Student Health

School Health Requirements

All students are required by Ohio law to have current health information and emergency telephone numbers on file where the parent/guardian(s) can be reached during the school day. At the beginning of each academic year, or with any changes, it is the parents/guardians responsibility to log onto FinalForms and update their child's important health and contact information.

School nurses support students by focusing attention on students’ physical health and wellness. Nurses in each building administer medications, manage student medical alerts, care for sick or injured students, and perform vision and hearing screenings.

Our school nurses, both Valley View employees and our contracted nurses, manage the operations of school health clinics in each building. Health-related forms are available below, and the nurses will answer any questions you may have.

Medical Forms

Asthma Action Plan

Chronic Illness Form

Diabetic Care Plan

Dietary Accomodations Form

Special Diet Accomodation Form

If your child has a food allergy or a condition that falls under the ADA that requires accommodation, please have a physician fill out a FARE form. Our cafeteria cannot accommodate dietary preferences, only medical conditions that require a substitution. For example, if your child is lactose intolerant, please have a physician fill out this form so a substitution may be made.

Completed forms should be turned in to the nurse's office and the pertinent information will be sent to Michelle Gephart, Director of Food Service. As always, please contact your building nurse with any questions or concerns.

Food Allergy/Anaphylaxis Plan

Health History Form

Inhaler or Epi-Pen Self-Carry

Medication Policy

We can dispense PRESCRIPTION & OVER-THE-COUNTER medication to students only under the following conditions:

For over-the-counter medications, a parent/guardian must complete and sign a Request for Administering Medication form which will be kept on file in the office.
For prescription medications, the prescribing health care provider must complete and sign a Request for Administering Medication form which will be kept on file in the office.
ALL medications must be brought to the office by a parent/guardian and must be in the original container in which it was dispensed by the pharmacy.
The school nurse and/or trained personnel dispense medications.
Inhalers and Epipens may be kept in the possession of students if needed. An Asthma Inhaler or Epipen Student Carry form must be completed and signed by the health care provider and parent/guardian which will be kept on file in the office. These forms are linked below.

All medications, if possible, should be administered at home before or after school.

Oral Health Assessment

Over the Counter Medication

OTC Medication request form (fillable or download and complete)

To use the Fillable PDF, tap the link above, complete the form, download WITH YOUR CHANGES, and send the file as an attachment to VV.nurse1@valleyview.k12.oh.us

REMINDER: Students are not permitted to transport or carry any medication other than approved inhalers. Doing so will result in discipline for the student.

Physical Health Assessment

Request to Administer Prescription Medication

Health Information

Immunizations

Immunization Requirements for ALL Valley View students:
Ohio Law requires that students have certain vaccines in order to attend school. The law also requires that parents give an immunization record to the nurse no later than 14 days from the first day of school. Students who do not have the required immunizations, or have not turned in an immunization record may not be allowed to attend school. If your child’s immunization are not complete, but you are in process of completing the requirements, your child may remain in school with authorization from the nurse.

All grade levels: Students in all grade levels are required by the Ohio Department of Health to have the required immunizations for school attendance. The state does not require a COVID-19 vaccination at this time.

The following documents will be accepted as evidence of a student’s immunization history: an official school record from a previous school, a record from a public health department or a record signed or stamped by a licensed prescriber/medical office. All records must list the month/day/year of each immunization.

For incoming seventh graders: If your child will be in the seventh grade this school year, the Ohio Department of Health requires two vaccinations in addition to those your child received prior to school entry: 1) Tdap booster vaccine within the past five years (2020 or later) and 2) Meningococcal vaccine BEFORE the first day of school. If your student has had one dose of this vaccine at any time AFTER age 10 and prior to this school year, this requirement has been met. If you have questions, please contact the school nurse at your child’s middle school. Click here to download the seventh-grade vaccination form.

For incoming seniors: Students now must be vaccinated against meningococcal disease (MCV4) prior to entering their 12th grade school year. If the first dose of meningococcal was given on or after the student's 16th birthday, the second dose is not required for his/her senior year. Students who have received these vaccines should immediately turn in their immunization record to the school clinic. Records can be submitted by email, fax, mail or brought to CHS Central Unit or CHS clinic. If you have questions, please contact the school nurse at CHS.

Waivers: The state of Ohio does allow for a parental waiver for those with a philosophical, religious or medical reason why their child(ren) cannot safely be vaccinated due to medical conditions.

vaccination waiver form

fillable waiver form

To use the fillable form, click the link, fill in all applicable fields, SAVE THE FILE WITH YOUR CHANGES, and include it as an attachment in an email to the Nurse: VV.nurse1@valleyview.k12.oh.us

Ohio Immunization Summary for School

Mental Health Services

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Pertussis (whooping cough) is spread through contact with the germs when an infected person coughs them into the air. It starts out as cold symptoms with a mild cough and the cough becomes more severe. The coughing episodes can last from 4-6 weeks and often occur more frequently at night. If your child has a cough, or if you have any concerns regarding your child's health, contact your child's physician. Early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment help reduce the severity of pertussis, as well as preventing the spread of the disease.

