Health Office Spring Newsletter
Solar Eclipse Safety π
We know everyone is so excited to view the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8th! Here are some resources and safety reminders for your viewing.
Do's and Don'ts
DO
Use eclipse glasses or solar viewers that meet the ISO 12312-2 standards (sometimes written as ISO 12312-2:2015). Do not stare continuously at the sun. Take breaks and give your eyes a rest.
Use your hands to cast shadows on the ground. Cross your hands with fingers slightly spread to create a waffle pattern. Look down and you will see the spaces between your fingers project a shadow image of the sun in a crescent shape during the partial eclipse stages.
Look at shadows on the ground, such as beneath a leafy tree, during the partial eclipse to see the crescent sun shadows projected by the spaces between the leaves.
DON'T
Do not look at the sun directly. Do not view through regular sunglasses. No matter how dark they are, they will not protect your eyes.
Do not use damaged eclipse sunglasses or solar viewers. If they are torn, scratched or punctured, do not use them and throw them away. If the filters are coming out of their frames, discard them.
Do not use homemade filters.
Do not view through welder's glass. The glass in most welding helmets is not strong enough.
Do not view through your camera viewfinder.
Do not view through a telescope without the proper solar filter. Do not view the telescope using your eclipse sunglasses either.
Do not view through binoculars.
Head Lice
Head lice are a common occurrence in schools and can be easily treated. We want to share information to help you identify, treat and prevent the spread of lice:
- https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/index.html
- https://www.holliston.k12.ma.us/district-departments/health-office
With the knowledge that the students have sleepovers, birthday parties, organized overnights, and play dates, we hope sharing this information with everyone in our school community will help decrease the spread of head lice. Over the next few months, we recommend that you periodically check your studentβs hair for any signs of head lice. It is best to do a head check in natural sunlight.
If you find lice on your student, please notify your school nurse so we can help. Your student may return to school as soon as the medicated shampoo/treatment has been used and there are no adult louse present.
Managing allergies at school π€§
Gentle reminders:
- Cover sneezes and coughs with tissues (if there are no tissues, use your elbow πͺ).
- Remember to wash hands frequently, especially when coming inside from outdoor play.
- If your student takes allergy medication, please make sure to provide it to your student before they come to school.
- Please make sure your student has a water bottle for school and encourage extra hydration to alleviate symptoms.
Sunscreen and Bug Spray Use π
As a reminder, the school nurses cannot apply sunscreen and/or bug spray without the medication and a medication order from your student's provider. Please refer to the Medication Administration guidance on our district website if application during the school hours is necessary: https://www.holliston.k12.ma.us/district-departments/health-office
Managing insect bites (ticks, bees, etc.) πͺ²
With the warm weather approaching, we wanted to remind families to be vigilant about insect bites. Please review the below guidance
Health Services Department
Sam Placentino School 235 Woodland Street πΊ Phone (508) 429-0647
Fred W. Miller School 235 Woodland Street πΊ Phone (508) 429-6812 Fax (508) 429-0699
Robert Adams Middle School 323 Woodland Street πΊ Phone (508) 893-0687 Fax (508) 429-0690
High School 370 Hollis Street πΊ Phone (508) 429-0677 Fax (508) 893-6053