Funderland Children Centre offer "Pro-D day" camps on regular basis including the upcoming one on Feb 14th. They also offer half-day and full day "Spring Break" camps. For more information and online reservation please visit Funderland's website.

Dear Tennyson Families,

We know that head lice can be a challenging topic; lice is not a public health concern like the cold or flu, but they are a nuisance and unfortunately sometimes have a stigma attached.  In conversation with parents, our PAC, and Vancouver Coastal Health, we know that a combined effort to tackle lice at the same time can lead to good results.  VCH recommends schools have lice awareness days.  So, the last two weeks of January are Lice Awareness Weeks at Tennyson!  We are asking all parents/guardians to familiarize themselves with what lice looks like, how to treat lice, and how to prevent the spread.  VCH does not recommend school-wide lice checks, but does recommend that families do this on a regular basis, and throughout the school year.  Please check your child’s hair during our Lice Awareness Weeks through the school year! 
 
Below is a lot of information to help you.  There is a link to a Vancouver Coastal Health Fact Sheet, a link to “how to get rid of head lice”, and the text pasted below is from the VCH website.
 
Here is a link to a VCH Factsheet, which have posted to our website:  https://www.vsb.bc.ca/schools/lord-tennyson/About-Us/Publications/Documents/Head%20Lice%20-%20VCH%20Circular.pdf
 
Getting Rid of head lice:  https://vch.eduhealth.ca/PDFs/FG/FG.650.G48.pdf

 What are head lice?
Head lice are tiny, greyish brown, wingless insects that live on the scalp, feeding on human blood. They lay eggs that stick to strands of hair very close to the scalp. Once the egg hatches, the empty case left behind is called a nit. Head lice are hard to see because they are tiny and move around on the head. Eggs are very small, about one-third (1/3) the size of a sesame seed and take 9 to 10 days to hatch. The nits are easier to see and are found further down the hair shaft. Both eggs and nits may look like dandruff, but they cannot be easily removed because they are sticky.

Do head lice cause illness or spread disease?
No, head lice do not cause illness or spread disease. However, they can be irritating because they cause discomfort and spread easily from person to person.

How are head lice spread?
Anyone can get head lice. Having head lice does not mean a person has poor personal hygiene or lives in an unclean environment. Anyone who has hair can get head lice. Head lice are commonly spread among children and adults who have close head-to-head contact. Head lice cannot jump or fly from 1 person to another. They are most commonly spread through head-to-head contact by crawling from one hair to another. There is a very small chance of head lice spreading indirectly though shared pillowcases, hair accessories, brushes and combs.

How do I prevent the spread of head lice?
The best way to control head lice is through the cooperation of parents, children, daycares, schools and health care providers. Checking the hair of all family members regularly using the wet combing method is the best way to prevent the spread. Encourage children not to share hats, combs, hair accessories or hairbrushes. If your child has long hair, tie it up or put it in a braid. Having head lice once does not prevent someone from getting them again. Regular checks for head lice can be part of a family’s hygiene routine.

What are the symptoms of head lice?
Often people who have head lice will have no symptoms for 4 to 6 weeks with their first case. Symptoms of head lice may include:

• Crawling or tickling sensation on the scalp
  
• Itchy scalp due to a sensitive reaction caused by the bites
  
• Scratch marks or small red bumps like a rash
  

How can I tell if my child has head lice?
The most accurate way to check for head lice is the wet combing method:

• Wash and rinse the hair. Apply enough conditioner to cover the whole scalp (usually 2 handfuls). The conditioner stops the lice from moving, making them easy to find
  
• Use a wide tooth comb to get the tangles out. At any time if the comb tugs, add more conditioner
• Begin combing the entire head with a lice comb. Pull the comb through the hair in one stroke from the front to the back of the head. Keep the teeth in contact with the scalp for the entire stroke
• After each stroke, wipe the comb on a paper towel and check for lice
  

What are safe options for treating head lice?
There are many different products and ways to treat head lice. Some health experts recommend wet combing and others recommend chemical treatments. Only consider treatment if you find live lice. Head lice will not go away without treatment. Children should receive their first treatment, whether wet combing or chemical, at home the first day that they are found to have head lice. Children should not be sent home or kept home from school or daycare because of head lice. Encourage the child to avoid head-to-head contact with other students until after their first wet combing or chemical treatment. If one person in the household has head lice, there is a good chance other household members do as well. All members of the household should be checked on the same day and those with lice should be treated.

