Wellness

Health services in the Summit Public Schools include nurses at school sites. Their responsibilities include conducting hearing and vision tests, assisting the school doctors, maintaining health records, and instructing classes on a variety of health, nutrition, and human growth topics. If necessary, they may also dispense prescribed medicines. 

Nurses are also on hand if your child becomes ill during school hours and will contact you or other designees as indicated by you as an emergency contact. It is important that you have one or two responsible adults - friends or neighbors – ready to pick up your child if you are unavailable. To help avoid these situations, please be sure your Child is in good health before sending them to school. (Please refer to When Should You Keep Your Child Home, under point IV, in this section). 

 The school nurse may not administer any medication unless we have written permission from your doctor. There are forms available in the nurse’s office for your convenience. Medication sent to school (once we have a doctor’s note) must be in its original, labeled bottle. Teachers may not dispense any medication, including cough drops or over the counter medicine, to any student at any time. Please contact the school nurse with any concerns or questions.

 If your child has a cold with a thick, discolored nasal discharge, they should stay home. If your child has been vomiting, please wait 24 hours after the last episode before allowing them to return to school. Your child should be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school. 

Absence for reasons of illness: If your child shows symptoms of illness such as persistent coughing or sneezing, a temperature of 100+ degrees Fahrenheit, eye inflammation, sore throat, nausea, diarrhea, swollen glands, head cold, or other signs of illness, PLEASE do not send your child to school. These symptoms will result in the nurse sending your child home. A child should be fever-free for 24 hours without medication before returning to school. Please note that we require a doctor’s note if an absence exceeds 5 consecutive days due to an illness. 

The reasons for “excused” and “unexcused” absences as well as parameters for attendance considered “tardy” are defined as follows: 

Verified Absences: 

• Student illness or accident 

• Death or serious illness of a family member or other significant person 

• Religious holidays 

• Attendance required in legal proceedings 

• Other administratively approved absence 

Unverified Absences: 

• Vacations scheduled when school is in session 

• Non-attendance not covered by an excused absence