Health & Wellness
The Konocti Unified School District Board Policy (BP 5141.31) requires all students entering the school district, childcare program or transferring between school campuses to present an immunization record or medical exemption document. Students entering the 7th grade must have a Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap) booster, prior to the start of 7th grade. Immunization records can be faxed to the district nurse at 707-994-1518.
See link to California Immunization Requirements for K-12 Grade (including transitional kindergarten): English | Spanish
Students with medical conditions that prevent immunization can submit a medical exemption in lieu of immunization records. All medical exemptions for school and child care entry must be issued through CAIR-ME. Parents can create an account in CAIR-ME and apply for an exemption. Medical exemption application instructions
Whenever possible, medications should be given at home by the parent. School personnel will assist students with taking prescribed medications during the school day when it is necessary for the health and safety of the child, to ensure they can access their education. In order to assist with administering medication or treatment to your child at school, the following conditions must be met:
- A Medication Authorization form signed by the parent/guardian and doctor for any medication to be administered at school (including over-the-counter medications) must be on file with the school, and renewed annually, as required by law..
- Medications must be in the original prescription or unopened over-the-counter container, labeled with the child’s name, medication name, dosage, and times to administer.
- Parent/guardian must deliver the signed Medication Authorization form and medications directly to the school office or school nurse so that medication can be accepted and counted.
No other prescription or over-the-counter medications may be carried by students on their person, in a backpack or other container except as indicated above and with the express knowledge and permission of the school nurse.
Medical Authorization Form: English | Spanish
Specialized Physical Health Care Services (SPHCS) are health services prescribed by the child’s licensed physician and/or surgeon requiring medically related training for the individual who performs the services and which are necessary during the school day to enable the child to attend school. These include but are not limited to medication administration, catheterization, gastrostomy feeding, suctioning, seizure care, diabetes care, tracheostomy care, and postural drainage.
- A parent/guardian requesting SPHCS for their student is to submit a request for specialized physical health care services to the school nurse and provide the following form completed and signed by the student’s physician and signed by the parent/guardian:
- Diabetes Type I & Type II - Diabetes Medical Management Plan
- Seizure Disorder - Seizure Action Plan
- Catheterization - Medical Orders from the Physician
- Tube Feedings - Medical Orders from the Physician
- All other Medical Procedures required to be performed at school by the school nurse or trained staff - Medical Orders from the Physician and/or the Authorization for Specialized Physical Health Care Form.
Authorization for Specialized Physical Health Care Services Form
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, because viruses can spread when your hands touch surfaces infected with germs.
Bubbles, bubbles, and more bubbles! Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds (sing Happy Birthday to yourself twice or sing the ABC song).
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and remember to throw away the tissue. If you have no tissue, use the inside of your elbow and be sure to cover your nose and mouth.
Don’t share drinks, water bottles, eating utensils or cell phones.
Watch the YouTube series on returning to school safety protocols.
- Nutrition: Nutrition is an important part of both school and home life. Eat healthy foods to support a healthy mind and body. Below are some resources and guidelines to help your family make healthy choices. Add links to MyPlate information and resources for food banks and local farmer’s markets.
- Physical Activity: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that children aged 6-17 years engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Regular physical activity in childhood and adolescence will improve strength and endurance, support building healthy bones and muscles, assist in controlling weight, decrease anxiety and stress, improve self-esteem, and possibly reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Include a link to the Let’s Move for Schools website.
- Health Promotion: Health Promotion enables our teachers, students and families to gain control over and improve their health. It focuses on a wide range of individual, social and environmental interventions. Link to Blue Zones Lake County.
- Sleep: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued guidelines outlining recommended sleep duration for children from infants to teens. Regularly sleeping fewer than the number of recommended hours is associated with attention, behavior, and learning problems. Insufficient sleep also increases the risk of accidents, injuries, hypertension, obesity, diabetes and depression. Following are the recommended minimum and maximum hours each age group should regularly sleep during a 24-hour period for optimal health:
- Ages 3-5 years: 10-13 hours (including naps)
- Age 6-12 years: 9-12 hours
- Age 13-18 years: 8-10 hours
1. Health and Wellness
- Konocti Unified School District is committed to providing quality schools by promoting student achievement, establishing schools as learning centers, supporting effective teaching, engaging parents/community in learning, and facilitating effective communication. The implementation of the Wellness Policy promotes student wellness, proper nutrition, nutrition education, and regular physical activity as part of the total learning experience.
