School Nurse

Keeping children home when they are unwell helps protect the health of all students and staff. Please keep your child home is they experience one of the following:

Fever

A temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. Keep your child home until they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication (e.g., Tylenol or Ibuprofen).

Vomiting or Diarrhea

One of more episodes of vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours. Wait until your child can eat and drink normally and is symptom-free for at least 24 hours before returning.

Severe Cough or Difficulty Breathing

A persistent, uncontrollable cough or wheezing. Shortness of breath not caused by an underlying condition like asthma.

Exacerbation of Asthma

Making it difficult for your child to participate in normal school day activities.

Rash

Any new or unexplained rash. Consult with your healthcare provider for diagnosis and to rule out any contagious conditions.

Unexplained Illness

Which causes extreme fatigue or inability to participate in regular activities.

When in Doubt

If you are unsure of whether or not your child should stay home, contact your healthcare provider or the school nurse before sending your child to school. Concerns about school choice status, missing out on parties, field trips, or other special events should not outweigh the importance of keeping your sick child home to prevent exposing others to illness. Thank you for helping us keep our school a healthy and safe environment for everyone!

Children enrolling in Delaware Public Schools must comply with several health requirements:

Immunizations

1. 5 or more doses of DTaP or DTP Td vaccine (unless 4th dose was given after the 4th birthday).
2. 4 doses of IPV or OPV (unless 3rd dose was given after the 4th birthday).
3. 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine.
4. 2 doses of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccine.
5. 2 doses of Varicella or a written disease history by a licensed healthcare provider.
6. Students entering 9th grade must additionally have 1 dose of TDaP and 1 dose of meningococcal vaccine.

Physical Examination

Students must have a physical exam completed by a healthcare provider within two years of the date of enrollment.

Lead

Children entering Kindergarten or at age 5 or younger must provide documentation of lead blood test.

Tuberculosis

Students must provide tuberculosis screening results within the last 12 months.

 

All of the above immunizations and health requirements must be turned in within 14 days of enrollment for your child to continue attending school (military families have 30 days to meet health compliance requirements).

1. All medications must be brought to the nurse by a responsible adult and require parental consent. There are exceptions for emergency, life-saving medications that have been pre-arranged with the nurse, parent, and student with proper consents.
2. Prescription medications must be brought to the nurse by a responsible adult, in the original pharmacy labeled container, and label should be dated within 1 year.
3. Over-the-counter medications must be in the original container and brought to the nurse by a responsible adult. Over-the-counter medications will only be administered as directed on the medication package instructions.
4. All medications must be unexpired. Please double check your dates and make note of when they expire. It is the responsibility of the parent to bring in refills for expired medications.

Medication Permit form

Position Statement on Head Lice

Physical Examination Grades 7 - 12

You may use this form to meet school entry health requirements.

DIAA Physical

If your student wishes to play a sport, and athletic physical must be completed on a DIAA physical form any time after April 1st for the current school year.

Permission for Medicatoins During School

Nemours Link School Health Collaboration

This can be an invaluable tool where the child, family, school nurse, and Nemours providers can work together to achieve the best, safest care possible for your student.

Consent Form for Nemours Link

Vision, hearing, and Postural screenings will be conducted as required by Delaware State Regulation 815.

Why is screening important?

Hearing

The ability to communicate effectively impacts the well-being of a child, in terms of education, physical and social development. Early identification and intervention of hearing loss is critical in supporting speech/language development and full participation in the learning process. Even mild hearing losses may be educationally and medically significant.

Vision

Vision problems are common amongst school aged children and adolescents. If vision problems are not detected and treated early, they can lead to permanent vision loss and learning difficulties. When a child has an undiagnosed vision problem, it makes it much harder for them to succeed in school, sports, social situations, and in life.

Postural and Gait

Delaware students in grades 5 through 9 have been screened annually to detect orthopedic problems such as scoliosis. Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine. This thirty-second screening may result in early detection and treatment, consequently avoiding surgical correction.

What grades will my child be screened?

Vision and hearing screenings will be conducted for students in grades K, 2, 4, and 7 during their time at Welch Elementary and DABM. Additionally, screenings will be provided for all new students entering Delaware public schools and any students being evaluated for special services.

Postural screenings will be conducted for all students every year in grades 5, 6, 7, and 8 during their time at Welch Elementary and DABM.

Chronic Health Conditions

Please notify the school nurse of any chronic health conditions (asthma, diabetes, food allergies, epilepsy, etc.) so that I can partner with you, your child, your health care providers, and school staff to ensure your child is safe, healthy, and prepared for success.

1. Please ensure your provide the school nurse with current, unexpired medications (to include inhalers, Epipens, diabetes medications, epilepsy medications, etc.)
2. Please provide an updated action plan or school orders every school year.