Medication Procedures
All medications (prescriptions and over-the-counter), require a Physician Order for Student Medication form to be completed and signed by the parent and prescribing physician. Medication will not be dispensed without this form.
Wake County Public Health regulations state that it is illegal for a child to transport medication to and from school. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the parent to bring all medications to school in the original packaging with a completed medical form. Prescription medicines must be brought in a current pharmacy-labeled container.
Expired medications cannot be administered and therefore will not be accepted.
All dispensed medications are recorded in RenWeb by the health aide/office staff.
All medication orders expire at the end of the school year. New medication orders are needed for the start of each school year.
Medications left at the end of the year will be properly discarded.
Physical Examinations/Health Assessments
A physical exam / health assessment is required for a student's first time entry into a NC school. An examination within one year will be accepted. The form on the right should be used.
PreSchool and Kindergarten health assessments must be submitted prior to the start of school. Assessments from August of the previous school year or later will be accepted.
A physical exam is required annually for participation in school sports. Please use the Athletic Permission & Physical Assessment form, which is available here on the Athletics page.
Immunizations
Every child present in the state of NC, by state law, must be immunized against state required vaccine-preventable diseases at appropriate ages [G.S.] 130A-152. The law and regulations provide for the exclusion of students from school if immunizations are not current. Medical exemptions require a Medical Exemption Statement completed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state. Religious exemptions must be sent to and approved by the Superintendent of Schools of the Diocese of Raleigh.
Illness at School
The school environment is an excellent medium for the rapid spread of illness. Any student seen in the Health Room with the following symptoms will be dismissed for the day:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Temperature of 100° or above
- Suspected or confirmed communicable disease
- Other symptoms upon discussion with a parent
Keeping children at home when they are sick is best for your child and the school community.
People who have symptoms of respiratory or gastrointestinal infections, such as cough, fever, sore throat, vomiting, or diarrhea, should stay home. Testing is recommended for people with symptoms of COVID-19 as soon as possible after symptoms begin. If a person with COVID-19 symptoms tests negative for COVID-19, they should consider getting tested for other respiratory illnesses that could be spread to others, such as flu. If tested using an antigen test, negative tests should be repeated following FDA recommendations. People who are at risk for getting very sick with COVID-19 who test positive should consult with a healthcare provider right away for possible treatment, even if their symptoms are mild. Staying home when sick can lower the risk of spreading infectious diseases, including COVID-19, to other people. For more information on staying home when sick with COVID-19, including recommendations for isolation and mask use for people who test positive or who are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, see Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19. For more information, visit the CDC K-12 School Guidance website.
Children should be kept home if they have:
- A fever of 100° or above within the past 24 hours. They should be fever-free for 24 hours without the aid of medication before returning to school.
- Vomiting or diarrhea within the past 24 hours. Children must be free of vomiting and diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school.
- An upper respiratory illness with significant coughing and/or nasal drainage.
- A communicable disease.
- A child started on an antibiotic for an illness may return to school after 24 hours of being on the medication.
- Students may return to school after a head assessment by school staff after head lice treatment.
When to contact the School Nurse:
- New medication or change in current medication
- New medical diagnosis or change in health status
- Serious illness, injury, or hospitalization
- Fracture, sprain, sutures, concussion
- Diagnosis of contagious disease (strep throat, conjunctivitis, chicken pox, flu, head lice)