Jenny Gaskill, Nurse
School nursing is a healthcare specialty requiring specific expertise in nursing, public health, and education. Our school nurses are licensed, registered nurses educated to address the wide range of health topics that impact children at school: If you do not see your child’s grade level in the list below, then no additional health forms or immunizations are required. If you are new to the district or the state and have specific questions, please contact your school nurse or your healthcare provider. Preschool Kindergarten 3rd Grade 7th Grade 9th Grade 12th Grade Students with the following symptoms will be sent home: Parent/Guardian Responsibility When to Come to School and Why Attendance Matters Administration of Medication to Students – Parental Authorization and Release Form If medication is to be administered at school, the above school form must be filled out and signed by the parent/guardian. Additional forms may be obtained at the school’s health office. The medication must be in the original container that is labeled by the pharmacy or the manufacturer with the name of the student, name of the medication, time of day that it is to be given, dosage, and duration. Over-the-counter medication as provided by parent/guardian such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, cough drops, etc. requires parent/guardian’s written permission and must be brought in the original labeled container with specific directions. For any ongoing medication, longer than ten days, a physician must sign this request. The school nurse may determine that an over-the-counter medication–including food supplements and herbals, ordered by a parent–could be detrimental to the student, and thus may refuse to administer it. Students in grades K-5 must supply all medications to be given at school with parent/guardian consent. Elementary schools will not have stock medications available. The authorization form is available on the district’s website under the forms section above or in the Health Offices. Students in grades 6-12 may receive up to six doses per school year of either acetaminophen or ibuprofen, at the nurse’s discretion, with parent/guardian consent. After the six doses, the parent will need to provide medication for their student and a new permission slip. If the school nurse determines the over‐the‐counter medication could be detrimental to the student, the nurse may refuse to administer the medication. The authorization form is available on the district’s website under the forms section above or in the Health Offices. State education laws require that all students be enrolled in and participate in a course of Physical Education. Students are required to participate in all PE classes. If a physician feels that a student should not participate or should only participate on a limited basis, parents must obtain a note from the physician with all restrictions noted and give this to the school nurse. Once the student is cleared by their physician to return to all activities, a clearance note must be given to the school nurse. In the case of an unexpected injury or illness, the school nurse may determine if a student is unable to participate in PE activities. Students will be expected to go outside at recess each day unless there are individually approved circumstances or inclement weather conditions. If the student has returned from a lengthy illness, he/she may be held in from recess for no more than two days without a doctor’s note. Appropriate clothing for the existing weather conditions at the time is a must. Waukee Community School District follows treatment guidelines for managing head lice developed by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Current guidelines state the following: “Children should remain in school for the rest of the day if head lice are detected. Notify parents by phone, provide educational materials on treatment, and review treatment protocols. It is reasonable to expect that treatment is started before the child returns to school the next day.” To keep the incidence of head lice from being transmitted, parents are asked to check all family members for head lice regularly and to treat those found to have live lice or new eggs. If lice are found, parents are asked to notify the school nurse so that the incidence of lice in the school can be monitored. If you have questions about the district’s head lice guidelines or need assistance in the treatment of lice, please contact your school nurse. As a part of our established procedure of accounting for students each day, we would appreciate you calling the school secretary by 9 a.m. if your child will not be attending school that day or will be late. You may also choose to leave a message on the voicemail system at your child’s school prior to 8 a.m. or anytime after 4 p.m. Iowa Code, Chapter 139a.8(6) and Iowa Administrative Code, 641-7.7(139) outline the immunization requirement for students attending licensed child care centers and elementary or secondary schools. Students shall have received the required immunizations and submit the Iowa Department of Public Health Certificate of Immunization or have a valid Certificate of Immunization Exemption, or Provisional Certificate of Immunization. Specific grade-level health requirements are listed in the Health Forms section above. If you have questions, please reach out to your school nurse or your healthcare provider.
General Required Health Forms
Required Health Forms for Athletic Participation
All Students in 8th-12th Grade Participating in Athletics
Parents/Guardians will be responsible for communicating information to the office staff and school nurse regarding illnesses, accidents, medication, physical education restrictions, communicable diseases, treatments, or pertinent medical and dental information. Parents are also responsible for informing the school of any changes of information on the health and emergency forms to include emergency contacts. It is important for school staff to be able to contact parents/guardians in a timely manner
Any day children are free from any of the concerns listed above, they should be at school! While we certainly understand that illnesses and special circumstances are bound to happen, especially with children, please do your best to help your children be at school every day. Avoid scheduling appointments during the school day, when possible. Here are a few things to keep in mind when considering your child’s school attendance:
