A Message from the School Nurse 

Welcome back staff and students to the 2010-11 school year!

I have just returned from a restful summer and I hope all of you had a chance to enjoy the change of pace and unique opportunities the summer months can bring.  I am ready and excited to begin a new school year with all of you and my goal once again is to try and make this year a safe and healthy one at Unalaska City Schools.

This is my 9^th year as the School Nurse at Unalaska City Schools, and one of the reasons I love my job the most is because of the relationships I can develop with not only the students, but also parents and staff.  I feel very fortunate to be able to work in the school setting. Although my days include recognizing illness and treating minor injuries, one of the things I enjoy the most is addressing all kinds of health/ life issues and helping individuals problem solve in their own unique way. We live in a fast paced, hectic and sometimes chaotic world but when one experiences good health and puts healthy practices into place, there is no limit to what one can achieve. I would like to say that I can make a small difference by being in the school environment,  not only preventing disease but by promoting and educating  wellness!

 Last year at this time I was a bit anxious and concerned about the possibility of an H1N1 outbreak and my role in helping our school community avoid a serious flu outbreak. I am happy to say that although our community did have a few cases, for the most part, we had one of the healthiest years at school since I started school nursing.  I attribute much of that success to our Superindentent Mr. John Conwell because he was very serious about two very simple practices … good handwashing and staying home when you are sick. If we can continue these two efforts, we will be off to a great start.

Please remember, I am not only a resource in the school setting, but at the Iliuliuk Clinic too, in my new role as “Patient Educator.”  I welcome your questions or concerns anytime and hope you will stop by the school nurse office. This especially goes out to all of you who are new to the district as I look forward to meeting you.  Together, we can help make this school year a safe and healthy one.