Preschool Wellness
Wellness
Dublin City Schools take an active role in promoting, supporting, and modeling healthy eating habits for our students. As a result, we have revised some of our former school practices regarding the distribution of edible treats to celebrate student birthdays or special events throughout the school year.
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Each school has committed to a non-edible treat practice regarding birthdays or special events specific to individual students or classes of students. This means that students will not bring in food items for birthday treats or to celebrate events such as moving, etc. Instead, each school can help identify how to celebrate special events in ways that do not involve edible treats.
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Annual school wide celebrations will continue to promote healthy eating as well by providing nutritional snack options such as fruits and vegetables. Schools will limit sweet treats for school wide events to one item per student.
Children embrace being recognized by their peers and teachers for special occasions. We invite the Dublin school community to join us in our efforts to promote healthy and nutritious habits in our students.
- Screenings
- Required Early Childhood Health Assessment and Annual Medical Exam
- Clinic Information
- Injury and Illness Procedures
- Medical Referral for Illness/Injury
- Control of Casual Contact Communicable Diseases and Pests
- Management of Communicable Disease
- 2024-2025 Immunization Requirements for School Attendance
- Bloodborne Pathogens
- Healthchek Services for Children Younger than Age 21
- Regulations for the Administration of Medications, Food Supplements or Modified Diets - Early Childhood ONLY
- Early Childhood Medication and Food Supplement Procedures
Screenings
Each year, all preschool students are screened for vision and hearing. In addition, all students new to the district will be screened for vision and hearing. If a problem is detected, a written referral will be mailed home. At any time throughout the year, if a parent is concerned their child is having difficulty hearing or seeing, they should contact the clinic for a screening. Clinic staff will notify the parents of the screening results.
Required Early Childhood Health Assessment and Annual Medical Exam
Per Ohio Administrative Code 3301-37-08: The parents shall provide, prior to the date of admission or no later than 30 days after date of admission and every 13 months from the date of examination thereafter, a physician’s assessment from a licensed physician, physician’s assistant, clinical nurse specialist or certified nurse affirming that the child is in suitable condition for enrollment in the program. Parents must remain in compliance with this rule in order for their child to continue in the program.
Clinic Information
A student health clinic is located in the preschool building. A full-time clinic aide, in consultation with a school nurse who covers multiple buildings, staffs the clinic. When the clinic aide, school nurse, or a substitute is not available in the clinic, the building office staff will assist with student care.
Clinic staff offers basic first aid, emergency care, medication administration, and vision and hearing screenings. Routine vision and hearing screenings are done each year for all preschool students. Additionally, if a staff member, parents/guardians, or student has a concern about a student’s vision or hearing, the clinic staff can screen the child upon request. Clinic staff also ensures compliance with Ohio’s medication and immunization laws, monitors for communicable diseases, and assists students with required medical care as ordered by a healthcare provider.
At the beginning of each school year, parents/guardians are required by law (ORC 3313.712) to complete an Emergency Medical Authorization Form for each student. This form is to enable parents/guardians to authorize the provision of emergency treatment for children who become ill or injured while under school authority, when a parents/guardian cannot be reached. Ohio law requires that all preschool students have two emergency contacts in addition to parents. Please complete/update student’s medical information and Emergency Medical Authorization online (Infinite Campus). Throughout the school year, please remember to update your student’s Emergency Medical Authorization Form if there are changes to your child’s health care information (Infinite Campus). Students will be excluded from participating in field trips until this requirement has been met. Please note: If a student becomes ill or is injured during normal school hours, they will only be released to individuals listed as an emergency contact.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact the school nurse prior to the first day of attendance with any health concerns or conditions that could affect their child’s learning, attendance, or safety at school. It is also recommended that parents/guardians list their child’s health concerns and medications on the district’s electronic health record (Infinite Campus). This is especially important if a child has life-threatening allergies, seizures, diabetes, or other medical concerns. The school nurse will work with the parents/guardians to develop a health care plan for students who require preventative or medical interventions at school when appropriate. This plan will be shared with school staff that work with or supervise the student.
