Health Room
- Welcome
- Health Concerns
- Immunizations
- Illness Guidelines
- Medication at School
- Special Dietary Needs
- Head Lice
- Nurse Office Tips
- Parent Resources
Welcome
Welcome! I hope you find the site helpful, informative, and user friendly.
For those I have not met yet, I am Vickie Stevens BSN, RN. I am the full time nurse at Manor Hill. I became the school nurse in August of 2006. Although I have been a nurse for several years, over half of my nursing career has been in school nursing. I have been and continue to be blessed with the opportunity to care for the students here at Manor Hill.
My priority is the health and safety of our students and staff. I appreciate any and all communication as it relates to the health and safety of your child. The health information shared with me about your child helps me know how to better serve your child's health care needs which in turn affects their educational needs.
Students come to school to be in class and learn. The School Nurse helps with this by encouraging children to be healthy. When students come to the nurse, their complaints will be checked out and treated as soon as possible, so they can go back to class. Students will be encouraged to stay in school if they are able. If they are found to be ill, however, parents will be called and the student will be sent home.
The School Nurse also provides health education, health assessments, identification of health problems, referrals for medical follow-up, and vision and hearing screenings. The School Nurse is an excellent resource for the entire school community.
Please feel free to contact me at any time during the school day at 816-736-5462 or by email: vickie.stevens@lps.53.org
Health Concerns
It is your responsibility as a parent/guardian to tell the school nurse about any health concerns or chronic health issues that your child may have. If your child has asthma, severe/life threatening allergies, diabetes, seizures, other chronic illness, or a physical or psychological condition, please talk with the nurse.
Students with chronic conditions of asthma, severe allergies requiring an EpiPen, seizures, and/or diabetes, are required by the school district to have an emergency action plan completed and signed by the student's doctor. These plans need to be on file with the nurse. The link below will take you to the LPS District Health Services Page where you will find the Severe Allergy Policy and Procedures Handbook as well as the emergency action plans for severe allergies, asthma, diabetes, and seizure disorders.
These forms need to be updated every year. CLICK HERE
If you have any questions or concerns about the health needs of your child, please feel free to call me. It is my goal to care for your child's needs in the best way I can. As the parent, you are a most important key to reaching that goal.
Immunizations
Missouri State Law requires that children must have up to date immunization records on file at school. It is your responsibility as the parent/guardian of your child to give the school the record with the month, day, year, and the name of the office or clinic of each immunization your child has received. If your child is missing the required immunization for school, your child WILL NOT be able to come to school until the needed immunization have been given and written proof is given to the School Nurse.
There are 2 reasons that the state will allow your student to come to school without the required immunizations:
- Medical Exemption - there is a medical reason your child cannot receive an immunization. You will need to get the exemption card from your child's doctor.
- Religious Exemption - it is your religious belief that your child should not get an immunization. You will need to call the Clay County Health Department to schedule an appointment to get the religious exemption card. Plan on at least 15 minutes for the appointment to receive information from the nurse and get the card. Clay County Public Health Department Phone Number is: 816-595-4256.
The School Nurse needs the actual card you get for either exemption (not a copy or faxed copy) before your child starts school.
A complete listing of the immunization requirements for school age children is available. CLICK HERE
Illness Guidelines
Please do not send your student to school if he/she has:
- a fever of 100 degrees or higher
- vomiting or diarrhea
- a deep or uncontrolled cough
- a rash
- a communicable (contagious) disease such as strep throat, pink eye, chicken pox, influenza, etc.
- If you are unsure of your child's symptoms, please call the School Nurse before sending him/her to school.
Your student may return to school when:
- he/she has been without fever (100 degrees or higher) for 24 hours without the use of medication
- he/she has not vomited or had diarrhea for 24 hours without the use of medication
- if your child has been given antibiotics by the doctor for a contagious illness (i.e. strep throat or pink eye), he/she must be on the antibiotic and symptom/fever free for 24 hours before returning to school.
- coughing is under control and your child is able to participate in the regular school day.
You will be notified if your child:
- becomes ill enough to be sent home from school
- has more than one visit to the nurse in the same day
- receives more than a minor injury
- for any other reason the School Nurse feels you need to be called.
It is your responsibility to make arrangements to pick up your sick or injured child as quickly as possible. It is very important that current and correct phone numbers (home, cell, and work numbers) are on file with the school office as well as emergency contact information. Per district policy, children are not allowed to walk home when sick or hurt.
Medication at School
Please try to give medications at home. There may be times when your child will need to take medication at school. Please read the LPS District Medication Administration Policy. You can find the District Medication Administration Policy at the link below.
