OPEN HOUSE NIGHT MONDAY OCTOBER 5TH FROM 5:30-7:30
PARENT ONLY NIGHT SEE YOUR EMAIL REGARDING DETAILS

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Department of Public Health
Flu Symptom Check List for Families and Child Care Programs
Updated August 31, 2009
The main symptoms of influenza (flu) include fever and cough and/or sore throat. Some people also have a runny nose, body aches, headache, chills and feel tired. Some people also have diarrhea and vomiting. The most important thing that you can do to keep flu from spreading in the community is to keep your sick child at home when they are sick.

SHOULD I KEEP MY CHILD HOME?
If you answer yes to both questions below keep your child home. Your child has an influenza-like illness.

1. Has your child had a fever of 100.4 degress or more in the past 24 hours?
2. Does your child have a cough or a sore throat?

Can my child return to school?

If you answered no to both questions below, your child can return to school.
If you answer yes to eitherr one of the questions below, your child cannot return to school.
Keep your child home for at least another day to observe for additional symptoms. Then use the check list questions again to decide whether you should continue to keep your child home.

1. Has your child had a fever of 100.4 degrees or more in the past 24 hours?
2. Has your child had accetaminophen (tylenol) or Ibuprofen (motrin or advil) in the past 24 hours?

Where can you find out more information about influenza?
1. Call the Massachusetts Department of Public Health information line: 211
2. Go to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health influnenza website: mass.gov/flu
3. A “Fever Fact Sheet” with information on how to take a temperature is also available.

We have had a wonderful start to the pre-school year! Everyone is getting to know each other, the rules to the classroom and the daily routine.

We are having fun learning about each other with our theme “All About Me” and are excited to start our V.I.P. and book bag.  The V.I.P. will always receive a poster to fill out the week before they are V.I.P., the week they are V.I.P. please bring in the poster and your child will share it with the class, we will hang it for everyone to see in the classroom. They will also be the line leader, first to wash hands for snack/lunch and be the helper at circle time. The V.I.P. may bring in one item to share with their friends in school, however please make sure it can fit into a backpack—thank you! The book bag contains the book “It you give a mouse a muffin”, you will take the bag home and read the book with your child, there is a journal for your child to write/draw what they think and there is also a journal for parents to write in.

The teachers have also been working on splitting the children up into their small groups. By the end of September the children will be in one of our groups for the year.

In October we will be learning about Health, Safety and Nutrition. We can not wait this should be an exciting theme after learning about our families. If there is anything that you would like to add to our classroom related to the theme please let us know. As Halloween approaches we will let you know when our party will be, however we will not be wearing costumes.

We are looking forward to a fun year…if you have any questions please feel free to ask any of the teachers, we are always there to talk.

Enjoy the change of season. Fall and Football are here!!!

Miss Nicole, Miss Alissa, Miss Heather and Miss Shealene.

V.I.P/Book Bag for September and October:

Week of September 14 – Aiden

Week of September 21 – Alexa

Week of September 28 – Annika

Week of October 5 – Anthony

Week of October 12 – Ava Mc.

Week of October 19 – Ava Z and Benjamin

Week of October 26- Brett

Hello Everyone,

I would like to welcome you all to RHS this week as it will be our first week
of school for the 2009-2010 school year.
The classrooms are ready for all our friends and the teachers are so excited to
see you all.

The front door has a new key less entry. The code to open the door from 7:30 am
- 5:00 pm is as follows:

IF YOU CANNOT MAKE IT WORK MISS VICKI WILL BE THERE FOR YOU. NO WORRIES. PLEASE
WRITE THIS DOWN AT HOME AND GIVE TO ALL THOSE WHO WILL BE DROPPING OFF AND
PICKING UP AT SCHOOL.

WE ALL WILL BE PATIENT WITH THIS NEW SYSTEM AS WE GET USED TO IT…. THE OFFICE
DOOR IN THE BACK OF THE BUILDING IS ALWAYS OPEN IF YOU SOMEHOW CANNOT GET IN.
THIS IS WHERE MISS VICKI’S OFFICE IS LOCATED.

A few reminders for the first week of school:
Make drop off a smooth and consistent routine. Establish a good bye routine
with your child when you enter the classroom. Many parents will get their child
situated in the coatroom, drop off lunches and snack in the bins located outside
each classroom, enter the classroom and sign in , then see what is going on in
the room, once you have done that , signal it is time to wave good bye at the
good bye window. The teachers are there to help in any way. There may be tears
but that is okay……. we give lots of hugs and comfort to all.

Have your child’s backpack filled with a change of clothes and be sure to
include underwear and socks.

Any special food requirements that need to be refrigerated please do not
hesitate to ask your child’s teachers.

In the morning it can be chilly , then warm up by the afternoon. Send your
child in a warm sweater for morning time just in case. These past few mornings
have been chilly.

Any paperwork can be dropped off in Miss Vicki’s office along with your first
month’s tuition. The tuition box is now a glass candy jar which is labeled to
your right as you enter the office.

In the front hallway you will find a copy of Kidding Around. This month’s issue
features RIDGE HILL SCHOOL. Check it out also on the front door to the preschool
classroom.

Enjoy your last evening of summer, let the fun, singing, joy and laughter begin
as you and your child experience a great year at Ridge Hill School.

We will be using the school website to post many weekly notices and news for
the school. There will be no more parent mailboxed just your child’s mailbox in
the classroom. All news for parents will be posted for your convience to the
website either daily or weekly. Please be sure to visit often as it is our first
means of communication before we send home paper notices.
Your child’s teachers may send home special assignments and those will go home
with your child at the end of the day if need be. Any questions please feel free
to ask.

Best of Luck to All this week,

Miss Vicki

Join the Ridge Hill School teachers and friends for a Halloween Carnival and Open House on Saturday October 24 from 10 am - 1pm.
Children will be able to participate in a variety of fun arts and crafts. Parents may tour the school and pick up Open House enrollment paperwork for the school year 2010-2011.
No Raindate as all activities will be inside the school.