Health Office
Nurse and Health Assistant
Redbird's school nurse, Elizabeth Hunter, RN, is in the health office on Monday, Thursday and every other Wednesday. Guadalupe Erran, Health Assistant, is in the health office five days a week. The health office is a busy place taking care of students’ illnesses, injuries and chronic health conditions. The nurse and health assistant are responsible for various screenings such as vision, hearing and blood pressure. Certain individual grades and students are targeted for these screenings. Health education topics such as growth and development and hygiene are taught to the 5th and 6th grade students. Besides health screenings and education, the nurse assists on the multidisciplinary team for special education placement and makes referrals to various agencies for medical care, dental care and social services.
Immunizations
Arizona law requires children to be up-to-date on their immunizations to attend school. Documented proof of required vaccinations is needed for students entering MPS. If an immunization would put your child at risk for medical reasons, you and the child’s physician must sign a Request for Exemption form. Personal or Religious Exemption forms are also available and can be obtained from the school health office. Exempt students will be excluded from school if there is an outbreak for which they have not been immunized. As of September 1, 2008 Arizona children 11 years and older entering 6th grade will be required to be vaccinated against meningococcal disease (with the quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine, MCV4) and pertussis (with the tetanus, diptheria and acellular pertussis vaccine, Tdap) prior to school entry if 5 years have passed since their last tetanus/diphtheria containing vaccination.
Medication and Dietary Supplements
School personnel are sometimes asked to administer medication to students during school hours. School personnel may cooperate if the following conditions are met:
1. All medication must come in its original container. Prescription medication must have an unaltered pharmaceutical label attached. Over-the-counter medication, dietary supplements and other non-prescribed medication must be labeled with the student’s name, medication name, dosage directions and time of day to be taken.
2. The parent must complete and sign a Parent’s Consent for Giving Medication at School. A new form must be completed at the beginning of each school year and anytime the medication or dosage changes.
3. Medication must be administered and stored in the health office.
4. The parent is notified when additional medication is needed and when unused or discontinued medication needs to be picked up from school.
To have medication administered at school, click here.
A student may carry and self-administer prescribed emergency medication or an inhaler if it is properly labeled and written parent consent has been provided to the school nurse or health assistant. No other medications, including over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements, may be carried unless an Individualized Health Care Plan has been developed and signed by the school nurse and school administrator. Self-medication plans may be developed for diabetic students with physician approval. Please refer to Governing Board Policy JHCD for more information.
Health and Accident Insurance
The district does not carry accident and health insurance for students’ medical or dental costs if they become sick or are injured during school-related activities. Parents are responsible for their children’s insurance.
An optional school-day accident and health policy is available for purchase at the beginning of the school year through a private agency. Information on the coverage and cost is provided to each student at the beginning of the school year.
Head Lice
MPS students must be free of head lice. It is important for parents to routinely check their children’s hair for lice. Lice are small insects about the size of sesame seeds. Nits are tiny yellowish-white oval eggs attached to the hair. Nits don’t come off easily like dandruff or lint.
Lice do not jump or fly. They are transmitted via head-to-head contact, and personal articles such as hats, combs and pillows. Please remind your children not to share such things with others.
When head lice are identified at school, the health office notifies parents of affected students and provides information on treatment of the hair and the household. Students may not return to school until treatment has commenced and the student is free of symptoms.