Health

The Minnesota School Immunization Law (Minn. Statute 121A.15) requires that all students enrolled in school be protected from childhood diseases by receiving immunizations. This includes students enrolled in PreK-12 schools or programs, Kids Club, preschool, alternative programs and home school programs. 

If you need assistance due to disability or language barrier, please call 651-430-6655 (TDD 651-430-6246)

immunizations needed for school

Your child’s immunization dates, or a medical or non-medical exemption, must be shared with the school health office before the first day of school. This includes students enrolled in PreK-12 schools or programs, Kids Club, preschool, alternative programs and home school programs. 

• The immunization form can be used to document vaccinations and/or claim an exemption from the requirements for medical or non-medical exemptions. 

Immunization Form

Additional languages:
Hmong (PDF) | Somali (PDF) | Spanish (PDF) | Vietnamese (PDF)

• Medical exemptions must be signed by a health care provider.

• Non-medical exemptions must be signed by a parent/guardian and notarized

• Schools will accept other versions of immunization records too as long as all required immunizations are listed.

Are your kids ready for school? 

State immunizations schedule

Additional languages:
Hmong (PDF) | Somali (PDF) | Spanish (PDF) | Vietnamese (PDF)

Teens Need Vaccines Too

Washington County Low-cost Immunization Clinics

 

Minnesota Free or Low-cost Immunization Information

SoWashCo Schools provides health services personnel to dispense medication to students in need of medication during school hours.

If you need assistance due to disability or language barrier, please call 651-430-6655 (TDD 651-430-6246)

requirements for students to receive medication

• Medications which are required during school hours and which the parent/guardian is unable to come and administer, must be administered by a school nurse or a designee to whom the nurse has trained and delegated the function of medication administration. All medication administered must be F.D.A. approved, unless a licensed prescribing practitioner and a License School Nurse deems it medically necessary that it be administered during the school day.
• Medication to be given in school must be supplied in the original container or prescription bottle. Prescription medicine should be prepared by the pharmacist and sent in a prescription bottle with the appropriate labeling for school use.
• Written PARENTAL PERMISSION is required for any and all F.D.A. approved medication to be administered at school.
• Written Health Care Provider Permission, in addition to parental permission is required for all prescription medication.
• All medication must be accompanied by specific instructions regarding when and how it is to be given, and for how long.
• Medication is kept in a locked cabinet and given in the health office except in the special circumstances as approved by the school nurse.
• Under no circumstances will school personnel supply 'stock' over-the-counter medication such as Tylenol or Advil to students or staff.
• Please submit a copy of the medication form to Kids' Club if your child is involved in this after school care program.

self-administration of medication

• State law permits select medications to be self-carried and administered by the student at school. (i.e. insulin, inhaler, pain relievers).
• If a student desires to carry one of the allowable “self-carry” medications, they must first obtain parental permission and in some cases physician authorization as well. Upon request to self-administer medication, the Licensed School Nurse will assess the student’s ability to administer the medication accurately and appropriately.
• Students of any age with demonstrated competency can carry an inhaler (asthma medications), Epi-Pen, or insulin. However, only secondary students, grades 7-12 are allowed to carry over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers (e.g. Tylenol, Advil, and ibuprofen). Students are not allowed to carry cold medicine or any other medication not addressed above with the exception of cough drops in secondary schools.
• The privilege to self medicate can be revoked at anytime if unsafe use of medication is observed. Rules regarding school administration of drugs and medicine are found in MN Statutes 121A.22, 121A.221, 121A.222, 121A.2205.

Medication Authorization Form

Self Administer Medication Form 

Forms

• Physical exam forms are also available in building health offices
• School Physicals: SoWashCo Schools encourages periodic physical exams for health and wellness of all students. It is recommended that students see their health care provider for physicals before entering Kindergarten, 4th, 7th and 10th grade. Please return the completed physical exam to the school health office.

sports physicals

• Students participating in 6th grade track or wrestling, and ALL middle school, high school and/or Minnesota State High School League Sports are required to have a physical exam on file that was performed within the last three years. This physical exam must be on file in the student health record. The same form may be used for school and/or sport physicals. 

