In September 2018 the Wilkinson School Community Council introduced a school-wide lice check program through Lice Squad. Previous to that, regular lice checks were not being done at the school. After dealing with cases firsthand and watching lice cycle through classrooms, a number of parents felt that more could be done to keep lice under control.
The cost of our school-wide lice check program is $2.90 per child per check. Lice clinics typically charge about $30/person per check and treatments average $75/hour/person. Unfortunately, with just over 400 students at the school, funding the entire program through the Council is not possible. We are therefore asking Wilkinson families to consider contributing $5 per child per year so that this initiative can continue this year and into the future.
Lice can be uncomfortable, and dealing with them can be time-consuming and expensive. Anyone can get lice and they spread easily. Schools that do regular lice checks have fewer cases of lice because they are found early and treated before they spread. From 2018 to 2020, we saw this firsthand!
We do understand that families have different means and different priorities; however, a small contribution from each of us will enable the program to benefit us all. Any amount that you’re able to contribute will go into a fund specifically for this program, with the aim of affording (together with Council funding) three checks per year (at the times when outbreaks are most common), depending on the amount raised.
a. ONLINE CONTRIBUTION: Donate using the School Cash Online tool. Please select Wilkinson PS from the dropdown menu beside “School” in the Gift Information section (you will replace Toronto District School Board with Wilkinson PS) and add “Lice Fund” to the message field. Donations of any amount are eligible for a charitable tax receipt.
b. TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FUND BY CASH OR CHEQUE, please make cheques payable to “Wilkinson Junior Public School” and submit your payment to the school office or your child’s teacher in an envelope marked “School Office – Lice Check Fund”.
Aren’t quite sure how to properly check for lice or what kinds of treatments exist? For more information about lice, please refer to this information sheet which can also be found at the bottom of the Links & Resources page. Please note that a good quality lice comb is needed to properly remove lice and eggs from hair. The Parent Council has purchased one for the school which can be borrowed by families who need it (ask the office). Interested in the results of this program? You can see the details of our past checks here.
PARENT VOLUNTEERS MAKE THIS HAPPEN! Are you interested in joining the Lice Check Committee? Send us a note.
Committee members do not check children’s heads, but do coordinate the checks, track students, and distribute letters. Daytime availability is required during school hours for shifts of about 2.5 hours in length.
If you’re interested in seasonal part-time work as a lice technician, contact Lice Squad directly. They are often hiring.