Health Services

Welcome Back from the School Nurses!

School nursing is a specialized area of professional nursing that promotes student health and learning. The Catamount School (TCS) has school nurses available to assist with health care needs in the school setting. To better help serve the students in our community, the TCS school nurses would like to share the following important information.

Requirements for School Entry

·  Health Assessments: Each child entering into North Carolina public school for the first time must submit proof of a current health assessment within the first 30 calendar days of starting school.

·  Vaccines: Students must be up-to-date on their immunizations within the first 30 calendar days of starting school.

·  Students entering the 7th grade need one dose of Tdap and one dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) if they have not already received them.

You may contact your child’s healthcare provider or the Jackson County Health Department at 828-586-8994 to obtain the required vaccines.  Be sure to give your school an updated copy of your child’s immunization record. For more information, please visit https://immunization.dph.ncdhhs.gov/schools/k-12.htm

Medications at School

To ensure the safety of all of our students, and per NC state law:

·  No medications are allowed to be given on school campus without a doctor’s order and written consent from the parent/guardian.  This includes all over-the-counter medications.

·  All non-emergent medications should be given at home, whenever possible.

·  If a medication is needed while at school, parents/guardians can choose to complete a Medication Administration form and have it signed by their child’s health care provider. This will allow the school nurse or staff to administer the medication.

·  Parents/Guardians will need to bring an unopened, properly labeled container of the medicine to the school. 

·  No over-the-counter medications are kept on hand.  This includes Tylenol, Advil, Tums, cough drops, etc.

·  Medications must be brought to school by a parent/guardian or other adult and given to the school nurse, or school staff if the school nurse is not available. Do not send medications of any kind to school in your child’s book bag!

Please remember to pick up all medication at the end of the school year.  Medication that is not picked up will be disposed of.

Special Health Care Needs

The school nurses work closely with families to develop individual plans of care to meet the growing and diverse health care needs of the students in Jackson County.

·  Medical Health Care Plans and Emergency Action Plans related to diabetes, seizures, life threatening allergies, and asthma need to be updated yearly.  Please inform your child’s school nurse of any health care concerns to assure that there is a plan in place.

·  Plans should be completed within the first 10 days of the start of the school year.

·  Emergency medications should be brought the first day of school - check to be sure they have not expired.  This includes Glucagon and diabetic supplies, epinephrine auto-injectors, asthma inhalers, and Diastat, among others.

·  If your child has had a head injury/concussion in the past year, please alert the school nurse.

Garrett’s Law

Garrett’s law mandates that schools provide parents and guardians with information about meningococcal meningitis, influenza (flu), HPV, and the vaccines that protect against these diseases. The following are links to this information. Paper copies are available at the school upon request.

·      Meningococcal Meningitis and Vaccinations

• • CDC’s Meningococcal Disease Website

  • Meningococcal Vaccines for Preteens and Teens Factsheet

·      Influenza and Influenza Vaccinations

• • CDC’s Influenza Website

  • Flu:  A Guide for Parents

·      Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

• • CDC’s Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

  • When Should My Child Get the HPV Vaccine?

Please fill out and return the Student Health History form (both sides) that will be sent home with your student at the beginning of each school year. Always make your child’s school aware if your phone number or contact information changes.

Feel free to contact the TCS school nurses if you should have any questions or concerns. We look forward to working with you and your child this coming school year. Thank you for supporting our efforts to keep your children safe, healthy, and ready to learn!

Your TCS School Nurses,

Anne Karner, MSN, CNM, RN

akarner@wcu.edu                                      

• Masks are optional. All students, staff, and visitors to campus are reminded to wash their hands often. 

• Parents/Guardians: it is our expectation that you will monitor your student's symptoms, temperature, and health at home, before sending them to school. If signs or symptoms of illness are present, students should stay home. 

• Breaks for hand-washing and classroom sanitizing are figured into each class on the schedule.

• Each room is stocked with hand sanitizer, cleaning wipes, and extra masks for use as desired.

• Students and staff will sanitize their hands each time they enter or exit a classroom. 

• TCS encourages all students and staff to receive the COVID-19 Vaccine. Visit www.vaccines.gov/search to find a free vaccine near you. 

• The first days of school will begin with a reminder of health protocols from the school nurses. Nurse Laura and Nurse Tammie will also be available during the school day to answer questions and serve students. 

Parents/Guardians of rising 7th-grade students: It's time to schedule your child's vaccinations!

• Per NC law, students entering the 7th grade must have 1 dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) and 1 dose of MCV (meningococcal vaccine) prior to the start of the school year. The HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine is also strongly recommended, as it protects your child against certain cancers later in life.

• For more information, visit https://immunization.dph.ncdhhs.gov/schools/k-12.htm or contact the school nurse at 828-331-1775.

Below are some of the forms that may be required to address your child's health care needs. Please note - all forms have a section that requires a parent/guardian AND a provider's signature (doctor, nurse practitioner, etc.). Please let us know if you have any questions or need assistance with getting these forms signed. If your child has a health care concern that is not addressed in the list below, please contact the school nurses. We will help develop an Individualized Health Care Plan to address the specific needs of your child.

• Authorization for Medication 

• Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan 

• NC Health Assessment (only required if your child is entering a NC public school for the first time)

• Student Health History Form 

• Diabetes Individualized Health Care Plan 

• Asthma Action Plan

Nurse Anne: akarner@wcu.edu

TCS Main Office: 828-227-7500