Cold Gopher Weather!
Launch the media gallery 1 playerWe have had LOTS of dental-related events this year already! In August, the Northeast Mo Health Council (NMHC) mobile dental van came to Green City School. Fourteen of our students got to go see the dentist and then back to class without having to leave school grounds. We are so thankful for this much-needed service to our community, and hope they come each fall for many years to come!
The DHSS Preventive Services Program team provided FREE dental screening and fluoride varnishing to our entire elementary student population. 119 kids participated, and 14 were found to need to see the dentist to help their teeth. This FREE program helps our children by promoting good oral hygiene and detecting early problems. They will be back to see us in March. Hopefully, parents will have even more of our students take advantage of this FREE service next fall.
Then, the Tooth Wizard and his sister the Tooth Fairy came from the Delta Dental Land of Smiles to visit our Pre-K through 3rd graders. They showed our students how important it is to fight Plaque-man (and the cavities and bad breath his plaque causes) by brushing our teeth often and seeing the dentist for check-ups regularly. Every student got an awesome gift pack from them, and they promised to come back and see our students again very soon!
The Sullivan County Health Department (SCHD) had a FREE influenza vaccine clinic here at the school for our 5th-12th grade students and our employees to help us keep well during flu season. 43 smart people were vaccinated to help protect them against the flu. Even though it is now December, it’s not too late to contact Lisa McClaran RN from the SCHD at 660-265-4141 for a flu shot to help protect you for the rest of the flu season. This coming spring, Lisa will return with our annual tetanus/meningitis vaccination clinic provided to the 7th grade and junior classes. This clinic held here at the school helps prepare our students for their 8th and 12th grade years by making sure their required vaccinations are complete and ready-to-go.
Rose Smith with the Missouri Lions KidSight program provided FREE vision screenings to our Pre-K through 3rd grade classes, along with some of the Parents as Teachers kids. We had 94 percent of our Pre-K through 3rd graders screened, and seven children were referred for further evaluation of their vision. This very fast, FREE screening detects SEVEN vision problems that make it harder for our kids to see and to learn. Children as young as six months can be screened.
Again this fall, Speech Pathologist Lisa Buck and the Truman State University students provided FREE hearing screenings to many of our Elementary and High School students. This screening helps to detect hearing problems that, like vision problems, are barriers to our student’s ability to learn that may go undetected. We are very appreciative of this valuable service to our school.
We are already having colder temperatures this winter than we did last year, and have even missed school one day already due to snowy weather. Please send students to school dressed for winter each day (leaving the shorts and tank-tops at home). Although we have indoor recess during the very cold days, there is always the possibility that we may have to go outside unexpectedly. Without winter clothes, your children will be very chilly outside with their arms and legs exposed to the weather. Hats and gloves and winter coats are also a must!