SMS Trojan News
Principal's Corner
March 2nd - March 6th
Welcome to March!
We start our Pennies for Patients fundraiser this week which will last for the next two weeks. If you have change lying around at home, give it to your student to contribute to our fundraiser. Classes will be having competitions where they will be able to teacher/principal do something fun/funny/embarrassing/etc. at a wrap-up assembly in a couple weeks. Happy change-collecting!
Athletic Night for Track & Field is this Thursday in the SMS cafeteria from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Please attend for information regarding the upcoming track & field season!
Please be sure to check the "Nurse's Notes" below for this month's tips regarding your student's health and wellness. A big topic of conversation going around right now is the Coronavirus (COVID-19), especially as the first case in Oregon has been detected. Here is a handy comic for kids that I've used with my own children to reiterate the importance of washing your hands, "how to" sneeze into your elbow, and to avoid touching your face (nose, mouth, and eyes). Very similar to the flu, please keep your child home if they display flu-like symptoms (a dry, itchy cough, a fever, and hard to breathe) and call your family doctor if you feel it is needed.
A reminder that your student(s) went home with a flyer regarding the annual Dental Sealant program. This is free preventative dental services offered at South Middle School each year. These screenings and sealants are done by dental health care professionals and there is no need for students to miss school! Be on the lookout for flyers coming home to give your student consent to have sealants done to protect their teeth from cavities, the most common chronic childhood disease.
Lastly, it is Classified Staff Appreciation Week this upcoming week. To all the bus drivers, food service staff, educational aides, lunch/recess supervisors, office staff, custodians, and many more! If we did not have our classified staff support, there is no way school could run as smooth as it does! Our PTSA will be providing treats and goodies on Wednesday during all lunches to celebrate our staff. Please email the PTSA if you would like to help contribute: southmiddleschoolptsa@gmail.com.
Have a great first week of March!
Mr. Sale
Important Dates
- March 3rd - Juntos Family Meeting (SMS Library, 5:30 - 8:00 p.m.)
- March 5th - Parent Advisory Council (District Office, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.)
- March 5th - Track & Field Parent Info Night (SMS Cafeteria, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.)
- March 9th - 13th - Dental Sealant Program (South Middle School)
- March 10th - School Board Meeting (District Office, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.)
- March 10th - Juntos Family Meeting (SMS Library, 5:30 - 8:00 p.m.)
- March 13th - Popcorn for sale (All lunches)
- March 13th - 3 v. 3 Basketball (SMS Gymnasium, 5:00 - 6:45 p.m.)
- March 17th - Juntos Family Meeting (SMS Library, 5:30 - 8:00 p.m.)
- March 18th - March Student of the Month Lunch (Mr. Sale's Office, 12:30 - 1:00 p.m.)
- March 20th - Shave Ice/Hot Cocoa for sale (All lunches)
- March 23rd - 27th - Spring Break (NO SCHOOL)
Nurse's Notes - March
Vision and eye care are an important part of your child’s health, and good vision is one key to success in school. School vision screening is done using the Oregon Lion’s Site and Hearing Foundation program (OLSHF) for Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 5th and 8th grade students, but students in other grades having signs and symptoms of vision problems may be screened on request.
OLSHF uses Spot screeners which provides a more objective screening than the typical vision chart screening. The Spot Vision Screener is a handheld vision screening device (kind of like a camera) that helps users quickly and easily detect vision issues on patients from 6 months of age through adult. Spot screens both eyes at once from a nonthreatening 3-foot distance. Some common symptoms of vision problems are: blurry vision, haziness, squinting, headaches, and eye strain. Eye wandering or an eye turning in or out should always be evaluated by an eye professional at a very young age.
There are many things you can do to keep them healthy and make sure they are seeing their best. If a student has been prescribed glasses or contacts, wearing them as prescribed is important. If eye patching is ordered for some of our younger students this is especially important because it can prevent permanent vision loss.
This web site has some good advice for healthy vision: http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/good-eyesight If your child is having trouble with their vision and you don’t have access to vision insurance/care let me know. Your child may qualify for a number of resources that I could share with you.
Contact me through your child’s school office.
-Martha Covrig, RN, BSN, MPH, District Nurse
South Middle School
Email: bsale@grantspass.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.grantspass.k12.or.us/Subsite08
Location: South Middle School, West Harbeck Road, Grants Pass, OR, USA
Phone: 541-474-5750
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SMSTrojans/