Dear parents,

GRS has received reports of head lice at home among students in the Lower Adolescent classrooms. We are notifying all 7th and 8th grade families as a precaution.

Following CDC guidelines, we do not require students to stay home from school until head lice infections have cleared. We ask that families check at home and take action to treat any cases as soon as possible. We are notifying the community of these recent cases so that families can check their students for lice and respond appropriately. Treating hair and washing/drying clothing and bedsheets on high heat will limit the duration and spread of head lice.

Recommendations on treatments are below - one from the Minnesota Department of Health and an alternative from a GRS parent Kara Parker, MD.

MN Department of Health: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/headlice/

(includes recommendations and action steps)

Recommendation from Kara Parker, MD & GRS parent: An alternative to chemical insecticides include naturally occurring insect-killing treatments: "Coconut oil and essential oils work great- the coconut oil suffocates them and the essential oils chemically harm (tea tree (mellaluca) and oregano, eucalyptus are strong options). Can also add diatomaceous earth (DE) to cut through the exoskeleton and eggs into the paste and spread through the hair, wear at night, wash in the am."

If you need any help in checking your child for lice or nits, please direct your child to our student health coordinator, Natalie Yaeger, in the health office.

Thank you for your assistance,

Natalie Yaeger
GRS Student Health Coordinator
nyaeger@greatriverschool.org