Prior to the first day of school, all incoming kindergarten parents are required to submit the following to the nurse:

• Complete Immunization Records with Lead Screening (these must be done before even if your childs physical exam is scheduled for September!)
  
• A copy of a current (after August 2016) physical exam or proof of scheduled appointment in September of 2015.
  
• Vision Screen by the pediatrician at Physical Exam
  
• Emergency Information Card Completed
  

Kindergarten Immunization Requirements for the 2017-2018 School Year:

Hepatitis B: 3 doses
DTaP/ DTP/DT/Td/Tdap: 5 doses
Polio: 4 doses
MMR: 2 doses
Varicella: 2 doses (unless you have medically documented proof of chicken pox)

Medications from the Philadelphia field trip are ready to be picked up by parents!

Thank you!

Attention 8th grade parents: Students entering the high school will need to have a physical that was performed after August of 2016 or have one scheduled from September of 2017. When student enter a new school, they need to have a physical exam that is dated within the last year.

6th grade parents: If your child has not had their Tdap vaccine before the start of the new school year, they will not be permitted to begin 7th grade.

Middle school parents: If your child is interested in doing a fall sport, they will need to have a physical exam completed within 13 months of the start of the sport.

All Parents: Massachusetts Department of Public Health requires that parents submit a physical exam to the school at a minimum of every 3-4 years. If you have not submitted your childs most recent physical exam, please do so!

The doctors offices are very busy and have to schedule physical exams in advance. Please call now!

Kids Should Not Consume Energy Drinks, and Rarely Need Sports Drinks, Says AAP
Sports and energy drinks are heavily marketed to children and adolescents, but in most cases kids don’t need them – and some of these products contain substances that could be harmful to children. 
In a new clinical report, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) outlines how these products are being misused, discusses their ingredients, and provides guidance to decrease or eliminate consumption by children and adolescents. The report, “Sports Drinks and Energy Drinks for Children and Adolescents: Are They Appropriate ?" is published in the June 2011 issue of Pediatrics (published online May 30).
“There is a lot of confusion about sports drinks and energy drinks, and adolescents are often unaware of the differences in these products,” said Marcie Beth Schneider, MD, FAAP, a member of the AAP Committee on Nutrition and co-author of the report. “Some kids are drinking energy drinks – containing large amounts of caffeine – when their goal is simply to rehydrate after exercise. This means they are ingesting large amounts of caffeine and other stimulants, which can be dangerous.”
Sports drinks and energy drinks are different products, said Holly J. Benjamin, MD, FAAP, a member of the executive committee of the AAP Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness, and a co-author of the report. Sports drinks, which contain carbohydrates, minerals, electrolytes and flavoring, are intended to replace water and electrolytes lost through sweating during exercise. Sports drinks can be helpful for young athletes engaged in prolonged, vigorous physical activities, but in most cases they are unnecessary on the sports field or the school lunchroom.
“For most children engaging in routine physical activity, plain water is best,” Dr. Benjamin said. “Sports drinks contain extra calories that children don’t need, and could contribute to obesity and tooth decay. It’s better for children to drink water during and after exercise, and to have the recommended intake of juice and low-fat milk with meals. Sports drinks are not recommended as beverages to have with meals.”
Energy drinks contain substances not found in sports drinks that act as stimulants, such as caffeine, guarana and taurine. Caffeine – by far the most popular stimulant – has been linked to a number of harmful health effects in children, including effects on the developing neurologic and cardiovascular systems. Energy drinks are never appropriate for children or adolescents, said Dr. Schneider and Dr. Benjamin. In general, caffeine-containing beverages, including soda, should be avoided.
The report contains tables listing specific products available today and their contents.
“In many cases, it’s hard to tell how much caffeine is in a product by looking at the label,” Dr. Schneider said. “Some cans or bottles of energy drinks can have more than 500 mg of caffeine, which is the equivalent of 14 cans of soda.”
AAP recommendations include:

Pediatricians should highlight the difference between sports drinks and energy drinks with patients and their parents, and talk about the potential health risks.
Energy drinks pose potential health risks because of the stimulants they contain, and should never be consumed by children or adolescents.
Routine ingestion of carbohydrate-containing sports drinks by children and adolescents should be avoided or restricted, because they can increase the risk of overweight and obesity, as well as dental erosion.
Sports drinks have a limited function for pediatric athletes; they should be ingested when there is a need for rapid replenishment of carbohydrates and/or electrolytes in combination with water during prolonged, vigorous physical activity.
Water, not sports drinks, should be the principal source of hydration for children and adolescents.

