Health Requirements

Illinois state law requires all students entering Preschool for the first time, Kindergarten, 6^th grade and new students to the State of Illinois are required to have a current physical and be up to date on required immunizations. All forms are due to the school office by October 15th. St. Mary School has the right, per state regulations, to exclude a child from school after October 15th, until the child presents proof of having a health examination and/or current record of all required immunizations. A health exam must have been completed within one year before the school start date.

• A physical exam signed and dated by the doctor
• Immunizations signed and dated by the health care provider
• A medical history filled out and signed by parent/guardian
• Mandatory Diabetes Risk Assessment
• Lead Screening for children 6 years and under

Immunization Requirements

Preschool

• DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) 3 doses by 1 year of age, 1 booster by 2nd birthday
• IPV (Inactivated Polio) 2 doses by 1 year of age, 1 additional booster by 2nd birthday
• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) 1 dose on or after 1st birthday but prior to 24 months
• Hib (Haemophilus influenza type b) primary series or 1 dose between 15-59 months
• HepB (Hepatitis B) series of 3 doses, appropriately spaced
• Varicella (Chicken Pox) 1 dose on or after their 1st birthday (or proof of disease and date documented by a doctor)
• Prevnar (Pneumococcal Conjugate) primary series or 1 dose between 15-59 months

 Kindergarten-Grade 5

• DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) 4 or more doses with the last dose received on or after 4th birthday
• IPV (Inactivated Polio) 3 or more doses of the same type of Polio vaccine with the last dose received on or after their 4th birthday. If series is given in combination of polio vaccine types, 4 or more doses are required.
• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) 2 doses, 1st dose received on or after 1st birthday and 2nd dose no less than 4 weeks (28 days) later
• Hib (Haemophilus influenza type b) Not required after 5th birthday
• Prevnar (Pneumococcal Conjugate) Not required after 5th birthday
• HepB (Hepatitis B) No requirement
• Varicella (Chicken Pox) 2 doses, 1st dose received on or after their 1st birthday and 2nd dose no less than 4 weeks (28 days) later; or proof of disease and date documented by a doctor;
• KINDERGARTEN and 1ST GRADE Need Two Doses of Varicella

 Grades 6-8

• DTP (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus) 3 or more doses with the last dose received on or after their 4th birthday, and 1 dose of Tdap for students at 11 years of age entering 6th grade (can be given as early as age 7)
• IPV (Inactivated Polio) 3 or more doses of the same type of Polio vaccine with the last dose received on or after their 4th birthday. If series is given in combination of polio vaccine types, 4 or more doses
• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) 2 doses, 1st dose received on or after 1st birthday and 2nd dose no less than 4 weeks (28 days) later
• Hib (Haemophilus influenza type b) Not required after 5th birthday
• HepB (Hepatitis B) 3 doses at recommended intervals
• Varicella (Chicken Pox) students entering 6th grade, 2 doses, 1st dose received on or after 1st birthday and 2nd dose no less than 4 weeks (28 days) later; or proof of disease and date documented by a doctor
• MCV4 (Meningococcal conjugate) students entering 6th grade 1 dose, (may receive as early as age 10)

Eye Exam

Children entering Kindergarten, and any student enrolling for the first time in Illinois are required to have an eye exam. The eye exam requirement does not apply to children enrolling in preschool. Examinations must be performed by a licensed optometrist or medical doctor who performs eye exams. Proof of exams is due to the school office by October 15th.

The required eye exam must be completed within one year before the first day of the school year in which the child enters Kindergarten, or the child enters the Illinois school system for the first time. If unable to obtain the required vision exam, students must have a waiver signed by a parent/guardian before the start of school.

Dental Exam

All children entering Kindergarten, 2nd, and 6th grade are required to have an oral health examination. Examinations must be performed by a licensed dentist, and he/she must sign the proof of school dental exam form. Each child is required to present proof of exam by a dentist or have a waiver signed by a parent/guardian, before May 15th of the current school year. School dental exams must have been completed within the 18 months before the May 15th deadline.

State of Illinois Mandated Vision and Hearing Screenings

Vision: Vision screening services shall be provided annually for all preschool children 3 years of age (or older) in any public or private educational program or licensed child-care facility. Vision screening services in public, independent, private and parochial schools shall be provided annually for all children in grades Kindergarten, 2nd, and 8th, and for teacher referrals and students transferring into schools who have not been previously screened. Vision screening services in public, independent, private, and parochial schools shall be provided annually for all special education children screened by standard screening methods as determined by the IDPH training curriculum.

Hearing

The Illinois Vision and Hearing Test Act requires annual screening for the following children: (1) preschoolers (3-5) years of age) in any group education program, day care center, or nursery school and (2) children in grades K, 1, 2, 3, and special education classes in all public, independent, private, and parochial schools. New students and teacher referrals must also be screened.

Illness

When a child becomes ill, the teacher will send him/her to the school office. If the child needs to be sent home, the secretary will notify the parent or the person listed on the emergency form.

In case of an accident, minor first aid will be administered by school personnel in accordance with the provisions in the emergency health form. It is the responsibility of the parent(s) to contact a doctor or take the child to the hospital.

In the event of serious illness or injury, paramedics will be called immediately, and the parent will be notified. Parents are responsible for payment of medical, ambulance, and/or hospital fees.

Preventative Disease Transmission Measures

To decrease the likelihood of classroom transmission of diseases, please observe the following rules:

• Your child should be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school. He/she should also, have been retaining food without discomfort or vomiting for 24 hours in the case of a gastrointestinal virus.
• If your child misses the morning session of classes due to illness, please keep him/her home for the entire day. A few more hours of rest will do them good and make for a fresh start the next day.
• Please notify the school office if your child is diagnosed with a communicable disease such as strep throat, scarlet fever, or chicken pox. These diseases are no longer reportable to the Health Department; however, the school continues to send letters to parents alerting them to these diseases.

