Health Services

• Asthma Action Plan
• Plan De Accion Para Asma
• Anaphylaxis Action Plan
• Plan de Acción Contra la Anafilaxia
• Administration of Medication Form
• Autorización para la administración de medicamentos en la escuela
• Authorization for Self-Carry Self-Administration of OTC Medication
• Autorización para llevar y la autoadministración de medicamentos de venta libre
• Special Diet Statement
• Seizure Action Plan
• Seizure Action Plan - Español
• Declaración de Dieta Especial
• Sports Physical Exam Form
• Student Immunization Form
• Formulario de vacunaciones

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES 
If your student has a communicable condition such as chicken pox, pink eye, lice, strep throat, or ringworm, please notify your school's Health Office.

IS YOUR CHILD WELL ENOUGH TO GO TO SCHOOL?
To prevent the spread of illness, when students are ill, we recommend they stay home. For questions concerning when your student should stay home, please note these general guidelines: 

• If your student has had a fever of 100 degrees or more, we recommend staying home until 24 hours after the temperature returns to normal. 
• If your student has had vomiting or diarrhea, we recommend staying home until 24 hours after the last episode. 
• If your student has a bad cold with a cough, green and/or yellow nasal drainage, decreased appetite or interrupted sleep, we recommend that you check with your family physician before sending your student to school. 
• If your student has red eyes with drainage or matter, do not send your student to school until after checking with your family physician. 
• If your student has an undiagnosed rash, check with your family physician before sending your student to school.

In addition: 

• If your student has been started on antibiotics we recommend returning to school no sooner than 24 hours after the first dose has been given.  
• Please report your child's absence by calling their school'S Attendance Line each day they are absent.

PHYSICAL AND DENTAL EXAMINATIONS 
It is strongly recommended that children have a complete physical exam before entering kindergarten and grade 7. Students participating in athletics must have a physical exam every three years. A dental exam is recommended at least once a year. 

COLD WEATHER 
In the elementary grades, the children do play outdoors daily except in sub-zero temperatures. Please remember to dress your child for the cold weather with a coat, hat, mittens, extra socks, and boots. 
 
ALLERGY ALERT 
People of all ages have sensitivities that may cause serious health reactions. The following are SOME of the things that might make someone with allergies ill: latex balloons, latex bandaids, chocolate, pets, and peanuts, nuts, or nut products. Please consider this when sharing food or other items with your child's class. 

HEALTHY KIDS ARE BETTER LEARNERS 
Ways to help your kids stay healthy include seeing that they: 

• Eat a balanced diet including a nutritious breakfast
• Get adequate exercise
• Get enough rest, about 8-12 hours depending on your child
• Maintain a good balance of work and play
• Wash hands: 
  • Before and after eating
  • Before and after eating 
  • After using the bathroom
  • After playing outside 
  • After coughing, sneezing, or blowing nose, and whenever hands look, feel, or smell unclean

EMERGENCY CARDS 
At the start of the school year or upon enrollment of your student, you will receive an emergency card. This contains important information to help us contact you if your child becomes ill or injured during the school day. 

List two people who have agreed to be contacted and would be available to pickup and/or provide care for your student. Please keep the school updated on phone number changes so we always have correct information.

All school districts must comply with Minnesota State Immunization Law (M.S. 121A.15), This states that all students must be immunized or show proof of legal exemption to attend school. Failure to be immunized or show evidence of immunization or legal exemption will prohibit the student from attending school.

Parents or guardians who come to the school or district to enroll their students are required to bring a written record of their student's immunizations. Students will not be allowed to attend school until this documentation is provided.

To go to school in Minnesota, students must show they’ve had these immunizations or file a legal exemption with the school. Minnesota's School Immunization Law allows the parent or guardian of a minor child (or the emancipated student) to file for a legal exemption to the school immunization requirements. The law allows for two types of legal exemptions: medical and conscientious. Find more details about state immunization requirements at the Minnesota Department of Health immunization website.

ADMINISTERING MEDICINE AT SCHOOL (Prescription and Over-the-counter)
Although students and their families are encouraged to establish schedules allowing them to take medications at home, the School District recognizes that sometimes this is impossible to accomplish. To ensure safe administration of medication, the School District policy and procedures are as follows.

