Health Issues:

The school district is required by the state of Texas to maintain vaccination records on all students unless a notarized exemption form is provided. These vaccines can be obtained from the Nolan County Health Unit on Wednesdays throughout the year for a nominal fee. The best time for updating your student’s vaccine record is before school starts each August.  Then you should bring a copy to the school to be put in their permanent record. If a vaccine comes due during the school year, you have 30 days in which to get it done. After that time, the student will not be allowed to come to school until it is done. A link is provided below which gives the full range of vaccines to be given and the age at which each is due. 

*All open wounds must be covered with a bandage or dressing, especially if they are draining.

*If the condition is infectious (can be given to others), your child must obtain a release from his/her physician stating that they are no longer infectious before they can return to school.

*Minor first aid will be provided by the school.

There are several ways you can treat lice and scabies, but they must be treated. It would be helpful to the staff if you would check your child’s hair routinely through the school year, so that early detection is possible. Tiny white “nits” will often appear on the hair shaft, and will hatch within 7 days if not removed. Shampoos only kill live lice so nit removal is necessary as well. There is also a battery-powered comb called Robi-comb (available online and at Walgreens) which detects, kills, and removes nits all in one step. Some of the local pharmacies also carry a gel made of natural ingredients that is effective and also dissolves the nits in a one-step procedure. The standard lice shampoos, though effective, contain toxic ingredients and their frequent use is not recommended. Your child will be sent home if live bugs are found. Scabies will often appear between the fingers and in the crook of the elbows. Treatment is similar to that of lice, although your physician may prescribe other remedies.

If a parent or guardian wishes a student to receive medications at school, a consent form must be filled out, medication must be brought from home in its original container, and written instructions must be provided.

When a child has an ongoing health concern such as asthma, diabetes, seizure disorder or other illnesses requiring care at school, an individual care plan is written so that your student’s physician’s orders, parental preferences, emergency contact information, and scheduled treatment information is available to all participants. Please notify the school nurse anytime your child has health issues which may require participation from the staff. If these health concerns require education accommodations as well as implementation of a treatment plan, a 504 meeting will be held to make sure that state requirements are met.

State guidelines require that the school send your child home when they have a fever of 100.4 degrees, and that they be fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications (such as Tylenol or Motrin) before they return to school. CDC guidelines for parents are provided at the following link for the flu (including H1N1 or Swine flu). Of course, the most important thing to remember about a fever is that you must increase fluids to prevent dehydration. It is recommended that you take your child’s temperature before you send them to school if they are complaining about not feeling well. Even if it is not high enough to keep them home, it will provide a valuable baseline for follow-up during the day. Your child’s physician should be consulted when your child is sick.

 Vision and hearing screening is required by state law for PK, Kindergarten, 1^st grade, 3^rd grade, 5^th grade, and 7^thst grade students. If your child fails the 1st screening test, a 2^nd will be performed about 2 weeks later. If they fail the 2^nd one, you will be notified. Please do not let finances be the reason you do not follow up on a recommendation for optometrist or audiology appointment. There are several civic clubs such as the Lions Club which will help provide these services.

Spinal screening is required for 5^th grade and 8^th grade students. You will be notified ahead of time so that appropriate clothing can be worn. Privacy will be maintained during the screening process, and you are welcome to accompany your student for the evaluation if you or they prefer.

The school encourages parental involvement in all academic and health-related issues which involve your student. In particular, we are looking for parents who are interested in belonging to our School Health Advisory Committee. Please call the school nurse at 766-3323 ext. 26 with any concerns or suggestions.