Nurse's Office
PARENT INFORMATION
Flu Shot Clinic for Students Thursday, October 16th
Southwest Middle School will offer a voluntary “flu shot” (influenza vaccine) clinic on Thursday, October 16th, from 12:30 to 2:45 p.m. The influenza vaccine is one of the best ways to prevent getting “the flu” - a respiratory viral illness that can cause mild to severe illness. The Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) will administer the vaccine to those who have submitted the required consent form. Note: We will not be offering the FluMist nasal vaccine this year.
If you would like your student vaccinated during this clinic, complete the authorization form (see attachment below). Please complete a separate authorization form for each student to be vaccinated. Call Nurse Jacobs if you need a paper copy of the authorization sent home with your student. There is no cost for a student to receive the vaccine if they have either Medicaid, no health insurance, or any of the insurance plans listed on the second attachment.
Completed consent forms due by Wednesday, October 8th
Please return the completed authorization along with a copy of your health insurance card to Nurse Jacobs by Wednesday, October 8th, so that we can provide the VNA with an accurate count of the number of vaccines needed.
Illness Guidelines
Students should stay home from school if they have had any of the following symptoms:
- Fever of 100.4° or higher in the past 24 hours
- Bad or persistent cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing
- Vomiting or diarrhea in the past 24 hours
- Sore throat, with fever or swollen glands in the neck
- Undiagnosed rash with a fever or severe itching
- Symptoms of being sick, such as body aches, being unusually tired, and/or having a severe headache
Your child should also stay home if they are diagnosed with strep throat, bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye), or another bacterial infection, until they have been taking antibiotics for 24 hours and their doctor/ healthcare provider permits your child to return to school. We encourage you to seek medical attention when your child is sick and to follow your healthcare provider's recommendations about returning to school and other social activities.
If your child will be absent from school for any reason, it is important to call and notify the school office/attendance line of the reason for the absence. This helps us track illnesses among our students and assures us that your child is safe at home.
Health Issues
Please notify the nurse if your child has
- been diagnosed with a contagious disease (such as influenza, COVID, or strep throat),
- a health issue that may affect school performance (such as a concussion),
- had an injury, and has restrictions or needs temporary accommodations,
- had a follow-up appointment, and has new or ongoing recommendations from their doctor
- or has a new diagnosis or started a new medication
The school nurse will be the coordinator for sharing information with staff and creating appropriate accommodations
Parkway School District Medication Administration Policy
Middle school students are NOT allowed to carry or self-administer any medications, including over-the-counter medicines such as Tylenol, Advil, allergy medications, or eye drops. All medication, prescription and over-the-counter, must be stored in their original bottle/container in the Nurse’s office. All medication should be brought to school by an adult during normal school hours. All controlled substances, such as many medicines used to treat ADHD, will require an adult to sign a medication count form attesting to the number of pills delivered to the school nurse.
Prescription Medication and Ongoing Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medication: per Parkway School Board Policy, we require written authorization from the parent/guardian and the student’s doctor to administer medication to the student. Use the Authorization to Administer Medication form https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1736345316/parkwayschoolsnet/ykswfnmrekgfclalxquq/Authorization_to_Administer_Medication_form_Revised_052024.pdf
Short-Term Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medication: per Parkway School Board Policy, a parent may authorize the short-term use of OTC medication, adhering to the dosing directions on the label, for 5 days or less. Complete the Authorization to Administer Short-Term Over-The-Counter Medication Form. JHCD-R PARKWAY SCHOOL DISTRICT AUTHORIZATION TO ADMINISTER SHORT-TERM OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATION Name of Student
Exceptions, as required by law: students may carry an asthma rescue inhaler, an emergency EpiPen/AuviQ, or emergency diabetes medicine if they have the proper paperwork and approval from the school nurse.
Inhaler Self-Carry Authorization PARKWAY SCHOOL DISTRICT PERMISSION FOR STUDENT TO SELF-ADMINISTER MEDICATION BY METERED-DOSE INHALER FOR SCHOOL YEAR
Epinephrine Self-Carry Authorization PERMISSION FOR STUDENT TO SELF-ADMINISTER MEDICATION BY EPINEPHRINE AUTO INJECTOR FOR SCHOOL YEAR
Nurse Shanda Jacobs