October 2025

Vol. 4, Issue 8

October brings gradually cooling temperatures, the start of falling leaves, and this year an especially beautiful Harvest Moon. Your preparation for events like Fall festivals and field trips enable students to participate in enjoyable and engaging activities while having healthcare needs met. At Children's of Alabama, we appreciate the extra effort health room nurses give to keep students safe and well through the start of respiratory illness season. Hang in there, winter break will be here before you know it!

We value all of your hard work, and the care and kindness you provide to your students every day.

The Monthly Spotlight

Halloween Safety

While Halloween night can be full of fun activities, it is also the most likely night for child pedestrian injuries to occur. ¹Adults can help educate children regarding road safety both as teen drivers and as pedestrians. Making sure children have a plan to stay safe is a vital part of injury prevention.

Some of the things we can do to help protect children this Halloween are:

Making sure children have flashlights, glow sticks, or reflective tape to help make them more visible after dark. ²
Have a responsible adult accompany and monitor children while trick-or-treating.¹
Encourage children to use sidewalks and areas with good lighting. If a sidewalk is unavailable, have them walk at the far edge of the road facing traffic.²
Talk to children about avoiding the use distracting devices while walking.¹
If older children are trick or treating alone, make sure they stick to a route previously discussed with an adult and stay together in a group. Include a planned meeting time and location in their plan.¹

Click here for more Halloween Safety Tips

School Study Guide

Building Healthy Friendships

For some people, building a friendship is easy, but for others, not so much. For children, it is essential because it lays the foundation for a healthy, functioning adulthood.

Dr. Dan Marullo, a pediatric psychologist at Children's of Alabama, explains the benefits of friendship and how parents can help their children build friendships.

Click here to learn more

Children's of Alabama is here for you. For any school nurse needs, please

reach out to us via email at myschoolnurse@childrensal.org.

My School Nurse

The slides from our School Nurse Workshops this summer are now available on myschoolnurse.net.

Topics include:

Grief
Poison Principles for Primary Students
Legal Grey Zones to Household Dangers in School Health
Diabetes School Packet Update and Review

Visit our website for more info

Tuesday Tidbits

Did you know...

Jack-O-Lanterns were originally carved into turnips. The tradition of carving Jack-O-Lanterns originated in Ireland. Pumpkins are native to America and were adopted as a much easier carving material when cultures combined after European immigration.¹

1.Carnegie Museum of natural History-The Origin of Jack-O-Lanterns

Need help educating your students and parents?

Check out KidsHealth

Homework Help (Topic Center)
Printable resources with advice on children's health, behavior, and growth from before birth through the teenage years
Information on a variety of topics including how the body works, homework help, and more
Approved by doctors, and has separate sections written specifically for parents, teens, and kids