April is National Cancer Month:

Did you know that eating less red meat and more vegetables and exercising has been proven to reduce your chances of getting colon cancer?

For more information on proper nutrition and physical activity check out the Website: www.newszunky.com and click on the section entitled “Steps to a Healthier New York-Jefferson County.” You can see what is going on in Jefferson County from the comfort of your own home. Click on the link entitled “Eat Well Play Hard.”

Attention Parents of Sixth Grade Students for September 2008

There are new Immunizations requirements for students entering
6th grade!

Per NYS Public Health Law 2164 effective date September1, 2007

• Tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis. (Tdap)- is a booster vaccine to the DTP/DTAP vaccine that your child received before entering school in Kindergarten. The CDC is hopeful that this vaccine (for 11-12 year olds) will help to stem the whooping cough epidemics (pertussis) outbreaks of recent years. Parents will be receiving information in the mail from the school nurse.

• Varicella vaccine is a requirement (since Sept. 2005)

• The CDC also advises vaccinations for meningococcal vaccine, Hepatitis A and Gardasil. Parents are encouraged to speak with their private physician about these new immunization requirements and advisories.

• Parents are advised to provide a physician signed copy of their son/
  daughter’s immunization record to the school nurse by September 1, 2008.

Seniors/College Bound Students:

The CDC also advises the meningococcal vaccine especially for students residing in a dormitory. Talk to your physician about this
vaccine. A copy of your immunization record may be obtained from the school nurse for your private physician to review.

Kindergarten Students for 2008:

Parents are advised to start now to review their child’s immunization
record with their private physician. This allows extra time for parents to address their child’s immunization needs including booster shots needed for school entry in six months. The school nurse will also review immunization records with parents at Kindergarten Registration (May 1 and 2, 2008).

Students entering Kindergarten will need to have a Kindergarten
physical and new this year, a dental certificate (proof of having had a
complete dental exam) from your dentist. There will be more
information at Kindergarten registration.

2008-2009-Sport Physicals for students in grades 7-12:

Parents, please remind your son/daughter to sign up for any sports that they desire to participate in next year with the physical education department.

Physicals will start at the end of April with the present sixth grade and will continue through May for students in grades 7-11. Parents will receive the annual health history form in the mail. Parents
do have the option of having the annual sport physical at their private physician’s office. Forms will be included with all mailings. All school physicals must have a parent signed athletic health history at the time of the physical.

If your son/daughter has special needs for plan of care in school or medication needs (like an epi-pen or inhaler at school, school activities, at practices or games), please have your doctor complete the required forms before the first sport practice or first day of school.