The counselor's main function in the elementary grades is individual crisis counseling. Students are seen on a referral basis. Teachers, parents or others directly involved with the child may refer. The counselor's primary focus is on social, emotional and educational problems.
Children must be healthy in order to achieve maximum success in school. Good health habits are acquired first at home and continually stressed in school. Aside from the mandated school health programs the following items will be helpful.
1. Your child should have adequate rest - approximately 10 hours of sleep at night.
2. Good nutrition through three balanced meals a day, particularly a good breakfast. Your child is apt to be more alert if nutrition is good.
3. Early appraisal and treatment of illness for your child usually results is less time lost from school. This also keeps the spread of communicable illnesses to a minimum. A child should not attend school when it is evident that he does not feel well.
4. First aid given at school is only a temporary care. No matter how minor the injury, parents should check the injury at home and give any further care or consult their physician.
5. Special Problems: Please notify your child's teacher or the school nurse if your child has any specific health problems.
The School Health Code requires that an individual health record be kept on every child. Entries are made regarding your child's immunizations prior to entering kindergarten as well as any boosters he receives during his school years (please notify the school nurse of these). It is also used to record the results of the following mandated programs:
1. Annual height and weight.
2. Vision screening - All children in K-5 are given a vision screening by the school nurse. If the screening results are not adequate, the parent is sent a form requesting a more extensive eye examination. This form should be taken to and completed by an eye doctor and returned to school as soon as possible. Screening rechecks can be requested by the teacher or parent at any time.
3. Hearing screenings. All children in K-3 are given a hearing screening test. If they fail the screening, they are re-tested by the school nurse. Further failures result in referral through the parent to the family doctor. Children in other grades are tested upon request.
4. Body Mass Index (BMI) - all students will have body mass index calculations performed. Referrals will be made according to guidelines set by the Department of Health.
5. Physical exams. According to State Law, a physical exam is required on all children within one year of their original entry into school, 6th grade and 11th grade. The exam is to performed by the child's own primary care provider and the parent or guardian is required to provide the results of the physical examination to the school district/school nurse. Physicals can be completed one year before or during the required school year. Private physician forms are provided in order for your child to complete this mandate. Please return completed forms to the school.
6. Dental exams - According to State Law, a dental exam is required on all children within one year of their original entry into school, 3rd grade and 7th grade. This exam is to be performed by the child's own dentist and the parent or guardian is required to provide the results of the dental examination to the school district/school nurse. Dental exams can be completed one year before or during the required school year. Private dental forms are provided in order for your child to complete this mandate. Please return completed forms to the school.
Children entering school for the first time must have the following immunizations: four doses of DPT vaccine, three polio, two doses of Measle vaccine, one dose of German Measle vaccine, one dose of Mumps vaccine, three doses of Hepatitis B vaccine and one dose of varicella vaccine or history of having had chicken pox disease. It is the parents' responsibility to see that the child receives these vaccines prior to entering school. The ideal time for immunizations to be started is at two months of age. These immunizations can be obtained at the State Health Clinic (Well Baby Center) of from your family doctor.
PARENT AND GUARDIANS ARE URGED TO NOTIFY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE EVENT THAT THEIR SON/DAUGHTER IS DIAGNOSED WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION. THIS INFORMATION IS VITAL AND NEEDS TO BE REPORTED IMMEDIATELY IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE STUDENT IS RECEIVING REASONABLE EDUCATIONAL BENEFIT.
Note to Parents: If you believe that your child's mental health condition is negatively impacting on his/her academic or behavioral performance within the school setting, please contact the Office of Student Services at (814) 776-4255.