What’s in the nurse’s stations at the elementary schools? The nurse’s stations are veritable treasure troves of useful items for students. In need of soap, shampoo, conditioner at school? Talk to one of the excellent nurses on staff across the district! Have an accident? Need a set of clean clothes or a pair of sneakers? Just ask a nurse! Nurses across the district are: Lisa Neel, April Waters, Katie Smith, Alise Mullen, Kelli Hammond, Judy Hererara, and Mellisa Fuentes. 

 

The nurse’s stations are so well supplied because of several grants to the schools. One grant of $1,000 from an anonymous donor funds a stock of soap, shampoo, conditioners, tooth brushes, brushes, clothes, and more. Another initiative by one of the district nurses, April Waters, RN and educator, Amy Johnson, are the “girl bags” for the puberty talks for girls across the district. They used social media to place the call for the items, and the community of Artesia responded with overwhelming support. “Girl bags” are small zippered pouches which contain feminine pads for girls to carry when they are near the age of menstruation. The “girl bags” initiative seeks to give girls control over what can be an exciting yet stressful age. Working together, Waters and Johnson, collected 133 of the zippered pouches filled with pads for every 4th grade girl across the elementary schools.