Focus Newsletter

School News

First Aid reporting

When a child has presented to the First Aid Room for assistance we use a facility in Compass which generates an email to the family primary carer (Parent #1 on your Compass Personal details). The email will contain the reason why a student presented for first aid, the action taken/treatment given and the date and time of the visit.  The office staff will contact you directly by phone if it is deemed necessary; otherwise the email will be your only notification and you are not required to call the school in reply.

Photos and Social Media

Parents are reminded that you can freely take photos of your own children; however, it is School Policy that photos of other students are not published on social media, without parental permission.  This includes photos in the classroom, excursions, camps or at any other school event.

 

Earlier this week we issued a notice via Compass which required your action if you do not want images of your child to be collected or used by our school.  Please refer to the notice in your Compass Newsfeed titled: Photographing, Filming and Recording students at Parkdale Primary School Annual Consent Form and Collection Notice: 2024 

Asthma

The start of the school year can be busy enough without the added concern about your child’s asthma striking them in the classroom or playground.  But that’s just the time when kids are most at risk of asthma flare-ups, with a spike in asthma attacks and hospitalisation seen during the first few weeks of the school term every year.

 

When children return to classrooms, factors such as stress, a change of environment or allergens and less strict asthma management over the holidays can trigger asthma. A new set of classmates can also bring a new batch of cold and flu bugs, which are often the culprits behind asthma flare-ups.

 

What can you do?

Reduce the chances of this happening for your child by following these simple steps.

 

At home:

  • Have an up-to-date written asthma action plan prepared by your doctor
  • Ensure your child gets back into their asthma routine before the school year starts, including taking preventer medications every day if prescribed
  • Ask your pharmacist to check that your child is using their puffer properly (if they’re old enough to use it by themselves) or visit the Asthma Victoria How-to Video library on inhaler use
  • Have a check-up before the school year ramps up or sports lessons start to make sure things are going as well as can be
  • Pack a reliever puffer and spacer in your child’s school bag, checking that the puffer isn’t empty or out of date.

At school:

At Parkdale Primary individual student’s individual Asthma medication is stored in their school bag in the classroom.

This enables students to access their medication (whilst still under the supervision of a staff member) without the necessity to leave the classroom and walk to the First Aid Room.  

 

We will contact you in the event your child’s asthma worsens, or they experience a severe asthma flare-up; but for mild symptoms your child will be supervised in the classroom for their first and second dose of reliever.  If a third dose is required in any one day, your child will be for assessed by our First Aid Co-ordinator and you will be contacted if necessary.

  • Ensure your child feels comfortable asking for help or telling their teacher if they are getting asthma symptoms
  • Provide us with a copy of your child’s asthma action plan and tell teachers if your child requires help using their puffer. 
  • please ensure your child’s spacer and reliever medication are clearly labelled and kept in their school bag at all times.  They should be:
  • stored in a dustproof container (zip lock bag is fine)
  • cleaned once a month or after a respiratory tract infection
  • regularly keep a check on the units of reliever medication used
  • replace the reliever medication as needed, before it’s expiry date or when used
  • included in their school bag for excursions/camps

Your child’s Asthma Action Plan is attached to their Compass profile and can be viewed and downloaded from home if required.  We ask that you check the plan we have on file is the most current plan for your child.  

 

Make sure your child’s inhaler is in date, and kept in the original box with the prescription label attached and instructions included.  It is also good to label your child’s inhaler and spacer with their name and class.

 

At PPS we have spare emergency reliever inhalers and disposable spacers, these are kept in the First Aid Room.

Anaphylaxis Reminder

To help minimise the risk for students with severe allergies please stress the importance to your child, not to share or swap their food with other children in the class.  We also ask parents that wherever possible, you do not send peanut butter or other foods e.g. bliss/energy balls, which may be a source of allergen in any form in lunch boxes or snacks.  While we understand that this may be an inconvenience for some, it enables teachers to concentrate on teaching rather that having to continuously monitor what the children are eating.

Medication Authority Form 

School staff are not able to administer analgesics, such as drugs containing paracetamol or aspirin – this includes paracetamol, ibuprofen and other similar medication available over the counter from a pharmacy.  (Analygesics can mask signs and symptoms of serious illness and injury).  DET and Worksafe Victoria guidelines dictate that the dispensing of drugs must be managed by a medical practitioner. 

 

If a student requires prescription medication to be administered at school, please consider first if the medication can be taken outside the school day, for example medication required three times a day may be able to be taken before and after school, and before bed.  We advise that a student should not take his or her first dose of a new medication at school as the student should be supervised by the family or health professional in case of an allergic reaction.

 

Any medication to be administered at school must conform to all of the following requirements, and be handed into the school office.

  • In the original medication bottle or container.
  • Clearly labelled – including the name of the student, dosage and time to be administered.
  • Accompanied by a completed  Medication Authority Form, which must be signed by a parent/carer.