You can do so many things to help your school day improve!  

• Eating breakfast: Research shows an improved performance in the classroom when students eat a healthy breakfast and lunch.  Nurses see decreased student anxiety, headaches, and stomach aches when students have eaten a healthy breakfast and lunch and are hydrated throughout the day.

• Drinking more water: Hydrating throughout the day means continuously drinking water, and bringing a water bottle to school will help. This plays a huge role in the reduction of headaches as well as many other physical ailments.

• Getting enough sleep: Limit your time on social media throughout your day and evening. Limit your time gaming throughout your evening so you can get enough sleep. Do your best to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night. Use your time at home to focus on your homework. Plan so you are prepared when you get to school the next day.

• Hand Hygiene: We encourage you to wash your hands. Good hand washing is the primary defense in fighting the spread of germs.  When washing your hands, you should wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, vigorously rubbing your hands together (using soap and water) and getting in between your fingers, including your wrists.  Once you have washed your hands thoroughly, rinse and dry them well. This should be done after using the bathroom, before consuming food, touching contact lenses, etc.

Health Examinations

Delaware requires all students to have to examinations: Delaware Health Examination & Screening Regulation

All students entering a public school for the first time and students entering Grade 9 must provide documentation of a health examination within thirty days after entry.  The examination must be current (completed within two years of entry) and conducted by a currently licensed physician, advanced practice nurse, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant.  Acceptable forms are:

• Delaware School Health Examination Forms - Children Grades PreK - 6

• Delaware School Health Examination Forms - Adolescent Grades 7 - 12

• DIAA Medical Forms

An alternate form may be accepted if it includes, at a minimum: health history, immunizations, results on medical testing and screenings, medical diagnoses, prescribed medications and treatments, and healthcare plans.

Health Screenings 

Vision and hearing screenings are provided by the school nurse for students in kindergarten and grades 2, 4, 7, and 9 (or 10).  Screenings are completed by January 15 of each year.  Screening is additionally provided to students who are new entrants, referred by a teacher or administrator, or are considered for special education services.

Postural and Gait screening is provided by the school nurse for students in grades 5 through 9.  On-site follow-up, a Physical Therapist may be offered to schools to determine if further referral is needed from the Postural and Gait screening.

Immunizations

Delaware law requires all students entering a school system to provide proof of immunizations. The Delaware Department of Education collaborates with the Delaware Division of Public Health to establish mandatory immunization requirements based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Private school students have comparable requirements based on the Delaware Division of Public Health Regulation 4204.

Delaware Immunization Regulation

Delaware required immunizations:

• 5 or more doses of DTaP or DTP Td vaccine (unless 4th dose was given after the 4th birthday)

• 4 doses of IPV or OPV (unless 3rd dose was given after the 4th birthday)

• 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine

• 2 doses of Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine

• 2 doses of Varicella or a written disease history by a licensed healthcare provider

• In August 2016, entering 9th Graders must additionally have 1 dose Tdap (adult booster) and 1 dose meningococcal

  • In 8/2017 - Grades 9-10

  • In 8/2018 - Grades 9-11

  • In 8/2019 - Grades 9-12

Delaware allows two exemptions to immunizations:

• Medical Exemptions

  • Medical exemptions to any of the required immunizations must be requested in writing from the healthcare provider for situations related to: lost records, alternate catch-up schedules, Measles/Mumps/Rubella second dose given prior to the fourth birthday, history of Varicella (chicken pox) immunity and delayed schedules for children who are immunocompromised.

  • Immunization - School Vaccination Medical Exemption Form

  • Varicella Immunity Statement

All other exemptions must be approved by the Delaware Division of Public Health using the Supplemental School Vaccination Exemption Form signed by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or advanced practice nurse.  Most contraindications are temporary and the vaccine can be given at a later time.

Immunization - Supplemental School Vaccination Exemption Form

• Religious Exemptions

  • Religious exemptions must be submitted on the Delaware Affidavit of Religious Belief and must be notarized.

  • Immunization - Notarized Affidavit of Religious Belief

Tuberculosis Screening

Delaware requires tuberculosis (TB) screening for all students entering a public school.  School staff and volunteers are assessed routinely for exposure to TB or active disease.  Anyone with a positive screening is required to have a follow-up medical assessment.

Delaware Tuberculosis Regulation

• Tuberculosis Screening Requirements:

  • Students - TB risk assessment, skin test (Mantoux), or other approved testing, such as blood test, administered within the past 12 months prior to school entry

  • Employees - TB skin test (Mantoux) or other approved testing, such as blood test, administered within the past 12 months and provided during the first 15 days of employment and TB risk assessment every 5 years thereafter

  • Volunteers - TB risk assessment prior to their assignment and every 5 years thereafter

Lead Screening

• •  School entrants at kindergarten or at age 5 or prior shall be required to provide documentation of lead screening as per 16 Del.C. §2603. Except in the case of kindergarten enrollment, the screen may be conducted 60 calendar days after the date of enrollment.

  • The school nurse shall document the lead screening within the student’s electronic health record. 

 Oral Health

• • Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, and for each school year thereafter, subject to 14 Del.C. §4123(f), each school, through the Bureau of Oral Health and Dental Services shall provide an oral health screening to each student enrolled in kindergarten by the last student attendance day of the school year.

  • The school shall record the results of the oral health screening within the student's electronic health record.

  • If a student fails the oral health screening, the school shall notify the student's parent, guardian, or relative caregiver.