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HEALTH
SERVICES
School
Health Program and other information >
IMPORTANT
IMMUNIZATION INFORMATION
BEFORE
STARTING SIXTH GRADE,
All
students must receive a booster of Tdap vaccine
if at least five years have passed since the last dose of tetanus-containing toxoid. A medical exemption
is also acceptable. The Tdap booster is available from your physician. OR
The Fairfax County Health Department provides school immunizations
at no cost. Click on the link to get information on the Health Department
Clinic Sites
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/hd/hdclinicsite.htm
Download flier>
STUDENTS
CANNOT ATTEND SCHOOL WITHOUT REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS!
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Play
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School
Scene:
Tdap
Vaccine Requirements
All rising 6th graders need this important vaccine to start the
school year. |
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Good
health is essential to effective living and learning.
The school health program endeavors to promote health,
which is defined by the World Health Organization
as "...a state of complete physical, mental and social well being, not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity."
Physical, emotional, mental and social health problems affect a student’s
ability to learn. A comprehensive school health program has a positive
impact on the learning process by reducing health-related barriers to learning.
Furthermore, a comprehensive school health program enables students to
be knowledgeable about healthy lifestyles, and encourages them to utilize
the health care system to promote health and well-being.
Parents or guardians have the primary responsibility for the health of
students. The school health program supplements and reinforces parents'
or guardians’ efforts
by encouraging students to use existing private and/or public health resources
within the community to enhance their health status. Cooperation and collaboration
among school, community, and home are essential for successful school health
programs.
SCHOOL
HEALTH TEAM
The
majority of decisions related to health services in
the school require a combination of both administrative
judgment and clinical judgment. An interdisciplinary
school health team promotes joint planning, problem
solving, and sound decision-making. The team membership
may vary according to the issues of the school and/or
a specific student on the team agenda, but should include
the principal or designee, the public health nurse,
guidance staff, and others as appropriate.
ELEMENTS
OF THE SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAM
A
coordinated school health program has eight elements,
touching all aspects of the school experience and having
potential to have a significant impact on students'
health knowledge, attitudes, and values. Leadership
for each of these elements is provided by several departments
within the school system and by the health department.
The health department acts in a consultant role to
support the services provided by the divisions within
the schools.
1. Health Education provides
a sequential Pre K-12th grade instructional program addressing the physical,
mental, emotional, and social dimensions of health.
2. Physical Education serves
as a means for students to develop strength, coordination, and cardiovascular
and respiratory efficiency, as well as for social development, stress reduction,
and movement appreciation.
3. Health Services promotes
the health of students and school staff members through prevention, early
intervention, and remediation of specific health problems.
4. Counseling provides
broad-based prevention and intervention programs to promote the physical
and psychological health of students and faculty.
5. School Environment creates
and maintains facilities that enhance the physical and psychological well
being of students. It also provides school clinics to manage injuries and
illnesses of students and staff members.
6. School
Nutrition promotes good nutritional practices both within and outside the school settings
(breakfast and lunch programs and nutrition education
in the classroom).
7. Employee Assistance Program- (Staff Wellness) provides
school staff members with the opportunity to take active roles in maintaining
and achieving optimal physical and psychological health.
8. School and Community Agencies integrates
health and education professionals in the school and community to provide
and support improved school health programs.
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STUDENT
HEALTH SERVICES
SCHOOL ENTRANCE PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT
An
entrance physical assessment identifies physical, mental,
and emotional health problems that may interfere with
optimal learning. See current version of Fairfax County
Public Schools (FCPS) Regulation 2101, Physical Examinations,
Immunizations of Students, and Tuberculosis Screening
Requirements (http://www.fcps.edu/Directives/R2101.pdf).
IMMUNIZATIONS
To ensure that vaccine-preventable diseases do not interfere with learning,
before attending FCPS, all students, including preschool, FECEP/Head Start,
and summer school, must provide proof of immunizations against communicable
disease as outlined in the current version of FCPS Regulation 2101, Physical
Examinations, Immunizations of Students, and Tuberculosis Screening Requirements
(http://www.fcps.edu/Directives/R2101.pdf).