Vaccines are available for persons of all ages to protect against pertussis. Check with your family's vaccine provider to ensure everyone is up-to-date with their pertussis vaccine.

If you or your doctor have further questions, please contact Public Health-Dayton and Montgomery County at 937-225-5700.

CDC Pertussis Information

Vision & Hearing Screening

Valley View Schools nurses will provide hearing and vision screenings according to the Ohio Department of Health guidelines as follows:

Hearing Screening
Preschoolers attending a school-based program shall be screened each year he/she is enrolled in preschool. Children who cannot be screened using approved and/or optional methods shall be referred for a complete medical/audiological evaluation.

School-aged students shall have their hearing screened at six grade levels: kindergarten, first, third, fifth, ninth and 11th.

In addition, the following students shall be screened annually or upon occurrence:

Students new to a school (and not tested within the past 12 months)
Students referred by a teacher or other school personnel
Students who were referred within the past year with no documented follow-up, regardless of grade
Students absent during the previous hearing screening
Students at risk for noise exposure (e.g., band, vocational education, industrial education, automotive mechanics)
Students who request a hearing screening
Students whose parent/caregiver requests a hearing screening
Preschool students attending a school-based program shall be screened each year he/she is enrolled in preschool. Students who cannot be screened using approved and/or optional methods shall be referred for a complete medical/audiological evaluation.

Vision Screening
Students to be screened:

Students in kindergarten, first, third, fifth, seventh and ninth grades, according to the tests and methods in this document.
All new and transfer students regardless of grade
All hearing-impaired students, annually
All students referred by a teacher
Preschool-age students enrolled in school-based programs upon entrance to the program and every year before entering school
Students who request a vision screening
Students of parents who request a vision screening

Note

Vision and hearing screenings are done to help facilitate early detection of health impairments. The screenings are not examinations. If a student does not pass the screening, a referral will be sent home with the recommendation that the parent/guardian make an appointment with a medical professional who will examine the child and determine if any treatment is required. If there are concerns regarding a child’s hearing or vision, a screening can be performed if requested by a teacher, parent, or other school personnel.

Handwashing Tips

Please remember and remind students that frequent handwashing can help slow the spread of many communicable diseases.

CDC Handwashing Guide

Guidelines for Keeping Children Home from School

Deciding when to keep your child home from school can be difficult. When a child is sick and needs to stay at home, parents should contact the school attendance line and describe the illness and symptoms. It is important for the health of all students, staff, and families that your child is not at school when sick. The timing of the absence is often important in order to decrease the spread of disease to others, and to prevent your child from acquiring any other illness while his/her resistance is lowered. The following guidelines represent the more common childhood illnesses.

Chicken Pox
Chicken pox is a skin rash consisting of small blisters which leaves scabs. A slight fever may or may not be present. There may be blisters and scabs all present at the same time. Your child should remain home until all blisters have scabbed over, usually 5-7 days after the appearance of the first crop of blisters.

Common Cold
Irritated throat, watery discharge from the nose and eyes, sneezing, chilliness and general body discomfort. Your child should remain home if symptoms are serious enough to interfere with your child’s ability to learn. Medical care should be obtained if symptoms persist beyond 7-10 days, fever develops, or nasal discharge becomes yellow or green.

Fever
If your child’s temperature is 100° or greater (or 1 or 2 degrees above the child’s normal temperature) he/she should remain home until he/she has been without fever for a full 24 hours. Remember fever is a symptom indicating the presence of an illness.

Flu
Abrupt onset of fever, chills, headache and sore muscles. Runny nose, sore throat, and cough are common. Your child should remain home from school until symptoms are gone and the child is without fever for 24 hours.

Head Lice
Lice are small grayish-tan, wingless insects that lay eggs called nits. Nits are firmly attached to the hair shafts, close to the scalp. Nits are much easier to see and detect than lice. They are small white specks which are usually found at the nape of the neck and behind the ears. Following lice infestations, your child may return to school after receiving treatment with a pediculicide shampoo, nits have been removed, and your clinic nurse has been contacted.

Impetigo
Blister-like lesions which later develop into crusted pus-like sores. Your child should remain home from school until receiving 24 hours of antibiotic therapy and sores are no longer draining.

Pain
If your child complains or if behavior indicates that he/she is experiencing persistent pain, he/she should be evaluated by a physician before he/she is sent to school.

