Dear Families,
At the beginning of each school year, we review our student allergy list and update it for the school year. I share this information with the office, teachers and kitchen staff. This way it keeps everyone updated in the event a student has an allergic reaction in school. It is very important that parents/guardians send in a Physician's order/note stating the allergy and the medication needed to treat an anaphylactic reaction.
Anaphylactic reaction is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. It can happen in seconds or minutes. Signs are facial swelling, difficulty breathing, hives (raised rash on the skin), itchiness, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Food intolerances are less serious. Our hard-working kitchen staff has the responsibility of making sure students are given alternative meal choices in the cases of documented allergies. It is becoming more challenging each year keeping up with the list of food intolerances while also maintaining a safe and efficient food service. Parents should be aware that we will try to accommodate the needs of students with food intolerances, but ultimately students will only be reminded of the requests that families make while they proceed through the service line.
Anaphylactic reactions require the use of Epinephrine (EpiPen). The health office has a pediatric and adult EpiPen on hand at all times. With this being said, ALL students need to bring in one of their EpiPens along with the order from the doctor stating the allergy. This is to be kept in the health office at all times for the remainder of the school year. Parents will receive EpiPens back at the end of the year.
Again, please notify us of all anaphylactic allergies so we can pass this information along to the kitchen staff. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to the school nurse, Kayla O’Donnell at kodonnell@aos93.org. Thank you for your cooperation, it is very much appreciated.
Best,
Kayla O’Donnell, RN
Adam Bullard, Principal
THE BENEFIT OF BUDDIES
Nobleboro Central School has a long-standing tradition known as “Buddies,” where students from the middle school wing partner with students from grades K-2 on a weekly basis. Sometimes the older students help younger students with writing or other schoolwork, while other times the Buddies complete hands-on activities or play together. This year students from grade eight are partnered with kindergarten buddies while students from grade seven are partnered with first grade buddies. Grade eight students recently took a trip to Beth’s Farm Market to help their kindergarten buddies navigate the corn maze. Grade seven students have been helping their first grade buddies write personal narrative stories over the last several weeks.
Seventh graders recently reflected on their experiences thus far with the Buddies program. While sometimes the experience can be a little challenging for the older students, it also helps solidify the school community and provides benefits for both the younger and older students. One student noted that, “Buddies builds friendship with younger grades that we don't see often,” while another added, “I think that Buddies is good for the school because it joins the wings together.” Another seventh grader summed up this relationship-building between the wings well, stating, “I have really enjoyed Buddies so far. Though it’s difficult to keep both myself and my buddy on task, it’s very nice to talk and laugh with him. Without doing Buddies, I doubt any of the middle schoolers would ever even talk to the younger kids. Buddies allows us older kids to interact with more of the school than just the junior high wing.”
The Buddies experience also does more than just bring different wings together, and many seventh graders commented on the social and academic benefits they gain from this experience. One noted, “The rewarding part is seeing how much joy it brings them. You learn more by helping, making friends, and learning.” Another added, “Getting to connect with them and learn about them has been fun and has opened up my world to connecting with others and helping them if they need it. It’s a break in the day to help and hang out with creative people that you can teach and they can teach you too.” A final student summed up their experience by saying, “[Buddies] teaches the younger kids social skills and helps them learn with someone they might consider a friend, instead of always working with adults and teachers. It helps the older kids by giving us a chance to interact with younger kids and re-learn some helpful spelling techniques we might have learned…It boosts both age groups’ self-esteem because the little ones feel important when an older kid pays attention to them, and the older kid feels happy that someone loves to hang out with them.”
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20th
Parent/Teacher Conferences 3-630pm
Homework Club 240-340pm
Girls Basketball practice 230-4pm
Boys Basketball practice 4-530pm
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21st
Homework Club 240-340pm
Girls Basketball practice 230-4pm
Boys Basketball practice 4-530pm
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22nd
NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23rd
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24th
NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27th
Homework Club 240-340pm
Girls Basketball practice 230-4pm
Boys Basketball practice 4-530pm
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28th
Homework Club 240-340pm
Girls Basketball practice 230-4pm
Boys Basketball practice 4-530pm
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29th
Girls Basketball practice 230-4pm
Boys Basketball practice 4-530pm
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30th
7th & 8th Grade Sewing Club 230-330pm
Chess Club 240-340pm
Homework Club 240-340pm
Girls Basketball practice 230-4pm
Boys Basketball practice 4-530pm
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1st
Boys Basketball practice 230-4pm
NPTO Movie Night
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2nd
Boys Basketball game vs. North Haven