The principal will exclude those students who have not complied with the
required immunizations.
HEALTH ASSESSMENT
AND HEALTH INFORMATION FORM
To assess student health status annually in order to develop health plans
as needed, at the start of each school year or when a new student is enrolled
into FCPS, the parent or guardian provides the school with information
about any health condition that may impact the student in the school setting.
The parent or guardian should also share information when a health condition
changes.
SCREENING
Vision, hearing, speech, and fine and gross motor screenings provide for
early identification of students with disabling conditions. Additionally,
the public health nurse can do individual health screenings such as height,
weight, blood pressure, and scoliosis as requested by parents or guardians or
school staff members. A scoliosis fact sheet for parents or guardians is available at: http://www.fcps.edu/ss/StudentServices/StudentRegistration/scoliosis_factsheet.pdf.
MEDICATIONS
Although medication should be taken at home whenever possible, there are
cases in which medication must be taken during school hours in order to
meet student health needs. Students who require medication during the school
day must comply with FCPS Regulation 2102, First Aid, Emergency Treatment,
Health Plans, and Administration of Medication for Students (http://www.fcps.edu/Directives/R2102.pdf).
CARE OF
SICK AND INJURED
Temporary care is provided to sick and injured students and staff members.
Guidelines for care are based on those developed jointly by the Virginia
Department of Education and the Virginia Department of Health. Teachers,
administrators, clerical staff members, and/or clinic room aides provide
first responder care; thus, care is limited in scope and nature and is
provided only until the parent or guardian can assume the responsibility.
See current version of FCPS Regulation 2102, First Aid, Emergency Treatment,
Health Plans, and Administration of Medication for Students (http://www.fcps.edu/Directives/R2102.pdf).
STUDENTS
WITH INDIVIDUAL HEALTH NEEDS
In order to provide the least restrictive learning environment for students
with individual health needs in a medically safe setting with an educationally
sound program, specific health care procedures prescribed by a physician
to be provided during school hours are reviewed and approved for the school
setting as long as they can be safely provided by FCPS staff members. Some
students may be eligible for provisions under Section 504 of the rehabilitation
Act of 1973. See current version of FCPS Regulation 1454, Declaration of
Nondiscrimination--Students with Disabilities (http://www.fcps.edu/Directives/R1454.pdf),
and current version of FCPS Regulation 2104, Health Services-School Health
Related Needs (http://www.fcps.edu/Directives/R2104.pdf).
STUDENTS
WITH FOOD ALLERGIES
To provide a safe educational environment for a student with severe food
allergies, schools, parents/guardians, physicians, and the student must work
together. The school public health nurse will work with the family and physician
to develop an Individual Health Care Plan (IHCP) for the student. Annual
training is required for school staff. Parents or guardians enrolling a student
with severe allergies should contact the school principal as early as possible
so that a safe plan can be instituted.
The following links provide information regarding FCPS policies and procedures,
as well as additional resources.
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FCPS
Regulation 2102: Health and Welfare: First Aid,
Emergency Treatment,
and Administration of Medication for Students (See Attachment EpiPen
Authorization Form SS/SE - 64, page 13-14)
http://www.fcps.edu/Directives/R2102.pdf
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RECORDING
AND REPORTING FOR CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ISSUES
To preserve the safety and well being of students
by reporting suspicions of child abuse or neglect
to the appropriate protective services division
for further evaluation, any teacher, school staff member, or public
health
nurse who has reason to suspect that a student is a victim of child
abuse or neglect is obligated to report those
suspicions. See current version
of FCPS Regulation 2115, Procedures for Reporting Cases of Suspected
Child Abuse (http://www.fcps.edu/Directives/R2115.pdf).
CONTROL
AND MANAGEMENT OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
It is important to preserve the health of students
and staff members by preventing transmission
of communicable diseases. Identification and
control of communicable diseases in the school setting are multi-disciplinary
responsibilities.
Each particular disease, depending on the nature of transmission
and the severity of risk and illness, dictates the course of action
taken.
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