School Nurse Newsletter

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The SWISD Health Services department looks forward to the 2024-25 school year and caring for student(s). Updated physician’s orders are REQUIRED each school year to provide physician prescribed health services to students. SWISD staff is not permitted to administer medications or medical procedures without updated physician’s orders.

Students are NOT allowed to bring remedies such as cough drops, medicated lollipops, antibiotic ointments to school without a physician's order.

To view forms, click here.

National Nutrition Month® is an annual campaign established in 1973 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. During the month of March, everyone is invited to learn about making informed food choices and developing healthful eating and physical activity habits.

This year's theme is "Food Connects Us." Food is a connecting factor for many of us. Food connects us to our cultures, our families and our friends. Sharing a meal is an opportunity to learn about its preparation, who made it and where the ingredients were sourced. Health, memories, traditions, seasons and access can all impact our relationship with food. While these factors influence the foods we eat, the foods we eat also affect our health.

What causes measles?

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness cause by a virus. The virus is transmitted by

direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread when an infected person breathes,

coughs or sneezes. Measles virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an

infected person leaves an area. Illness onset begins a week or two after someone is exposed.

What are the symptoms?

• Measles symptoms usually start with high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes.
• A few days later, rash breaks out as flat, red spots on the face. The rash then spreads down the neck and trunk to the rest of the body.
• People are contagious from 4 days before the rash starts to 4 days after the rash appears.
• Unvaccinated children are more likely to have severe complications if they get infected with the measles virus.

How can I prevent measles?

The best way to prevent measles is to be immunized with two doses of a measles

vaccine, either the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) or measles-mumps-rubella-

varicella (MMRV) combination vaccine.

Children should receive one dose at 12 to 15 months of age and another at 4 to 6 years.

Each dose lowers the risk of infection and severity of illness if infected.

Can my child go to school or daycare?

Texas Administrative Code requires schools and daycares to exclude children from attending

school or daycare if they are suspected of having certain illnesses.

• Children with measles are required to stay home until 4 days have passed from rash onset.
• Unvaccinated children who are exposed to someone with measles are required to stay home for 21 days after the exposure.
• Children with a fever are required to stay home until they are fever-free for 24 hour without the use of medications.

For more information about measles:

https://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/vaccine-preventable-diseases/vaccine-preventable-disease-

conditions/measles-rubeola

Dear Parents of enrolling 2025-26 Kinder - 6th grade students: Texas state law requires that all students entering Kindergarten - 6 grade have 5 doses of DTaP/DTP/ DT/ Td/Tdap, (4 doses if 4th dose is on or after 4th birthday), 4 doses of Polio (3 doses if 3rd dose is on or after 4th birthday), 2 doses of MMR,(1st dose on or after 1st birthday, 2 doses of Varicella (1st dose on or after 1st birthday), 2 doses of Hepatitis A (1st dose on or after 1st birthday and a 6 month minimum between 1st and 2nd dose), and 3 doses of Hepatitis B.

To meet this requirement, an immunization record must be provided to the school documenting the date your child received the required vaccines, along with a signature or stamp of the doctor or clinic that provided the vaccines. If your child has already received these vaccines, he or she will not be required to obtain it again; however, the school must receive proof of vaccination before the first day of school. Bring the original immunization record to your child’s school for verification purposes. A copy of the immunization record will be made for the school to retain. Please do not mail your original records.

For Reasons of Conscience exemptions, a vaccine exemption affidavit form must be requested. Please go to https://co-request.dshs.texas.gov/, and follow the instructions. Once you have completed the required information, you will receive your affidavit in the mail (which can take up to 3 weeks), and it must then be notarized. Your child’s school must keep the original notarized affidavit which is valid for two years from the date of notarization. For Medical exemptions, please see your child’s primary care provider. Medical exemptions are valid for only one year, unless otherwise noted on form.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to speak to your school nurse

If your student is required to sit out from PE, please send a parent or doctor's note. A parent note can excuse your student for two days; anything longer than that requires a letter from a physician.

Flu Season is upon us! Please follow proper handwashing and respiratory etiquette to help prevent the spread of unwanted germs.

Per policy, students are NOT sent home if lice is discovered, however, students are checked for live lice before re-admission. If lice is discovered on your student, or a student in the same classroom, you will be notified. Here are some important things to know about lice:

• Head Lice does not discriminate against any socio-economic group or race, and is not related to bad health or hygiene habits.
• Head lice DO NOT come from animals or pets, and cannot survive on a nonhuman host Itching of the scalp is usually the first noticeable sign.
• Transmission occurs through direct head to head contact or contact with personal items (hats, scarves, coats, brushes or combs).
• If lice is discovered: Check all family members and treat all those with lice with appropriate medicated shampoo (consult a physician or pharmacist). REMOVE THE NITS (eggs). Some may not be killed by the shampoo and will hatch into new lice. Wash clothing and bed linens in hot water at time of treatment to prevent re-infestation. Soak combs, brushes, and hair accessories that have been used recently with hot water. Pillows, comforters, and stuffed toys can be dried on high heat for 20 minutes or placed in a sealed plastic bag for 2 weeks. Vacuum rugs and furniture.

University Health and Southwest ISD are excited to have a School-Based Telehealth Program that serves our students and staff at Southwest ISD. This program provides medical exams remotely, connecting our students in the school nurse’s office to a University Health Board Certified Healthcare Provider. This partnership with University Health takes their already offered telehealth video visits one step further. With advanced handheld technology, this program allows the provider to examine, diagnose, and treat common conditions related to the student’s ears, lungs, heart, throat, skin, abdomen, and temperature — all without being in the same room. This is a convenient and accessible option for your child or yourself to be seen by an experienced provider right from a SWISD school campus.

For more information, click here.

Please send your students to school with an extra set of clothing. Providing extra clothing will be extremely helpful when students have accidents, spills, or damage to clothing

Mindy Kierstead MSN, RN
Elm Creek Elementary
Office: 210-622-4430, Fax: 210-622-4431

Email: mkierstead9211@swisd.net