Dear Moon Room Parents,
A case of lice has been reported in the Moon Room community today. We ask that today and tomorrow, you check your child’s hair, and if you find a nit, you notify the school and begin treatment. Enclosed is the needed information on our policy, steps to take if you find a nit and a parent checklist. The school will do a lice scan on Monday.
We have found that quick action to remove the nits is one of the best steps in getting rid of them. For those who may not have experienced lice before, we know that there are sometimes misperceptions about who gets lice, how, and why. Lice do not differentiate between clean homes and dirty homes, clean heads, and dirty heads. In fact, there is no correlation between lice infestation and the sanitation of the home or school settings. Lice are transmitted head-to-head in the course of daily life. Since children play and learn in close proximity to each other, it is inevitable that they are often transmitters of lice.
Here are some things that parents can do to minimize the risk of getting lice:
- Tie back or braid long hair before sending your child to school if there is a notice of lice in your child’s classroom or among their friends.
- Encourage your child to wear a kerchief, cap, or head covering when lice are found in the classroom. This simple step can make a big difference for your family.
- If your child is on a sports team, make sure they wear their cap or helmet. Batting or football helmets are a good example of how lice may be spread during times of infestation.
- Increase vacuuming and changes of sheets at home during periods when lice have been reported, particularly if you have had overnight visitors in your home.
- If your child will attend an overnight play date, send your own pillow and pillowcase and wash it when the child returns home, especially when lice have been reported.
- Do tie back the child’s hair. A simple braid or ponytail will reduce risk. Consider checking beforehand to ensure that lice have not been an issue for the host family. While it’s an uncomfortable question to ask, it’s an easier conversation than calling the same family to report that your child has picked up lice!
Check your child’s head every few days if you’ve heard a report of lice in the classroom. Look out for scratching at the back of the neck, above the hairline.
Children may work with heads close together or may share clothing without teachers realizing it. Do be alert and let us know if you think your child may have lice.
Please ask your child’s teacher or in the school office for a lesson on how to check for lice. We’d be glad to confirm if you are concerned one way or the other.
There are non-toxic approaches that can be used in conjunction with the pharmaceutical approaches, such as shampoos with tea tree oil, which may discourage lice. While the pharmaceutical product must be used to kill the lice, Licenex, a non-toxic shampoo treatment from MicroNutra Health, loosens the nits, making it easier to comb them out, and can be used after the pharmaceutical approach. However, these products will not get rid of lice once they are found; the pharmaceutical product will still need to be used.
If you discover lice, call the families of your child’s close friends and email Schoolhealth@onenessfamily.org. Together, we can ensure that the problem is contained in a discreet and supportive way. Please take a look at the Oneness-Family School Lice Policy and the Parent Responsibility Checklist, which are attached to this email and located on the Parent Portal. In addition, enclosed is the website and the phone number of a local company that aids in eradicating lice. www.adviceonlicemd.com or call 240-242-4267.
Please do email your questions or concerns to Schoolhealth@onenessfamily.org
Thank you
Hans Gonzalez