Sports qualifying physical examination

In general do NOT send your child to school if: 

• If your child has a fever of 100.4°F or more, keep them home for 24 hours after the temperature returns to normal without using fever reducing medication.
• If your child has vomited one or more times keep them home until 24 hours after the last episode.
• If your child has diarrhea and needs to use the bathroom frequently.
• If your child has a rash that the cause is unknown, check with a health care provider before sending them to school.
• If your child has an illness that prevents them from participating in routine activities.

 

Communicable/Infectious Disease	Signs/Symptoms	Contagious Period	Should My Child Go to School	How Disease Spreads
Ringworm	Appears as flat, spreading ring-shaped lesions. The edge of the lesion may be dry and scaly or moist and crusty. As the lesion spreads outward, the center often becomes clear. Ringworm on the scalp may be hard to detect.	Once ringworm is visible. When the rash starts shrinking and treatment has begun, it could become less contagious	No. Keep your child home until treatment has started. Rash should be covered with clothing or a band-aid while in school.	By touching the infected skin of a person or pet By touching contaminated objects: hats, brushes, clothing, shower stalls, swimming pool decks, locker room benches or floors
Scabies	Rash with intense itching that may be more severe at night. Look for a rash of pink bumps or tiny blisters commonly seen between fingers, around wrists, elbows and armpits.	Before the rash starts and until 24 hours after treatment begins	No. Keep your child home until 24 hours after treatment begins.	By having direct contact with the skin of a person with scabies By sharing bedding, towels or clothing used by a person with scabies
Strep Throat and Scarlet Fever	May have sudden onset of fever, sore throat, swollen glands, headache, nausea, stomachache or vomiting. Scarlet Fever: A very fine raised rash is present on the neck, chest, elbow, groin, thighs and armpits.	Until 12 hours after antibiotic treatment begins	No. Keep your child home until 12 hours after treatment begins, child is fever free for 24 hours without medication and is well enough to participate in normal activities.	By coughing or sneezing By touching contaminated hands, objects or surfaces
Whooping Cough (Pertussis)	Begins with runny nose, sneezing, mild cough and low-grade fever. After 1-2 weeks, a persistent cough develops which may occur in explosive bursts, especially at night.	From the time of the first cold-like symptoms until 21 days after coughing begins or after taking five days of antibiotics	No. Keep your child home until five days after antibiotic treatment begins. *Notify heath office of diagnosis.	By coughing or sneezing By touching contaminated hands, objects or surfaces
Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)	Bacterial: The white part of the eye is pink or red with pus or sticky drainage. The eyes are painful or itchy. Viral: The white part of the eye is pink with clear, watery discharge. The eyes may or may not be painful or itchy.	While symptoms are present	Yes, if your child is fever free for 24 hours without medication and is well enough to participate in normal daily activities.	By touching secretions from the eyes, nose or mouth By touching hands, objects or surfaces contaminated with secretions
Chickenpox (Varicella)	Fever and skin rash that comes in clusters. Rash begins on the chest, back, under arms, neck and face, changing to blisters and then scabs.	From 1-2 days before the rash begins until all blisters have become scabs	No. Keep your child home from school until blisters have dried into scabs and there have been no new lesions for 24 hours, usually about six days after rash first appears. *Notify the school health office of diagnosis.	By touching the blister fluid or secretions from the nose or mouth of a person with chickenpox By coughing or sneezing
Cold Sores/Fever Blisters (Herpes Simplex)	Sores appear on the lips, face and sometimes in the mouth. Sores usually crust and heal within a few days.	First infection: up to two weeks, or  longer Recurring infection: 3-5 days	Yes. Your child does not need to stay home from school.	By having direct contact with saliva, commonly by kissing By touching the fluid from the blisters or sores
Common Cold (Viral Respiratory Infections)	Runny nose, sneezing, chills, tiredness, fever, muscle aches, sore throat and cough that may last 2-7 days.	From the day before symptoms appear to 5-7 days later	Yes, unless fever is present. Must be fever free for 24 hours without medication and is well enough to participate in normal daily activities.	By coughing and sneezing By touching hands, objects or surfaces contaminated with secretions
COVID-19 (Coronavirus)	Fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, body aches, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea or a new loss of taste or smell.	With symptoms: from two days before to ten days after symptoms began No symptoms: from two days before to ten days after lab test was taken	No. Keep your child home until all three of the following are true: Five days after symptoms started or after lab test was taken with no symptoms. Until 24 hours after fever is gone without the use of fever reducing medicine. Symptoms are improving.	By close contact with someone who is infected By breathing, coughing and sneezing By touching contaminated objects or surfaces Cases with no symptoms can still spread disease to others
Fifth Disease	Rarely any symptoms other than a rash that begins on the cheeks and later can be seen on the arms and/or chest.	Until rash appears	Yes, if your child is fever free for 24 hours without medication.	By coughing or sneezing By touching hands, objects or surfaces contaminated with secretions
Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease	Sores occur in the mouth and may last 7-10 days. In most cases, sores are on the palms of the hands, fingers and soles of the feet. A low-grade fever may be present for 1-2 days.	During the first week of illness	No. Keep your child home until they are fever free for 24 hours (without medication) and blisters have dried into scabs.	By coughing and sneezing By touching hands, objects or surfaces contaminated with stool By touching fluid from the blisters
Head Lice	Itching of the scalp. Look for live lice in the hair. Nits (eggs) are often found behind the back of the neck.	Until treated with a louse killing product. Recommended treatment includes using store-bought or prescription lice killing product	Yes. It is strongly recommended that your child be treated for head lice. Avoid head-to-head contact with other children.	By head-to-head contact By sharing personal items that have had contact with the head (combs, brushes, hats, etc.)
Impetigo	Blister-like sores that form an oozing, sticky, yellow crust. Itching is often present	Until sores are healed or have been treated for at least 24 hours	No. Keep your child home from school until 24 hours after antibiotic treatment begins.	By touching the fluid from the sores By touching contaminated objects
Influenza-like Illness	Sudden onset of fever, headache, muscle pain, body aches, cough and/or sore throat.	During the first 24 hours before and up to seven days after the illness begins	No. Keep your child home until they are fever free for 24 hours (without medication) and is well enough to participate in normal daily activities.	By coughing or sneezing By touching contaminated hands, objects or surfaces
Mono (Infectious Mononucleosis)	Fever, sore throat, tiredness and swollen glands. A rash may be present.	For several weeks or longer	Yes, if your child is fever free for 24 hours (without medication) and is well enough to participate in normal daily activities.	By kissing or sharing items contaminated with saliva

