Dear Parents & Caretakers,
Welcome back to school! Thank you for your support as we offer healthful food and drinks to your students. A recent survey of Boston Public School parents & caretakers found that 96% of you think that your child deserves to be offered only healthful foods in school. Healthy children learn better, and we are committed to supporting your child’s learning experience, health, and well-being.
The Wellness Council has been working hard over the last year to roll out the new Kilmer Celebration Policy. In this policy families are asked to bring in healthful foods and drinks for classroom parties, fundraisers, and other school-sponsored events. We hope to continue to make celebrations special but focus more on the fun rather than food. This policy which was approved by the School Site Council last year, also is in line with the Boston Public School (BPS) District Nutrition Policy.
BPS is a leader in a statewide effort to make the healthy choice the easy choice. In 2004, we were the first city in Massachusetts to have standards for foods sold outside of the school meal program. We are now working to implement updated guidelines that exceed Massachusetts’s new School Nutrition Law. Thank you in advance for your support as we work to maintain a healthy environment in our school.
Good nutrition is essential for concentration, brain development, and readiness to learn. Your child will have access to foods low in fat, sodium, and sugar, and high in nutrients found in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. We will only offer drinks like plain water and low-fat milk, flavored milk that is fat-free and lower in sugar, and 100% juice. In addition, access to water will be provided during lunchtime, as required by federal law.
If you plan to bring food or drinks for school celebrations, please be on the lookout in the coming weeks for the Smart Choices List, which recommends certain foods for school. This information can also be found on the school website. We will also be sending out ideas throughout the year to help make these new guidelines easy to implement. We encourage you to become a member of our school’s Wellness Council to join our efforts in health and wellness. We look forward to working with you to make our school a healthy place to learn!
Be Well,
Members of the Kilmer Wellness Council:
Kelly Kopcso Aimee Smith-Munnelly
Shannon Wyman Cheri Moriarity
Tara Ettis Phyllis Price Gayle O’Brien
Elizabeth Swanson Trisha Dwyer
Welcome back to school! Thank you for your support as we offer healthful food and drinks to your students. A recent survey of Boston Public School parents & caretakers found that 96% of you think that your child deserves to be offered only healthful foods in school. Healthy children learn better, and we are committed to supporting your child’s learning experience, health, and well-being.
The Wellness Council has been working hard over the last year to roll out the new Kilmer Celebration Policy. In this policy families are asked to bring in healthful foods and drinks for classroom parties, fundraisers, and other school-sponsored events. We hope to continue to make celebrations special but focus more on the fun rather than food. This policy which was approved by the School Site Council last year, also is in line with the Boston Public School (BPS) District Nutrition Policy.
BPS is a leader in a statewide effort to make the healthy choice the easy choice. In 2004, we were the first city in Massachusetts to have standards for foods sold outside of the school meal program. We are now working to implement updated guidelines that exceed Massachusetts’s new School Nutrition Law. Thank you in advance for your support as we work to maintain a healthy environment in our school.
Good nutrition is essential for concentration, brain development, and readiness to learn. Your child will have access to foods low in fat, sodium, and sugar, and high in nutrients found in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. We will only offer drinks like plain water and low-fat milk, flavored milk that is fat-free and lower in sugar, and 100% juice. In addition, access to water will be provided during lunchtime, as required by federal law.
If you plan to bring food or drinks for school celebrations, please be on the lookout in the coming weeks for the Smart Choices List, which recommends certain foods for school. This information can also be found on the school website. We will also be sending out ideas throughout the year to help make these new guidelines easy to implement. We encourage you to become a member of our school’s Wellness Council to join our efforts in health and wellness. We look forward to working with you to make our school a healthy place to learn!
Be Well,
Members of the Kilmer Wellness Council:
Kelly Kopcso Aimee Smith-Munnelly
Shannon Wyman Cheri Moriarity
Tara Ettis Phyllis Price Gayle O’Brien
Elizabeth Swanson Trisha Dwyer
Class Celebrations
Non-Food Ideas Birthday Celebrations
Healthy treats for birthday and classroom parties
http://school-bites.com/healthy-classroom-parties/ http://www.tisbury.mvyps.org/birthday
Food allergy information:
http://www.foodallergy.org/facts-and-stats
http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/allergy.pdf
- Decorate a box and send it into the classroom. Also send index cards or smaller pieces of paper. Have the teacher ask each child to use one sentence to write something nice about the birthday kid and put it into the box. The birthday kid gets to take the box home at the end of the day. You could also do the same thing using an autograph book.
- Send in supplies and directions for a craft for the kids to do instead of eating a snack. It is a bonus if the parent comes in to help with the craft.
- Bring in something that all the kids can sign as a birthday treat for the birthday kid (shirt/sweatshirt, tote bag, autograph stuffed animal, pillow case, etc.).
