Hello and welcome back for another wonderful school year.

Returning to school brings an increase in illness and the spread of germs. It is our responsibility to remind children to wash hands and/or use sanitizer frequently, not to share glasses/cups when drinking, not to share toothbrushes, etc.

Washing hands before and after eating, after using the bathroom, after blowing nose, coughing, etc. will greatly reduce the spread of germs to the students and their families as well as the staff.

If your child is sick, ex: chronic cough, chronic runny nose, severe sore throat or flu like symptoms, keep them home until they are no longer sick for 24 hours. All students must be fever and vomit free for 24 hours- without the aide of Tylenol/Motrin. If your child comes to the health room with a temperature of 99.6 or above you will be called to take your child home per QACHD policy.

No child should ever have their hands in their mouth for any reason unless they are eating. No wiggling loose teeth, no chewing nails, no chewing fingers, etc. should be accepted, as this is one of the biggest ways we can decrease illness.

If you see your child with their hands in their mouth please explain to your child why it is not a good habit.

Here at BES we constantly educate the children to cough into the crook of their arm and turn away from others, to wash hands often, and keep hands out of mouths.

We will see sick children and adults this year, you can bet on that but, if we work together we can at least cut down on how many become ill.

Remember it is for your protection and your family’s protection, as well as the community at large.

Thanks for your help and here is to a healthy school year.

Sincerely,

Theresa Griebel

BES school nurse