All medications, prescription and non-prescription (OTC), are required to have:

• Written orders from a licensed prescriber (i.e., doctor, dentist, or a certified registered nurse practitioner)
• Written authorization from a parent
• Medication must be brought to school in a current, correctly labeled prescription bottle
• Over-the-counter medication must be in the original container
• Inhalers must be labeled with student's name

OTHER INFORMATION
Medications will be administered through the school's Health Office. When possible, it is recommended that parents bring their child's medication to the Health Office directly rather than have students transport. It is the parent's responsibility to provide refills for medication. 

HELPFUL TIPS

• Remind your child's doctor, dentist, etc. that the school will require a written order from them in order to give the medication in school.
• Have your drugstore divide the prescription medication into two labeled containers — one for home and one for school. This is easier than sending one bottle back and forth.
• Medication prescribed for three times a day can generally be given entirely at home —before school, after school, and before bedtime.

School District 197 has developed an Opioid Overdose Response Plan to address the country's drug overdose epidemic. The plan includes training key staff members on how and when to administer naloxone, known as Narcan, in cases of suspected overdoses.

School District 197 does screenings for elementary and middle school students. If the student does not pass the screening according to the Minnesota Department of Health standards, a physician referral notice will be sent to the parent.

VISION SCREENING (For students in grades 1, 3, and 5)
According to the Minnesota Department of Health, about 7.5% of school-age children and youth have vision problems that may interfere with their educational development. The purpose of vision screening is to identify those students who have a concern in one or both eyes and to refer them for professional examination. Following referral, the school nurse should be informed so adjusts can be made in the student's educational program, if necessary.

COLOR VISION (For boys in grade 1)
Color vision is an inherited trait most commonly found in boys. It is a non-reversible condition. For school-age children, the greatest difficulty lies in performance or academic skills that use color as a visual aid. Adolescents with color vision deficit need to be aware that they may be ineligible for certain vocational opportunities. An exam with the eye doctor is usually not necessary; however, he/she may be able to give more information on color vision deficit.

HEARING SCREENING (For students in elementary school)
According to the Minnesota Department of Health, about 3-5% of school-age children and youth have hearing problems that may interfere with their educational development. The purpose of a hearing screening is to identify students who have a hearing loss in one or both ears and to refer them for professional examination. Following referral, the school nurse should be informed so adjustments can be made in the student's educational program, if necessary.

The School Health Advisory Council was established in 2015 to provide opportunities, facilitate collaboration, and promote communication among the district, community and parents/guardians in order to ensure high quality health programs in every school.

VISION
Coordination of health professionals, community and school members that actively work on ensuring, healthy and safe learning environments for all students

MISSION
To provide a healthy and safe environment where all students achieve their personal goals and academic potential by maintaining healthy attitudes and behaviors

THE WSCC MODEL
Components of the Whole School, Whole Child, Whole Community (WSCC)

• Health Education – Formal, structured health education with qualified, trained teachers, students acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills they need for making health-promoting decisions.
• Nutrition Environment and Services – (Wellness committee focus) - District supports a healthy school nutrition environment by providing and promoting healthier foods and beverages.
• Employee Wellness – (Wellness committee focus) Staff serve as powerful role models for students and may increase their attention to students’ health. Schools can create work environments that support healthy eating, adopt active lifestyles, be tobacco free, manage stress, and avoid injury and exposure to hazards. 
• Social and Emotional School Climate – The social and emotional climate of a school can impact student engagement in school activities; relationships with other students, staff, family, and community; academic performance, social and emotional development. 
• Physical Environment – A school’s physical condition during normal operation as well as during renovation with the goal to protect occupants from physical threats (e.g., crime, violence, traffic, and injuries) and biological and chemical agents in the air, water, or soil as well as those purposefully brought into the school (e.g., pollution, mold, hazardous materials, pesticides, and cleaning agents).
• Health Services – School health services intervene with actual and potential health problems, including wellness promotion, and parent education.  Health staff collaborate with school staff, students, families, community and healthcare providers. 
• Counseling, Psychological, and Social Services –  Prevention and intervention services support the mental, behavioral, and social-emotional health of students and promote success in the learning process. 
• Community Involvement - Community groups, organizations, and local businesses create partnerships with schools, share resources, and volunteer to support student learning, development, and health-related activities. 
• Family Engagement – School staff are committed to making families feel welcomed, engaging families in a variety of meaningful ways, and sustaining family engagement should be continuous across a child’s life and requires an ongoing commitment as children mature into young adulthood.
• Physical Education and Physical Activity – Students to be physically active throughout the school day. five components: physical education, physical activity during school, physical activity before and after school, staff involvement, and family and community engagement.

LINKS

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
Center for Disease Control (CDC)