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Healthy Campus

Amanda Stratton, RN
281-320-0500
Email: Nurse

Providence Classical School Campus Health Policies & Resources

Providence Classical School is committed to the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff as we hold fast to our mission to train students to impact their culture for Christ. To that end, we ask that PCS parents partner with us in maintaining a healthy learning environment for all students. Please follow all health guidelines outlined on this page and in the Parent-Student Handbook. As always, we pray for God’s continued protection and provision over our school community.

Daily Wellness

Here’s how parents can partner with Providence Classical School to create and safe and healthy learning environment for all students:

  • Love others well by checking your child(ren) for possible symptoms each morning and keeping symptomatic children at home.
  • Face coverings will not be required at PCS but are optional for those who feel more comfortable wearing them. PCS will be supportive of individuals and families who choose to do so.
  • PCS will continue an intensified approach to cleaning and sanitization for our school and will provide hand sanitizer in classrooms and public areas.
  • PCS classrooms are equipped with air purifiers and/or UV fans that kill 99.9% of viruses in the air and improve air circulation.

Medical Consent Forms & Information

The following must be completed before the first day of attendance:

  • Permission to Treat:  Log into Facts/RenWeb > Family Demographic Form > Student Medical Form > Permission to Treat and select YES on the Permission to Treat tab to give access to the school nurse or designated employee to provide basic first aid to your child. (Desktop computer is recommended.)
  • Vaccination Record: State-required vaccinations must be up-to-date before the first day of school. Please provide one of the following:
  • Authorization to Dispense Medication
  • Medications:
    • All prescription medications must be brought to the nurse by a parent/guardian in the original pharmacy container, properly labeled with the signed consent form.
    • Over-the-Counter medications may be brought to the nurse by a parent/guardian in a new, sealed container, labeled with the child(ren) or family last name with the signed consent form.
    • If your child needs to self-carry and self-administer a rescue inhaler or EpiPen, a signed physician order must be on file, and your child will need to demonstrate appropriate use to the nurse.
  • Medical Action Plan(s), if needed

2023-2024 COVID-19 Policy

  • It is expected that, if a student or staff member feels unwell or has a fever of 100.0 or higher, they should stay home until they are well.
  • Students who show atypical symptoms of being ill at school will be evaluated by the nurse. The nurse will determine whether the child can remain at school or will consult with the parent/guardian on appropriate actions.
  • If your child exhibits COVID-related symptoms such as feeling feverish, temperature of 100.0 or higher, loss of taste or smell, cough, difficulty breathing , shortness of breath, fatigue, headache, chills, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, shivering, muscle pain or aches, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting, you may choose to test your child for COVID.
  • Families can acquire free COVID testing supplies under most health insurance plans. Please visit your local pharmacy for more information.
  • Per the Texas Department of State Health Services, students, faculty, and staff who test positive for COVID-19 may return to campus 5 days after the onset of symptoms or the date of their positive COVID test, whichever comes first. (The first day of symptoms or positive test is Day 0.) They must be fever-free without medication and other symptoms must have improved.
  • Those who test positive for COVID-19 but do not have any symptoms must stay home 5 days after the day they were tested.

ILLNESS POLICIES

For the protection of your child as well as for the safety of others, you are asked to keep your child at home if they show any signs of illness. Sample indicators include:

  • Fever (to return-must be fever-free without medication for a full 24 hours). PCS considers 100 degrees to be a fever.
  • Vomiting or diarrhea (to return-must be free of symptoms without medication for a full 24 hours)
  • Excessive runny nose, headache, sore throat, coughing, sneezing, or earaches related to the common cold.
  • Uncontrolled cough or croup (to return-must be free of croupy cough)
  • When symptoms that are not typical for your child are present, please err on the side of caution and monitor your child’s symptoms from home.

For the health and safety of all students, a child obviously ill or with a temperature of 100 degrees or more will not be allowed to remain at school. If your child becomes ill at school, you will be notified by the nurse. If the nurse needs to send your child home, please make the necessary arrangements to have your child picked up within one hour of the notification.

PLEASE NOTE: If a child is sent home from school, they must be free of symptoms and untreated fever for twenty-four (24) hours before returning to school. If a child has experienced vomiting or diarrhea, they may not return to school until they are symptom-free without medication for 24 hours.

COMMUNICABLE DISEASE POLICY

To protect the health of all children, it may be necessary to exclude from school children who are displaying symptoms or are suffering from a contagious disease or virus. (Texas DSHS Communicable Disease Chart) When a case is confirmed, communication will be sent to families as needed. (The student’s name will not be disclosed.) The following policy stands in compliance with the Texas Administrative Code Rule §97.7. Prior to the student returning to school, please contact the school nurse to determine if a physician’s note is required.

