School Nurse

Clinic Philosophy

The school health program exists because our community cares about the health of its children. The purpose of the school is to educate. Students cannot achieve at their highest potential - sometimes they cannot learn at all - if they have health needs which are not being met.

The primary focus of school nursing is to make sure learning is not hindered by a correctable health problem and to help educate students toward worthwhile decisions affecting present and future physical, social and emotional health.

Our goal must be to educate students toward a high level of "wellness". Many of our present and future health problems can be prevented through learning the proper care of mind and body. Our task is to assist administrators, teachers and all other support personnel in helping each student achieve his or her optimum potential in a comfortable, caring school climate.

Every elementary student is weighed, measured and has a vision screening once a year. A hearing screening is given to students in kindergarten, first, third and fifth grades.
Vision and hearing referrals are sent home to the parent when a student fails the screening. Parents should follow-up on the referral in a timely manner in order to enhance their child's success in school.

Students who have been sent home should receive prompt treatment for lice and return to school the following day, if free of live organisms and nits (eggs). When returning to school, following removal of all live organisms and nits (eggs), the student must be accompanied by a parent/guardian and must report to the school nurse to have his/her hair checked before reporting to class.

Parents should check their child weekly for head lice. If head lice or nits (eggs) are found, the hair must be treated and nits removed before the child returns to school. Please call the school nurse to report the case.

State law and school district policy require appropriate documentation of the following immunizations for students in Texas elementary and secondary schools.

Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis

Polio

Measles (Rubeola)

Mumps

Rubella

Haemophilius Influenzae

Hepatitis B

Varicella

Proof of the above immunizations shall consist of personal records by a licensed physician or public health clinic with a signature or rubber-stamp validation. Documentation of immunizations must include day, month and year.

For more information about P.I.S.D. required immunizations, click here.
Más información en español aquí.

Prescription medication shall be delivered to the clinic by the parent or responsible adult. Students shall not carry medication on the school bus and shall not deliver medication to the clinic. It is the responsibility of the parent to see that the medicine is picked up from the school by a responsible adult at the end of the day or the end of the week, as appropriate.
Students disregarding these restrictions may be held in violation of the District's Drug Abuse Policy and shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

Consumption of soft drinks has steadily increased during the last fifteen years, with children ages 6 to 11 consuming almost 21 gallons a year. Instead of drinking milk during some of the prime bone building years, kids are choosing less nutritious, calorie-loaded beverages like soft drinks and fruit flavored drinks.

One of the most alarming results of this trend has been a declining intake of calcium, necessary in building strong bones. Calcium is easily obtained by drinking milk. For optimal bone growth, children age 9 to 11 need 1,300 mg. of calcium daily.

Milk makes the honor roll as one of kid's best beverage bets because, in addition to calcium for strong bones, it provides eight nutrients needed for healthy growth and development.

For more information about childhood nutrition, visit this National Dairy Council website.