Parents of students entering GRADE 7: All students must have a Tdap (Tetanus- Diphtheria) booster before the start of the school year

BMI Screening is mandated by the Department of Public Health for grades 1,4,7,&10. BMI stands for Body Mass Index and it is calculated by taking the child's height and weight. These grades where chosen by DPH as they are growing years. The results of the BMI screening will not be sent home, though results will be available to families upon request, as well as health and wellness resource referrals. If you have any questions or concerns about this please notify me directly at 508-693-0951 ext. 281 or LSchaefer@mvyps.org

Please be aware that now we have seen a variety of illnesses being shared throughout our school.  Strep throat, gastrointestinal illness, and pneumonia have been circulating.  This is not uncommon for this time of year.  We also have confirmed cases of the flu, this tends to peak in February and March.  Please remember our school guidelines for returning to school after being ill.  Please refer to the nurse's notes section on the Oak Bluffs School website.

Wash hands frequently/Always wash after using the bathroom, before you eat, after you sneeze, cough into your hands, or blow your nose.  Hand sanitizers are ok, but they don't get rid of all germs.  Washing hands is the best method.
Cough/Sneeze into your elbow.  Germs from coughs and sneezing can travel quite a distance and can linger in the air.
Keep your hands away from your face, unless they have been recently washed.
Follow a regular sleep schedule.  Getting regular sleep helps our immune system.
Eat a consistent healthy diet.  Eating well also helps our immune system.

It is still not too late to get a flu shot!  Call your Pediatrician or Family Practitioner today!

Three ways gadgets are keeping you awakeOur cell phones, tablets, computers and other electronic gadgets have become such a huge part of our daily lives that it’s often hard to put them down—even at bedtime. Keeping your phone on your nightstand may not seem like a big deal, but technology affects your sleep in more ways than you realize. Whether you’re surfing the web, playing a video game, or using your phone as an alarm clock in the late evening, you’re probably keeping yourself from a restful night. Learn the facts about digital devices, below, so you can nip your tech habits in the bud.
They Suppress Melatonin.
The blue light emitted by screens on cell phones, computers, tablets, and televisions restrain the production of melatonin, the hormone that controls your sleep/wake cycle or circadian rhythm. Reducing melatonin makes it harder to fall and stay asleep. Most Americans admit to using electronics a few nights a week within an hour before bedtime. But to make sure technology isn’t harming your slumber, give yourself at least 30 minutes of gadget-free transition time before hitting the hay. Even better: Make your bedroom a technology-free zone—keep your electronics outside the room (that includes a TV!).
They Keep Your Brain Alert.
It may seem harmless to knock out a few emails before bed or unwind with a favorite movie, but by keeping your mind engaged, technology can trick your brain into thinking that it needs to stay awake. And if you’re surfing the web, seeing something exciting on Facebook, or reading a negative email, those experiences can make it hard to relax and settle into slumber. After spending an entire day surrounded by technology, your mind needs time to unwind.
They Wake You Up.
Just because you’re not using your cell phone before bed doesn’t mean that it can’t harm your sleep: Keeping a mobile within reach can still disturb slumber, thanks to the chimes of late night texts, emails, calls, or calendar reminders. About 72 percent of children ages six to 17 sleep with at least one electronic device in their bedroom, which leads to getting less sleep on school nights compared with other kids, according to their parents. The difference adds up to almost an hour per night, and the quality of snoozing is negatively affected too. To get a better night’s slumber, parents can limit their kids’ technology use in the bedroom, and mom and dad should be solid role models and set the tone by doing the same.

The Holidays can be an exciting and fun time of year. They can also be stressful and exhausting. Here is a list of 50 ways to take a break this holiday season!