Dear Students and Parents/Guardians,
As the school year wraps up, we want to thank you all for your energy and positive spirit. Over the summer, try to keep up some basic healthy habits—stay active, eat well, get enough sleep, and drink plenty of water. And don’t forget to take some time to rest and enjoy the break!
Important Notice: If you/your student has medications being stored in the nurse's office (over the counter or prescription medications, including epi pens and inhalers), they must be picked up and signed out by a parent or guardian by the last day of school, June 13th.
For next year, any student who needs to have a medication on hand (either in the nurse's office or self-carry), the nurse's office legally must have a copy of a doctor's order on file. This includes over-the-counter medications like eye drops, sunblock, Tylenol, allergy medicine, etc. The same goes for medications being administered on school trips. This must be done each school year. Attached is a copy of the provider's order form that you can take to your annual check-up and have filled out. Please turn it in at the start of the next school year.
I'd like to remind everyone about the vaccine requirements for the upcoming school year. Unless exempt for religious or medical reasons, children entering Kindergarten should have completed (or be completing) the following series: DTaP (5 doses), Hep B (3 doses), Polio (4 doses, IPV only; oral polio is not valid), MMR (2 doses), and Varicella (2 doses, unless the child has had a known and physician-documented case of chickenpox). If a student is in the middle of completing a series and has not yet met the minimum interval between doses, they can be considered in "conditional status," giving them 30 more days beyond the minimum interval window to get the next dose in a series before being considered out of compliance. For those who qualify for an exemption, those forms can be picked up in the Nurse’s Office.
For students entering 7th grade, please ensure they have received the adolescent Tdap booster, unless you are exempt for religious or medical reasons. Tdap can be administered as early as 10 years old and is required by 12 years old. A parent/guardian can show a titer proving the child has immunity to Diphtheria and Tetanus, but there is no current proof of immunity for pertussis. If a child has had pertussis, they are still required to get their Tdap, as having the disease does not provide lifelong immunity.
For graduating seniors, it is recommended (and sometimes required depending on school) that you receive your meningococcal B and ACWY and HPV vaccines before entering college. If you need records of your vaccines for your college or program, MyIRMobile provides your immunization history in Washington. It also gives you a schedule showing any vaccines you need. Sign up for MyIRMobile at MyIRmobile.com to view and print your immunization information, including COVID vaccination.
Important Dates for Next Year:
- Vaccine Clinics: For those needing to update or catch up on vaccines, clinics will be held on June 12, July 16, August 13, and August 20. The county health vaccine van will be at the Family Resource Center on these dates, except for August 13 which will be at the school. You need to contact the County Health Department to schedule your appointment so they can bring the right vaccines. There is a copay for the vaccine administration, but no one will be turned away for inability to pay.
- Vision and Hearing Screenings: For Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 7th grades will take place next fall.
- Dental Cleaning and Sealant Program: This free program will return in the spring. Please have this on your radar so that you can take advantage of this opportunity!
- Puberty class will be held in the Spring for 4th & 5th grades
- Sex Education will be held in the Spring for 7th, 8th and 10th grades
- Sports Physicals for Fall sports can be completed at the school on August 13th from 10 am-4 pm with Cathy. Please call Cathy at 360-298-8481 to schedule.
Have a wonderful, safe, and enjoyable summer break. We look forward to seeing you all again next year, happy and healthy!
Warm regards,
Sara Hurley, RN
Cathy Doherty, ARNP
Katrina Lovejoy, Health Room Assistant
School Health Room Team
Lopez Island School District