Better health=Better learning

Signs that may mean your child has a vision problem include:

• Complaints of discomfort and fatigue

• Frequent eye rubbing or blinking

• Short attention span

• Avoiding reading and other close activities

• Frequent headaches

• Covering one eye

• Tilting the head to one side

• Holding reading materials close to the face

• An eye turning in or out

• Seeing double

• Losing place when reading

• Difficulty remembering what he or she read

Signs your child may have hearing loss:

Older children sometimes develop hearing loss that wasn't present before. Here are some things to look for if you think your school-age child might have hearing loss:

• Has difficulty understanding what people are saying.

• Speaks differently than other children her or his age.

• Doesn't reply when you call his or her name.

• Responds inappropriately to questions (misunderstands).

• Turns up the TV volume incredibly high or sits very close to the TV to hear.

• Has problems academically, especially if they weren't present before.

• Has speech or language delays or problems articulating things.

• Watches others in order to imitate their actions, at home or in school.

• Complains of ear pain, earaches or noises.

• Cannot understand over the phone or switches ears frequently while talking on the phone.

• Says "what?" or "huh?" several times a day.

• Watches a speaker's face very intently—many children's hearing loss escapes detection because they are very successful lip readers.

Physical Exams

A physical exam, also known as a Well Child Check, is a routine check of your child's overall health. Physical exam appointments are a good time to talk with your child's health care provider about changes or problems that you have noticed, and to update necessary immunizations.

If you need help finding a Primary Care Provider for your child please contact your child's School Nurse for assistance.

Attendance

When your child is absent from school, please ALWAYS provide a written parent note and or Health Care Provider Note.

Attendance Matters:

• Only 17% of students who were chronically absent in K and 1^st will read on grade level after 3^rd grade.

• Students who cannot read on level in third grade are 4 times more likely to drop out than kids who can.

• Chronic Absenteeism is lowest in grades 3 and 4 and grows from grades 5 – 12.

• Missing 10% or more of the days negatively affects a student’s academic performance.

• 83% of students who were chronically absent in K and 1^st will be below grade level in grade 3 reading.

• Chronically absent students have a negative effect on the achievement of other students in the classroom.

• Compared to students who attended kindergarten regularly, those who are chronically absent :

7. 1. Scored 20% lower in reading and math in later grades

   2. Are twice as likely to be retained in grade

   3. Are twice as likely to be suspended by the end of 7^th grade

   4. Likely to continue being chronically absent

• When your child is absent from school please ALWAYS provide a written parent note and or Health Care Provider Note.