nurse 12.4.24

Hello Sacred Heart Families-

It is hard to believe that we are nearly half way through another school year and that 2025 is just around the corner!

I wanted to send out some health policy remiders, as it can be easy to forget these guidleines as the year goes on.

1.  1. 1. Please keep children home when they are ill and until they are symptom free for at least 24 hours without the use of medication. This is our policy and is mostly non-negotiable. It is always best to err on the side of safety when potentially exposing a large group of people to a contagious illness. Please also include any pertinent information about your child’s illness, symptoms, pending tests/test results, etc.

2.     2. Please make sure your child is drinking enough water every day. They may bring a water bottle or drink from the water fountain. Water is vital for every bodily function and dehydration can be the cause for headaches and other preventable symptoms.

3.     3. Please, if your child will be absent, tardy or leaving early for the day, email the attendance email (attendance@shoj.org) or myself (mary.hugerford@shoj.org), as I enter the daily attendance. I will make sure the child’s homeroom teacher is aware of any absence.

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5.     4. If your student will need to be given a prescription medication during the school day, I will need the medication brought to me in a prescription bottle/box with the student’s name, medication, dose and time to be given. You will also need to initial the prescription medication consent line on the medication consent form. This includes inhalers and epi pens, for use as needed. Please also make sure prescription medications are not expired. I will not administer unlabeled prescription medications.

6.     5. If there is a need to give a non-prescription medication, such as allergy or cold medicine, that I do not have in the nurse’s office, please give it to your child at home before school. If there is a situation in which a non-prescription medication needs to be given during school hours, that I do not have on hand, please reach out to me to discuss--do not just send medication in. Refer to the emergency information and medical treatment consent form for the list of non-prescription medications that are available at school.

7.    6. There are to be no medications, prescription or over the counter, brought into school and used at the discretion of the student.

8.    7. Please make sure your child is eating breakfast, with an adequate amount of protein, each morning, especially on mass days. Please send nutritious snacks.

9.     8. If your child cannot participate in PE for any reason, we require a doctor’s note within two days. If the student has had an injury and comes in a brace or ace wrap, we need a doctor’s note regarding activity restrictions and when they can return to full play/PE.

I am so grateful for the wonderful community that I am blessed to be a part of here at Sacred Heart of Jesus! I thank you all for helping me to ensure that Sacred Heart is healthy and safe for our students and staff. Don’t ever hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Nurse Mary