School Nurse
As your school nurse consultant, Natalie identifies students who have health problems and then collaborates and communicates with parents, school staff and appropriate medical personnel to develop plans that will help students be fully available for learning. Please notify Natalie of any health concerns or needs your students may have.
C2E Health Policy
Managing Illness at School
Please follow the following school guidelines for keeping sick kids home. In a school setting, there is naturally a higher risk of contagion when illness is going around. To keep that risk to students and staff to a minimum, please keep your sick students home and print out these guidelines in case you do have a sick student.
Returning to school after an illness:
- Student must be fever-free for 24 hours WITHOUT medication
- Student must stay at home for 48 hours after LAST episode of vomiting and/or diarrhea
Parents should remind students to:
- Wash hands frequently, especially after using the restroom and before eating
- Cover coughs and sneezes with elbow – NOT hands
Parents should be aware of the early signs and symptoms of illness such as:
- Decreased activity – droopy, tired appearance
- Irritable behavior – sleepy
- Sore throat/swollen glands
- Runny nose/cough
- Skin eruptions/rashes (students with undiagnosed rashes are not allowed to be in school)
- Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Fever (100º or higher is considered a fever in Douglas County Schools and student is not allowed to be at school)
Parents can help by:
- Checking students’ health before they leave home.
- Keeping students home when they have signs/symptoms of illness.
- Making arrangements with relatives/friends to take care of sick children if unable to do so yourself.
- Making sure your student is eating breakfast prior to coming to school.
- Sending your student with a water bottle daily.
- Making sure your students have appropriate outerwear for changing weather.
Students must stay home if they have:
- Pink Eye,
- Strep Throat,
- Impetigo,
- Ringworm,
- Head Lice or
- Chicken Pox unless the child has been medically treated and has been cleared by a physician (and/or school nurse) or is symptom free.
Health Clinic
The school health clinic is staffed by a clinic aide who works in conjunction with the DCSD Nurse to address the needs of students who come to the clinic. If your child is not feeling well in the morning or has a fever of 100 degrees or higher, please keep your child at home until symptoms are resolved. Please do not return your child to school until they have been fever-free for 24 hours. If your child is sent to the clinic during the school day, the clinic aide will determine whether the child will return to class or be sent home. Parents will be contacted under the following conditions: temperatures of 100 degrees or more, vomiting, serious injury, and other questionable concerns of the clinic staff.
Medications
Prescription medication, including inhalers, will be administered at school only when the following requirements have been met: a Medication Release Form has been signed by a parent/guardian which can be downloaded off the C2E website under “Parents” ⟶ “Health Services;” written instructions have been provided by the child’s health care provider; medication is in its original labeled container and is a current prescription; and, the medication is unexpired and labeled with the child’s name, medication’s name, dose, and times to be given. A Student Medication Release Form (available in the school clinic) with physician instructions is required to administer medication.
Over-the-Counter Medications
Over-the-counter medications are discouraged but, when absolutely needed during the school day, will be administered when the following requirements have been met: parents have signed the Student Medication Release form and the medication provided comes in its original and labeled container. The dose and timing will be determined by what is considered age-acceptable on the medication itself, if different than parent requests.
Self-Carrying of Medications
Students may self-carry inhalers or other OTC meds with proper paperwork and only after meeting with the school nurse to demonstrate appropriate use of the medication. Proper documentation includes permission from the parent/guardian and the physician. Students may not carry medications (even over the counter meds) without following this procedure.
MEDICATION SENT IN BAGGIES OR ENVELOPES WILL NOT BE GIVEN IN THE SCHOOL SETTING.
Immunization Law
Colorado State Immunization Law requires all students to submit a Certificate of Immunization or Exemption to attend school. Colorado now requires DPT, Polio, MMR, Varicella and/or chicken pox verification, and Hepatitis immunizations – the number depends upon the age of the child.
Statement of Exemption is allowed for medical, religious and personal reasons when properly documented and signed. This link from CDPHE explains more about the exemption process that all schools must follow: Exemptions from Immunizations.
Communication
Please make sure that all parent and emergency contact information is always kept up to date with the school office. This information is critical for good communication between parents and school staff. Please contact the school nurse/health coordinator with any health concerns that may impact your child’s learning or the learning of others.
For more information about DCSD Health Services, please visit DCSD Health Services.
