Fifth disease (erythema infectiosum) is a childhood condition that appears as a bright red rash on your child’s cheeks. It’s nicknamed “slapped cheek disease” because of this rash. A virus called parvovirus B19 causes fifth disease. This virus is common and very contagious. Infected people can spread it through coughing or sneezing.

In most cases, fifth disease isn’t a serious medical condition. It often goes away with minimal or no treatment.

If your child develops a rash, please keep them home and contact their pediatrician for a medical evaluation. If they are diagnosed with Fifth Disease, please let me know.

• Please apply sunscreen before school if needed
• Your child can wear a hat at recess
• Send your child to school with a reusable water bottle everyday (we have a water filling station)
• Remind your child to wash their face and hands after being outside if their eyes react to the pollen
• Check your child's footwear! Make sure they aren't too small or too big and in decent condition. Sneakers are best EVERYDAY this time of year.
• Apply lotion to skin rashes and bug bites before school. Please address extensive rashes with your pediatrician

Allergy symptoms include:

• Sneezing

• Nasal congestion

• Runny nose

• Itchy, watery, red eyes

• Itchy throat

• Coughing

• Headache

There is no real cure for seasonal allergies, but it is possible to relieve symptoms. Over the counter medications such as Claritin or Zyrtec can be helpful if taken daily during allergy season. Talk to your pediatrician to discuss if medication may be appropriate for your child. Prescription or over the counter allergy medication or eye drops should also be given before the school day, if needed.

During allergy season it is important to remind your child to wash their hands and face after playing outside.

All students are expected to participate in the school day curriculum when they come to school. As such we do not allow students to stay in from recess during allergy season. Reinforce good hand washing with your child and talk to your physician about treatment for symptoms.

South Brunswick School District

Kindergarten Registration

for the 2024-2025 school year

Opens February 15, 2024

Please visit our website at www.sbschools.org

1. Click on Prek-12 Central Registration

2. Complete the Pre-registration process

and schedule an appointment

3. Our Central Registrar will contact you

via email

If you are registering for the 2024-2025 school year,

your child MUST turn 5 years old on or before October 31, 2024.

Parents, I have been seeing several cases of conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, over the past several weeks. Symptoms of conjunctivitis include redness of the white part of the eye, mucus or pus from the eye, itching, burning and swollen eyelids. It is spread through direct or indirect contact with the drainage from a person with an infected eye or your child rubbing or touching their own eyes when they have cold symptoms.

If your child is complaining of eye discomfort, or has any of the above symptoms, please keep them home and make an appointment with their primary care doctor. Often a course of antibiotic drops are required. Your child can return to school when they have been on antibiotic drops for 24 hours and their symptoms have improved.

Kiddie Keep Well Camp is a free, overnight camp program for under-resourced children who live in Middlesex County. If interested click on the link below or go to www.kiddiekeepwell.org to fill out an application. Call or email me anytime for further questions about the program. I have sent many students from BA to this program over the years.

Please consider donating clothing that your child grows out of to the health office. I am in need of PANTS (sizes S M L)! Preferably sweat pants, joggers or leggings. Also, any sneakers that are in decent conditions.

If I do not receive donations, expect a phone call the next time your child has a bathroom accident or falls in the mud. Unfortunately, I am down to very few items left.

Don't let lack of dental insurance stop you from getting preventative dental care for your child. If your child hasn't had a complete dental check up or is complaining of dental pain or you can see dental caries, they need to be seen. Middlesex County has several dental clinics that take medicaid, NJ FAMILY Care, Private Insurance, and also Charity Care. Call any of the below and make an appointment!

Jewish Renaissance Medical Center in Perth Amboy 732-376-9333

Eric B Chandler Health Center in New Brunswick 732-235-2052 or 732-235-6700 or 732-235-6738

JFK Medical Center in Edison 732-321-7608