The Health Services Department at Indian River would like to update the community before everyone settles in for the long weekend.   At this time of year, our nursing staff generally sees a higher volume of sick students, and it can be hard to know when to send children to school if they tell you that they do not feel well.  Usually, the best place for them is in school, but there are some times when keeping them home to rest or call for an appointment with your health care provider is recommended.

Here are some reasons to keep your child home and/or contact your child's doctor:

- Fever greater than 100.4°F within the last 24 hours
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea within the last 24 hours
- Severe sore throat
- Honey-crusted sores around the nose or mouth, or rash on other parts of the body
- Large amounts of mucus from the nose or throat
- Severe ear pain or fluid coming from the ear
- Severe headache\

To help control the spread of illness, please remind children to throw away used tissues, cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze, keep their hands away from their face, and to wash hands often with soap and warm water.

At this time of year, we must also prepare for the inevitable drop in temperature that comes with north country winters,  We encourage all parents/guardians to talk with your children about cold weather safety and supply them with appropriate outerwear when the weather turns bitterly cold.  Warm jackets, hats, scarves, boots, and an extra pair of gloves in their pockets will protect them during extremely cold temperatures.

Some helpful cold weather tips include:\

• Developing an emergency plan and reviewing it with your children in case you are not home either before or after school. \

- Instructing your children where, when, and how to get help if their bus is delayed.
- Educating your children on the dangers and risks of extreme weather, including frostbite.
For more information on infectious disease, cold weather safety and more, please visit the Health Services page of the IR website.  Parents/guardians now have their own specific tab where you can find information about infection control and hand hygiene.  There's also guidance on the signs and symptoms of frostbite, and a wind chill chart, courtesy of the National Weather Service,
Spring will come soon enough, but until then, let's work together to keep our students, and our community, safe and healthy!
Sincerely,
Chelsea Kolb, FNP-C
Director of School Health Services

Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

The Indian River Class of 2026 (Junior Class) is sponsoring

****Billy Martin’s All Star Circus

Friday, February 7th at the Indian River Middle School Gym starting at 6:30PM.

****
****Thank you for your support, and we hope to see you there!

Save the Date! The Indian River Backpack Program will be holding the fourth-annual Indian River Backpack Tournament at Willowbrook Golf Course on June 7, 2025 starting at 9AM. More information to come in April!

IR Wrestling qualified for the Section 3 Dual Tournament. This year it is at JCC on Monday 1/20. See below for more info:
​IR ​will wrestle ​vs Central square at 11:30AM to start. 
Tickets can be found at the link below:

https://section3.org/sports/2021/4/29/hometown-ticketing.aspx

Tickets are $8.50 for adults in advance and $10 at the door with a credit card.  Student price is $5. It is easiest if spectators purchase tickets in advance of arriving at the site.  ****

If you have any questions, please contact the District Clerk at 315-642-3441.

January 9th is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, and we encourage you to join us in voicing our support to law enforcement officers for their service to us all.  The Indian River Central School District honors those who protect and serve our community, and we would like to extend our appreciation in particular to Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputies Morrow and Young, our School Resource Officers.  Thank you for all you do and for being such a crucial part of our community!