Injury and Illness Procedures
The clinic is open during the school day and staff is available to see students who are observed or appear to be feeling ill or have an injury that requires attention.
Students who become ill or injured at school will need to be seen in the clinic for care. If the student appears too ill/injured to remain in school, the clinic staff will contact parents/guardians to make arrangements for their child to go home. If an injury or illness appears life threatening, staff will summon the emergency squad. Every effort will be made to notify parents/guardians of this necessity.
Ill or injured students may not be released from school until they have been evaluated in the clinic. If a student is ill or injured and must be dismissed early, the student will only be released to those listed on the Emergency Medical Authorization Form. For preschool students, parents/guardians or the designated contact must come into the school office to sign the child into or out of school.
Medical Referral for Illness/Injury
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The clinic health care team is not designated to replace the family physician or to dictate medical care. The choice of health care provider and initiation of medical referral always remains at the discretion of the parents.
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Your family physician should be contacted if: problems develop with an injury/illness, the condition worsens, or the condition persists for an extended period of time. It is important when an ill/injured student returns to school that any new or remaining problems be reported to the clinic staff.
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All students evaluated by their family physician should provide a note from the physician indicating the nature of the illness/injury, course of treatment, and any activity restrictions. The notification should be provided to the clinic staff.
Control of Casual Contact Communicable Diseases and Pests
Dublin City Schools follow the recommendations of the Ohio Department of Health regarding school exclusion requirements for communicable illnesses. When a child is ill, appears to be ill, has been diagnosed with a communicable, untreated illness, or has an illness still considered contagious, the clinic and administrative staff have the authority to exclude or isolate the student. In accordance with District Policy 8450, students having signs or symptoms associated with a communicable disease, will be excluded until they are symptom-free for 24 hours without the assistance of medication. State and local health guidelines may be subject to frequent change as determined by health officials.
For common communicable illnesses (strep, pink eye, ringworm, etc), in which medication is required for treatment, students must complete a minimum of 24 hours of therapy before returning to school. For other communicable illnesses (whooping cough, chicken pox, measles, COVID-19, etc) the exclusion time will be longer and may require a physician’s note to return to school.
In accordance with OAC 3701-3-13, when head lice are detected on a child at school, the child shall be excluded from school until after the first treatment. A parent/guardian will be notified to pick up the student for treatment that day. The parent/guardian and child are expected to report back to the school clinic for re-examination the following school day. If the student is found to be free of live lice, he/she will return to the classroom. Students with live lice will be re-excluded for further treatment.
For more information on communicable diseases and the guidelines for treatment and exclusion from school, please visit the Ohio Department of Health’s website.
Management of Communicable Disease
A person trained in prevention, recognition, and management of communicable disease or other illness shall observe each child daily.
A staff member will notify the parent or guardian of a child suspected of having a communicable disease (observed to have signs or symptoms of illness) and the child would be isolated and discharged to his parent or guardian. To ensure appropriate management of suspected illnesses, staff will adhere to the Ohio Department of Health “communicable disease chart”.
Signs of illness can include:
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Diarrhea (more than one abnormally loose stool within a twenty-four-hour period);
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Severe coughing, causing the child to become red or blue in the face or to make a whooping sound;
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Difficult or rapid breathing;
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Yellowish skin or eyes;
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Conjunctivitis;
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Temperature of one hundred degrees Fahrenheit taken by the axillary method when in combination with
Other signs of illness;
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Untreated infected skin patch(es);
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Unusually dark urine and/or grey or white stool;
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Stiff neck;
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Evidence of lice, scabies, or other parasitic infestation;
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Unusual spots or rashes;
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Sore throat or difficulty swallowing; or
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Vomiting.
