Health & Wellness
Meet Nurse Kate
We are so excited and proud to welcome Nurse Kathryne Gross to St. Teresa of Avila. Nurse Kate holds a Bachelor’s in Science in Nursing from Bellarmine University and is set to graduate with a Masters in Community and Public Health Nursing in Spring 2022.
Nurse Kate will be with us full time this year and has been working hard to make sure our school is safe and ready for everyone to stay healthy in our learning environment.
Nurse Kate will have new information to share each week. Check out the weekly Bruin Bulletin or this page. Stay safe Bruins!
Mental Health Awareness
Please take a moment to read this article and visit our Mental Health Tab above: Talking to Children About Their Mental Health
It’s Time for the Flu Shot!
Dear Bruin Families, As we move towards another flu season, I would like to remind you how important it is to get your flu shot this year. The Cincinnati Children’s physicians are highly recommending you and your family get the flu shot in order to lower the amount of viruses in communities. Unfortunately, many signs and symptoms of influenza (the flu) look much like the coronavirus, and can be honestly mistaken without testing. By obtaining the flu shot, you lessen the chances of getting the flu this year, thus making a nurse’s job easier in assessing flu vs. COVID-19. If you opt to get your child vaccinated with the flu shot, please have your doctor sign the form below and return it to the school for documentation. This also helps the nurse recognize if a child is sick or possibly experiencing a side effect from the flu vaccine. We appreciate your cooperation and advocacy for the health of your children.
In health and wellness,
Kate Gross BSN, RN
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Screenings: Vision and hearing screenings have commenced for 2021-2022 academic year. At this time we are only able to complete vision screenings as our audiometer is broken. We are in the process of purchasing a new one and will let you know when we begin hearing screenings for the academic year. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
St. Teresa of Avila is committed to the safety and health of our students and staff.
We want to keep you updated on the prevalence of COVID-positive students and staff.
As per the flowchart from the Ohio Department of Health, below, if your child(ren) requires quarantine, we will take care to let you know how long they are to quarantine and recommendations, depending on their mask-wearing and vaccination status.
Principal Ostertag and Nurse Kate are handling contact tracing for each investigation on a case-by-case basis. If you get your child tested for COVID or if they have symptoms, especially during quarantine, notify the front office at (513) 471-4530 or contact our school nurse, Kate Gross, at gross_k@stteresa.net.
HOW YOU CAN PREVENT THE SPREAD of COVID:
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Be proactive by practicing social distancing (staying at least 3-6 feet apart)
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Wear a mask in public areas, especially if indoors, vaccinated or not.
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Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Sing the Happy Birthday song twice to help know when it has been 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers that contain at least 60% alcohol.
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Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or tissue, and sanitize your hands immediately
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Stay home when you are sick
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Avoid unnecessary gatherings with people who don’t live in your home
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Avoid sharing food, drinks, or utensils.
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Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
KNOW THE SYMPTOMS of COVID-19:
View the chart to the right or click this link to print:
COVID-19 Vaccine Information:
Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine EUA Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine EUA Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers
RESOURCES:
Resources we are using to help us build safety measures for your children in school:
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Medical Center has provided a fantastic resource regarding COVID, the vaccine, and a breakdown of what that means for our community. Watch it here! Cincinnati Children’s School Resource Forum
CDC Coronavirus Schools & Childcare
Cincinnati Childrens Coronavirus Information
Cincinnati Childrens Coronavirus Screening Information
Cincinnati Childrens Returning To School Information
Videos to be shown at school:
Cincinnati Childrens Coronavirus Information Video for Kids & Parents
Mental Health Awareness: As you know, the past year has been more than stressful on our and our children’s mental health, it has been traumatic. Having to quarantine, missing athletics and games, limited contact with friends and family – these, in and of themselves, are enough to create a shift in mentality and emotions. I have been doubling down in checking on the students while they are here at school, but if you sense this shift in your child(ren) and need resources, please let me know. Below are a few resources I could find for this letter, yet there are so many more out there. Nothing is too big or too small to mention, we are here for your family.
Should you have questions or concerns for Nurse Kate or Principal Ostertag, please do not hesitate to ask! Contact the school office at 471-4530 x119.
Forms
All medical forms are easily accessible here. http://www.stteresa.net/forms/
Please be sure to update the school when any changes in medication or treatment take place.
Resources
With so much swirling around us today we know your children have questions and need the support of adults. Here are a few articles to help you gain greater insight in how you can help.
Healthy Kids Health Links
You are in a unique role to help prevent childhood obesity. Children spend many hours in early care and education programs, as well as family child care. Help kids build good habits by ensuring a healthy environment for children to learn. Healthy Kids, Healthy Future encourages you to meet these goals. Click here to learn more:
Henry the Hand
Keeping schools and children healthy by teaching the 4 Principles of Hand Awareness!
A non-profit located in Cincinnati, Henry the Hand offers Infection Prevention Tool Kits for early childhood centers, pre-schools and schools that help teachers and school nurses educate young children and students to the benefits of handwashing (hand hygiene), respiratory etiquette (safe coughing and sneezing habits), and not touching your eyes, nose, or mouth (T Zone). They also have resources for families. Visit their website to learn more. Henry the Hand
Spread the Word, Not the Germs!
We are EQUAL
We can work to make a difference right where we are. Mr. Rogers’ & Officer Clemmons’ example on how to treat each other, speak to each other, love each other, and most importantly respect each other is an easy one to follow. In an episode first aired in 1969, Fred Rogers and Officer Clemmons washed each other’s feet. Love was the theme of the episode; a powerful message that was sent to millions across the world and one which we want to perpetuate. This is the message that we teach and live by at St. Teresa of Avila. ALL are WELCOME, ALL are LOVED.
The injustice and mistreatment of people in our country and across the world must stop. We can all work together to educate people and continue the fight against racism and injustice. There are many ways to say “I love you” to our neighbor – this is just one.
For more of Mr. Roger’s wisdom on how to treat each other and ourselves with more dignity, respect, care, and compassion we share this article: Seven Lessons From Mr. Rogers That Can Help Americans Be Neighbors Again
Image: Officer Clemmons and Mister Rogers, reprising their 1969 foot bath more than two decades later, during their final scene together in 1993. (c) The Fred Rogers Company.
