Not many parents would rate "cleaning up vomit" among their favorite parenting tasks, and yet many of you have been doing just that over the last week! Thank you to all the parents who have done quick pick ups for kids who have gotten ill at school, and who have kept home kiddos who have vomited at home. Generally, stomach bugs pass without intervention, but some key things to keep in mind are whether your child is maintaining hydration, and when/how to know it's okay to reintroduce food and drink. If your child has not been able to keep anything (even ice chips) down for more than twelve hours AND has not made urine in that time, it is a good idea to reach out to your pediatrician's practice (via the call service if it is after hours) to seek their advice. Knowing when and how to reintroduce food and drink to a child who has been vomiting is art as much as science. Generally pediatric providers suggest four hours after the last time they have vomited, start with sips of water and/or ice chips. If that stays down for two hours, you can advance to the BRAT diet foods (bananas, rice, applesauce, tea/toast). As always, you should reach out to your care provider for specific recommendations for your child.
Pollen is Back!
If you've looked closely on your car hood or patio furniture in between rain storms recently you may have noticed a slight yellow dusting. Certainly kiddos with seasonal allergies are coming in from recess with itchy eyes and runny noses. If your provider has your child on a seasonal allergy regimen, this is a good time to check in and see if you should start it now. While allergies are not contagious and are therefore not a reason to exclude children from school, they CAN be really uncomfortable and disrupt learning for both the sufferer and his or her classmates.
Please remind your STM student that the school has a "no food sharing" policy. Between a stomach bug that has torn through seventh grade and the many and varied food allergies among our student body, this policy is important for keeping everyone safe and healthy. Students who forget their lunch can request a backup from Mrs. Page. Families facing food insecurity should reach out to Mrs. Davis as there is support available to make sure you students are not going hungry at lunch while not sharing food with their classmates.