Health Information
The goal of the Health department is to provide health services to students and staff who are ill, as well as to promote health and safety for all our students. Please feel free to contact one of our nurses, or your building secretary, for answers to questions you might have regarding your student's health needs.
Katelin Ferguson, RN, BSN
Middle School Nurse - also provides nursing services at Davis Elementary
641-236-2751
Kim Weber, RN, BSN
High School Nurse - also provides nursing services at Bailey Park & Fairview Elementaries.
641-236-2720
Illness at School
Illnesses/Injuries At School- Our primary goal is to protect the health of our students, families, faculty and staff. Ways that you can help to minimize the spread of illness at your child’s school are:
- Teach your child about good hand washing and cough hygiene practices.
- Let the school nurse know if your child has a medical condition that could make them more susceptible to becoming ill.
- Plan for how your child will be cared for if they need to remain home from school due to illness. Students with the following symptoms should remain home or may be sent home from school:
- An oral temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Note: The child’s temperature must remain below 100 degrees for 24 hours without benefit of use of fever reducing medications before they can return to school.
- Vomiting- should be free of symptom for 24 hours before returning to school.
- Diarrhea- should be free of symptom for 24 hours before returning to school.
- Persistent nasal congestion, reddened eyes, sore throat, cough or headaches that disrupt the student’s learning or pose a risk of disease transmission to others.
- Unexplained skin eruptions or rashes. When in doubt, consult your child’s doctor.
- Any other health condition that in the school nurses judgment is of concern for the others health and wellbeing and that of the child.
- Communicable illnesses in which you have been advised to remain out of school until cleared to return by the county health department or your child’s doctor.
Click here for more information on Iowa Department of Public Health's guidelines for child illness and attending school.
The school nurse or other school representative will contact you if your child becomes ill or seriously injured at school. If a parent cannot be reached, other individuals listed on the emergency form will be contacted. For the child’s safety, students will be released only to adults whose names appear on the emergency form. It is very important that you notify school when there are changes to emergency contacts of health care providers. Children should not attend school if they have had diarrhea or vomiting the past 24 hours, or have and an undiagnosed rash, or have an uncontrolled cough. Your child’s temperature should be maintained without the benefit of medication under 100 degrees for 24 hours before returning to school.
To minimize the spread of illness among students, report communicable diseases such as influenza, measles, whooping cough, hepatitis A, tuberculosis, chickenpox etc. to the school nurse immediately.
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Information on Illnesses:
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Health Screening Information
All kindergarten and third grade students are asked to provide proof of a vision screening. All students entering 7th grade have to show proof of a Tdap booster after age 10 years or have a medical or religious exemption. Iowa law requires that any child who is entering kindergarten or ninth grade must provide a Certificate of Dental Screening. The purpose of this law is to improve the oral health of Iowa’s children. Grinnell Public Health holds dental screenings on the 3rd and 4th Tuesday of the month. Services offered along with the dental screening include assistance in obtaining dental services, as well as outreach information for uninsured or underinsured children.
Vision screening (grades K and 3rd only)
The purpose of the child vision screening program is to improve the eye health and vision of Iowa’s children. The child vision screening program establishes a comprehensive vision evaluation effort to facilitate early detection and referral for treatment of visual impairment in order to reduce vision impairment in children.
Vision screening form --- here
School-Parent Communication
In order to provide the best care possible to your child, it is important that the school nurse receive updated information about your child’s health status at the beginning of each school year and as needed if the child’s health status should change. Please take a minute at school registration each year to complete the health and medical portions of online registration. Be sure the let the school nurse know of any changes to your emergency contact information. If your child has a health plan please stop by the office at the beginning of each year to review and sign the plan.
Health Forms
If you student requires medication, please submit the Medication Administration Form.
To view the following information, click on the link:
Life Threatening Food Allergies
Dental Screening
Head Lice
Meningitis Vaccine
