A child 's ability to learn, perform and behave can depend on how a child feels physically. We ask that a child remain home if ill or a contagious illness is suspected. We understand that deciding when to keep your child home can be difficult.

Helpful Guidelines for When to Keep Your Child Home

Temperature: Students should remain home if he/she has a fever over 100 degrees. Your child should be fever-free, without taking medication, such as tylenol or advil, for 24 hours before returning to school.
Gastrointestinal symptoms (Diarrhea, vomiting): Please keep your child home until he/she is free of diarrhea and able to eat solid foods. If diarrhea or vomiting occur overnight, to prevent the spread to others, please monitor closely for temperature elevation or the onset of additional symptoms for a day before attending school.
Contagious illnesses/conditions: Students diagnosed with strep throat, scarlet fever, conjunctivitis, flu, etc. are to remain out of school until symptoms have subsided, or 24 hours after starting antibiotic therapy for those illnesses that require medical treatment.

Wawaloam Health Office

Healthy Children Learn Better

It is very important that your child attends school regularly. That being said, feeling well enough to participate in activities during the school day is more important than perfect attendance.

Mrs. Larkin, RN, RI Certified School Nurse-Teacher

Wawaloam Health Office Direct Line: 295-8802

Fax: 295-4157

Please notify the health office of any contagious illness. Providing medical documentation of absences due to illness or medical appointments will excuse the absence.

We know that it can be difficult for working parents to have a sick child at home. Thank you for following these guidelines to protect your child and other children.

Special Health Concerns

If your child has a specific health concern (asthma, severe allergy, diabetes, seizures, etc.), please notify the school nurse so that appropriate planning can take place to meet the individual needs of your child in the school setting.

IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS

For PreSchool Entry

4 doses of DTaP vaccine
3 doses of Polio
3 doses of Hepatitis B
3 doses of Hib
1 dose of MMR
1 dose of Varicella
4 doses of PCV

For Kindergarten Entry

Three doses of hepatitis vaccine
Five doses of DTaP vaccine
Four doses of polio vaccine
Two doses of MMR vaccine
Two doses of varicella vaccine or a statement from your doctor that your child has had the disease.

Additionally, a physical examination including vision screening is required for all students entering kindergarten.

www.health.ri.gov/forms/school/Physical.pdf

www.health.ri.gov/immunization/for/schools/

Please contact the school nurse to discuss Medical, Temporary and Religious Exemptions.

EMERGENCY CARDS

District-wide emergency cards are required for every student and are sent home at the beginning of each school year. In the event your child becomes ill or is injured at school, it is necessary to have appropriate authorized contact information readily available at all times. Also,included on the emergency card is yearly permission for the school nurse-teacher to administer acetaminophen, ibuprofen, benadryl, or tums as needed in school. Parents must sign this form yearly in order for your child to receive these medications in school. ( The school physician has authorized the administration of these medications by the school nurse if the parent or guardian has given permission.) Updated health information can be included on this card.

Please contact the school nurse-teacher if changes need to be made on this card at any time throughout the school year.

MEDICATION POLICY

In school, medication can only be administered by the certified school nurse-teacher. When possible, it is recommended that medication be given at home. If medication is required during school hours, for the protections and safety of all students, there are certain procedures to be followed.

Prescription order from physician: Required for all medication administered, including over-the-counter medications. Your physician can fax an order for medication in school to the Wawaloam health office directly: 401 295-4157. (see forms)
Parent permission: Form must be signed by parent/guardian to authorize the school nurse-teacher to administer medication. (see forms).
Prescription container: must be original with all appropriate labeling intact for administraton.
Delivery of medication: Children are not allowed to transport medication to school or to carry it on their person. (Specific, individual exceptions may be made for inhalers and EpiPens)

(EWG Policy 8701: Administering Student Medication)

SCREENINGS

Vision Screening: Conducted yearly by the school nurse-teacher for all students. Parents/Guardians are contacted if a child fails any component of the screening. The screening includes distance acuity, close acuity, stereovision, and in kindergarten color vision is screened.
Dental Screening: Conducted yearly by a local dentist only for those students who do not return the yellow dental card or send in notification from a dentist to document that they see their own dentist. Those students are exempt from the school screening. Parents are notified when the dentist will be in the district screening students.
Hearing Screening: Conducted yearly by staff from the RI School for the Deaf. Parents are notified when this screening will occur and input is requested by them if your child has a recent history of infections or tube insertion.

Recess

Recess is a very important part of the school day. Many students will tell you that recess is their favorite "subject". Studies have shown that increased physical activity has a positive impact on learning.

Students have the required 20 minutes of recess daily outside if it is not raining and the temperature, including the wind chill, is above 20 degrees. Teachers include movement breaks for children throughout the school day.

Severe allergies: Treatment with EpiPen