Welcome Back to School #4.  We hope your summer was a safe and healthy one and that everyone is ready for a new school year.   With the fast moving school year already in progress we have finished with heights, weights and blood pressure checks on our students.  In the late fall, we will start on vision and hearing screenings.  As with any screening they do not replace the more comprehensive testing that can be accomplished in your physician’s office.  However, they serve as a tool we can use to provide a preliminary evaluation of your child’s visual and auditory health.  Any child whom we find that doesn’t pass the screening will have a referral notice mailed to the home.   If you receive a referral notice, have your family physician or eye doctor examine your child and send in the completed form to the nurse's office. Also, although a yearly physical is not required, children should receive regular well child visits. At least one exam during each developmental stage of early childhood (preschool-3rd grade) is recommended.

          A reminder about medications:  NO MEDICATION IS TO BE SENT TO SCHOOL IN A STUDENT'S BACKPACK!  Medications in school, including over the counter meds, are strictly regulated. A parent/guardian or designated adult must bring in the medication to school along with the medication administration form completed by the parent/guardian and the doctor.  Also, the school does have a nebulizer on the premises.   Any student with asthma who may require a treatment needs only to bring in the completed medication administration form, mask and tubing. Asthma medications also need to be dropped off by an adult. All medications must be dropped off in their original container and the child's name must be on the package. Any child with a medical condition such as asthma, good allergies, bee sting allergy, diabetes, seizure disorder, or any medical concern please alert the nurses' office so we can keep his/her health record current.

          These children will need to have a Medical Alert form filled out by their parent or guardian. Staff members who work directly with your child and would need to know how to best take care to hem should they need medical treatment will receive a copy of the Medical Alert. If you have a child in the preschool or kindergarten programs, please keep a change of clothing in his/her backpack for those little “accidents” which do occur during the school year. I try to keep a supply of clothes in my office, however I do run out from time to time. In that case, a parent would need to come in with a change of clothes. If your child receives clothes from the office, kindly wash and return them as soon as possible.

    Emergency Numbers~It is very important to update telephone and cell phone numbers during the school year.  If your cell phone requires a mailbox number, secret code, if you have a phone extension or work in a certain department.....PLEASE make sure you have tried to dial the number yourself and make sure you can make contact. Remember, when our child is ill, they want YOU, so please be available.

Emergency Contacts~It is a good idea to make sure you have notified any emergency contacts that are indeed on your list and would be willing to take care of your child in event that he/she has to be sent home from school ill or injured.  Let this person know what they are permitted to do if your child has a fever or is vomiting.  Choose a contact person who has transportation and can arrive at school within a reasonable amount of time.  This would be within at the LATEST, 30 minutes.  The nurse's office is equipped with one bed and when the flu season comes upon us we need to tend to many sick children.  It is important to be able to have the sick children picked up as soon as possible.

WHEN TO KEEP A SICK CHILD OUT OF SCHOOL

If your child has a mild cold or cough, keeping him/her out of school probably will not prevent transmitting the cold virus to others, but it may be a good idea.  Most upper respiratory illnesses are contagious before a child is noticeably ill.  HOWEVER, if there is a constant or heavy cough or if nasal drainage is thick and colorful you should speak to you physician before sending him/her to school. Remember, these children do not fell well, and if they are here but need to be resting at home, it can be a very long and unpleasant day for them.

If your child has a fever, 100 degrees or higher, he/she MUST stay home. Keep him/her out of school for 24 hours after the fever returns to normal (98.6 degrees).  DO NOT send your child to school with a fever after he/she has been given Tylenol or Motrin in the morning.   They usually do not feel well in spite of the medication, it wears off and the fever returns.  At home the child needs plenty of rest, plenty of fluids and possibly medication.

Keep home any child who is vomiting or has diarrhea.

If your child has a fever with a rash, you MUST speak to your doctor before you take him/her to school Please be aware that you will need to supply a doctor's note for the child to return to school. Any child who develops rash or fever while at school will need to be picked up, and seen by a doctor..

Keep your child home if she/he has strep throat, pinkeye with discharge, ring worm or a bacterial infection for 24 hours AFTER medication has been started. Again they will need a doctor's note to return.

Send your child to school with plenty of tissues if she/he has a runny nose or is sneezing.  Please remember that the teachers have limited supply of tissue and once they run out, they pay fro them out of their own pocket. Remember to practice good hand washing techniques at home..

Any contagious disease or condition requires a doctor’s note to return to school. No cough drops in school, they are a choking hazard.

Any time a child is absent for any reason, a note from home is necessary.  An absence for 5 or more requires a DOCTOR'S NOTE.

Please feel free to speak me if you have any specific questions or concerns.

Have a great and a healthy school year!