A child isolated due to suspected communicable disease shall be:
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cared for in a room or portion of a room not being used in the Early Childhood program;
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within sight and hearing of an adult at all times. No child shall ever be left alone or unsupervised;
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made comfortable and provided with a cot. All linens and blankets used by the ill child shall be laundered before being used by another child. After use, the cots shall be disinfected with an appropriate germicidal agent, or, if soiled with blood, feces, vomit, or other body fluids, the cots shall be cleaned with soap and water and then disinfected with an appropriate germicidal agent;
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observed carefully for worsening condition;
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discharged to parent or guardian as soon as practical.
2024-2025 Immunization Requirements for School Attendance
Ohio Law requires each student to demonstrate compliance of immunizations requirements via medical documentation. Please provide an immunization record to the clinic by the 1st day of attendance. The School Nurse will review all student immunization records for compliance with Ohio law. The number of required immunizations for each child may vary depending on the child’s grade, child’s age and route each vaccine was given, manufacturer’s brand of vaccine and child’s disease and health history. The school nurse or clinic aide will contact you if additional vaccines are needed.
Please contact the building school nurse, your child’s health care provider or the Ohio Department of Health Immunization Program at (800) 282-0546 if you have questions or concerns about your child’s immunizations.
All new students to the district who have spent more than 30 consecutive days in a TB endemic region within the past five years or who were born in a TB endemic region must also present evidence of a negative Tuberculin (TB) test before they can attend school. The TB test must have been completed within the past 12 months in the United States. Current enrolled students who spend 30 or more consecutive days in a TB endemic region will also be required to have a negative Tuberculin (TB) test before returning to school.
Bloodborne Pathogens
The Dublin City Schools Board of Education recognizes that staff/students incur some risk of infection and illness each time they are exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials. While the risk to staff/students of exposure to body fluids due to casual contact with individuals in the school environment is extremely low, the board regards any such risk as serious.
The school district seeks to provide a safe educational environment for students and has taken appropriate measures to protect those students who may be exposed to blood borne pathogens in the school environment and/or during their participation in school-related activities. The staff is taught to assume that all body fluids are potentially infectious and to follow standard precautions to reduce risks and minimize and/or prevent the potential for accidental infection.
A district Exposure Control Plan is in place for staff to eliminate or reduce the risk of student and staff exposure to blood borne pathogens. A blood borne pathogen is a pathogenic microorganism that is present in human blood and can cause disease in humans. These microorganisms include, but are not limited to, Hepatitis B and C Viruses (HBV and HBC) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
Whenever a student has contact with blood or other potentially infectious material, the child must immediately notify the nurse/clinic aide. Staff will assist your child in cleansing the exposed area. The parent/guardian of a student who is exposed will be contacted regarding the exposure and encouraged to consult with the student’s physician concerning any necessary post-exposure testing or treatment.
As required by Federal law, if a staff member has been exposed to a student’s blood, the parent/guardian of that student will be requested to have their child’s blood tested for HIV and HBV. Any testing is subject to laws protecting confidentiality.
Healthchek Services for Children Younger than Age 21
Healthchek is Ohio's Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) Program. It is a service package for babies, kids, and young adults younger than age 21 who are enrolled on Ohio Medicaid.
The purpose of Healthchek is to discover and treat health problems early. If a potential health problem is found, further diagnosis and treatment are covered by Medicaid.
Healthchek covers ten check-ups in the first two years of life and annual check-ups thereafter and offers a comprehensive physical examination that includes:
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medical history
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complete unclothed exam (with parent approval)
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developmental screening (to assess if child's physical and mental abilities are age appropriate)
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vision screening
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dental screening
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hearing assessment
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immunization assessment (making sure child receives them on time)
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lead screening; and
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other services or screenings as needed
If your children are enrolled on Ohio Medicaid, Healthchek services are available to them. If you are younger than age 21 and are also enrolled, you can receive Healthchek services, too. For additional information, go to https://medicaid.ohio.gov/families-and-individuals/citizen-programs-and-initiatives/healthchek/healthchek.