 

SoWashCo Schools Health Services Staff recognize each student as a unique and important individual with a variety of needs. Health Services staff strive to assist and strengthen the student's learning process by accommodating any existing health condition(s).

For Health Services staff to understand your child's needs and make necessary accommodations, we often seek information. This information assists staff in making decisions regarding the best plan (if any) for your child. If deemed appropriate, an Individual Health Plan (IHP) will be created detailing the steps we will take to accommodate your child's health needs.

To assist the Health Services team in collecting information about your child, please complete the appropriate questionnaire(s) from those linked in the "Questionnaires" tab below and return the completed form to the health service staff at your child's school.

If you need assistance due to disability or language barrier, please call 651-430-6655 (TDD 651-430-6246)

technical nursing procedures in the school settin

• Students needing specialized treatments/procedures during the school day will have the treatments/procedures provided when it is necessary for the health of the student. All treatments/ procedures during the school day must be administered or delegated by a licensed school nurse.
• Treatments/procedures cannot be performed without proper authorization. A written order from the prescribing health professional as well as written authorization from the parent/guardian must be provided to the school on the above form.
• All requested treatments/procedures must be accompanied by instructions stating:
  • Specific treatment/procedure to be performed
  • Time(s) or frequency during school day to be performed
  • Length of time treatment/procedure is to be performed
  • Specialized instructions or comments
• Orders must be renewed annually or whenever there is a change of service
• The supplies and equipment needed to complete the procedure must be provided to the school by the parent/guardian.

Healthy students are better learners. The ability to see and hear adequately are directly linked to academic success. SoWashCo Schools Health Services annually screen students for vision acuity. The same screening is performed during the Early Childhood Screening Process with the addition of a hearing screening. 

• Vision screening is done for all students in grades 1, 3 and 5 each year.
• Color vision screening is done each year for kindergarten boys only.
• Additional vision or hearing screening may be requested by teacher, parent, or student or when a student is referred for evaluation of learning difficulties.
• Parents will be notified of students who do not pass screening via a referral form that the health care provider completes and then once complete it is returned to the school health office.