Tuesday, October 2, 2012

October 1st Newsletter




WIPP NEWS
 Happy October!

October is National Fire Prevention month.  We’ll be discussing fire safety in our classrooms and enjoying a visit from the Southside Fire Department on October 10th.  This is also a great time to review your home escape plan.

 Fall Conferences
Look for information from your child’s teacher about a fall conference.  There is no school for students on Monday, October 8, for our parent/teacher conferences.  Some of you may prefer a phone or email conference, or a time before or after school, and our teachers will try to accommodate your schedule.

Halloween Information
On Wednesday, October 31st, our 3s and 4s will go trick-or-treating next door at Summer Breeze.  We’ll wear our Halloween costumes on that day and walk over to visit the residents and sing our Halloween songs for them.  Because we’re just across the lawn from Summer Breeze we won’t need chaperones for this “trip” but most classes will have their Halloween parties later that morning so make sure you check your child’s class monthly calendar.

Arrival and Departure
Thank you for your patience as we’ve worked out the beginning of the year kinks in our carpool.  Effective July 1, 2011, Georgia law states that children under age 8 must be properly secured in an approved car seat or booster seat while riding in cars, trucks, etc. (http://www.gahighwaysafety.org/childpassengersafety/2011boosterseatchangesga.pdf )  If you do not have a car seat for your child we will not be able to buckle him/her into your car. 

o    Please remember that if you need to drop you child off at school before 8:50 we have our Early Birds program available for $2 per day.  Our teachers use the time before school prepping for the day so please help us keep that time free for them.  Ms. Deborah will be doing Early Birds this month in her 2s’ classroom.

o    We will also extend our Lunch Bunch days to Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday beginning this month.  If you’d like your child to stay, send a bag lunch and $5 in the morning and we’ll take care of the rest.  Come into the building at 1:00 to pick up your child after Lunch Bunch ends.

 Health
We have had a very early start to our flu and cold season at WIPP.  We’ve already had cases of the flu, a stomach bug, and strep.  For the health and well-being of your child and of others at school, please keep your child home for the following reasons:
1.        Fatigue (for any reason), lethargic behavior
2.        A fever (a child should remain at home for 24 hours after the fever is gone and/or after prescribed antibiotics have been administered for 24 hours).
3.        Sore throat
4.        Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (child should remain home for 24 hours after the last episode ).
5.        Red, "crusty", itchy eyes (conjunctivitis or pink eye is very contagious). The child must be kept at home for 48 hours while being treated with antibiotics and should only return to school if there is no discharge from the eyes.
6.        A runny nose if there is colored nasal mucous.
A parent or a person on the emergency contact list must always be available by phone during school hours.  It is the parent's responsibility to have someone available who can come to the school for emergencies or for a sick child.
Please call if your child has a communicable illness or infestation, such as chicken pox, conjunctivitis, pin worms, fifth's disease, mites or head lice so we can exercise additional control methods and notify other parents. Your child's identity is protected.


Thank you again for all you do--and for sharing your child with us each day!