News from the Nurse

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School Nurse: Leigh Ann Garrison, RN, MSN

 

Student Immunizations due by August 17, 2023, to begin new school year.

The deadline to meet the immunization requirements for the upcoming school year is August 17, 2023. Parents/guardians may view information about student compliance with required immunizations in ParentVUE. If you do not have a ParentVUE account, please contact the school to assist you with setting up an account or if you have specific questions about non-compliant immunizations, reach out to our school nurse.
More information 



"Health Promotion:

As we are entering the cold and flu season, this is a reminder of the best health practices to decrease the spread and transmission of viruses in PWCS schools.   

 Please remember to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw used tissues in the trash.  If you don't have a tissue, cough, or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.  Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, dry hands with a paper towel, and use the paper towel to turn off the faucet.  If soap and water are not available, hand sanitizers may also be used to preform hand hygiene.  Remember to stay home when you’re sick until at least 24 hours without a fever or the use of fever reducing medicine.  Together we can help stop the spread of germs that may make you and others ill."   

 

Illness or Injury Exclusion Criteria - Reasons for which a child may be sent home from school or for a parent to keep the child home from school.

  1. Fever of 100.4ºF and over - exclude until the student has been fever-free without the use of fever reducing medication for at least 24 hours.
  2. Conjunctivitis (pink eye), strep infections, ringworm, and impetigo are all infections and must be treated with medication for a minimum of 24 hours before returning to school. Please do not allow affected students back before this time so that other students are not infected unnecessarily.
  3. Rash of unknown origin with fever and/or behavioral changes, until a primary care provider has determined that the illness is not a communicable disease.
  4. Head injury.
  5. Severe coughing or difficulty breathing.
  6. Colds - a child with thick or constant nasal discharge should remain home.
  7. Diarrhea-sudden increase in frequency to more than three loose/watery stools per day. Exclude until student has been symptom free for at least 24 hours.
  8. Vomiting - unless the vomiting is determined to be caused by a diagnosed non-communicable/non-infectious condition (such as dysmenorrhea, dysphagia, etc.)
  9. Abdominal pain that continues for more than two hours or intermittent abdominal pain associated with fever or other signs and symptoms.
  10. Stiff neck associated with a fever and/or a recent injury.
  11. Inadequate immunizations with known disease outbreak in school.

Refer to the Virginia Department of Health Communicable Disease Reference Chart for School Personnel (PDF) for other exclusions/information.



***FOOD ALLERGIES AND FOOD BROUGHT FROM HOME***

Mary F. Williams Elementary School has many children with severe food allergies. Many of these are peanut/tree nut. Elementary schools in Prince William County are no longer serving peanut butter and jelly as a lunch option. The schools are however serving sun butter, which is a sunflower seed based spread, instead.

Please check with the classroom teacher to see if there are any additional allergy restrictions/health conditions to consider for your child's class BEFORE brining in anything edible.

***MEDICATIONS AT SCHOOL***

Please note that any medication brought to school must be transported to school by a parent. In addition medication authorization forms must be completed. All prescription medication requires authorization from a physician. Please call the school nurse or follow the links below to obtain the appropriate forms.


Important Links