Weekly note from Ms. Snyder–March 31, 2015

Dear Sprague Community—March 31, 2015 I am really hoping the snow melts enough either next week or later this week, so students can begin waiting outdoors in the mornings before school again. The flag has gotten TOO much use this winter!  Many thanks to the students and parents who helped us shovel some of the pavement on the play area last Wednesday. Parents Mason Smith, Anne Marvan, Matthew McKay, and Elaine Marten coordinated the effort and many others pitched in with man (woman, or child) power. The BIG basketball game is next Thursday (April 9th) from 6-8 p.m. at the WMS gym. All are welcome to come and cheer on their favorite teams (Grade 5 and Faculty).  The 5th graders need to watch out for fan favorites like, Jayne “Burn Baby Byrne,” Sharon “the Nurse-inator” Kahn, and Kenn “the Wizard of Wellesley” Craig, when they hit the court! The faculty team doesn’t practice, but we’ll be ready!  There will be pizza, water, and snacks available. Be sure to come if you can for a night of fun, food, and Sprague School spirit! Our school nurse, Mrs. Kahn, will be out from April 13 until early May. She will be having hand surgery. The Wellesley Public Schools nurse leader has arranged nursing coverage in our health office for all school days. Our regular Friday nurse, Mrs. Falb will be here each Friday as well as some other days. There will be 2 other experienced nurses filling in as well. I am sure you join me in wishing Mrs. Kahn a speedy and pain-free recovery! Peer Mentoring: The Peer Mentoring program pairs selected high school students with interested Sprague students in grades 3-5.  Once a week, high school mentors come to Sprague to help students with homework.  This is a great opportunity for your child to receive additional help with homework after school on a regular basis! For Whom: Sprague students in grades 3-5 Where and When: At Sprague every Monday from 3:05pm to 4:00pm.  This program will run from April 6-May 11. These are the scheduled dates for the program: Apr. 6, 13, 27; May 4, 11. Note: The program will take place in Ms. Blumenthal’s room (Room 120).  She will be supervising the students each Monday. Your child may bring a snack if he/she would like. If you are interested in having your child participate, please email Ms. Blumenthal (blumenthall@wellesleyps.org).Once she knows the exact number of high school students that will be volunteering, she will begin accepting Sprague students. It will be on a first come, first serve basis. Pick up will occur at 4:00 p.m. sharp in car line.   From the Nurse: Last week was National Poison Prevention Week:  Do you know what to do in a poisoning emergency?  ( Call 911 if the victim has collapsed or is not breathing. If the victim is awake and alert call 1-800-222-1222 immediately. (Hearing Impaired: 1-888-244-5313) That’s the National Poison Control Center where help is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you think someone has been poisoned, stay calm and call right away. +Do NOT wait for the victim to look or feel sick! The staff at the poison control center will provide quick accurate poisoning treatment guidance. When you call the hotline, a registered nurse, pharmacist or physician with specialized training in toxicology answers the phone. Bring the poison with you to the phone; you’ll need to read information from the bottle’s label. You will be asked:

• your name, phone number, and zip code                           
• the victim’s age and weight
• the name of the substance or poison
• the time the poisoning took place
• the amount of the substance or poison consumed
• any symptoms the victim has related to the poisoning                        
• any current health problems of the victim            
• any medicines the victim currently takes

***Please note: the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) no longer recommends Ipecac Syrup. The AAP determined that Syrup of Ipecac does not have a place in home management of poisoning cases since it has not been associated with improvement in patient outcome. The AAP recommended that parents no longer keep syrup of ipecac in the home and that they throw away any they may have on hand.                                     #Prevention Tips      Accidental poisonings are preventable.  Know your poisons and take precautions.

• Be aware of the poisonous substances in your home.
• Keep all harmful household products in locked cabinets with safety latches and/or out of reach and sight of children, even if you don’t have small children.  Many poisonings happen when children are visiting homes where no small children live. 
• Store all household and medicinal products in their original labeled containers.  Do not use food containers such as milk jugs or soda bottles to store household products.
• Buy and store all medicine and household products in child-resistant packaging. Remember that child-resistant does not mean childproof; it is only more difficult to open but given enough time a child will open the container.
• If you are using a product and need to answer the phone or the door, keep the child with you.  Many poisonings occur when the product is in use and an adult is distracted by the doorbell or telephone.
• Store food and household products in separate areas.  Mistaken identity could cause serious poisoning.
• Read all medication labels carefully.  At night, turn on the light when you prepare medicine for your children or yourself so you know you have the correct dose of the correct medication.
• Always return any medicines to safe storage immediately.  Medicines are often swallowed by young children who find them where they have been left out.
• Never refer to medication as candy.
• Avoid taking medicines in front of children, who will often imitate adults.
• Clean out your medicine cabinet periodically and throw away expired medications.
• Watch especially those children who have swallowed a poison; they are likely to try again within a year.
• Read and follow the directions and caution labels on household and chemical products before using them. Never mix two household or chemical products together. Mixing household products may create toxic fumes. For example – the combination of bleach and ammonia creates a poisonous gas (chloramine gas) that causes respiratory problems; the use of varnishes or paint strippers in poorly ventilated areas can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting and serious conditions.
• Know the names of all the plants in your home and yard. Teach your children not to eat mushrooms, berries or leaves growing wild.
• Keep children and pets away from plants that have been recently sprayed with weed killer, fertilizer, or insect killer.
• Place carbon monoxide detectors in your home.
• Check your home for sources of lead exposure.
• Post the Poison Control phone number on or near the phone and save it in your cell phone.

Every 25 seconds a child is poisoned in the US. Children under the age of seven are at a great risk for accidental poisoning since they will eat or drink anything, are curious by nature, investigate their world by putting things in their mouths, and are attracted to the bright packaging, good smells, and colorful substances of many products found in the home.  Another age group at increased risk is adults age 25 to 60; members of this group are unintentionally poisoned when they do not follow label directions on medications or household chemicals.          We American consumers buy more than 250,000 different products that are used around our households for medication, cleaning, cosmetic purposes, eliminating insects, and killing weeds. These items are valuable when used properly, but misuse can cause serious harm. Each year more than 23,000 people die and over 2 million suffer as a result of unintentional home poisoning in the US.          Home unintentional poisonings are preventable. We can keep our family members and ourselves safer by being aware of potential hazards and following these recommendations from the National Safety Council.         Sharon   Dates to remember: April 2: MCAS Grade 4 Long Composition  April 3: No school— Good Friday April 1, 8: Parent Conferences April 7: Walk to School Day April 9: Grade 5 vs. Faculty Basketball Game @ WMS 6-8 pm April 20-24: School Vacation Week April 29: Walk to School Day (There are 2 this month to make up for Feb.) April 29: Grade 5 to visit WMS April 30: Kindergarten Screening for incoming students June 11: Field Day June 18: Grade 5 Farewell Assembly @ 9:00 a.m.          

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