Brown Early Childhood Center
Amanda Arredondo, BSN, RN
[email protected]
356-7097 x: 1515
HEALTHY CHILDREN ARE SUCCESSFUL LEARNERS
Sharing your child’s health information helps me provide the best care for your child. Please contact me if you have any questions, or you child has:
1) Any chronic illnesses such as:
Asthma
Heart problems
Seizures
Allergies (food or environmental)
Diabetes
2) A new medication or change in medication dosage
3) An acute illness that has been diagnosed by your pediatrician
4) Been exposed to a communicable disease such as a strep throat infection, chicken pox, or conjunctivitis
5) A serious injury requiring hospitalization, or a diagnosed head concussion
6) An injury requiring casting, sutures, a splint, or mobility assistance of crutches or wheelchair
7) A diagnosis of infectious disease: flu, strep....
The school works very hard to keep kids healthy. Please do not give your sick child Tylenol or Ibuprofen and send them to school. They are contagious.
General Information
Healthy ParentingTips for Children
Sleep-ensure your child gets enough sleep to be able to participate fully in the school day. Developing a routine at this age will help your child throughout their education career.
Hydration-water bottles are encouraged in Pre-K and Kindergarten, even during winter.
Eating a healthy diet
Hand washing and cough/sneeze etiquette are ‘big deals’ for keeping kids healthy. These are taught and prompted at school. Please help us by encouraging them at home also.
Using lotions and balms on skin that is dry, red and chapped skin at home
Getting regular exercise: encourage your child to go outside and play.
Clothing: Please send extra underwear and pants in backpack for accidents or if clothing becomes wet.
Weather: Please dress your child appropriately for weather. Children go out to recess each day unless the temperature outside is below 40 degrees for kindergarten and 45 degrees for pre-k.
Flu season is here!
Medical Conditions and Medications at School
If at all possible, students’ medications should be given at home. Portales school policy is that no medications will be given by the staff at school without a Medication Authorization Form signed by the doctor. This includes over the counter medication. Parents may bring in medications and give them during school if needed.
Medication orders are good for one school year. New orders are required each school year.
LIFE-THREATENING ALLERGIES IN SCHOOL
What Parents Need to Know
An Allergy Action Plan (and Diet Modification if allergy is food related) prescribing an EpiPen must be renewed at the beginning of each school year.
Reducing Exposure to allergens: Review menu choices on the website www.portalesschools.com/cms/One.aspx?portalId=2586234&pageId=7828669
Vision and Hearing Screenings
Children who can see / hear clearly are better learners.
New Mexico Legislation requires all students in Pre-K and Kindergarten be screened for vision and hearing. These screenings are done at the start of each school year, and for new enrollees throughout the school year. These screenings are not diagnostic but identify children who need further evaluation by an optometrist.
Referral Notice: Parents/guardians are notified only if a screening has abnormal findings. If you receive a notice, please take your child to an optometrist as soon as possible, and return the completed form to the school nurse.
Please call the school nurse for assistance if you do not have insurance or Medicaid: 356-7075 and ask for the nurse.
If your child has been prescribed glasses, please make sure they wear their glasses to school every day.
Immunizations and Exemptions
New Mexico law requires that all students be immunized against certain communicable diseases. These requirements are determined by the NM Department of Health (NMDOH) in with the NM Vaccine Advisory Committee using recommendations from the national Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The State’s official immunization requirements for schools and childcare facilities are released annually and can be found at http://immunizenm.org/schoolreq.shtml
Immunization Requirements
DTaP-5 doses, last dose given after 4th birthday.
Polio-4 doses, last dose given after 4th birthday.
Hepatitis A, minimum of 1 dose
Hepatitis B-3 doses
MMR-2 doses, last dose given after 4th birthday.
Varicella (Chickenpox)-2 doses, last dose given after 4th birthday.
If your child will turn 4 during the school year, they will need to have a well child checkup with their pediatrician on or within 1 month after their birthday. Vaccinations required will be given at that time. These vaccinations are a DTaP, Polio, MMR and Varicella.
Immunization Exemptions:
The school nurse has exemption forms available. Exemption forms are current for 1 year, a new form must be completed each school year. Please bring the notarized form and affidavit to the school nurse to be mailed to Santa Fe for approval. You will receive the form from the state stating approved or disapproved. Please bring this to the school as soon as possible. If your exemption request has been disapproved, please contact the school nurse so that she can help you re-apply.
Please note : for all immunization exempt students - New Mexico Department of Public Health regulations require that exclusion policies be applied should a contagious disease outbreak occur. If you have questions, please contact your school nurse.
Guidelines for the Dismissal of Children from School
by the School Nurse
Please maintain up-to-date contact information with the school office. These are the contact numbers that the school uses to contact parents in case your child becomes ill or has an emergency. The following conditions are reasons for the school nurse to call parents and send the child home:
1) Temperature of 100 F degrees or greater
2) Vomiting or diarrhea
3) A rash suspicious of infectious disease
4) Suspected conjunctivitis based on nursing assessment
5) A positive strep culture that has not been under antibiotic treatment for 24 hours
6) Inability of a child to move safely about in school due to an injury that has not had a medical evaluation and intervention
7) A symptomatic child known to be a direct contact of a positive pertussis case, for five days from initiation of antibiotics
8) An injury, illness, or condition that requires, in the school nurse’s judgment, further management by a parent/guardian or primary care provider
Lice / Pediculosis
Children diagnosed with head lice, will be sent home from school and return after the first treatment has been completed. The school nurse has coupons for over-the-counter medicated shampoos.
What do you do if you find them? Remain calm. Lice carry no diseases. Tell anyone that may have been exposed so early treatment can occur if needed. The quicker a case of head lice is discovered and treated, the easier it will be to get rid of them. Treatment options can be discussed with your pediatrician.
What you need to know: Nit removal takes time. Be patient and take breaks when needed. Ask for help if needed. Lice are common; many family and friends have experience with lice removal.
Head Lice Powerpoint