Wet Combing treatment
This method removes live head lice. Wet combing is less expensive and non-chemical. Combing treatments follow the same steps used to check for lice. Use generous amounts of hair conditioner and a special lice comb, every 4 days for at least 2 weeks. If you find lice on the final combing, add one more combing in 4 days until you find no live lice. Any young lice that hatch from eggs after the first session are removed at the second, third and fourth sessions. This is why it is important to do the full series of sessions.
Wet combing is safe for infants, young children, as well as pregnant and nursing mothers. Contact your public health unit for complete instructions on the wet combing method. To find your local public health unit, visit www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/partners/health-authorities/regional-health-authorities.

Chemical treatments
Shampoos, creams, rinses and sprays that contain an ingredient that kills lice are available at most pharmacies without a prescription. Some examples are permethrin, pyrethrins, isopropyl myristate and dimethicone.
Some chemical treatments may not be safe for infants, young children, pregnant or nursing mothers or other individuals. Speak to your health care provider or pharmacist to find out which is best for you or your child. Always carefully follow the directions for use on the label and be sure to keep the products out of the reach of young children. After treatment, check the hair and remove eggs and lice. You can also remove the nits, although you don’t have to remove them, as nits are empty eggshells. Most treatments are repeated in 7 to 10 days to make sure that any head lice that have hatched after the first treatment are killed before they have a chance to lay any eggs. It is also important to check the head for any eggs and remove them after the second treatment. Itching may last for 7 to 10 days, even after successful treatment. Head lice have started to develop resistance to many of the chemical products. If you think the product is not working after 24 to 48 hours, use the wet combing method to check for lice. If you find lice, use a different treatment method. Head lice cannot develop resistance to non-chemical treatments.

When should I call my health care provider?
Call your health care provider if the treatments are not successful or if you are unsure which kind of treatment is best for you or your child. Chemical treatment of pregnant or nursing mothers and of children less than 4 years of age should be given only under the direction of a health care provider.

What options are not recommended for treating head lice?
Some methods and products should not be used because they are either not safe or do not work. These products include: insect sprays, motor oil, gasoline, alcohol, flea soap, dyes, bleaches, heat applied to the scalp, garlic, tea tree and other essential oils, electric lice combs, and shaving the head.

What should be cleaned?
Healthy head lice rarely leave the scalp and if they do they may only survive for 24 to 55 hours. Head lice are not shared through contact with furniture, pets or carpets. There is no evidence that a major cleaning of the house or car is necessary. Hats, pillowcases, combs and hairbrushes that have had contact with the head of the person with head lice in the previous 48 hours, could be considered for cleaning in hot soapy water. Items that can’t be washed can be placed in a plastic bag for 2 weeks or in the freezer for 48 hours. Clean supplies that you used for wet combing in hot soapy water.

Dear Tennyson Families,

All VSB schools have been asked to forward the following message to families:

Vancouver Coastal Health Medical Health Officers are monitoring reports of the novel coronavirus (named 2019-nCoV), first identified in Wuhan, China. While there have been cases identified outside of China, all of these individuals are known to have recently travelled to the Wuhan area.

 Currently, there are no reports of cases in Canada. Public Health officials are working together to ensure that any unusual illness in arriving travellers is being appropriately screened. Physicians have also been requested to notify Public Health of any illness of concern in patients who were recently in the Wuhan area.

 The Vancouver School District has been advised that the risk to the general public, including school-age children, is very low. Medical Health Officers continue to monitor the situation closely, and will provide further advice and information as it becomes available.