Student Illnesses

As an aid to parents in the evaluation of a child’s health before going to school, the following should be considered. It is advisable to keep your child home when these symptoms occur:

• Diarrhea
• Excessive coughing and sneezing
• Fever of 99.8 or higher taken in the morning
• Headache or earache
• Inflamed, swollen, reddened or watery eyes
• Nausea or vomiting
• Red or swollen joints
• Contagious skin rashes or open sores
• Unusual skin pallor

Pediculosis

Head Lice is an on-going problem throughout the United States. Head lice come from direct contact with an infected person or indirect contact through the use of lice-infested clothing, hairbrushes or combs, etc. Having head lice does not imply a lack of personal cleanliness or poor housekeeping.

St. Mary School has a “No Live Lice” protocol to address the issue of head lice. Report any lice outbreak to the school nurse for specific suggestions and follow up. Parents should check their child’s head for lice nits regularly. The tiny, white/clear oval eggs of head lice, called nits, are attached to the hair shafts near the scalp, especially at the nape of the neck and behind and above the ears. The lice themselves are often not seen because they are usually present in very small numbers and move very quickly. Bites by lice and the accompanying scratch marks can often be seen. If scratch marks become infected, one may experience swollen lymph nodes in the neck. The nits resemble dandruff, but dandruff is flat and is easily removed for the hair. Nits are not. They are attached to the hair shaft with a glue-like substance and cannot be removed easily even by pulling them. Contrary to populate belief, intense itching is NOT always present when a person is infested with head lice. One might have head lice and not feel discomfort at all.

Please check your child’s head closely! Parents should look for lice nits every week on their child.

 What to do if you find head lice on your child:

1. Keep your child home until the first application of lice shampoo or lice crème rinse has been applied and all nits removed. A “NO Live Lice” policy has been implemented, and therefore a child returning to school with any live lice will be sent home again.

2. Report any lice outbreak to the school nurse. The nurse will provide you with further specific suggestions for getting rid of lice.

Medication

No medication will be administered except by the school principal or his/her designee. Such medication will only be administered provided the child’s parent, or legal guardian submits in advance such documentation as is required by any administrative regulation issued under this policy.

Medication at School

• Parent or guardian shall provide the school with Physician’s orders/prescriptions detailing the name of the student, the type of disease or illness involved, the name of the drug, dosage, time interval in which the medication is to be taken, the date of the initiation and the date of discontinuance, the desired benefits of the medication, the side effects, and an emergency number where the physician can be reached.
• The student’s parent or guardian shall provide to the school administrator a written request authorizing the administration of the prescribed medication at school.
• Medication shall be brought to the school in a container appropriately labeled by the pharmacy or physician. The name of the student and the names of the physician and pharmacy and pharmacy telephone number shall be indicated on the container.
• The school shall provide a locked space for safe storage of the medication.
• The school administrator shall keep a written record of all drug administration. The record shall include the following information: What medication was given, to whom it was given, when it was given (date and time), who administered the medication, the date of initiation of drug therapy in school, if a medication is not administered and why, and the drug discontinuance date. This information shall be placed in the student’s health file.

 No medication will be given by school personnel unless these guidelines are followed.

Over-the-Counter Medication Policy

If your child must receive over-the-counter medication such as cough drops, ibuprofen, etc. while at school, please bring the medication to the school office accompanied by the medication release form indicating the dosage and time the medication should be given. All medications will be kept in a locked cabinet in the school office.

Administration of Medical Cannabis

In conformance with Public Act 100-0660, entitled Ashley’s Law, the Diocese of Rockford implements this policy on the administration of medical cannabis which is effective August 1, 2018. Under circumstances set forth in this policy, the administration of medical cannabis to a student is permitted at school or on a school bus.

POLICY:

1. A Catholic School in this Diocese shall authorize a parent or guardian or any other individual who has been registered with the Department of Public Health as a designated caregiver of a student who has been registered as a qualifying patient to administer to that student a medical cannabis-infused product, on the premises of the student’s school or on the student’s school bus, provided the student and the parent/guardian/other individual have both submitted to the school their registry identification cards issued under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act.

2. The only medical cannabis that is permitted to be administered on the premises of the school or on a school bus are cannabis-infused products limited to foods, oils, ointments or other products containing usable cannabis that is not smoked.

3. After the parent/guardian/other individual administers the medical cannabis-infused product to the student, the parent/guardian/other individual shall promptly remove the product from the school premises or the school bus, as the case may be.

4. No employee or volunteer of the school shall be required to administer a medical cannabis-infused product to a student.

6. A school or the Diocese may prohibit the administration of medical cannabis if the school or the Diocese determines that doing so would create a disruption to the school environment or would cause exposure of the product to other students.
   
   
7. A school or the Diocese may prohibit the administration of medical cannabis if the school or the Diocese would lose federal funding as the result of the implementation of this Policy.

 PROCEDURES:

1. The student shall be a registered qualifying patient authorized to use medical cannabis. The student’s parent or legal guardian shall present to the school with the student’s medical cannabis registration card. The school shall make a copy of the card and keep it on file.

2. The parent, guardian, or other individual who is the one who will administer the medical cannabis to the student shall be a registered caregiver. The registered caregiver shall present to the school a copy of his or her caregiver registration card. The school shall make a copy of the card and keep it on file.

 Effective Date: August 1, 2018