FROM THE HEALTH ROOM
Welcome back to school! I hope that your summer was healthy and restful. Please help your child, teachers
and staff by reviewing the following health information.
If you are new to our school system, please make sure that the school has a copy of your child's immunization
record within 3o days of the start of school. If your child is in kindergarten, a physical assessment completed
by your health care provider must also be submitted. These are state board and district requirements so that
your child can attend school.
Please make sure that Estes Hills and your child's teacher have current emergency phone contact numbers and
important health information. We need to know how to reach you in the event that your child becomes sick or
injured while at school. It is vital that we are able to reach you if an emergency occurs. If your child has
a chronic health condition, please contact me so we can discuss how I can help your child.
For any medication to be taken at school, a MEDICATION AUTHORIZATION FORM must be completed
and returned to school. These forms are available in our front office. Medicines will not be administered at
school unless this medication authorization form is accurately completed. All medications must be in a
pharmacy labeled bottle and will be kept in the school office. Parents are responsible for transporting
medications to school. No medicine can be sent with a child. Please ask your health care provider to prescribe
medicines that can be administered as a once a day dose so that it can be given at home.
• Medication that is taken on a routine basis, either daily or as needed for such conditions as allergies, hyperactivity, seizures, migraines, diabetes, asthma, etc…… must have a medication form signed by both a health care provider and parent/guardian.
• Short-term medications (not to exceed 3 weeks administration) such as antibiotics or pain relief medicines, require only a parent/guardian signature. If possible, ask your health care provider for a once a day dosing so that all medicines can be given at home. If not, pharmacies will give you two small bottles, one for home and one for school. It is not safe to send medications back and forth from school.
• Non- routine medicines, even those sold without a prescription and are over the counter, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen require the signature of both a health care provider and parent/guardian. Under the new board policy, any student may self administer sunscreen, insect repellant or cough/throat lozenges that do not contain DXM.
• Asthma. A student is allowed to carry and self- administer asthma medications only when the parent/guardian request and only when assessed by the school nurse and can use the medicines appropriately and responsibly. An Asthma Health Action Plan must be completed by a parent/guardian and health care provider. These are available at the front office.
• Health Action Plans are required for any student who requires medication for an emergency health condition such as severe allergies, asthma, seizures, diabetes, etc…..
School board policy states "students with a temperature of 100 degrees F. (oral), vomiting, or diarrhea will be
excluded from school, and may not participate in school activities until symptom -free for 24 hours."
Symptom-free for 24 hours means without medication to bring the fever down.
It is common for there to be outbreaks of head lice when children return to school. If they are discovered in
your child's classroom, a letter of general information will be sent to everyone. If your child has lice, he/she
needs to remain at home until no lice or nits are found. If they are at school and lice are found, your child will
need to go home. If you find them or have questions, call the school. We can keep down the spread of
this pest only if parents are open and will follow up with the proper treatments.
School health services assist to bridge the gap between health, wellness, education and learning to enhance
academic success. My goal is the prevention of disease and promotion of healthy lifestyles for our children.
I look forward to serving your children at Estes Hills. If you would like to contact me, call 942-4753 ext.30270.
Christine Shooter, MSN, RN
Board Certified School Nurse