 At this time, reports indicate that, similar to influenza, this virus is spread when a sick person coughs or sneezes. Most of the reported cases are only showing mild symptoms and are well enough to stay home. As with influenza, elderly people and those with underlying health conditions are more likely to develop severe disease and require hospitalization.

 In the meantime, we would remind everyone to follow proper hygiene etiquette during the cold & flu season. This includes proper hand-washing with soap and water, covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and staying home when you are sick.

Here is the January DPAC Bulletin in full which as always is packed with useful information.

Here are some of the parent workshops in the next few weeks:

Parenting

• Jan 17 - Brain-wise parenting: Raising Children based on brain science, Richmond Public Health, Richmond - more information
• Jan 23 - SACY: Building Bridges with your Teen: Explore brain changes and the science behind teen behavior. Share insights, and together explore practical ways to support healthy decision-making and develop capable young people. This workshop may be particularly helpful for parents of grade 7 – 9 students as they add to their parenting skills as parents of teens. (poster) Sir Winston Churchill Secondary, 6:45-9pm  Limited seating! Please register at: www.sacy.eventbrite.com
  
• Jan 30 at Churchill Secondary Parenting in a Digital World (poster with RSVP link)
• Feb 26 - SACY Adult Toolkit:  Join SACY and SACY STEP facilitators for a non-judgmental, interactive evening to increase your health literacy in adolescent development and substance use (cannabis, vaping, alcohol and others.) Come to add knowledge and evidence-based approaches to your parenting toolkit. (poster) Sir Charles Tupper Secondary, 6:30-8:30pm Limited seating! Please register at: www.sacy.eventbrite.com

My daughter lost her lunch bag and lunch box earlier this week (Monday, January 13th). She inadvertently left it in the lunch room and forgot to put it in her class’ lunch bin. It has not been returned and it has not shown up in the lost and found. We have already replaced the lunch box once before and we are hoping to not have to do it again 😊 Adding to the difficulty of the lunch bag and lunch box being returned is the fact that her name is not in either of them (parenting fail!). If you come across it we ask that you please return it to Mme. Simone’s class (Division 12). Below are pictures of the lunch bag and box. Thanks! Sonia

As some may already know, tragically, the father of one our Tennyson families passed away suddenly over the winter break. Mitch Watanabe was a devoted father, husband, son, volunteer and coach and is greatly missed by so many. The VSB has been supporting students and staff connected to the Watanabes. If you would like to offer your support to the family through this challenging time, there are two ways you can contribute:

Through the  Watanabe Go Fund Me  page

Or by providing a meal through the  Meal Train  link

Messages, photos and memories can be sent to michiyasmemories@gmail.com

It was back to school Thursday, despite another dump of snow Wednesday night, and students had a blast playing. M. Carrier’s class built a giant snow-fort while M. Raphael and Mme. Renee’s classes had a snowman competition. And, there were lots of forts, snowball debris and perhaps some toboggan runs that showed everyone had a good time at recess and lunch.
Snowday January 15th aftermath!
As fun as it was, a lot of things had to be organized behind the scenes. If your child was supposed to be at a Noon Hour Program class that day (Sewing, Junior Mad Science and Junior Hip Hop & Jazz), the missed class will be made up on Wednesday March 11th.
The Pizza lunches got refunded. If you ordered pizzas for your child for that date, you have now a credit on Munchalunch.

Here is an amazing resource from the Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre at BC Children's Hospital.

Through real stories, expertise, and practical tips, the podcasts help families  promote their mental health and wellness, navigating important topics to meet you where you are in your journey.

Each podcast:

• Challenges some of the myths, stereotypes, and stigma that surround mental health
  
• Empowers children, youth, and families by providing reliable mental health and substance use information in a way that is understandable and relatable
  

Walk away from episodes with practical tips and strategies that you can use to promote you and your family's mental health and wellness. Never miss an episode!