Regulations for the Administration of Medications, Food Supplements or Modified Diets - Early Childhood ONLY
According to Ohio Law (OAC 3301-37-07) if an early childhood student requires any type of prescription or non-prescription medications, food supplements or a modified diet at school, a parent/guardian is responsible for providing the school with the prescription or non-prescription (over-the-counter) medication or food supplement. A licensed prescriber and parent/guardian is also required to complete the following form: 5330 F1 Request for Administration of Prescription & Non-Prescription Medications by School Personnel. This form is available on the district’s web site or in the building clinic.
All prescription and non-prescription medications and food supplements must be stored in the clinic. Foods required for a modified diet may be kept with the classroom teacher. Early Childhood students who have a completed authorization form on file to self-carry and administer an inhaler (5330A A F1 Action Plan and Orders) or epinephrine autoinjector (5330A E F1 Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Orders and Care Plan) with assistance may do so on the bus or while at school. An extra autoinjector is required by law to be stored in the clinic. These forms are available on the district’s website or in the building clinic.
Early Childhood Medication and Food Supplement Procedures
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A written request must be obtained from an Ohio-licensed prescriber and the parent/guardian each school year before any prescription or non-prescription medications or food supplements may be administered to an early childhood student by school personnel (5330 F1 Request for Administration of Prescription & Non-Prescription Medications by School Personnel).
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The signed medication/supplement request form should be brought to the school by the parent/guardian. Completed forms can also be faxed from home or the prescriber’s office to the school
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Prescription medication must be brought in by the parent in the original container or packaging in which it was dispensed by the prescriber or pharmacist. All prescription medication will be stored in the clinic and administered by designated staff. Pharmacists can make a duplicate bottle for the school.
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Non-prescription medication and food supplements must be brought in by the parent in the original manufacturer’s package or container as purchased and will also be stored in the clinic and dispensed by designated staff.
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Before any “as needed” medication is given, a parent may need to be contacted to ensure the medication was not already administered at home to the student.
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If a student has obvious signs of injury or illness, such as a fever, rash, vomiting, diarrhea, or other signs of a possible communicable illness or serious injury, the prescribed non-prescription medication may be administered, but the student will need to be sent home to recover.
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A new Request for Administration of Prescription or Non-Prescription Medications by School Personnel form must be submitted each school year and whenever there is any change in the prescriber’s order, such as an increase or decrease in medication or food supplement dosage, or a change of medication or food supplement.
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Accurate records of the administration of medications and food supplements will be kept in the student’s health file for seven years.
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An early childhood student cannot self-carry or administer her/his own prescription or non-prescription medication or supplements except as designated in #10. All prescription and non-prescription medications or supplements will be stored by school personnel in a locked area unless it requires refrigeration, in which case it will be kept in a refrigerator in a place not commonly used by students.
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A student may self-carry and administer his or her own prescription inhaler (5330A A F1 Asthma Action Plan Orders) or epinephrine autoinjector (5330A E F1 Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Orders and Care Plan) with assistance, only after the proper medication request for the student has been completed by both a licensed prescriber and a parent/guardian and is on file in the school clinic.
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Forms for emergency medications are available online (Medical/Health Services Forms) or in the clinic for prescribers and parents to complete for inhalers, epinephrine autoinjectors, glucagon, diastat and intranasal midazolam.
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The school board designates the following personnel to administer prescription medication: nurses, teachers, aides, secretarial/office staff, bus drivers, bus aides, assistant principals, principals, other district administrators and others as designated by the student’s IEP and/or 504 Plan and/or any other person(s) as determined and designated by the superintendent or designee to meet the needs of a particular student. Any of the foregoing personnel administering medication may do so only after completing the District’s drug administration training program and reviewing the applicable request form, including the prescriber’s order, instructions, and signature and a parent/guardian signature.
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Parents/guardians are responsible for picking up unused prescription and non-prescription medications and supplements at the end of each school year. No medications or food supplements will be sent home with students. Any medications or supplements remaining in the clinic will be discarded.
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A new medication/supplement form and any self-carry inhaler/Epinephrine autoinjector or other emergency medication form must be properly completed and signed by a licensed prescriber and parent/guardian each school year.