Monday, May 21, 2012

A Lice Day...Seriously?!

I've got to warn you.  You're not going to learn a single worthwhile thing from this post.  In fact, this is way more about me and much less about you.  I'm sorry for that, but I really need to share about the crisis my poor school is experiencing right now.  You see, we're having a lice day tomorrow.  School is cancelled.  It's that bad.  Since last Thursday over 60 sweet children have been sent home.  If that's not bad enough, at least 10 wonderful adults have also been given the bad news.  My heart just goes out to them.  I feel so bad.  Everyone is doing their best to be troopers, but I'm sure I would be a big mess and crying on the phone to my mother if they were found on my head.  (I've been checked about ten times, and although my scalp has been itching like crazy the past few days, so far I'm nit-free.  I'm in the minority.)  At this point I've done all I can do.  The classroom pillows and rugs are bagged up.  The headphones are put away.  The backpacks and jackets are on the backs of chairs.  The parents have been notified with letters and a phone call.  The hugs have even been replaced with high fives.  What else can we do but just pray those little things die and take all their friends with them.  Ugh.  What a way to end the year.




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37 comments:

  1. Ew! That sounds horrible! I thought my school was bad! Yuk!
    Some classrooms got bed bugs from backpacks... we hang them on the chairs from now on, too! Yuk!!
    Stay strong!
    ❤ Sandra
    Sweet Times in First

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    1. Sandra, it is horrible. It makes me not want to step foot in that school for about three weeks. Thanks for the encouragement though.

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  2. I am so sorry! I don't think we have ever had to cancel school because of lice. Hang in there!

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    1. Sandra, thank you. We'll hang in there. It helps that school is almost out.

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  3. So sorry to hear this, Tammy! My school has had some issues with lice, but nothing bad in a long time. Just one or two kids here and there. This is the first time I've heard of a school having to close. It's difficult to get rid of if parents don't do all they are suppose to at home. Good luck and I'm glad you are in the minority!
    Connie:)
    welcome to first grade room 5

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    1. Thanks Connie. I'm sure glad and blessed to be in the minority too. I'd never heard of anything like this either. It's just crazy.

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  4. ugh! I volunteer at a summer camp and we always wash our hair with tea tree shampoo (google tea tree shampoo for lice) it's an everyday shampoo, in many brands, that makes your hair amazingly clean and I personally love it, but apparently lice don't like it. Knock on wood, everytime there is an outbreak I use it to repel any that may be thinking of jumping on me lol

    Blessings,

    Jessica Stanford
    Mrs. Stanford's Class Blog is Having a Giveaway!
    My TpT Store

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    1. Jessica, thank you for the recommendation. I've already heard of a few staff members who have bought the tea tree shampoo. Anything that will repel those evil creatures is worth getting.

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  5. Oh you're not kidding, are you?!?!? A few weeks ago I had two cases in my classroom and that had me itchin'...I can't imagine SIXTY in one school...plus 10 adults?!?!?! Seriously, is your mind playing horrible tricks on you? My whole body was itching for days...I had my hubby check me daily. Big high fives to you!!!!!

    Holly
    Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade

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    1. Nope Holly. I'm so not kidding. Oh how I wish I were. My mind is playing crazy tricks on me. My scalp has been on fire for the past four days (as I scratch my head again). Ugh! Thanks for the encouragement!

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  6. Oh my! What a nightmare! Just the mere thought of lice really freaks me out. Although, when someone at school gets it, I act like it's no big deal. That's really hard for me to do! I'm so sorry. Perhaps you will be able to enjoy your lice day tomorrow? Maybe do some retail therapy to get your mind off your troubles? Good luck!

    Lori (luvyorkies@gmail.com)
    Teaching With Love and Laughter

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    1. Lori, you're right. It's such a nightmare. I'd really rather not step foot in that school for again for several days, and I bet there are some parents who feel the same way about their children. If I buy anything today, I think it will be some tea tree shampoo!

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    2. I hope everything is better by tomorrow!

      Lori (luvyorkies@gmail.com)
      Teaching With Love and Laughter

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  7. I started scratching my head while reading this!!! So sorry:( I've never heard of a school being closed because of Lice... Has to be awful!!

    www.123teachwithme.com
    Tammy

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    1. TammySF, I'm constantly scratching my head it seems. I don't think it will stop itching until summer break officially starts and it couldn't come soon enough!

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  8. Ahhh! Thats NO good. I freak out when one of my kiddos is out with lice. AND my head itches for days after the event. HAH

    Ms. Smith
    Adventures of Ms. Smith

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    1. Ms. Smith, we've been trying not to freak, but after it gets this bad, it's hard not to.

