CARIBBEAN TODAY


TO


 ~ A Caribbean Today special feature


Keeping kids healthy as they head back to school


As children head back
 to school, parents face
 another season of
fighting cold and flu germs.
 In an average year, chil-
dren catch six to 10 colds. In
families with children who are
in school, the number of colds
per child can be as high as 12
a year, according to the
National Institute of Allergy
and Infectious Disease in the


C
 C


United States.
 "The change in weather
during back-to-school season
is the ideal environment for
cold- and flu-causing viruses
to thrive," says Dr. Lauren
Feder, author of Natural Baby
and Childcare (Hatherleigh
Press. 2006). "And with
crowded classrooms, your
children are more likely to
come in contact with germs


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that could get them sick.
That's why now is the best
time to learn what you can d(
to reduce the chances of youi
family getting sick."

TIPS
 Here are some must-kno
tips from Feder to combat ill-
ness as kids head back to
school:
 1. Humidity and hydration
are a must Dry nasal pas-
sages are more vulnerable to
cold and flu viruses. When
humidity levels are low, con-
sider using a humidifier to ad
moisture to kids' bedrooms
when sleeping and in other
areas of the home. Drinking
lots of fluids like water and
juice is also a great way to
stay healthy and hydrated.
 2. Killing germs is easy -
Some viruses and bacteria ca
live from 20 minutes up to tw
hours or more on surfaces lik
cafeteria tables, playground
equipment and desks, accord
ing to the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and
Prevention. The good news is
that cold and flu viruses can
easily be killed with hand
washing. Insist kids wash their
hands with plain soap and
water around the house and
while at school.
 3. Catch symptoms at the
onset To better chances of
nipping symptoms in the bud
be prepared by updating you
medicine cabinet with choice
that address early symptoms.
Also consider over-the-count
er options beyond antihista-


mines, decongestants or cough
suppressants since the U.S.
Food and Drug
Administration have ques-
tioned the safety and effec-
tiveness of these ingredients
for children. Oscillococcinum
(Oscillo), a homeopathic flu


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There are many ways parents can help
kids avoid illness.


Children's Chestal cough
syrup work safely and natural-
ly without causing side effects
or interacting with other med-
ications. The sweet taste of
the quick-dissolve pellets and
honey-based syrup are kid-
friendly and more appropriate
for younger ages than most
other drugs.
 4. Pack some personals -
It's polite to share; it's not
polite to share germs. Smart
parents will pack a few items
like a small personal crayon
pack, an individual mini pencil
sharpener or mechanical pen-
cils to reduce kids sharing
germs. Packing a travel size
hand sanitizer and pocket
packet of tissue in their back-
pack is also a good way to
combat illness while they are
at school.


medicine used around the
world for 65 years, now offers Courtesy of ARAcontent
children cough, cold and flu
medicines. Children's
Coldcalm Pellets and

Jamaica introduces national

targets for literacy in schools


 KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC
 The Jamaica government is
 to introduce new national tar-
 gets for literacy in schools.
 "Every primary school
 principal, before the begin-
r ning of each school year, will
s be set a target for perform-
 ance in literacy," Education
 Minister Andrew Holness told
 the House of Representatives
 last month.
 "The targets may be
 adjusted upon appeal of the
 principal, with valid explana-
 tion and with the agreement
 of the
 Ministry (of
 Education),
 to a level
 where it is
 reasonable to t
 the local cir-
 cumstances
 and resources
 of the
 school," he Holness
 said.
 But the education minis-
 ter said that once the targets
 have been agreed, they will
 form part of the performance
 appraisal system for the prin-
 cipals. Holness said that
 while literacy targets have not
 been set for this year, they
 would be done as soon as the
 Grade Four Literacy Test
 results are available.
 Just under 50,000 students
 across the island sat the Grade
 Four Literacy Test on June 18.
 The results will be made avail-
 able in mid-August.


boards would be asked to
take action against principals
who consistently miss their
targets, where it is obvious
that the repeat rate is growing
in the school and where it is
apparent that there are no
intervention initiatives in the
school. He said that principals
must design programs and
mobilize parents and stake-
holders toward this effort.
 "Where there is a genuine
lack of skill in conducting liter-
acy interventions on the part of
teachers, the Ministry stands
ready to support and coach.
Where there is a lack of knowl-
edge of structuring and design-
ing special intervention pro-
grams, the ministry stands
ready to assists," he told legis-
lators.
 "However, where there is a
breakdown in staff morale, pro-
fessional misconduct, absen-
teeism, dereliction of duty, inef-
ficiency, incompetence, and
general disinterest, the princi-
pals must act, with the support
of their boards, to bring those
teachers to account."
 Meanwhile, education offi-
cials have announced that a new
version of the United States
Agency for International
Development (USAID)/
Government of Jamaica
Expanding Education Horizons
program is now being designed.
The program is aimed at
enhancing curriculum delivery
and improving literacy and
numeracy in 71 primary schools.
0


Swww. mdpls.org


MIAMI3AD


ACTION
 Holness said that school


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August 2009


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