.

Click the link below and you will find an informative page on the NJ DOH site that provides Parents, Teachers, Coaches, and Healthcare Providers with the most up-to-date information about the dangers of e-cigarettes/vaping. 

VapeFactsNJ.com

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


   

Welcome to our 2019-2020 School Year!!!

Hello Cozy Lake Families!
Welcome to the 2019-2020 school year!  We are off to a great start.  The students are adjusting well to Cozy Lake, their new teachers, classrooms and friends!  We have an exciting year of informative and interactive events planned for your children.
Here on this blog you will find updates, requests, and information that will ensure you stay up-to-date on Health and Wellness issues here at Cozy Lake.  Please check back often.  I will be posting throughout the year as needed.

Please click the links below for additional health office information.

When To Keep Your Child Home From School

District Medication Policy

Cozy Lake School Food Policy

Non-Food Birthday Celebration Ideas

Cozy Lake Breakfast and Lunch Program

Screening Information

Head Lice Information

Fifth Disease

Milton and Cozy have seen a handful of Fifth Disease cases in the last few months.  This is relatively common, but as a result, I wanted to share some important information about the disease (from KidsHealth.org) with you to keep you aware and informed should your child come down with an unusual rash.  As always, if you have any additional questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to me at (973) 697-4777 ext. 5535. 

What Is Fifth Disease?

Fifth disease is viral illness that most kids recover from quickly and without complications. Also called erythema infectiosum, it's caused by parvovirus B19. It's especially common in kids ages 5 to 15.

Fifth disease causes a distinctive red rash on the face that makes a child appear to have a "slapped cheek." A few days later, the rash spreads down to the trunk, arms, and legs. It usually lasts 1 to 3 weeks.

In older kids and adults, fifth disease can cause joint swelling and pain that can last from weeks to months and, very rarely, years.

Signs and Symptoms

Fifth disease begins with a low fever, headache, and mild cold-like symptoms (like a stuffy or runny nose). These symptoms pass, and the illness seems to be gone until the rash appears a few days later. Kids younger than 10 are most likely to get the rash.

The bright red rash usually starts on the face. Then, red blotches (usually lighter in color) appear on the trunk, arms, and legs. After a few days, the rash, which can be itchy, takes on a lacy net-like look.

In the time that it takes for the rash to completely clear, it may seem to get worse before it finally fades away.

Sometimes fifth disease also can cause swollen glands, red eyes, sore throat, diarrhea, and rarely, rashes that look like blisters or bruises. Joint swelling or pain (often in the hands, wrists, knees, or ankles) can sometimes happen, especially in adults and older teens.

Is Fifth Disease Contagious?

Yes. Because the rash is due to an immune system reaction that happens after the infection has passed, someone with fifth disease is most contagious before the rash appears. Kids usually don't spread the infection once they have the rash.

Can Fifth Disease Be Prevented?

There is no vaccine to prevent fifth disease, and no real way to prevent spreading the virus because a person usually isn't contagious by the time the rash appears.

Washing hands well and often is always a good idea because it can help prevent the spread of many infections.

How Is Fifth Disease Diagnosed?

Doctors can usually diagnose fifth disease by seeing the distinctive rash on the face and body. If someone doesn't have the rash but does have other symptoms, the doctor may do blood tests to see if they're caused by fifth disease.

How Is Fifth Disease Treated?

Fifth disease is caused by a virus, so can't be treated with antibiotics (antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses). In most cases, this is a mild illness that clears up on its own, so no medicine is needed.

Usually, kids with fifth disease feel OK and just need to rest. After the fever and mild cold symptoms are gone, there may be little to treat except any discomfort from the rash.

If your child's rash is itchy, ask the doctor for advice about easing discomfort. The doctor may also recommend acetaminophen for a fever or joint pain. Do not give aspirin to your child, as it has been linked to a rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome.

Complications

Fifth disease might cause some children with weakened immune systems (such as those with AIDS or cancer) or with certain blood disorders (like sickle cell disease or hemolytic anemia) to become ill. The virus that causes it (parvovirus B19) can temporarily slow down or stop the body's production of oxygen-carrying red blood cells (RBCs). This can lead to severe anemia, which needs to be treated in a hospital.

Parvovirus B19 infection during a woman's pregnancy may cause problems for the fetus, especially during the first half of the pregnancy.

When to Call the Doctor

Call the doctor if your child develops a rash, especially if the rash is widespread over the body or accompanied by other symptoms, like fever, cold symptoms, or joint pain.

If you're pregnant and develop a rash or if you've been exposed to someone with fifth disease (or to anyone with an unusual rash), call your health care provider.