Westminster School District April Parents Meeting

1. Westminster School District April Parents Meeting Conducted by, Kathleen Kent School Psychologist For further questions or information discussed tonight feel free to call (714) 767-6570

2. Points to discuss tonight • Lead Poisoning • Reasons for keeping your child home sick • Summer Safety • Language Classes for Parents

3. Lead Poisoning Basic Lead Facts Children are a High Risk Population • Heavy metal • Can affect virtually every body system • Recent studies indicate that even mildly low levels may affect children’s physical and mental health • Lead poisoning is usually asymptomatic and completely preventable • Especially children under 6 years old • Developmentally delayed children The effects of lead poisoning are: seizures, headaches, slowed growth, and hearing loss.

4. Lead Poisoning Effects of Lead Poisoning in Children Ruth Ann Norton, Executive Director of the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning: • Mental retardation • Lowered IQ • Learning disabilities • Attention Deficit Disorder • “Children poisoned by lead face lifelong irreversible problems from learning disabilities, hearing loss, stunted growth, mental retardation, aggressive/violent behavior and even death. Children poisoned by lead are also seven times more likely to drop out of school thus undermining their abilities to reach their full potential as productive citizens.”

5. Lead Poisoning Sources of Lead Most Common Sources in Orange County • Leaded paint • Leaded gasoline • Leaded piping and plumbing • Canned food with lead solder • Contact with leaded paint that has chipped or peeled or from the dust from deteriorating lead based paint • Remodeling of houses that were built prior to 1978 • Candies and food imported from other countries

6. Lead Poisoning Other Sources of Lead Blood Testing • Hobbies that may have lead used in their equipment-stained glass, fishing sinkers, pool table chalk, firing range equipment • Parents - who work at businesses that do welding, soldering, painting, remodeling, construction, lead smeltering, or work with batteries/radiators • If you have Medi-Cal, your doctor or clinic can order the blood tests to check for lead poisoning, if appropriate. This is a Statewide Targeted Screening Program. • Most private health insurance policies will also cover the cost of this test.

7. Where Lead Can Be Hiding!

8. Reasons for keeping your child home sick The issue at steak Effects • Many children are kept home unnecessarily • Average number of days a child should miss school for illness reasons • Remember days missed from school are days missed towards the goal for a better future for your child • Dedicated to the purpose of helping every student develop to the best of their potential • Every child shall attend school regularly and punctually • Home-School Partnership

9. Reasons for keeping your child home sick Reasons to stay home sick What is contagious? • Vomiting or Diarrhea – uncontrolled or untreated • Temperature over 100 degrees • Undiagnosed rash • Doctor’s exclusion • The first 24 hours after starting antibiotics unless otherwise directed • Pink Eye • Lice • Communicable Disease with healthcare provider note • Green mucus or discharge • Rash • Exclusion by a health care provider

10. Reasons for keeping your child home sick Try to Plan When your child is home sick • Dental or Doctor visits after school • Vacations when Off School or on weekends • To return on doctor’s note return date • Getting transportation alternative for when there is a sick sibling • Avoid making time home fun • Do not allow unmonitored television or games • The focus is on getting them back in school • Have student return with a note • Have them do homework if rested If you have any questions about your child’s attendance please feel free to call the school nurse and ask.

11. Summer Safety Insect Bites and Stings How to Apply Sunscreen and Insect Repellent • Insect bites can lead to serious medical problems. Not only can certain insects spread diseases like West Nile Virus, (MRSA). Since bites are itchy it is a good idea to try to protect your kids from insect bites. • If you need to apply both an insect repellent and a sunscreen on your child, apply the sunscreen first. • Read and follow the instructions on the label. • In an open area, which will help avoid breathing in the insect repellent spray or mist, hold the insect repellent about 6 to 8 inches from your child. • Apply the insect repellent on your child's exposed skin and his clothing, avoiding skin under clothing, and your child's mouth, eyes, hands, open cuts, or irritated skin. • More doesn’t mean better or that it lasts longer.

12. Summer Safety

13. Summer Safety Sunscreen Sunburns The best sunscreen- • provides broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection. • has an SPF of at least 15 to 30. • Make sure it • -is water resistant. • -is hypoallergenic and fragrance free • -is in a form that is easy to use on your child • Apply cold compress • Keep it moist • Leave blisters intact • Take over the counter pain reliever if needed • Treat peeling skin gently • Consult a doctor if you have a large portion of your body covered with blisters, high fever or severe pain, or if the burn doesn’t go away within a few days.

14. Summer Safety Swimming Pool Rules • Swimming pools are the number one drowning risk for preschoolers. • More than 80 percent of drownings occur among males • Never leave a child alone in a pool – even for a second • Childproof your swimming • Keep rescue equipment handy • Learn CPR • Floaties are not life vests

15. Summer Safety Ocean/Boat Safety Sun and Summer Heat • Have everyone wear Coast Guard-approved life jackets, and not just floaties, on boats and on other personal watercraft. • Only let kids dive in areas that are clearly marked for diving or when you know how deep the water is. • Heat stress and heat stroke can be prevented. Keep kids well-hydrated, take frequent breaks when playing outside, and watch for symptoms such as thirst, cramps, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and fever. • getting burned on metal slides or other hot playground equipment. • Remember sunglasses.

16. Summer Safety

17. Summer Safety Treatment of Heat Exhaustion • Get out of the heat • Cool water / Cool bath • Loosen clothing • Do not use rubbing alcohol or give fever medicine • Call 911 if worsening

18. Summer Safety Other Summer Safety Tips • LAWN MOWERS - Despite the need for a summer job or simply wanting to help, remember that children younger than 12 should not use walk-behind mowers. Use proper shoes and eye wear. • FIREWORKS - Safe and sane need to be supervised. Instead visit a public fireworks display this fourth of July. Children ages 5 to 9 have the highest injury rate for fireworks-related injuries,

19. Summer Safety Cars Camping Teach your kids to avoid wild animals. Teach kids that animals can carry diseases that are dangerous to people. Encourage them to enjoy watching them from a safe distance in their natural surroundings.                  Pack protection. Pack layers of light-weight, light-colored clothes for hot days and blankets and warm clothes for cool nights. Situations in which kids get hurt in hot cars include when: • infants and toddlers are simply forgotten in their car seat • toddlers or preschoolers sneak into the car to play and can't get out • kids get trapped in the trunk

20. Language Classes for Parents • Language classes for Parents will begin next month. • The school will provide the books, paper, and all other necessary materials. • These classes are free to not only the Parent’s but also other family members of the children as well. • Our goal is to have you connected to this school and involved in your child’s education as much as possible. • We want to see you and your child grow and learn together. • Classes will be available in Vietnamese, Arabic, and Spanish. If you would like us to look into adding another language please let us know.

21. Thank You! • If you have further questions please feel free to ask any administration member, teacher, nurse or psychologist here about the information you heard tonight or for further information go on our website.