The month of October is here, full of pumpkins and cornstalks and Halloween! It is the month to also start talking about the flu season which is coming quicker than we think! The flu clinic is coming to Washington Oak on December 2, 2011 put on by the Wellness Company again this year! Family members will also be able to be vaccinated as long as you have your insurance card present. I will be mailing the consent forms home for parents to fill out and return to me and you can also go online to register your child when you receive your consent form. The flu vaccine and flu mist will be available at the flu clinic.

      Good hand washing is always very important but especially important during flu season. It is important for students to wash their hands before meals & snacks and after using the bathroom. Students can take a small bottle of hand sanitizer to school in their back pack if they would like.

      Remember to get plenty of sleep at night during the flu season to stay healthy!

      The Rhode Island School for the Deaf will be coming to Washington Oak for hearing screenings on October 13, 2011 for our pre-kindergarten to 3rd graders. The "Dear Parent" letter will be sent home the first week of October which talks about the hearing screenings. Any referrals for failed screenings will be sent home for families to follow up with and notify me with the outcome as soon as possible.

      The Saving Sight will be coming to Washington Oak for vision screenings on October 17, 2011 for our pre-kindergarten to 3rd graders. Any referrals for failed screenings will be sent home for families to follow up with and notify me with the outcome as soon as possible.

      If your child needs to get any medication at school, prescription or non prescription, a doctor's order must be brought to the nursing office and the medication must be in the original box from the pharmacy.

      Please bring me any updated immunization and physical forms from your physician. Please call the school when your child is out sick and let the office know what the reason is for your child's absence. It is very important for me to know about certain communicable illnesses so I can alert parents in the classroom. Any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me!!


Michelle Lamothe RN, BSN, CSNT
School Nurse Teacher at Washington Oak Elementary School