Please note that the following conditions also fall under the Communicable Disease Policy:

  • Any unexplained rash, skin infection-boils, ringworm, impetigo, etc. (to return, a doctor’s release is required)
  • Pink eye or other infection (must have received prescribed antibiotics for at least 24 hours)
  • Head Lice: students must be free of all live lice and nits (eggs) before being allowed to return to school. Students who contract head lice will be sent home from school, and the parents of other students in that grade level will be contacted.

WHEN A DOCTOR’S RELEASE IS REQUIRED

A doctor’s release is required before returning to school after:

  • hospitalization
  • an illness lasting 5 days or more
  • an Emergency Room visit
  • loss of consciousness
  • seizure activity
  • head injury
  • confirmation of certain communicable diseases (contact the school nurse for guidance)

MEDICATION POLICIES

Due to the variety of medications and treatments administered in school settings, PCS follows the guidelines provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services. At PCS, only the School Nurse or an individual designated by the Head of School may dispense parent-provided medications to a student with an Authorization to Dispense Medication Form on File. As students are not permitted to carry medications, a parent also has the option to come to the school to dispense their child’s medication. When this occurs, the nurse must be informed for documentation purposes. To allow us to safely care for your child, please let the nurse know anytime medications are given before school. Please refer to the Parent-Student Handbook for more information.

DIAGNOSED MEDICAL CONDITION POLICIES

Students with a diagnosed medical condition are required to meet with the School Nurse to discuss an individualized care plan for the year before the first day of school, preferably within two weeks of attendance. The presence of the parent or a designee may be requested at any school-related activity that is scheduled off campus or during after-school hours.

  • Asthma: A student diagnosed with asthma will need an Asthma Action Plan on file that is completed by the healthcare provider in conjunction with the family with the goal of preventing or helping to manage asthma episodes. The student is required to have a prescription inhaler checked in before the first day of school and stored in the Health Clinic. Prescribed breathing treatments may be administered with physician orders provided the family supplies the nebulizer machine and the child-specific tubing (cleaned and in a Ziploc bag). The student may possess and self-administer prescription asthma medication with a physician’s order and the student has demonstrated to the school nurse the skill level necessary to self-administer the medication.
  • Diabetes: A student diagnosed with diabetes will need a Diabetes Management and Treatment Plan developed by the student’s parent or guardian and the physician. Blood glucose level checks must be performed in the Health Clinic under nurse supervision. The student is required to have prescription diabetes medication checked in before the first day of attendance and stored in the Health Clinic.
  • Severe Allergies: A student diagnosed with a serious allergy (e.g., food, dyes, insect stings) will need an Allergy and Anaphylaxis Plan developed by the student’s parent or guardian and the physician. The student is required to have appropriate medication to treat a reaction checked in before the first day of attendance and stored in the Health Clinic. PCS employees cannot be held responsible for any complications resulting from an allergic reaction.
  • Any other diagnosed condition requiring a treatment plan will be discussed when meeting with the Nurse.

ALLERGY POLICIES

Any student enrolled with a severe food allergy will be required to meet with the school nurse to discuss what the school can do to accommodate the student and what expectations or requirements the school has for the parents.

PCS cannot guarantee an allergy-free environment; however, we do make the following appeals.

MORNING SNACKS (Grammar School only)

  • For Pre-K through 2nd grade, families will be asked to avoid certain snacks if a student in the homeroom class has a life-threatening allergy to such snacks.
  • For 3rd–6th grade, students and teachers will be asked to wash their hands or use a hand wipe after eating snacks if students with life-threatening allergies are in the class.

LUNCH (Grammar School only)

  • Students with life-threatening allergies will sit at the far end of the grade-level lunch area to avoid allergens.
  • Classmates of students who have severe allergies will be asked to wash hands or use handwipes after lunch, prior to recess time.

REQUIRED HEALTH SCREENINGS

As part of Health and Safety Code, Chapters 26, 36, and 37, PCS will conduct annual health screenings for select grades. If your child needs additional testing, you will be contacted, and further testing with your child’s physician will be recommended.

  • Vision and Hearing:
    o PreK, Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th grades.
    o All new students
  • Spinal Screening:
    o Females: Fall semester of grades 5 and 7
    o Males: Fall semester of grade 8
  • Antes:
    o 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th grades

IMMUNIZATION POLICY

As required by the state, all students must have a current immunization record or a current Affidavit on file with the Nurse before the first day of attendance. The list of required immunizations may be found on the website of the Texas Department of State Health Services.

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