- The federal government has initiated laws that set standards for improved school meals and requires school districts to follow specific criteria in order to create unique wellness policies.
- Our Wellness Policy incorporates all components of the Coordinated School Health Model and federal mandates, including:
- Health Education
- Health Services
- Physical Education
- Physical Activity
- Nutrition Services
- Social-Emotional Wellness
- Healthy and Safe School Environment
- Staff Wellness
- Family & Community Involvement
2. Nursing Philosophy
- Given the pervasive effects of trauma on health, Nursing and Wellness will embrace the school community in the practice of Trauma Informed Care, Mindfulness, Restorative Practices and the use of evidence based research to achieve safety, health and well-being.
3. Role of the Health Office Staff
- School nurses are the primary health care providers within the educational environment promoting optimum health status, physical, mental and emotional health, so all students may achieve their fullest potential.
- School Nurses possess a California (CA) School Nurse Services Credential and are licensed California Registered Nurses (RN). School Nurses are members of a multidisciplinary team established to meet the health and educational needs of all KUSD students. School Nursing services include health assessment, communicable disease control, state-mandated screenings, such as vision and hearing, first aid and disaster preparedness, immunization follow-up, child abuse reporting, suicide risk assessment, utilization of approved community resources, and health education of students and staff. School Nurses train, assign and supervise unlicensed personnel to provide Specialized Physical Health Care Services. They also focus on students' health and promote student attendance and achievement.
- A Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) can provide a variety of health care services to students at assigned school site: administer first aid, screen ill or injured students and provide medications to students including oral, aerosol and injection medications; provide emergency care in accordance with State laws and District regulations; accompany and provide specialized medical care to individual students as directed.
- Health Technicians (HT) are unlicensed personnel with training in First Aid, CPR, Medication Administration, and Specialized Procedures as needed under the direct supervision of the credentialed school nurse.
4. What to expect in the Health Office
- The Health Office may be staffed by a Registered Nurse, LVN, or Health Technician. There is ongoing communication between our staff in the Health Office to ensure seamless care for your student. If the Health Technician has any questions or requires clarification an RN is always available.
5. Home and Hospital
- Home and Hospital Instruction is provided for students who have a TEMPORARY disability, which makes school attendance impossible or inadvisable. The Home and Hospital Instruction Program provides for on-going academic instruction for students unable to attend the regular school day due to TEMPORARY illness, surgery, or recent hospitalization. Chronic conditions do not qualify for Home and Hospital, but other educational alternatives, such as independent study may be available.
- Home and Hospital Parent/Guardian Instructions
- Home and Hospital Request Form
1. View the guidelines for when to keep your child home.
2. Control of Communicable Diseases
- The district is required to cooperate with Lake County Public Health to prevent and control communicable diseases in school-age children. When there is good reason to believe a student has a contagious or infectious disease, the parent or guardian will be contacted and the student sent home. The student may return to school when well and/or released by a physician. If there is reason to believe a student is suffering from a recognized contagious or infectious disease, the student will be excluded from school until school officials are satisfied that the student is no longer contagious.
3. Pediculosis Policy (Head Lice)
- The problem of head lice (pediculosis) is ongoing and can be difficult to control at home and at school. Even though head lice and nits (eggs) are not a threat to health, they are a frustrating nuisance. Prompt treatment of students with a positive diagnosis of head lice ensures minimal disruption of their education. When a student is identified as having head lice, the student will be sent home at the end of the school day for treatment. It is the responsibility of the parent to treat and control head lice infestation. Key to success in controlling head lice, with small chance of recurrence, is in the removal of all nits after the use of the pediculicide. After treatment at home, it is mandatory for the student to undergo a head check in the health office upon return to school the next day. The student may return to class provided the head lice have been treated and there are no live lice in the hair, even if nits (eggs) are still present. Parents are encouraged to continue removing nits until the problem is resolved.
- There is no evidence that mass screening (school-wide or whole classrooms) helps to control head lice infestation or reinfestation. Parents/guardians are encouraged to inspect their child’s hair as part of their regular hygiene routine.
4. Fact Sheets
Nursing Department Office
Phone: (707) 701-0454 | Fax: (707) 994-1518
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