Schools

Head Lice Cases Confirmed at Grace McWayne Elementary School

The school's principal sent out a note detailing how the staff prevents lice from spreading and what parents can do at home.

this month has "several" confirmed cases of head lice, the school's principal wrote in an online message Tuesday.

The school staff so far is able to isolate and control every case of lice before it spreads throughout a classroom, Grace McWayne Principal Kevin Skomer said. Parents who have students in classrooms at the west-side school that might have been exposed to lice already received a letter from the school nurse.

The students in the rooms with the lice cases have to bag their coats during the school day as a precaution. This means that their backpacks, hats and other winter wear are placed in sealed bags rather than hanging together in the lockers.

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The school also currently bags all student art shirts or smocks and items in the lost and found, Skomer wrote.

Skomer urged that parents are the first line of defense to check against lice. He reminded parents that the school does not conduct classroom-wide or grade-wide checks for lice. He cited a study from the American Academy of Pediatrics that concluded a large-scale head lice screening does "not have a significant effect on the incidence of head lice in the school setting over time."

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School Lice Procedure

  • When the school becomes aware of a head lice case, School Nurse Heidi Haldeman speaks to the parents to identify other children who may have close contact with the student who has lice. 
  • The potentially affected students visit the nurse's office to be checked.
  • If the nurse discovers any signs of lice, the children's parents are contacted and the children are sent home for treatment.
  • A letter is sent home to parents of all students in the grade where lice is discovered.
  • Once treated, students are examined prior to returning to the school to ensure effective treatment.

More Information

To read more information about head lice, click here or view the PDF attached to this article near the top of the story.

Skomer asked that parents call him with any questions using the school's main telephone number, 630-937-8100.


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