MOC-Floyd Valley School
Nurse News
School Nurse Karina Nonnemacher and Ashley Van Voorst
ANNOUNCEMENTS
NOURISH 2 FLOURISH PROGRAM: Is your family struggling with food at home? Please reach out to your school counselor or nurse to be linked to some our resources for families! 712-737-4606 (Ask for Nurse Karina or Ms. Olson)
Illness Guidelines
Illness Guidelines have been updated 2/19/24 to reflect CHP newest guidelines on respiratory illneses.
Click links below for the current Iowa Department of Health recommnedations on Child Exclusion for certain illness and disease:
Our sincere sympathies to the Perry School District. This topic is one that is hard to navigate. Below are some resources for you to lean into during this confusing time.
Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth after the Recent Shooting
Age-Related Reactions to Traumatic Events
https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources//age_related_reactions_to_traumatic_events.pdf
Coping After Mass Violence
https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/fact-sheet/coping_after_mass_violence.pdf
Multiple Resources for Responders, Providers and the Public Following Mass Violence
https://asprtracie.hhs.gov/mass-violence
Mass Casualty Incident Toolkit
https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/toolkits/emergency-preparedness/4/mass-casualty-incidents
Resource List: Managing the Effects of Traumatic Events (Including Spanish tipsheet)
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline/coping-tips
Press Release from CHP: 8/31/21
COVID-19 Updates
MOC-FV Parent Resources regarding COVID-19
9/21/23- Please see the Parent resources link above to view our COVID-19 Return to school policy.
8/31/21- Press Release from CHP: See above
12/1/20- So my student is ill with 2 or more low risk symptoms or 1 or more high risk symptoms, now what?
When a student is presenting with:
-two or more low risk symptoms: headache, fatigue or body aches, fever of 100.0 or greater, runny nose or congestion, diarrhea, vomiting or nausea, sore throat, sinus pain
OR
-one or more high risk symptoms: new onset or persistent cough, loss of taste or smell, difficulty breathing or chest tightness with shortness of breath
Your child will have 3 options to choose from to be able to return to school!
Stay home for 10 days from the start of symptoms and isolate
See a doctor or family physician for an alternative diagnosis and have a signed note clearing your child for return to school
Receive a negative COVID test
When your child is ill, let the office know right away that they will be staying home from school. Every student that is ill for an unknown reason MUST complete the survey sent by email before their child can return to school. Filling out this survey as soon as you receive it can ensure timely assessment of your child's return. If the survey prompts you to reach out to the school nurse, feel free to call any office, reach out by email, or message the nurse in classdojo (elementary only).
11/30/20-I hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable Thanksgiving break! Just a reminder to screen your child before returning to school tomorrow and if you spent time with outside family or traveled, to take extra time to identify signs and symptoms related to COVID-19.
Here are the questions you should be asking:
1. Has my child been around anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 during break (usually defined as within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes) or has anyone in my household tested positive for COVID-19 during break?
2. Does my child have a new OR change in a persistent cough over break?
3. Does my child have a new loss of taste or smell over break?
4. Does my child have difficulty breathing, tightness in their chest, or shortness of breath over break?
5. Does my child have or had two or more of these symptoms during break: headache, fatigue or body aches, fever of 100.0 or greater, runny nose or congestion, diarrhea, vomiting or nausea, sore throat, sinus pain?
If any of these 5 questions on Monday morning are answered with a "YES", your child should stay home from school. Next, please let the office know that your child will be home sick and the secretary will send out an emailed survey where you can report your symptoms. Then, if the survey prompts, please reach out to the school nurse to be assessed and possibly establish a return to school plan for your child if needed!
Thank you for working with us to help keep our school healthy and safe for your kids
9/23/20- We are seeing younger kids/teens with minor cold symptoms showing up positive for COVID-19. Lately, more than 70% of our students/staff who have tested positive HAVE NOT had a fever. This makes us aware that absence of a fever cannot be the deciding factor to in-person learning. If your child is experiencing ANY two symptoms- headache, nausea, cough, sore throat, congestion/runny nose, fever; or any one of these symptoms- loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath, persistent cough- they should not attend school and please reach out to the school nurse for a return to school plan.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
https://siouxcountychp.org/covid-19-coronavirus/
Face Coverings and Facts:
"A mask may not protect the wearer, but it may keep the wearer from spreading the virus to others."-CDC
ABOUT MASKS: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html
HOW TO CLEAN MAKS: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-wash-cloth-face-coverings.html
HOW TO MAKE MASKS: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-make-cloth-face-covering.html
HOW TO WEAR MASKS: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-wear-cloth-face-coverings.html
For more information on masks visit:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html
ALLERGY POLICY for MOC-FV SCHOOLS
Dear Parents:
For the 2020-2021 school year, MOC-Floyd Valley has implemented a policy to become a FOOD ALLERGY AWARE SCHOOL DISTRICT. This letter is to inform you that there are multiple students at our schools who have life-threatening food allergies. The most common allergens that cause anaphylaxis are peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat.
