Hollis T. Dietz Elementary
2023-2024
Welcome to the 24-25 school year! This space will be use to keep you up to date on all things health related with Dietz Elementary! https://tinywonders404.my.canva.site/notes-from-the-nurse
Howdy Dietz Pirates!
This will be my FINAL newsletter of the 2024-2025 school year. This year has flown by and it has definitely been a memorable one. Last week was pretty memorable for my dog, Mr. Wiggles. He decided to eat an entire bag of scrabble tiles, so I took him to the vet to get him checked out. Unfortunately there’s no word yet on his condition but they think he’ll pull through.
I told you all in my last newsletter that I would be giving 5th and 6th grade students a presentation on the transition to Middle School. We talked about a lot of what will be changing, what to expect, what they will be potentially exposed to, etc. One of the main topics I touched on was vapes. We at CISD PD see a major increase in vapes on campus in Middle School and High School. Transitioning from Elementary to Middle School and seeing vapes and things that they were never exposed to can make it challenging for them on how to react. It can be especially hard for them to handle a situation or a scenario where a vape is involved so I prepared them and gave them options and tips on how to handle those situations.
I also showed them the same video I attached in my last newsletter of the news coverage of the student who overdosed at a HS in Indiana less than a month ago. Showing them that video and discussing the dangers of vaping I hope would make them feel more inclined to not touch/pick up vapes or accept one that could potentially be offered to them. Just days after giving that presentation, 2 of our 5th grade students ran over to me while I was wrapping up crosswalk duty by the park and told me there was a vape on the ground nearby. They walked me over to where they saw it and sure enough, it was indeed a vape in the roadway close to the curb entirely intact. They knew not to pick it up, and to tell a trusted adult. Fortunately, I was right there for them to come and tell me.
The vape was not showing to be working at the time it was found, but the next day I plugged it in since it's rechargeable and sure enough it powered on. After researching the details of the vape, which I will attach below, it states that there is no nicotine or THC in them. I will also attach pictures of the actual vape that was found. While it is not blatantly obvious on the actual vape, nor does it say it has no nicotine anywhere on the vape, the point is that we ultimately do not know what is actually in a vape. As discussed previously, it could be laced with a deadly drug such as fentanyl that will most likely cause someone to overdose. By following my instructions and doing what they knew they were supposed to do, those 2 students got a vape off the street that a small child could have picked up and ingested the harmful chemicals that are inside. For all we know, that vape IS laced with something other than what is said to be in it. I commended both students for being so attentive, and they were able to get a little prize from me the following day. It is becoming more and more common to find discarded vapes scattered around the neighborhood from the very parks your young children play in, to the sidewalk that they may be walking or riding their bike on.
Summertime is upon us and as much as your kiddos will be outside playing in the neighborhood and at the parks, as they should be, please have these conversations with them about what they should be doing if they find one. Maybe even quiz them on a few scenarios and see what they say to see if they were paying attention to my presentation. I hope everyone has a safe and eventful summer. The newsletters were something new that I decided to try this year and I’m hoping everyone enjoyed reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them. I would love any and all feedback about the newsletters on what you liked/didn’t like or things/topics you’d like to see more of. Feel free to drop me a text or send me an email. I do this for all of you parents so I want to make sure you all enjoy them.
See y’all next year!
District cell text/call : 469-924-4731
Office phone : 972-427-6050 ext 40017
Email: melissatorres@crandall-isd.net
Office Phone: 972-427-6050 ext. 40014
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Hollis T. Dietz Elementary
2080 Sunnybrook Dr, Heartland, TX 75126
972.427.6050
Doors open at 7:30
Instruction begins 7:45
Tardy bell 7:50
Dismissal 3:35pm
Office Hours: 7:30 am - 4:00pm