- Ask the teacher if you can send in a dance song, and have the whole class do the hokey pokey, the chicken dance, or the booty slide, whatever is your child’s favorite! Invite the nurse or principal!
- Birthday book - Each child in the class makes a page for the birthday child’s Birthday Book. A page consists of a picture and a positive statement about the birthday child – something that is admired or appreciated. The birthday child makes the cover. The teacher makes a page too and all the pages are bound in a special book for the birthday child to take home.
- Ask the teacher if you can have a show and tell time for your child on their birthday. They can make a poster, bring in some of their favorite things, bring pictures, tell the kids about their favorite things or life at their house, etc.
Healthy treats for birthday and classroom parties
- Popcorn cups:
- Yogurt parfaits:
- Mini muffins:
- Banana bread:
- Pear bread:
- Chocolate zucchini bread:
- Fresh fruit
- Guacamole
- Berries with fresh whipped cream:
- Fruit kabobs with vanilla yogurt dip:
- Magic fruit wands:
- Homemade fruit roll-ups:
- Cinnamon tortillas with fruit salsa:
- Frozen yogurt tubes served with fresh fruit
- Strawberries and Cream Elves:
- Yogurt parfait bar:
- Dark-chocolate dipped strawberries
- Pizza Pretzel Bites:
- Homemade Popsicles:
http://school-bites.com/healthy-classroom-parties/ http://www.tisbury.mvyps.org/birthday
Food allergy information:
http://www.foodallergy.org/facts-and-stats
http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/allergy.pdf
Lice Facts
Lice are spread through person to person direct contact. Lice cannot fly or jump, their tiny claws allow them to cling on to the scalp but, they must be introduced to your head by direct contact. Pets cannot catch head lice and share them to your family. Lice can be transmitted through direct person-to-person contact.
The adult louse is no bigger than a sesame seed and is grayish white or tan, lice can survive off the scalp for two days. Lice are fast and are very difficult to see, when you check your child’s head, you will be looking for the lice egg, also known as a nit. Nits are tiny yellowish dots that can be seen around the ears and base of the neck with close inspection by the naked eye. Nits sort of look like dandruff only they cannot be shaken off.
You should be inspecting your child’s head weekly and if he/she complains of itching.
The adult louse is no bigger than a sesame seed and is grayish white or tan, lice can survive off the scalp for two days. Lice are fast and are very difficult to see, when you check your child’s head, you will be looking for the lice egg, also known as a nit. Nits are tiny yellowish dots that can be seen around the ears and base of the neck with close inspection by the naked eye. Nits sort of look like dandruff only they cannot be shaken off.
You should be inspecting your child’s head weekly and if he/she complains of itching.
Wintertime Health Reminders
Here in New England we are heading full force into cough/cold/flu season and the Joyce Kilmer is no exception. Anywhere people gather, we are sure to share these viruses/bacteria/germs. The good news is that fortifying your immune system has been shown to be very effective in warding off these problems. Take simple measures such as:
- keep hands away from nose/mouth area
- eat 5 servings of vegetables a day along with a healthy diet
- get plenty of sleep
- exercise for at least 30 minutes each day
- afford yourself rest when afflicted with a sickness
- REDUCE YOUR STRESS...imagery, exercise, support groups, coping skill
Please keep your child home if he/she has:
- a fever of 100.4 or higher in the last 24 hours. Per the Boston Public Health Commission, your student needs to be fever free without the use of fever reducing medication such as Tylenol or Motrin for 24 hours before their return to school.
- Severe nausea or is vomiting.
- Symptoms that could prevent him or her from participating in school activities, such as fatigue, lack of appetite, body aches, productive cough (one that is breaking up and bringing out congestion), or headache.
Remember to contact the school and send in a note for absences.
The Upper School and Lower School each have a dedicated nurse. Her job is to examine an injured or ill child, treat minor injuries and refer the child for medical care if necessary. She also maintains student health records as required by state law.
It is extremely important that families list emergency numbers on your emergency card and update them whenever a number changes. Be sure to let your backup contacts know they are on the emergency list and know how to get to the school.
Download this informational flyer for more information regarding the flu.
Other Health Information
Examinations by the student's primary care provider are required for kindergartners, new entrants, and all students in grades, 3 and 6. A Massachusetts School Health record is maintained for each student.
Massachusetts state law requires that students be fully immunized against DPT, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, Hepatitis B, and varicella.
See Guidelines regarding Illness, injuries and School Attendance and Medications and Allergies for additional details about health and wellness at the Kilmer.
Massachusetts state law requires that students be fully immunized against DPT, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, Hepatitis B, and varicella.
See Guidelines regarding Illness, injuries and School Attendance and Medications and Allergies for additional details about health and wellness at the Kilmer.