Medication Administration Policy
All medications, including cough drops, ointments, etc., must be kept with the School Nurse in the Nurse Office. A signed district permission form to administer any medication must be on file with the School Nurse. You can find this form using the link below. The nurse cannot accept a note from the parent/guardian to serve as permission or to take the place of the medication form.
If your child is on a medication that needs to be taken at school, please talk to the School Nurse.
Special Dietary Needs
If your child needs substitutions or changes made to their school meal because of a dietary need, has a severe allergy, food intolerance, or medical condition requiring a special diet, a medical statement completed and signed by the child's doctor needs to be on file with Nutrition Services and the School Nurse. CLICK HERE
This form must be on file with Nutrition Services in order for your child's lunch account to be "flagged" with a health alert and for any changes to be made. Please contact the Nutrition Services Department with any questions 816-736-5375.
Head Lice
An estimated 6 to 12 million infestations occur each year in the United States, most commonly among children ages 3 to 11.[1] This letter is to help you learn how to identify lice and provide information on what you can do if your child is found to have lice.
Head lice are tiny, wingless insects that live close to the human scalp. They feed on blood. The eggs, also called nits, are tiny, tear-drop shaped eggs that attach to the hair shaft. Nits often appear yellowish or white, and can look like dandruff but cannot be removed or brushed off. The nymph, or baby louse, is smaller and grow to adult size in one to two weeks. The adult louse, the size of a sesame seed, appears tan to grayish-white in color. An itchy and inflamed scalp is a common symptom of lice. Although not common, persistent scratching may lead to skin irritation and even infection.1
Head lice are not related to cleanliness.[2],[3] In fact, head lice often infest people with good hygiene and grooming habits.2 Infestations can occur at home, school or in the community. Head lice are mostly spread by direct head-to-head contact—for example, during play at home or school, slumber parties, sports activities, or camp. Less often, lice are spread via objects that have been in recent contact with a person with head lice, such as hats, scarves, hair ribbons, combs, brushes, stuffed animals or bedding.1,3
If you think your child has head lice, it’s important to talk to a healthcare provider to discuss the best treatment approach for your family. Resistance to some over-the-counter head lice treatments has been reported, but the prevalence of resistance is not known.[4],[5] There are new prescription treatment options available that are safe and do not require nit combing.
Liberty Public Schools currently has a “no active infestation” policy. Please contact your school nurse if you think your child might have head lice.
[1] Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Parasites: Lice: Head Lice: Frequently Asked Questions. http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/gen_info/faqs.html. Accessed October 12, 2012.
[2] Meinking T, Taplin D, Vicaria M. Infestations. In: Schachner LA, Hansen RC, eds. Pediatric Dermatology, 4th ed. Mosby Elsevier; 2011:1525-1583.
[3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Head lice: epidemiology and risk factors. http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/epi.html. Accessed June 30, 2012.
[4] Burkhart CG. Relationship of treatment resistant head lice to the safety and efficacy of pediculicides.Mayo Clin Proc. 2004;79(5):661– 666.
[5] Meinking TL, Serrano L, Hard B, et al. Comparative in vitro pediculicidal efficacy of treatments in a resistant head lice population on the US. Arch Dermatol. 2002;138 (2):220–22
Lice Lessons educational initiative is made possible through collaboration with Sanofi Pasteur.
Information provided by National Association of School Nurses.
Nurse Office Tips
- Students are better learners when they have had a good night's rest and have had a good breakfast to start the day. A well balanced, healthy lunch will help sustain them throughout the day.
- Hand-washing is still the number one preventative measure for spreading germs/illness. 5 Steps = Wet-Soap-Scrub-Rinse-Dry https://www.cdc.gov/cdctv/healthyliving/hygiene/fight-germs-wash-hands.html
- Bathroom accidents do happen especially in the younger ages. Please keep a seasonally appropriate change of clothes in your child's backpack. Should your child need a change of clothes due to a bathroom accident and he/she does not have his/her own change of clothes, the nurse does have a limited supply of underwear and clothes to borrow. If borrowed, please launder the items and return to the nurse promptly.
- Please dress your student appropriately for school and for the weather. During the winter weather, please make sure your child has a coat, hat, and gloves. In the warmer weather, please avoid flip flops, sandals, heels, and open toed shoes. These types of shoes do not protect the students' feet from potential injury during recess and the school day.
Parent Resources
Growth and Development Books for Girls and Boys:
- The Care and Keeping of You: The Body Book for Younger Girls
- The Care and Keeping of You 2: The Body Book for Older Girls
- The Feelings Book: The Care and Keeping of Your Emotions
- Is this Normal? More Girls' Questions
- The Boys Body Book
- Guy Stuff: The Body Book for Boys