Eating these foods even in trace amounts or touching contaminated surfaces may cause a severe reaction (anaphylaxis) that can lead to death.
Because of the severity of these allergies and their reactions, and to support these student’s safety and welfare, we ask that all food sent to school to be shared with others be pre-packaged ONLY , along with an ingredient list available. No home-baked goods will be allowed . This will make it easier and safer for staff to identify food allergens.
*For Elementary students and staff: We ask that NO foods that contain peanuts or peanut butter be brought into the school. This includes any pre-packaged foods and personal lunch items.
You can help staff and the school by taking advantage of opportunities to learn more about food allergies and by helping your child understand the foods they freely enjoy can be dangerous to others. Equally important, however, is to let them know they can support their classmates by eating and handling food responsibly.
Here are a few suggestions for you as parents:
Never take food allergies lightly; they can be serious and life-threatening
Please ask your child’s teacher about the birthday treat policy PRIOR to bringing in any treats and make sure they are pre-packaged ONLY
Ask your child’s friends what they are allergic to and help them avoid it
Tell your child “do not share your snack or lunch with classmates”
Frequent hand washing reduces the spread of viruses during the school year and helps protect food allergic students
Wash hands thoroughly after eating
Wash surfaces and hands before handling library books, textbooks, or school equipment
Similarly, use good hygiene before and after school
We realize this causes some of you inconvenience, and appreciate your cooperation and flexibility in insuring the safety of all of our students! If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to your school nurse. Thank you so much for your understanding and cooperation!
For an approved snack list- look under FORMS on this website on the left corner.
MOC-FV School Nurses
*Due to new OTC medication policy, you as the parent, may give permission via Infinite Campus for the school nurse and health associates to give certain over the counter medications at school. These medications include: Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Tums, Cough drops, and antibiotic ointment. When logging on to your parent portal in Infinite Campus, the ‘Health Questionnaire and Consent’ will be listed on the main page. Please contact school nurse Karina Nonnemacher for any questions about the consent and contact Cathy Van Es at the OC elementary office if you have not yet set up a parent portal.
~IMPORTANT~
INFLUENZA is contagious 1 day prior and 5 days after onset of symptoms. Per Dr and IDPH recommendation, and school guidelines, if your child is diagnosed with INFLUENZA, they are required to stay home through the 5 days of symptoms. If guided otherwise by a Dr, ARNP, or PA, we ask that you please provide a health provider's note for early return to school. Thank you for you flexibility, and efforts to keep all kids healthy.
Influenza Fact Sheet
(taken directly from IDPH site)
EPI Update for Friday, January 5, 2018 Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology (CADE) Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH)
Influenza widespread in Iowa, antiviral reminder
Influenza activity and geographic spread in Iowa are increasing significantly and 21 influenza outbreaks in long-term care facilities have been investigated so far this season. Outpatient visits for influenza-like illness were higher last week than last season’s peak, and about 25 percent of the over 2000 rapid flu tests done last week were positive for influenza. SHL confirmed influenza in131 of
158 samples sent to them last week; this is higher than last season’s peak week. Influenza A(H3) has been the predominant strain this season, accounting for 390 of 502 (78%) positive results.
Seasons when A(H3N2) virus pre-dominate are associated with high levels of hospitalizations and deaths among all ages, but especially the elderly and very young children. Thus, it is important to use antiviral medications, both for treating and preventing influenza. Antiviral treatment is recommended to start as early as possible for any patient with confirmed or suspected influenza who is hospitalized, has severe complicated or progressive illness, or is at high risk for influenza complications. Influenza antiviral medication can also be used as post- exposure prophylaxis in certain situations, such as during influenza outbreaks in long-term care facilities.
For more information on antiviral use for influenza,
visit www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/antivirals/summary-clinicians.htm.
To view the IDPH press release, visit idph.iowa.gov/News/ArtMID/646/ArticleID/158197/Flu-Deaths-Rise-in-Iowa-1518.