MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
May 2009
Dear Parents/Guardians:
RI State Law requires proof of a yearly Dental Exam for students in Grades K-5. Yellow dental cards were sent home at the end of April. A dentist must sign the card for K and Grade 3 students. A dental hygienist can sign the card for students in the other grades. Any dental exam from January of 2009 through October 2009 is acceptable. Please return the signed card before June 20 or by the end of October 2009. The school dentist will screen those students who do not return the card. Thank you for your cooperation.
May is Children’s Mental Health month. Children, as well as adults, can have emotional stresses and mental health disorders. If your child is showing signs of stress or a mental health issue, this can also affect their physical health and academic school success. Talk to your child’s physician about it.
Bullying can have both physical and mental health effects on your child. Be familiar with the signs of bullying and teach your child how to be assertive. According to the National Sleep Foundation: “Sleep is a vital need, essential to a child's health and growth. Sleep promotes alertness, memory and performance. Children aged five to twelve need 10-11 hours of sleep.” Also be aware signs of eating disorders in pre-teen students. Peer pressure and media messages can influence their self-image at this age. Refer to my Health Related Websites of Interest page to obtain further information about these topics.