Health Services

• Reduce health-related barriers to learning and health related absenteeism thus improving student achievement.
• Promote the health, safety, and wellness of all students and staff at STRIDE Academy School.
• Promote a positive, collaborative relationship with students, families, colleagues, health care providers, and the community.
• Promote best practices in school health services through professional development and resources.

The use of specific, necessary medications during school hours will allow students to attend and remain in school, and will facilitate a level of wellness that will enhance student participation in the classroom. The school nurse, in collaboration with the parent or guardian, will establish a medication administration plan for each student receiving medication.

• All medications require a physician’s order and/or completed parental permission form. Without this, the medication is not given.
• All prescription medication must be pharmacy-labeled and not expired.
• All over-the-counter medication must be in the original packaging and will be given as per bottle directions unless accompanied by a physician’s order directing otherwise.
• Medications must be delivered to school by the parent, guardian, or responsible adult. Students are not allowed to transport medication unless it is medically indicated.
• All medication orders expire at the end of the school year. New medication orders are needed for the start of a new school year.
• Medications must be picked up at the end of the school year. Any remaining medication will be destroyed.

Regular health examinations help to ensure students are able to perform at their best during the school day. The following are STRIDE Academy requirements for physical examinations (Child & Teen Check-Ups MN):

• Upon entry into STRIDE Academy at any level. An examination within one year is preferred.
• Kindergarten and 2nd, 4th, and 6th grades.
• Sports Physical are required for all 6th grade students participating in extracurricular sports.

Immunizations are a vital communicable disease control mechanism. In order for STRIDE Academy to help protect vulnerable students and to be in compliance with the state required immunization statute [M.S.§121A.15 subd.1] all students MUST have an immunization document on file. A print out from your provider’s office is acceptable.

• If your child is not up to date, unable to receive, or you are declining immunizations the form must be completed for the appropriate exemption and be notarized.

Every injury presented in the health office is assessed. In minor cases such as bumps, scrapes, etc. the injury is treated and the student returns to the classroom. Parents will be contacted at the discretion of the School Nurse and/or Health Service Assistant staff, depending on the severity of the injury. In the case of a serious injury, first aid will be provided at the school, emergency services will be called, and parents will be contacted.

If a child has asthma, allergies, diabetes, seizures, attention deficit disorder, or any other condition requiring special health care services in the school and/or is assisted with medical technology, etc., it is vital that the parent/guardian meet with the School Nurse and develop an Individualized Healthcare Plan (IHP) prior to school entry. Physician’s orders for care in the school will need to be shared with the School Nurse. For complex care requiring a team approach, a team meeting before school entry is recommended with the goal that services are in place prior to the start of school.

• Please see the Child With Special Health Needs Checklist located under forms.

STRIDE Academy requires parents/guardians to complete emergency contact information every year. This is vital information that should be updated whenever changes in contact information occur. There is the potential for many emergency circumstances and it is imperative that we can to contact you or your designee at any time.

• Don’t wait to establish a good sleep routine for your child. We recommend getting your child in the habit of a school bedtime/wake schedule 6 weeks before the first day. The National Sleep Foundation recommends on average 9-11 hours of sleep each night for children ages 6-13 years.
• Children of all ages will have accidents- whether it’s a muddy playground, spilled milk, or not making it to the restroom on time. Please make sure to keep a spare uniform, including socks and underwear, in their locker or backpack.
• We know how important good dietary habits are to support a happy, healthy kid who is ready to learn. Snack time is an important time for your child to refuel. We encourage you to pack healthy options that will help to tide your student over until his/her next meal.
• Clear water bottles are allowed in school and students may carry water with them to classes. Please note: no juices, flavored waters, or soda pop allowed.
• Be aware that if your student has not been in group settings before (such as daycare or preschool) they may experience more illnesses than usual with increased exposure to other children. Just make sure to notify the school when your child is absent so this can be marked as excused.

Eligible students and parents of minor students have a right to see their records. (Eligible students are those that are at least 18 or those who are attending a post-secondary institution.) In general, parental consent is required for others to access information in students’ health records. Below are some of the circumstances where consent is not required: *School officials, including teachers, that the school or district has determined to have “legitimate educational interests” (defined below). *In an emergency if knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals. *Instances of abuse or neglect. Mandatory reporting of communicable diseases (please see page 3 of this document for exceptions). *Information that is required by a school to which the student is transferring. *Certain legal situations including subpoenas or investigations of criminal offenses.

What is “legitimate educational interest”? School officials can have access to only the education records necessary to carry out their job function. “In general, legitimate educational interest refers to the right of certain school officials to access student information and records for the purpose of (a) serving the student; (b) protecting the health, safety, and learning of this student and others; (c) maintaining operations of the school district; (d) obtaining payment for educational programs and services; and (e) other purposes as specified in Federal and state law.”

Can a list of students’ health issues be distributed to teachers or other staff? A school-wide health concerns distribution list violates FERPA (The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)and is not best practice. If individual staff or faculty members need to be informed of a student’s condition, that student requires an IHP (individual health plan) listing symptoms to be alert for and the required response to those symptoms. It is recommended that parents, as a part of the IHP, participate in deciding who on staff and faculty requires identifiable health information for the child’s safety. Staff and faculty who are trusted with personally identifiable health information should receive training regarding their responsibility to safeguard that information.

Health Services staff ensure that confidentiality is respected by revealing only necessary health concerns and only to those individuals whose knowledge may affect the student’s health. For example, individuals who have no contact with a particular student have no need to know that student’s medical or mental health issues. Using functional implications is not only more discrete but has the additional benefit of delivering more practical information to school employees that generally have limited medical knowledge.