“OUR SCHOOL” - This is a phrase that our students and staff often hear me say.  At the end of recess, I ask students to stop and pick up a ball that might cross their path and return it to the ball containers so that we may work together in taking care of equipment at OUR SCHOOL.  At lunch, I ask students to work together to ensure our lunch tables are clean for OUR SCHOOL.  At dismissal, I ask students to walk their bikes through big gatherings of people to make certain OUR SCHOOL is a safe place.  As a staff, we remain positive problem solvers, focused on children, to create a climate that promotes learning and cooperation at OUR SCHOOL.  

This school belongs to each and every one of us; students, staff, and our parent community.  TOGETHER we have the opportunity to make OUR SCHOOL a remarkable place where learning, joy, and safety intersect.

OUR SCHOOL needs OUR cooperation.

We have recently had some occurrences of lice in some of our children’s hair.  Lice tends to give a lot of people “the willies” and for some there is an associated feeling of shame or embarrassment.  Let me be the first to tell you, there is NO need to feel this way.  I had it when I was a little girl and I fully expect that at some point my daughters may get to experience this childhood right of passage.  There is a misperception that lice implies dirtiness or is linked to poverty. These beliefs could not be more false.  

It is our district’s policy that a child must go home from school if they are found to have active, adult head lice and/or nits.  Parents will be contacted immediately to pick their child up for proper treatment.  Staff shall maintain the privacy of the student identified as having head lice and we will offer you our dignity and respect.  A minimum of 24 hours is required for adequate treatment.  An appointment with the school office team (the parent must be present) is also required to ensure that the student is free of head lice and free of nits.  

There are ways to prevent and minimize the spread of lice and that’s where we need your help.

1. PLEASE report to the office if your child has lice.  When you call us to report that your child has lice, we will maintain your privacy.  We will send an exposure notice to all the families in the same classroom, but we WILL NOT share your name.  
2. Have your child’s head and home treated for lice.  Some of you may take this on yourselves.  Others might be interested in support from an outside agency.  
3. Talk with your child about effective practices to prevent the spread of lice.  Lice do not jump, they crawl.  Some of the ways they are spread is through sharing combs, brushes, hats and other things that touch hair.

I have been in conversation with our sister schools in Los Altos that have developed comprehensive practices around addressing lice occurrences and we are reviewing and strengthening our practices here at Almond School.  We are exploring how we might leverage our PTA to support in this process.

Whether your child experiences lice, or perhaps your doctor shares that your little one has strep throat, chicken pox or flu, we ask that you be a responsible member of OUR SCHOOL and notify the office so that we may be diligent in supporting the wellbeing of OUR STUDENTS.

Here are some helpful links that can provide you with additional information.

California Department of Health Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Pediculosis Association, Inc

SCC Department of Environmental Health, Vector Control District

My brain is struggling to find an elegant segue from lice to wearing pink this Friday, so I’ll just delve in.  (If any of you brilliant parents out there can think of a way to connect the two, I’d love to hear from you and will tuck it away for a future day.)

Tomorrow is Breast Cancer Awareness Spirit Day and students are encouraged to wear pink.  The idea for this spirit day came from our student council and was brought to our staff for consideration.  At the time, with our best thinking, we decided to move forward.  

Earlier this week I received a very respectful, thoughtful email from a parent who shared the conversation that she had with her little one (first grader) to explain what this all meant.  Having two children myself, one of them being a 2nd grader that worries endlessly about a myriad of topics, the complexity around talking about cancer resonated.  In addition, having a 4th grader who is starting to experience the joys of awkward adolescence, I also understand how mentioning the word “breast” can elicit uncomfortable giggles, blushing, and more.  These are matters that each family handles differently and is shaped by your family culture and practices.  We want to honor your beliefs and will be very mindful in how we address this day.  We will also be very considerate around the span of ages that range from 5 years old to 12.

In closing, I want to thank you for being active participants in OUR SCHOOL.  All of you leaders out there know that with any decision there will be some who are pleased and others who would have preferred a different outcome...the nature of humanity and our beautiful differences.  I’d like you to know that while I might make a difficult decision that does not sit well with some, I do take the time to consider diverse opinions and do appreciate the time that many of you take to share your thoughts in a constructive manner.

I thank you (students, parents, and staff) for making OUR SCHOOL an amazing place to come to on a daily basis.