FAQ's

It is very important that your child be in school every day. So much learning occurs within our schools on a daily basis that missing even one day can add to your children's work load as they attempt to make up for their lost time. But we also know that there are times when your child is sick and must remain at home. Below are some guidelines to use when making the decision whether or not to send your child to school.

Your child can come to school if he/she:

1. Is fever free for 24 hours with no fever reducing medication. That means, the temperature should be less than 100 degrees for 24 hours AND your child has not taken Tylenol, Advil, Motrin or any medicine that would help to bring down the temperature.
2. Has had no vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours or more. Please keep your child home if they are vomiting or having diarrhea from an illness.
3. Has taken an antibiotic for 24 hours when being treated for an infection. This includes such bacterial infections as strep throat or pink eye. It does not matter how many doses of the medicine you have given. The medication must be in the system for 24 hours to be effective enough for your child to no longer be considered contagious.
4.  Has asthma. Most wheezing is controlled by medications. If your child has an asthma plan and rescue medications at school, he/she can be managed by the school nurse during school hours. Students with asthma miss many days of school because parents are hesitant to send them when they are having asthma problems. Call the school nurse if you are concerned but encourage your child to maintain regular attendance. 
5. Needs to take medication during the school day. (See the information on medications in school) Follow the medication guidelines so that the medication can be given by the school nurse.
6. Seems healthy to you!! Many times, children will say they don't feel well in the mornings especially if they are tired. You are the best judge of just how ill your child seems. It is not necessary for students to stay home every time they complain of a stomachache or a headache if you believe that they are OK. The nurse will call you if he/she gets worse during the day. If you are unsure, call the nurse and give her contact information so that you can easily be reached if you are needed.

REMEMBER, your school nurse is a phone call or an email away. If you are in doubt, please contact her.

If your child needs to take any type of medication during the school day, here are the steps you need to take:

• Send or bring the medication to the school nurse IN ITS ORIGNIAL CONTAINER. (Controlled medications such as those for ADHD and needles and syringes for insulin cannot be sent with your child. An adult MUST bring them to the nurse.)
• Prescription medications must have the prescription label attached. Inhalers usually have their labels on the box so that label will need to be included.
• Send a note which states that you give your permission for your child to take the medication, what time it is to be given and how much you want given. (For example, "Please give Johnny Smith one teaspoon of Amoxicillin today at 12:00 p.m. for an ear infection."
• Sign and date the note.
• Check the expiration date on all medications. School nurses are not permitted to give outdated medications.

STUDENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO CARRY MEDICATIONS IN SCHOOL. IF YOUR CHILD NEEDS MEDICATION IN SCHOOL, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR SCHOOL NURSE.

Students entering a Delaware public school for the first time are required by Delaware law to have the following information in their health records at school.

Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten Students:

• Physical examination
• Up-to-date immunizations (4 DTaPs, 3 IPVs, 3 Hepatitis Bs, 1 MMR, 1 Varicella)
• TB risk assessment or TB test
• Lead test

1st through 12th Grade Students:

• Physical examination
• Up-to-date immunizations (5 DTaPs, 4 IPVs, 3 Hepatitis Bs, 2 MMRs, 2 Varicellas)
• TB risk assessment or TB test

Parents will receive a letter if this information is missing when students are registered or transfer to the Milford School District giving you a specified period of time to provide the information. If the information is not received by the specified time, usually within 2 weeks, your child will not be able to attend school until you have provided the information or proof of an appointment to have the requirements completed.

These are State of Delaware requirements and must be completed by state law in order for children to attend public school. The school nurse will be happy to assist you if you need help finding a doctor or making an appointment. Please contact her as soon as you receive a letter.

Each school year, students in grades kindergarten, 2nd, 4th, 7th, and either 9th or 10th are screened for vision and hearing problems. Any students referred by their teachers or administrators or who are being tested for special education are also screened. Driver education students must also have their vision screened within a year prior to the driving portion of their class. A screening examination is a very general testing which is designed to detect possible problems. For vision screening, students are shown a vision testing chart and asked to read letters or identify symbols from a distance. If they are unable to do so, parents will receive a letter advising that your child see an eye doctor or optometrist/opthalmalogist. For hearing screening, students listen to tones with headphones. If they are fail to respond to those tones, they are retested in approximately 2 to 3 weeks. This allows for illnesses which may be interfering with hearing to resolve. If the student is still unable to pass the hearing screening, parents are sent a letter advising that they make an appointment with the child's doctor for a more thorough evaluation. As always, please contact the school nurse if you have any questions about these screenings or if you receive a referral letter that you do not understand. If you do not have insurance to pay for a vision evaluation or a doctor's appointment, please contact your student's school nurse for assistance.

If your child needs to take medication during a field trip, OR needs to have medication with him or her in case it is needed during a field trip, please read the following information carefully.

REMEMBER THAT IT IS ALWAYS BEST IF YOU OR A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND CAN GO ON THE TRIP WITH YOUR CHILD TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MEDICINE.

There is a State of Delaware law that allows for school personnel, other than the school nurse, to assist students with medications during a field trip with written parent or guardian permission. THIS LAW DOES NOT APPLY TO INJECTABLE MEDICATIONS (EXCEPT EPI PENS) AND CERTAIN OTHER MEDICATIONS THAT CANNOT BE SELF ADMINISTERED BY THE STUDENT. If a family member or family designee is not able to attend the field trip, the student's parent can give the teacher permission to assist that student with the needed medication. Special field trip medication permission forms must be signed in advance of the field trip.

The medication taken on the field trip must be in its original container. If it is a prescription medication, the prescription label must be attached and clearly show that it is prescribed for the student and include the instructions for administration.

On the day of the field trip, the medication and the permission form are to be in the teacher's possession throughout the duration of the trip. It is the teacher's responsibility to assist the student by reminding him/her to take the medicine, open the bottle if needed, and direct the student to take the medication at the proper time. In the case of "as needed" medicines, the teacher may assist the student in deciding if the medication is needed and then in taking the medicine as described. (Note: Prior to a field trip, school personnel, other than school nurses, have the right to decline to assist a student with medication administration if they do not feel comfortable assuming this responsibility.)

IF A STUDENT IS NOT CAPABLE OF TAKING A MEDICATION WITH THE TEACHER'S ASSISTANCE, A PARENT OR DESIGNEE MUST ACCOMPANY THE STUDENT ON THE FIELD TRIP. IF A STUDENT NEEDS AN INJECTABLE MEDICATION OTHER THAN AN EPI PEN, A PARENT OR DESIGNEE MUST ACCOMPANY THE STUDENT ON THE FIELD TRIP.  In the event that a parent/guardian or designee cannot accompany a student who is required to take medication on a field trip, the school district is responsible for providing a nurse to accompany that student on the field trip.

Teacher assistance with medications applies to field trips only by the laws of the State of Delaware.

Please call your child's school nurse if you have any further questions about medications on field trips.