School Health Webpage

[ School Nurse | Announcements | FAQ | Links ]


 

About the School Nurse:  

Teresa Pratt, RN

·         Licensed Registered Nurse since 1982

·         Experience in medical, surgical, coronary care, obstetrics-gynecology, emergency care

·         CPR/AED Instructor certification

·         First Aid Instructor certification

·         Vision & Hearing Screening certification

·         Parish Nurse

District Nurse's Office:  300 S. Harrison; Colfax, IL   61728

Phone:  309/723-6531, Ext 236

Fax:  309/723-2019

Email:  tpratt@ridgeview19.org

Office Hours:  8:00 am – 3:30 pm Monday - Friday

 

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Announcements/Important Dates

1.  A school physical using the 2 page "Certificate of Child Health Examination" form is required by the Department of Public Health for entry into PreK/ECE, Kindergarten, and 9th grades (within 1 year prior to entry) or whenever a student first enrolls in a district school, regardless of grade.  All physicals need to be on file with the school nurse prior to the first day of the 2008-09 school year.  Students with incomplete health records will be excluded until the health record is complete.   Parents are highly encouraged to send in completed immunization records, physicals, and dental examination forms with registration materials. Beginning with the 2009-10 school year, a physical will be required for 6th grade entry.

2.  The immunization section of the physical form is to be completed by the healthcare provider and requires both a signature of the healthcare provider and date verifying that the immunizations were given.  The following students will need to receive immunizations before the first day of the 2008-09 school year:  

  • Students entering Pre-K or ECE (DTP, Polio, MMR, HIB, Hepatitis B Series, Varicella, Blood Lead Testing *)
  • Students entering Kindergarten (DTP, Polio, MMR, Varicella, Blood Lead Testing*)
  • Students entering 5th through 12 grade (complete Hepatitis B Series)
  • Students entering 9th grade (tetanus booster)

 

* Blood Lead Testing is required as part of the physical exam in accordance with state law for students through 6 years of age.  Illinois (and specifically the zip codes of the Ridgeview area) is designated as a high-risk area for lead poisoning.  Lead poisoning can not be detected any other way other than a blood test.  

3.  The health history section of the physical form is to be completed in full by the parent/guardian prior to the student receiving the physical so that the healthcare provider can verify/utilize the information.  Parent/guardian signature & date are required in this section.

4.  The physical examination section on the lower half of the back side of the form requires the signature of the healthcare provider performing the exam (physician, advanced practice nurse, or physician's assistant) and date exam performed.  If your child's physician writes any comments or test results in this section, please make sure they are legible, as we need to be able to read the information in order to make good use of it.  The healthcare provider's name, address, and phone number needs to be printed in this section.

5.  All new/transfer students must have a copy of a county birth certificate on file in the school office.

6.  Effective beginning with the 2005-06 school year, diabetes screening with BMI is a required  part of each health examination. 

7.  Dental examinations by a licensed dentist are required  for students in Kindergarten, 2nd, & 6th grades beginning with the 2005-06 school year.  Proof of examination on the dental form with the signature of the dentist is required before the first day of school.  Dental examinations are recommended for 5th & 9th graders.  Dental examinations can be done anytime after November 15th of the previous year.

8.  All athletes and cheerleaders must submit a sports physical form before practicing or playing with the team.  A school physical completed on the “Certificate of Child Health Examination” form may be used as a sports physical, but a sports physical can not be used as a school physical.

9.Vision/Hearing Screenings:  Each fall vision screening will be done, as mandated by the state of Illinois, for the following students:  PreK/ECE, Kindergarten, 2nd grade, 8th grade, all new/transfer students, all special education students, and any students referred by a teacher.  Hearing screening will be done for all PreK/ECE, Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, all new/transfer students, all special education students, and any students referred by a teacher.  The screenings will be done free of charge by an IDPH certified technician.  Vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor.  Your child is not required to undergo this vision screening if an optometrist or ophthalmologist has completed and signed a report indicating that an examination has been administered within the previous 12 months and that evaluation is on file in the student’s health record.  This notice is not for permission to test. 

10.  Head Lice:  Our school has a nit-free policy regarding head lice.  The school nurse may conduct periodic head checks.  Students who are sent home with head lice or nits must be completely free of nits before they return to school in order to reduce the spreading of head lice to other students.  The parent is responsible for arranging with the school nurse a time to re-check the student’s head with a parent present prior to the student returning to school.

11.  Request for Information:  Request for information concerning behavior/health observations from physicians or outside institutions will be processed by the school nurse.  The request for information will be brought to the school nurse.  A location to send the materials and a deadline must accompany the request.  The school nurse will distribute the forms to the appropriate teachers and collect the forms.  The school nurse will send the forms to the  appropriate professional for evaluation. 

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • It's 7:30 am and I'm wondering if I should send my sick child to school today?  Generally speaking, keep your child at home if he/she has a fever of 100 degrees or more, has vomited or had diarrhea that morning, has not been fever-free for 24 hours, has not been on strep throat medication, pink-eye medication, or other antibiotic for at least 24 hours.  
  • My child uses an inhaler.  Can he/she carry it with him at school?  State law permits students to carry their inhaler with them at school, providing that the inhaler has the pharmacy label on it, the school's medication authorization form has been completed by the parent & physician and on file in the school nurse's office, and the inhaler has been checked by the school nurse.  A copy of the Ridgeview "Medication Authorization Form" can be obtained by contacting one of the school offices, the school nurse, or downloaded below.
  • My child occasionally uses over-the-counter medications for a headache or other minor pain.   Can he/she just keep a bottle of that medication in his/her car, or even just run home for some and return to school if needed?  Medication administration at school will follow the prescription and over-the-counter medication policies.  Refer to those links below.  Students will not be permitted to go to their cars during the school day for medication or go home for medication and return to school for liability reasons.    
  • I'm on my way to the doctor's office/emergency room and I don't have Ridgeview's medication authorization forms with me in case the doctor wants my child to receive medications at school.  What do I do?  Ask the office nurse to go to Ridgeview's website at www.ridgeview19.org and click on "Ridgeview Health."  Ridgeview's "Medication Authorization Form" can be downloaded from there, signed by your physician & a parent, and brought to school with the appropriate medication.
  • My student's medication at home has been changed since the beginning of the year.  Does the school nurse need that information? Since the effects of medication taken outside of school are experienced at school, it is recommended that parents/guardians notify the school nurse of medications taken both at home & school.  Potential side effects of those medications can also be monitored.  

 

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Important Links & Downloads

"Certificate of Child Health Examination" form:  http://www.idph.state.il.us/pdf/cert_child_health05.pdf

 

Ridgeview School Medication Authorization Form

 

“Illinois Department of Public Health Proof of School Dental Examination Form”
http://www.idph.state.il.us/HealthWellness/oralhlth/DentalExamProof%2011_05.pdf

 

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last updated on:
05/24/2006