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  9. We have NEVER had that happen . . . SO glad to hear you're lice-free! Loving the suggestion that Jessica made about that tea tree shampoo. Does a person say "enjoy your day off?" in this sort of situation?

    Barbara

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    1. Barbara, I'd sure like to enjoy my day off. It's not easy though knowing that we all have to go back tomorrow and spend another week trying to repel those things before summer break starts. I think I might try that shampoo though.

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  10. Oh no! I got lice last year from my little darlings...it was a pain and a huge mess! Not only did I have to clean everything in my classroom, I had to do my house as well! No fun!
    Julie
    Light A Fire in Third

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    1. Julie, I'm so sorry to hear you had lice. I can only imagine what a pain it was. I feel so bad for the teachers who got it, came back to school thinking they were nit-free, and had to be told they needed to leave.

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  11. This happened at my school in September; over half of our students were out with it and we closed for a day.

    There is a brand of hair products called "Fairy Tales" that is naturally formulated to repel lice (rosemary is the main ingredient). The products can be found at Ulta or some salons. We keep a bottle of the conditioning spray in our bathroom! Tea tree oil is also supposedly helpful, as Jessica mentioned. I've also heard that lice do not like color-treated hair.

    Hang in there! And use a ton of hair spray!!
    ReadWriteSing

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    1. Chrissy, it's kind of good to know that we're not the only ones this has happened to. Was it any better when you returned? We keep wondering how much one day will help. Thanks for the recommendations about shampoo. I think I'll go buy some today.

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  12. Yikes! I'm feeling for you! That is no fun at all. I've never heard of so many people getting it at once:( Hang in there!

    Barbara
    Grade ONEderful
    Ruby Slippers

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    1. Thank you Barbara. I'd never heard of such a thing either. We just keep shaking our heads as if to say, "Is this even possible?"

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  13. oh my word- Tammy!! Since you are nit-free I hope you enjoy your day off :) Do you have to make it up?? ugh!

    and the little critter picture at the end of your post made me shiver- those little creatures are so creepy crawly.

    -Staci
    Let's Teach Something 

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    1. Staci, we shouldn't have to make it up. We wish we could have a few more days off in fact. One day hardly seems enough. Creepy crawly is right!

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  14. Oh my goodness that is some outbreak! Fingers crossed for you that you stay nit free!! I had a class one year that broke out with it constantly & it was a nightmare. Then, one of the lovelies passed it to me...makes my skin crawl just thinking about it lol. Good luck with the lice issue!
    I'm a new follower...I look forward to reading more of your blog!
    Lisa
    Learning Is Something to Treasure

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    1. Lisa, I'm so sorry you had lice too. What a nightmare. Thanks for following. Sorry that you found me on such a sour note. I promise I'm usually much more pleasant to follow. :)

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  15. What an end to your year! I just feel for you all. I hope parents were able to do some major treatment to the kids and their homes on this day off. Every time we get an outbreak at our school, I can just imagine those little critters running all through my hair. Crazy how it can make you feel like you have them! I hope tomorrow and the rest of the days are better for you and the school!
    Lori
    Conversations in Literacy

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    1. Lori, I hope parents were busy today too. I'm just glad the end of the year is around the corner. We need it.

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  16. Listerine mouthwash used in the hair is suppose to kill them. First use a thick conditioner mixed with Listerine all over the hair, slather it on, put a bag around your hair for 30 mins or more, (smothering the critters and bringing them to the surface), take off the bag, comb thru the hair, after you have done this for a long time, rinse hair, then wash with shampoo and Listerine.
    Parents will have to make sure and follow with washing all bedding , everyday......

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    1. Thank you Sis. I'm hoping I won't have to try this out. It sounds a lot cheaper than the shampoo people are buying.

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  17. So I heard about this from my coworkers and I said I thought you posted about it. So I guess I'm pretty close to you here in Meridian. How crazy... Did you at least enjoy your two days off?

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    1. Jill, yep it's crazy. We actually only had one day off, but I'm not sure how much it really helped. I think we could have used a few more days...at least. We're ready for it all to go away!

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  18. I am so sorry. I do not envy you at all. I had lice twice growing up. It was the pits...once the dryer went out so everything had to go to the laundromat and the second time, was just before pictures...so no curlers, ribbons or any of my cute hair stuff.

    Good luck.....thoughts of a lice free zone coming your way.
    Laurie
    Chickadee Jubilee

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    1. Thanks Laurie. I'm hoping for a lice-free zone too. I'm sorry that you've had it and twice no less.

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