COVID-19
During this COVID-19 outbreak in our county, state, country and the world, it is easy to be misinformed. If you are interested in COVID-19 information please use a reputable site to answer your concerns and/or update yourself. Here are some links and URLs that you might find helpful. Please copy and paste URLs in your browser.
Virginia Department of Health http://www.vdh.virginia.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/
National Institute of Health (NIH) https://www.nih.gov/health-information/coronavirus
World Health Organization (WHO) https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
• Guidance Related to Childcare During COVID-19 https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/guidance-related-to-childcare-during-covid-19/
• Guidance on Providing Pediatric Ambulatory Services via Telehealth During COVID-19 https:// services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/guidance-on-providingpediatric-ambulatory-services-via-telehealth-during-covid-19/
National Center on Early Childhood Health & Wellness (NCECHW)
• Email: health@ecetta.info
• Website: https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/health
• COVID-19 Health Information: https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/physical-health/coronavirus/healthhygiene
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Supplemental Guidance for Child Care Programs that Remain Open: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/guidance-for-childcare.html
Caring for Our Children (CFOC) Online Standards Database
https://nrckids.org/CFOC
California Childcare Health Program (CCHP) COVID-19 Resources
https://cchp.ucsf.edu
National Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Association
• Caring for Children while Social Distancing https://cacfp.ispringcloud.com/acc/a6v1jvU0NDYzOA/ s/44638-uWjzs-d0E7Q-6puDA
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2
The primary role of the school nurse is to support student learning. This is accomplished by implementing strategies that promote student and staff health.
Please fill out a health treatment plan or medication forms if your child has a chronic illness or requires medical attention during the school day. The clinic door is always open to discuss any health concerns you may have.
Services provided by the School Nurse:
Health Services--Assesses health and development, provides nursing interventions, and evaluates students' responses to core.
Health Education--Provides health education to students, staff and parents.
Healthy Environment--Identifies health and safety concerns in the school environment.
Nutritional Services--Supports healthy food services programs.
Physical Education/Activity--Promotes health and physical education which promotes healthy behaviors.
Counseling/Mental Health--Assesses needs, provides interventions and refers students to appropriate staff or community agencies.
Parent/Community Involvement--Promotes community involvement in assuring a healthy school.
Staff Wellness--Provides health education and wellness programs to school staff.
PWCS Health Regulations
Asthma/Asthma Action Plan Regulation 757-5
Allergy/Allergy action Plan Regulation 757-2
Cancer Regulation 753-7
Diabetes forms/Treatment plans Regulation 757-6
Illness or Injury Exclusion Criteria Regulation 758-1
Immunization Requirements Regulation 755-1
Seizure Regulation 757-7
Emergency Treatment form Regulation 757-3
Medication administration form Regulation 757-4
Regulations can be viewed and forms download by visiting PWCS Home page.
SCHOOL IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS
https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/immunization/requirements/
Tdap Update - New legislation from the state of Virginia, effective July 1, 2019, requires all 7th graders to have a Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap) booster shot to start school on August, 2020.
Other Immunizations Update: "Beginning July 1, 2021 the following vaccines will be added to Virginia school requirements with the specifics to be given to us in the future.
a. Rotavirus vaccine will be required for daycare and preschool age kids per CDC recommendations (2 doses routinely given as an infant).
b. Hep A vaccine will be required for all entering kinder per CDC recommendations (2 doses routinely given before the age of 3)
c. HPV vaccine will be required for boys as well as girls per CDC recommendations. Also, the language will change from 3 doses to 2 total, again per CDC recommendations.
d. Meningitis vaccines will be required for teenagers per CDC recommendations. (1st dose routinely given at age 11 and 2nd dose at age 16)"
CDC recommended immunization schedule: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/child-adolescent.html
Virginia Department of Health
Stop the Spread of Germs
According to the Center for Disease Control you can help stop the spread of disease by doing the following:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
- While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
- See Nonpharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) for more information about actions, apart from getting vaccinated and taking medicine, that people and communities can take to help slow the spread of illnesses like influenza.( FLU )
Keep your child home when?
Reasons for which a child may be sent home from school or for a parent to keep the child home from school.
- Fever of 100.4ºF and over - exclude until student has been fever-free for at least 24 hours with out medication.
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye), strep infections, ringworm, and impetigo are all infections and must be treated with medication for a minimum of 24 hours before returning to school. Please do not allow affected students back before this time so that other students are not infected unnecessarily.
- Rash of unknown origin (especially if accompanied by a fever).
- Head injury.
- Severe coughing or difficulty breathing.
- Colds - a child with thick or constant nasal discharge should remain home.
- Diarrhea or vomiting - exclude until student has been symptom-free for at least 24 hours.
- Stiff neck associated with a fever and/or a recent injury.
- Inadequate immunizations with known disease outbreak in school.
Parents/ Guardians must fill out the appropriate medication permission form. See PWCS regulation 757-4 Attachment 1. Parents or guardians need to bring the medication to school.
Students are not allowed to carry medications in school for safety reason.
Remove all medications after the backpack is used to transport medication after school and on the weekends.
Medication found in backpacks or in the students possession on school property is in violation of PWCS policies. This violation may result in disciplinary actions. Inhaler, Epipen or supplies for a student with Diabetes needs a Treatment Plan stating the student may carry the medication.
Wellness Updates
Welcome back to another school year at Ashland ES. Let's get this school year off to a great start. Remember to eat breakfast each day. A nutritious breakfast gives children the nutritional boost to get the learning process going. Studies have shown that children that eat breakfast:
Learn Better
Participate more in class
Behave better
Attend school more often
Visit the school nurse less often.
Remember eating something will be better for your metabolism than skipping a meal. Ashland's cafeteria provides the opportunity for a wonderful breakfast each school day.
Have you visited the Virtual Cafeteria site ? You select food items and compare their selections to the USDA Nutrition Standards.
As a result children learn how to make healthier food choices at school and home. Be sure to click on this site and have fun! Click here http://www.nutri-cafe.com
Reporting Student Absences
All student absences must be reported DAILY. Parents/ guardians need to call the Attendance Line at 703-445-0809. Please leave the following information by 9:30 a.m. each school day.
- Students Name
- Teachers name
- Reason for Absence
- For illness let us know if they have any of the following symptoms
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Abdominal pain
- Muscle aches
- Stuffy Nose
- Chills
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Fever, please tell us how high the fever has been
- Head lice
- All doctor confirmed communicable diseases. The school nurse needs written confirmation by your physician.
The Attendance line is available 24 hrs each day at 703-445-0809. You can leave a message the evening before or before school starts.
For any questions feel free to call me at 703-583-8774. We appreciate your cooperation.