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Merrimack Valley Asthma & Allergy Education Support Group
Just about every month, the Atkinson hosts MVAAESP meetings in the cafeteria at 7pm. These meetings are FREE and OPEN to the public. You can learn from the experts, get your questions answered, meet others who share your concerns and find resources and confidence. Our very own school nurse, Mrs. Munro, is one of the leaders of the group. There is a brief listing of the topics below, but you can find more detailed information at www.asthmaandallergies.org. Feel free to call Nurse Munro at 978.794.0124 if you have any questions.
October 21 Parent/School Nurse Rountable
November 18 "Testing Children for Allergies" Allergist Bryan Stone, MD will speak.
December 9 "Baking for People with Food Allergies" Jill Robbins, Founder of HomeFree Foods will speak.
January 20 Parent Rountable, Epinephrine Administration Training
The 5-2-1-0 Wellness Program
As part of the overall health program at the Atkinson School, our school nurse and physical education teacher, Mrs. Munro and Miss Blaney, respectively, will once again be sponsoring the "5-2-1-0 Wellness Program" for all students. The purpose of the 5-2-1-0 program is to bring awareness to the daily guidelines for nutrition and physical activity. Its message is simple and clear and represents some of the most important steps families can take to foster healthy habits resulting in healthy lifestyles.
Each of the numbers in the 5-2-1-0 represents a wellness goal that students will be working to achieve.
- 5 Fruits and Vegetables: The more the better! Try to eat at least 5 servings a day. Monitor choices so that healthy beverages contain 100% fruit juice.
- 2 Hours of Screen Time: Work to limit TV and computer time to 2 hours or less a day.
- 1 Hour of Physical Activity: Participate in at least one hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day.
- 0 Sugar Sweetened Drinks: Restrict soda and sugar-sweetened sports and fruit drinks from your diet. Instead, drink water and 3 to 4 servings per day of fat-free/skim or 1% milk.
Each month the students will have goal trackers to help them monitor their success in achieving the goal for the month. The students will also be instructed in healthy tips each month before the goal setting starts. This will reinforce the reasons why these behaviors are so important to their health.
Even before the program starts up again, please encourage your child/children to participate in the 5-2-1-0 program. Our having parental support, will help make this program a success. Our goal at Atkinson is simple. Through 5-2-1-0 we hope to foster student aspirations to lead a healthy lifestyle, not only while they are at school, but at home and for the rest of their lives. With your help and support they can achieve this goal.
General Information from the Health Office
Your children have all received Health Emergency Cards to bring home and be completed. Thanks to all of you for being so prompt. It is vital I have this information so that I can reach you if an emergency occurs. The health information helps me to complete your child’s health record and to make adjustments whenever necessary.
Please keep me informed of any new immunizations or any changes in the health status of your children throughout the school year. I have a direct telephone line and answering machine in my office. The number is 978-557-7908. Please feel free to call me at any time. As always you can also reach me by calling the Atkinson School telephone number, 978-794-0124, and ask for the nurse.
We continue to have in our building this year children with severe food allergies and included in their health plans is the goal to reduce as much as possible the chances of cross contamination by peanuts and nut products.
I’m asking parents of all Atkinson students to be particularly attentive to children participating in good hygiene habits like washing their hands and brushing their teeth before coming to school in the morning. It would be helpful to send a hand wipe with your child to use after lunch if peanut butter or these products are sent. This will also help in good hygiene and health practices.
I wish each and every Atkinson All Star a very productive, healthy and happy school year.
Thank you parents for your continued cooperation.
Gail E. Munro R.N.
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