Dear Families,
We had another incredible week at PRES! On Monday, many of our students and staff dressed up in costumes and did lots of fun fall activities in class. Fourth graders dressed up as "idioms," and it was so fun to try to guess which phrases our students represented. They were so creative and witty!
REMINDER: there is NO SCHOOL on Tuesday, November 8th. This is a professional development day for all DRRSD staff. Also, Thursday, November 10th is our Veterans Day Tribute. We are inviting parents/guardians of our fourth-grade students and any local veterans as our special guests.
Don't forget that November's Theme is Thankfulness. Thankfulness means showing gratitude or appreciation for someone or something.
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us anytime. We are happy to help.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Kristine Kefor, Principal
email: kkefor@drregional.org
Dr. Cheryl Leandro, Assistant Principal
email: cleandro@drregional.org
phone: 508-252-5100
#WeAreDR!
Happy Friday Palmer River Family and Friends:
Let's learn a little more about oral health.
The National Institutes of Health, World Health Organization, and several health and academic institutions have determined that tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children in the United States and Globally. Dental caries may be difficult for children to verbalize about. According to the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resources Center, the pain associated with poor oral health has been linked to anxiety, irritability, fatigue, poor appetite, poor learning and withdrawal from activities. In the United States, dental caries rank five times more common than asthma.
School nurses see lots of students for tooth complaints. Some children may be erupting a new tooth, or losing a baby tooth. Others may have sensitive teeth to cold, heat, carbonation, sticky and acidic foods. The later two can wear down the protective enamel on teeth leading to tooth decay (caries). But cavities are the result of multiple factors. Sugary foods allow bacteria to thrive and replicate. Sticky foods allow the bacteria and acidic components to remain on the teeth. Some children have very deep grooves in their molars. Although we want to foster independence in tooth brushing, if your child’s dentist determines your child has groovy teeth, it will be important you provide support to be sure the teeth in the back get cleaned.
Brushing twice a day is satisfactory during the busy week, as long as it is done correctly. However, what else can our children do to protect their teeth in between brushes?
You can send your child in with a rounded floss stick that they can discard after lunch/snack.
Drinking plenty of water throughout the day helps flush out acids and bacteria that would otherwise harm teeth.
Healthy raw fruits and vegetables that have high water content and require a lot of chewing are good for oral health because they stimulate the flow of saliva, a natural defender against the bacteria that causes cavities.
Try to avoid sugary sticky foods like gummies (if you can).
Some additional tips on improving oral hygiene are the following:
Watch what you snack on before bed.
Consider sealants and fluoride if your dentist suggests them.
Floss daily
And my favorite - Brush your tongue. Your tongue has lots of places where food and bacteria hide. You can do a terrific job brushing your teeth, but if your tongue is not gently brushed clean, all the culprits for decay will re-emerge in the day or night..
Happy Brushing!
Nurse Alyson Bellora BSN RN NCSN
Palmer River Elementary School
Palmer River Elementary School
The Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District
#WeAreDR!
Website: https://pres.drregional.org/
Location: 326 Winthrop Street, Rehoboth, MA 02769
Phone: 508-252-5100/Fax: 508-252-5110