In the midst of cold and flu season, it’s a good time to remind the whole family how important handwashing is. Frequent handwashing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of disease, so soap up and remember these hand washing tips:  

• Wash your hands when they are dirty, before eating, and after using the restroom
• Use soap and warm water and rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds before rising and drying
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are ok to use when your hands aren’t visibly dirty
• Do not cough or sneeze into your hands – use a tissue or your elbow
• Don’t put your hands into your nose or mouth

If you do get sick, it’s important to stay home to keep others from getting sick. Please let your child’s school know if you are keeping your child home because of illness. It is the policy at all Newton schools to keep a child at home if s/he has:

• a fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the past 24 hours
• a cold in the active stages: coughing, running nose, sneezing
• a sore throat and/or swollen neck glands
• an undiagnosed rash or skin eruption
• vomiting or diarrhea during the past 24 hours

And finally, it’s not too late to get a flu vaccine! More than 2,800 students and over 1,000 staff members received the flu vaccine at school. Many more were vaccinated by their primary health care provider. Children under age 9 who did not receive the flu vaccine last year should receive two doses of the flu vaccine this year, spaced at least 4 weeks apart. If someone in your family hasn’t gotten a flu vaccine yet, or needs a second dose, call 617-796-1420 to make an appointment with a public health nurse.

If you have any questions about handwashing, the illness policy, or the flu vaccine please contact your school nurse or the Health & Human Services Department at 617-796-1420.

This is a FREE group for siblings of individuals with behavioral/mental health difficulties. The Connecting Parents’ program is affiliated with MSPCC and is funded by The Department of Mental Health. Topics will include: understanding strengths & weaknesses, understanding feelings, and expressing ones self. Parents/guardians should contact the Connecting Parents Program to enroll their child and receive a referral packet by December 30, 2011. Act soon, as space is limited.  

Sessions will be organized as follows:  Introductory Activities, Sibling Group Discussion and Peer Support Activities, Snack, and Fun Activity. The Group will be limited to 8 children, ages 8-12 years old. Only one child per family may participate.

The group will meet in Room 12 of the Norwood Civic Center, 165 Nahatan Street, in Norwood for on Tuesdays 4-5:15PM for six weeks starting January 10, 2012. The leaders of the Group will be Betty Wagner, LMHC, Director of Connecting Parents, and Bernadette Giacoppo, Connecting Parents’ Group Leader. For more information, contact Bernadette Giacoppo (bgiacoppo@mspcc.org, 617-983-5813), Connecting Parents’ Group Leader at MSPCC, 157 Green Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130.