Health & Wellness

When To Keep Your Child Home

Some illnesses or conditions require that a student be excluded from school until symptom free. Students with any of the following symptoms must be excluded from school:

1. Temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or above. Temperature must be below 100 degrees for 24 hours without fever reducing medicines for readmission to school.

2. Undetermined rash over any part of the body

3. Nausea and vomiting, or diarrhea

4. Sore throat with fever or swollen neck

5. Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)- your child can attend school 24 hours after starting medical treatment

Medication At School

Our clinics must have a Medication Consent Form on file for students requiring medication administered during school hours.

Medication must be in a prescribed container, properly labeled with the student's name, dosage, and time medication is to be given

Non-prescription medication must be sent to school in the original container with student's name written on the bottle by the parent/guardian. These medicines require a Medication Consent Form on file in order to be administrated.

Up to 10 doses of non-prescription medication may be given at school. After 10 doses, a doctor's note/prescription is required.

Parents are to drop off and pick up leftover medication at the nurse's office. Students are not permitted to carry medication with them in school or on the bus.

Immunization Requirements

The Texas Department of Health has ruled that students must be current with immunizations in order to attend school unless an exemption has been filed with the school in accordance with Texas Education Code, Health and Safety, Chapter 38.0001. Unless a child’s immunizations are current when school begins on August 16, 2017 parents will be asked to obtain the needed immunizations before their child is allowed to return to school.

A child or student shall show acceptable evidence of vaccination prior to entry, attendance, or transfer to a child-care facility or public or private elementary or secondary school, or institution of higher education.*

Vaccines, including the doses required, may vary in Texas from other states/countries. The requirements are most likely to affect your child if he or she has never attended school in Texas or is entering kindergarten or seventh grade, though students entering other grade levels may be impacted as well.

It is recommended that students receive the influenza vaccine for admission to school.

Please take special note of these requirements specifically:

7th - grade Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (3 dose primary series)
8th-12th grade Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (3 dose primary series)
7th-12th grade Meningococcal (1 dose)

* Source: The provisions of the Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 97, Title 25 Health Services, adopted to be effective April 1, 2004, 29 TexReg 3188

Conscientious Exemption

The law allows parents/guardians to choose an exemption from immunization requirements for reasons of conscience, including a religious belief. The completed and returned form from the Texas DSHS must be submitted to the school nurse in order for the student to be admitted. The school will accept only the original official affidavit forms developed and issued by the Texas DSHS. The affidavit will be valid for two years.

Click on the link below to obtain the affidavit for con exemption:

https://corequest.dshs.texas.gov/

Please note: In the case of an outbreak, an un-immunized child may be prohibited from school attendance.

Any form presented for conscientious objection to immunization must be presented before the student may start school and must be updated every two years by the anniversary date.

Health Forms

If one of the following diagnosis applies to your child, please fill out the form (with your physician's' signature) and return to the school nurse. We need an updated copy in the clinic at the beginning of every school year.

CDC Health Links

Bacterial Meningitis Flu Head Lice MRSA

Required Screenings

Required Screenings

Guidelines for the Care of Students At-Risk for Anaphylaxis

In accordance with Education Code 38.0151, Van Alstyne ISD has developed and implemented a food allergy management plan below.

Allergy and Anaphylaxis information developed by the Texas Department of State Health Services can be viewed on their website, including the Guidelines for the Care of Students with Food Allergies At-Risk for Anaphylaxis.

https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth/allergiesandanaphylaxis/