School Nurse

In an effort to keep our students safe and healthy, it is important for students to stay at home and away from others when feeling sick.  Staying away from others helps to stop the spread of illness.

If your child is having any of the following symptoms please keep them home from school:

• Temperature of 100.4 or above
• Cough
• Congestion
• Sore throat
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Headache
• Conjunctivitis
• Fatigue
• Body aches
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of taste or smell
• Rash or signs of skin infection

If your student is having any of the above stated symptoms or is sent home by the school nurse, they should not return for at least 24 hours or they have been cleared to return earlier by their medical provider. 

What do I need to do for a religious exemption?
The Religious Exemption Form must be completed, signed, and turned into your student’s school.

How do I know what shots are needed to attend WCS?  
Visit the Immunization Information section on this page for resources.

My child is on medication.  What do I need for them to start school in WCS? 
Medication orders must be completed and brought to school nurse by parent/guardian.

Can I send the medication to school with my child? 
No, all medication must be brought to the school nurse by parent/guardian.

When should my child remain home due to illness?   
Visit Illness Guidelines on this page for information about returning to school.

Where can my child get an up-to-date physical?  
Physicals may be obtained from your child’s pediatrician office or local health department.  Many walk-in clinics will also perform physicals as well.

The policies or procedures described below may be revised, modified, or amended in which case the most current policy or procedure will govern. The online version of these policies and procedures are the governing document. School Board Policy 6.405 can be found online here. Policy 6.405 includes the following requirements:

• If the medication is a prescription or herbal medication, the physician must complete the Medication Authorization Form. Both the physician and parent/legal guardian must sign the form. The required paperwork must be submitted to the school before medication will be accepted. A new Medication Authorization Form is required each school year or if there are changes made to the current medication.
• If an over-the-counter medication is necessary at school, the parent/legal guardian must complete the Medication Authorization Form. The parent/legal guardian or adult designee must bring the medication to school. Medications must not to be sent to school with the student.
• Prescription medication must be in a properly labeled pharmacy bottle, which the pharmacist will provide. The label on the medication bottle must match the information provided by the physician. An empty medication bottle may be sent home with a student, but the parent/legal guardian is required to bring the medication to school. Over-the-counter medication (i.e. cough drops, Tylenol, Midol, Benadryl, creams, etc.) must be brought to school by the parent in the original unopened container with the student’s name written on the bottle. Students must be able to measure their liquid medications.
• The parent/legal guardian is responsible for providing the exact dosage ordered by the physician (i.e. cutting pills, if needed and providing a measuring device for liquid medications).
• The parent/legal guardian and medication designee must count the medication and verify the count by signing on the back of the Medication Record.
• All medication will be kept in a secure, locked area except: inhalers, epi-pens, glucometers and insulin, which are allowed to stay with the student after the appropriate paperwork is completed is filled out and brought to school.
• If the medication is changed or discontinued at school, additional documentation from the physician must be provided.
• Expired medications will not be administered. Emergency medications that will not expire during the school year should be provided whenever possible.
• Medication not picked up at the end of each school year or the end of treatment regimen will be disposed of according to state regulation and district protocol.

Required Immunizations

Religious Exemption Form

Having head lice can happen to anyone. It is not a sign of having poor health habits or being dirty. The most important fact to remember is that the problem should be quickly treated because delays will only help spread the head lice throughout your family and community. Please check your child regularly.

Signs of head lice and nits (lice eggs):

• Head scratching and intense itching of the scalp and neck with the observation of tiny crawling insects about the size of a sesame seed, with six legs, and color of tan to grayish- white.
• Adult head lice may look darker in persons with dark hair than in persons with light hair.
• Nits are lice eggs laid by the adult female head louse at the base of the hair shaft nearest the scalp. Nits are firmly attached to the hair shaft and are oval-shaped and very small (about the size of a knot in thread) and hard to see.
• Nits often appear yellow or white and easily confused with dandruff. Dandruff is removed easily from the hair or scalp; however, nits (eggs) are glued to the hair shaft and are very difficult to remove-usually must be pulled all the way to the end of the hair shaft by your fingers or with a fine-toothed comb.

Treatment of head lice:

• There are several non-prescription and prescription treatments available to eliminate lice and their eggs. They can be purchased at your local pharmacy, or call your physician for his/her recommendation. Read and follow the directions carefully.
• A second treatment is often recommended 10 days later. A fine-toothed comb is often needed to remove all of the nits.
• Please spend time with your child combing all of the nits (eggs) out of his/her hair.
• Put on clean clothing after treatment.
• Inspect all other family members for head lice and recheck periodically over the next two (2) weeks.

If head lice is found:

• Clean all articles that might have lice or nits. Clothes, towels, and bed linens should be washed in hot water and detergent or dry-cleaned. Continue to wash your child’s bed linens regularly and vacuum all upholstered furniture and carpet. Throw vacuum bags away after each use. Wash all book bags and back packs.
• Stuffed animals or items that cannot be washed or dry-cleaned should be sealed in a plastic bag for at least ten days to two weeks.
• Disinfect combs, brushes, and similar items by washing with the special shampoo.  

Returning to school:

• A student may return to school only after the hair has been treated appropriately and after a satisfactory examination by the school nurse. 

Confidentiality and sensitivity to you and your child is of paramount importance to us as we work together in the elimination of this condition. Thank you for your cooperation in being proactive to manage this problem that can lead to a disruption in your child’s learning at school.