Andrews Elementary
On Wings of Excellence - 11/17/2017
Dear Andrews Family,
Thanksgiving Break has arrived! I hope that you enjoy this special time with your family and friends, reflecting on all of the blessings for which you are grateful! I personally feel immensely blessed to be part of such a phenomenal school where wonderful students, incredibly supportive parents and a tremendous staff work together in the pursuit of learning and academic growth. Thank you so much for your time and dedication! Please remember that Plano ISD will be closed for the entire week of Thanksgiving, Monday through Friday (11/20-11/24). We look forward to the return of our students on Monday, 11/27!
Dr. Joy Lovell, Principal
Andrews Elementary
Upcoming Events
Monday, November 20th - Friday, November 24th - Thanksgiving Break - No School
Monday, November 27th
- 5th Grade Choir Practice
Wednesday, November 29th
- Walk 'n Roll Wednesday
Thursday, November 30th
- NTCC rehearsal after school
Friday, December 1st
- Andrews Parents' Night Out - 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Monday, December 4th
5th Grade Choir rehearsal after school
Tuesday, December 5th
Spelling Bee - 8:30 a.m.
Wednesday, December 6th
Walk ‘n Roll Wednesday
STUCO meeting after school
Thursday, December 7th
NTCC rehearsal after school
PTA Board meeting - 7:30 p.m.
Specials Spotlight - Art with Mrs. Swenson
Andrews Elementary entered it first juried art show this year. We are so proud of the students who had artwork selected for judging. This was a tough competition as there were over 500 entries!!! Although we did not advance to the next level, we are SO proud of these amazing students and all the extra hours that they put in with Mrs. Swenson completing their pieces.
WAY TO GO:
Shivani Nathan, Harshitha Musunuru, Arja Singh
Carpool Reminders
Volunteering
Nurse's News
Check Your Strep IQ
What percentage of sore throats are caused by strep?
Strep (beta-hemolytic Group A streptococcus)
bacteria cause 10-20% of all sore throats.
Viral infections (such as colds or flu) cause
the most; mouth-breathing and postnasal
drip (from hayfever and sinusitis) cause some;
and a variety of other organisms(such as mycoplasma
and Hib) cause few.
How can you tell whether your sore throat is strep or viral?
The signs and symptoms overlap so much that it is often impossible to distinguish one from the other. The diagnosis should be confirmed by throat culture or strep anigen (rapid strep) test before starting antibiotics.
I don’t have fever, so it can’t be strep… right?
It’s atypical, but strep is confirmed in people without fever often.
Aren’t there a few clues we can look for?
Strep is unpredictable, but the onset is typically sudden. Some kids have a headache or a stomachache without a sore throat. Some have nausea and vomiting. Some are quite sick, while others are fairly chipper. The throat and tonsils can look normal, or they can be red, swollen and covered with white exudate (slimy stuff). The lymph nodes at the angle of the jaw are often (but not always) enlarged and tender. Other suggestive findings include circumoral pallor (flushed face with a pale, diamond-shaped area around the nose and mouth), “strep breath”(you know it when you smell it), a red, swollen uvula (the little thing that hangs down in the back of your throat), strawberry tongue (red tongue with white elevated “taste bud”), and petechiae (tiny reddish-purple dots) on the soft palate, near the uvula at the back of the throat.
Which symptoms are most suggestive of viral infections (colds, flu, etc.?)
Cough, hoarseness, conjunctivitis (red eyes) and a runny nose are usually not seen with strep throat. However, some viruses also cause sore throats without nasal symptoms; for example, adenovirus, coxsackievirus (herpangina) and Epstein-Barr (mononucleosis).
What is scarlet fever?
Strep with a rash. A red, sunburned-looking sandpaper-like rash (scarlatina) is highly suggestive of strep even if there are no other symptoms. The rash starts on the chest and spreads to the abdomen, cheeks and practically everywhere within 24 hours. Skin folds in the groin, armpits and elbow creases become especially red. It is no more dangerous or difficult to treat than strep without a rash.
Should I take my child to the doctor for every sore throat?
It is a good idea. Trust your healthcare provider to decide whether or not to test for strep. Acute rheumatic fever (damage to heart valves) and other rare but serious complications may occur in children not treated for strep within ten days of symptom onset. Eight out of ten strep tests will be negative. That’s okay.
When can my child return to school?
24 hours after starting antibiotics if the fever is gone without help from Tylenol or Motrin.
How can we prevent it?
Wash hands, disinfect surfaces, and avoid contact with other people’s saliva and mucus. Discourage sharing food and drinks and kissing on the lips. Keep sick children home from school, and keep sick people away from your family.
My child was diagnosed with impetigo. Is that strep too?
Impetigo is a superficial bacterial skin infection typically caused by staph or strep. Any sore or wound that grows and doesn’t heal is usually impetigo. Impetigo begins as small red bumps that rapidly change into blisters, then pimples, then open, weeping sores. The sores are often covered by yellowish-brown scabs which must be soaked off in order to (and kill) the bacteria hiding underneath. Try some warm, moist compresses or hydrogen peroxide. Impetigo is frequently found around the mouth or nose and wherever insect bites are scratched. Keep the sores covered to prevent scratching and spread, wash your hands frequently and disinfect contaminated surfaces. Consult your doctor. Impetigo responds well to antibiotics. You may be instructed to apply antibiotic ointment inside your nostrils. Bacteria love to hide there, build their little impetigo empires and emerge to plant new colonies.
When is it safe for relatives and friends to visit?
Strep is contagious from the onset of sore throat until 24 hours on antibiotics. The incubation period is typically 2-5 days (potentially 1-10 days). It’s spread by close, direct contact with saliva, hands, droplets (sneezing, cough, tissues), infected sores and contaminated surfaces.
Take a Taste Tuesday
Take a Taste Tuesday
Each week, one class will get a chance to try a fruit or vegetable that starts with the letter of the week. The students learn about the food on the morning announcements. This week for the letter D, Nurse Sherbert and Ms. Adkins introduced the dill pickle. Pickles have been around since ancient times, around the year 2,000 BC. They are believed to have originated in Mesopotamia. On average, Americans consume 8 ½ pounds of pickles a year. Pickles are a good source of fiber and iron. Ms. Novella’s fourth grade class got the chance to taste dill pickles and koolickles, and the majority gave their approval to the unique taste! We hope that this will encourage your children to try new things. Try to incorporate dill pickles into a healthy meal or snack this week!
Walk 'N Roll Wednesday
Helping at Home - Building Vocabulary
eNews
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