Pinkeye
Redness and swelling of the membranes of the eye with burning or itching, matter coming from either eye, or crusts on the eyelids. Your child should remain home from school until receiving 24 hours of antibiotic therapy and discharge from the eyes has stopped. Spread of infection can be minimized by keeping the hands away from the face, using good hand washing practices, using individual washcloths and towels, and NOT touching any part of the eyes with the tip of the medication applicator while administrating the antibiotic ointment.

Skin Rashes
Skin rashes of unknown origin should be evaluated by a physician before your child is sent to school.

Strep Throat
Strep throat may begin with fever, sore and red throat, pus spots on the back of the throat, tender swollen glands of the neck. High fever, nausea and vomiting may also occur. Your child should remain home from school until receiving a full 24 hours of antibiotic therapy and until without fever or vomiting for 24 hours. Most physicians will advise rest at home 1-2 days after a strep infection.

Antibiotics ordered for strep infections are to be taken for 10 days or until all medication is gone. Only when these directions are followed correctly is the strep germ completely eliminated from the body, no matter how well the child feels after the first few days of receiving medication.

Vomiting and Diarrhea (Intestinal Viral Infections)
Symptoms can include stomachache, cramping, nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea, possible fever, headache, and body aches. Your child should remain at home until there is no vomiting, diarrhea or fever for a full 24 hours. If your child has had any of these symptoms during the night, he/she should not be sent to school the following day.

* CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

Stay home if you're sick!

Please keep your child home if they have any symptoms of flu or other illness, which could include congestion, runny nose, sore throat, headache, cough, fever or chills, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, loss of taste or smell, nausea or vomiting, and/or diarrhea.

Our school nurses also shared that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping children home from school for the following reasons:

A temperature of 100.4 degrees or above is generally recognized as a fever. Whether or not the student should attend with a temperature less than 100.4 degrees should include the student’s overall health status and other symptoms. Students must be fever-free for 24 hours without medication before returning to school.
They cannot participate comfortably in activities and/or pose a significant risk to themselves or others.
Their condition results in a need for care that is greater than staff members can provide without compromising the health and safety of other students.
They pose a risk of spreading harmful disease to others.
Some illnesses/injuries may justify exclusion from school until cleared by a healthcare provider (e.g. a student returning to school after surgery).

Return to School

When a person can return to school depends on the nature of the illness. In general, a child returning to school should be well enough to participate in school (e.g., can adequately manage improving cough and congestion on their own, not overly fatigued), and care of the returning child should not interfere with the school staff’s ability to teach or care for other students. Students and staff returning to school following an illness may still be contagious, but are likely to be less contagious as symptoms improve, depending on factors like duration and severity of illness. Parents and caregivers should consult their child’s healthcare providers with specific questions about their child’s condition or recovery.

For the general symptoms described in the stay at home when sick section of this guidance, policies can allow return to the school setting when:

The child has not had a fever (and is not using fever-reducing medicine) for at least 24 hours.
Fever with a new rash has been evaluated by a healthcare provider and fever has resolved.
Uncovered skin sores are crusting, and the child is under treatment from a provider.
Vomiting has resolved overnight and the child can hold down food/liquids in the morning.
Diarrhea has improved, the child is no longer having accidents or is having bowel movements no more than 2 above normal per 24-hour period for the child. Bloody diarrhea should be evaluated by a healthcare provider before return.
Respiratory virus symptoms are improving overall for at least 24 hours. Students and staff returning after a respiratory illness can consider additional actions to reduce spread.

State and local health departments may have additional guidance for staying home when sick and return to school considerations for some illnesses; schools should refer to those policies, in addition to this guidance. There may be instances when schools adjust illness exclusion procedures due to community disease spread (e.g., during an outbreak or pandemic or a time of excessive absences due to respiratory or gastrointestinal illness). Schools can describe these instances in their emergency operations plan (EOP) as part of a layered approach to preventing disease spread. Schools can also work in coordination with health departments and school health advisory teams to develop these plans.

Schools can establish policies and practices that support having students and staff stay home when sick and ensure that employees and families are aware of and understand these policies. In accordance with applicable laws and regulations, schools could:

Allow flexible, non-punitive paid sick leave policies and practices for staff.
Set policies to accommodate individuals who are sick and avoid incentivizing coming to school or work while sick.
Support children who are learning at home because they are sick.

Schools should carefully consider requirements for families to obtain notes from a healthcare provider for illness-related absences. Many common childhood illnesses can be managed at home. Visits made only to obtain a provider note can create undue burden on families and the healthcare system (e.g., caregivers might need to take additional time off from work or pay additional co-pays for these visits). Such requirements can disproportionately impact vulnerable populations and discourage illness-related absence.

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