Back to school means many preparations, including receiving immunizations.  For some, vaccinations can be controversial.  Some do not believe in them.  Since we have a health care worker in the family, vaccinations are a necessary and expected part of our lives.

Onslow schools are great about joining forces with the Onslow County Health Department to administer seasonal flu shots at school.  This avoids kids being taken out of school to get the shots in other places, assures that those who may not take the time to go get them have access and it helps the schools as it can mean less chance of the flu being circulated around the school, which affects many students becoming sick and contagious.

My tween wants to opt out from the school administering her shots.  Why?  She has anxiety and had a bad experience last year.  She wants me to take her to her favorite “Magic Shot Nurse” at the hospital.  Our magic nurse makes my kids so distracted that they don’t even know they have received a shot.  Although it’s convenient to have the schools do it, we are respecting our tween’s desire and will have her vaccinated privately.

I know some question the validity of vaccinations and immunizations.  Some studies have indicated it causes negative side effects and or health problems.  Some do not believe for religious reasons.  I guess I believe it is a person’s personal choice whether they do or don’t.  I for one will immunize because of the exposure my husband has to people and illness and that in effect comes home and could cause illnesses for our family.  You can find more information about this age old controversy on wikipedia…http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccine_controversy

Do you believe in immunizations?  Do you believe that the service of bringing the shots to the schools through the county is a good idea or forcing a side of a controversial issue?  Do you think it is irresponsible not to immunize?

As children head back to school, they are at an increased risk for getting sick. Here’s a quick list to help you tell if your child needs a sick day or is okay to head into the classroom:

• Keep your child home if he has a heavy cough accompanied by a steady stream of mucus.
• Keep your child home if he has an unexplained rash, which may be the first symptom of measles or chickenpox.
• Keep your child home from school if stomach pain is accompanied by diarrhea or fever.
• A child who is vomiting should be kept home.
• A fever of 100 degrees or less is generally not cause for concern. If a fever above 100 is combined with a sore throat or a rash, the child should be kept home because this could indicate a more serious illness.
• Learn the rules of your child’s school about when a sick child must stay at home.

As the new school year approaches, parents and children planning their “back-to-school” lists are urged to keep backpack safety in mind.

Each year, about 6,000 children in the United States experience backpack-related injuries, Linda Rhodes, an occupational therapist at MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center in Augusta, Ga., explained in a news release from the medical center.

In an effort to cut down on the number of these injuries, Rhodes offers parents the following backpack safety advice:

• Choose a lightweight backpack that doesn’t add too much to your child’s load. The pack should have two wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back that will improve comfort and protect your child from being poked by the sharp points and edges of pencils, pens, rulers and other objects they need to carry.
• Select the proper size backpack for your child. It should cover no more than three-quarters of the length of your child’s back.
• Load backpacks carefully. The maximum weight of a loaded pack should not be more than 15 percent of a child’s body weight. Place the heaviest books closest to the back as they require the most body support. If a child has to lean forward to carry a pack, it’s too heavy.
• Have your child wear the pack correctly. He or she should use both shoulder straps. Carrying a backpack on one shoulder puts too much strain on one side of the upper body. The straps should be snug, but not too tight. If a backpack has a waist strap, use it to help better support the load.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has more about backpack safety.

Hi, just wanted to share a recent conversation with Marissa regarding her fears over going to a different school, during which I sing the praises of the new school while she argues with cold hard facts and tween drama (:

Me:  Marissa, you got into the new magnet school in the area, isn’t that great?  Wow, it’s going to be so exciting, you will have new teachers, new friends, and learn new things!

Marissa: Um, Sarah (I am her step mom so she calls me by my first name, no biggie), I would have new teachers, new friends, and learn new things at Swansboro Middle where I was supposed to go.

Hmmm...I don't know about this!

Me:  Yes, this is true, but this new school is supposedly the best in the area with lots of emphasis on math, science, and technology, which you love!

Marissa:  Uh, actually I don’t love all those things.  I am good at math, but I don’t like it.  Science is kind of boring, but I do like technology if you mean like computers and stuff.

Me:  Oh.  Well, this new school has great teachers, great reviews, and the uniforms are nice too.

Marissa:  I don’t get why I can’t just go to Swansboro, that’s where all my old friends are going and it’s really close to the house, and—wait, did you say I have to wear a uniform???!!!

Me:  Yes, but think about how easy it will be to get ready for school now; you won’t have to worry about deciding what to wear which means you can probably sleep in a little more than before.

Marissa: (still suspicious of the uniform) Well maybe it will be ok, I guess.  Can I wear my regular clothes on the weekends still?  What colors are the uniforms?

Me:  Of course you can, and the uniforms are tan, white, and navy blue.

Marissa:  I should have known there would be no pink (pout).  Is it an all girls school?  Can I wear my sparkly horse necklace there, at least?  What kind of food do they have?

I’m sure you get the gist of the discussion; it boils down to basically clothes, boys, food, and pink sparkly things. Yup, she is 11 going on 16! Luckily her highness agreed to attend this new school, and I am interested to see how it compares to her old school. Anyone want to share any pros or cons of magnet schools?