Health Services

Our Health office is staffed on school days 8:15a-3:15p. The school nurses will discuss any medical problem related to your child with you and may contact you regarding any prolonged absences.  Please fill out the enrollment information form. You can also get this form from the elementary or high school office. Please include an emergency contact, if the parent/guardian cannot be reached.    

Please do not hesitate to contact us for any reason. We are here to support and maintain the health & safety of students.

Jodi Seelhammer
RN  
jseelhammer@nymills.k12.mn.us

Health Screening


Vision and Hearing Screenings are done in the fall.  Vision and Hearing screens are done on grades 1st ,3rd ,5th ,7th ,9th & 11th..  New students are also screened if records do not have screening results for the last year.  and any student by special request from teacher or parent.  Students not passing hearing or vision are rescreened at a later date, if they do not pass re-screening, parents are notified. 

Accidents & Injuries

 

  • Please report any injury to the school nurse. Every effort will be made to contact parents/guardians for a serious injury. If parents/guardians cannot be reached, we will contact the emergency contact that you have provided.
  • Parents/guardians of any child with health problems, which might cause a health emergency, should be certain to notify the school of the problems and the procedures that would need to be followed should the child become ill at school.

HEALTH RECORDS

  • A health record for each school child is required by law in Minnesota. An update form will be sent home with the student periodically so that his/her health history may be kept current. If your child experiences a change in health status, please notify the school nurse at 385-4216.
  • Please send a copy of any Physician orders regarding care for your child.

RESTRICTIONS AT SCHOOL

 

  • Physical Education is a regular part of our school curriculum. If a child has an injury or illness that requires that they be excused from activity in physical education for more than 3 consecutive days, a physician’s order is required and should be sent to the nurse and PE teacher.
  • Any child well enough to attend school should be well enough to participate in recess: Fresh air and activity are important to learning.  As long as a child is dressed appropriately for the weather, it is not detrimental to their health to go outside for recess. All students should bring hats and mittens to wear if the weather is cool. If recess accommodations are needed, please consult with your physician and meet with our staff to develop an appropriate plan.

REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS

 

Minnesota Statues require that all children entering a Minnesota public, private or parochial elementary school, daycare setting or nursery school for the first time must be immunized against the following:

  • Diphtheria
  • Tetanus
  • Pertussis
  • Polio
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella
  • Hepatitis B
  • Chicken pox
  • Meningococcal (7-12th grade)

These requirements may be waived only if a notarized medical or conscientious exemption form is filed with the school.

For your child to enter school it is mandatory that an immunization form be completed, signed and on file prior to admission at the school your child will attend. The information you provide on this form will be available to the local public health agency and the Minnesota Department of Health to determine if your child has received the required immunizations.

MEDICATIONS

 

  • Students will be given prescription medication by the health services department only if a licensed physician prescribes it, it is in the original container, and there is written parent/guardian permission to follow the doctor’s order. All over-the-counter medication must be in the original container, and a Medication Authorization form must be completed, i.e. cough drops, antacids, Tylenol.  All medications brought to school must be kept in the health services department. An exception would be a medication kept with the student once approved by the school nurse with proper doctor’s orders, i.e. inhalers, insulin pump, epi-pen. You may get a copy of the required form below, or stop in the health office to pick up.
  • If a student has a temperature of 100 degrees or higher, or is determined to be too ill to be in school for the day (diarrhea, vomiting, suspicious rash, chronic coughing, etc.), the parent/guardian will be called to pick up their child. If unable to reach parents, the emergency contact, you have provided, will be notified.
  • To accommodate high school students who need to carry a medication, be it over the counter or prescription, we now have forms in the office that parents and/or physicians need to complete and turn into the school nurse for approval and for her to keep on file. Whether or not a student can carry a medication during the school day depends on approval of the school nurse. There are specific guidelines which must be followed on school grounds and during school activities. After approval all medications must be in there original container (no baggies, medicine boxes etc.) This will need to be done each school year.

SEND STUDENT HOME GUIDELINES

  • A child showing any indications of being ill before leaving for school should be kept at home.  Parents/guardians will be asked to take their child home whenever their child displays any of the following symptoms: temp over 100 degrees, vomiting, diarrhea, suspicious skin lesions, live head lice, or any other signs of illness.  The parent will be notified to make arrangements for their child to go home.  No child will be sent home without their parents first being contacted.  Before returning to school, students need to have a normal temp for 24 hours, without a fever-reducing medication, free of vomiting and diarrhea for 24 hours.  If on a medication for a contagious condition, such as strep throat, they must be on antibiotics for 12 hours before returning.
  • The Epidemiology Unit and Hennepin County Human Services manual informs administrators, childcare providers, caregivers, parents and guardians, and school health staff about specific infectious disease problems they may encounter in the childcare setting or in schools. This manual is designed to provide specific disease prevention and control guidelines that are consistent with the national standards put forth by the American Public Health Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.  This guide can also be accessed at the Hennepin County, MN - Infectious Diseases website