Health Room

The NMSHS Health Room is intended for the use of students with serious or unexpected illnesses or injuries. If a student becomes ill and needs to leave school, they must check out with the school nurse or the attendance office first.

School personnel are not allowed to dispense medication without completion of the required Medication Authorization Form. In order for a student to carry medications with them during the school hours while on school property the student must obtain a form from the school nurse and return it with the required signatures.

In the event of a medical emergency, parental instructions as indicated during Annual Data Update (ADU) will be followed. If this information is not updated or fully completed during registration, and parents/guardians nor emergency contacts can be reached, and the paramedics must be called, all decisions as to treatments, hospital etc., will be made by the paramedics. It is very important to update contact information annually.

Resources

Health Services

Food Services

Immunizations

Colorado law (Board of Health rule 6 CCR 1009-2) requires all students attending Colorado schools and licensed child cares to be vaccinated against certain diseases unless an exemption is filed.

Under Colorado law, a student may be exempted from immunizations if they have submitted a signed medical, religious or personal exemption.

Students must submit documentation of immunization or exemption

This school year BVSD will be enforcing Colorado law requiring all students attending Colorado schools and licensed child cares to be vaccinated against certain diseases unless a signed medical, religious or personal exemption is filed with the school.

You can check your child's immunization compliance status now in the IC Parent Portal under Health.

If you have questions you should discuss your child’s vaccination needs with your health care provider or local public health agency.

Local & State Public Health Agencies

Boulder County Public Health

City and County of Broomfield Public Health and Environment

Colorado Department of Health and Environment | School Immunizations

State Requirements and Forms

School Required Vaccines and Schedules

Exemption Information and Forms

Resources

Immunize for Good | Colorado Children's Immunization Coalition

Vaccine Education Center | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Student Health Forms

Health Conditions Students with Asthma, Seizures, Diabetes, Chronic Headaches, or who experience Anaphylaxis benefit from the use of a standardized health care plan. We encourage the use of these standardized plans and orders:

Medications

Students may receive medications at school according to BVSD policy. However, all prescription and non-prescription medications must be maintained in the health office and administered by a trained staff member. All medications must be delivered to the health office and be accompanied by a completed authorization form signed by a health care provider.

EXCEPTION: A student who requires the use of emergency rescue medications may be allowed to self-carry. Your health care provider can give permission to self-carry on the medication authorization form.

Screening and Preventative Care

Vision and Hearing Screening

In accordance with state guidelines, students are screened at selected grade levels and by teacher referral for vision and hearing. Appropriate referrals are then made to the parent/guardian.

Vision and hearing screenings are conducted in the schools in the fall for the following grades: PreK, K, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 and all students new to the district.

To reach the Audiology team call: 720.561.5078 or 720.561.5267 for help in Spanish

Dental Screenings

Dental care in early childhood is essential to promote familiarity with professional dental services, prevent dental decay and connect children and parents to regular dental resources in their community. Clinica Family Health and Boulder Valley School District have partnered to provide low to no cost school-based dental screenings, sealants, fluoride treatments, education, and case management services to prevent and treat dental cavities. The program is currently in a pilot phase and is not in every elementary school yet. We are planning for expansion in the coming years.

In addition to the school-based dental program, financial support is available to assist with the cost of dental services for students who are eligible. For additional information contact the School Medicaid Program office at: 720.561.5571

Physicals

BVSD recommends that all students follow the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines to maintain optimal health, including physicals and screenings; and that all those new to the area receive a physical examination and establish care with a local healthcare provider.

Required Exams:

A physical exam is required for enrollment in a preschool program.
A physical is also required every 365 days for students participating in athletics.

Student Accident Insurance

Meet our Health Room Staff

Rosemary Smith

Health Para

School: 720-561-4908

Danielle Timm

Health

School: 720-561-5683

HEALTHY EATING

Healthy eating in childhood and adolescence is important for proper growth and development and to prevent various health conditions. The 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that people aged 2 years or older follow a healthy eating pattern that include a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, a variety of protein foods and oils.

BVSD's Food Services program is nationally known as a model for healthy school food and nutrition programs aimed at ensuring students are healthy and ready to learn.

BEING ACTIVE

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition recommends that children and adolescents ages 6 to 17 years do 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily.

Students who are physically active tend to have better grades, school attendance, cognitive performance (e.g., memory), and classroom behaviors (e.g., on-task behavior). Higher physical activity and physical fitness levels are associated with improved cognitive performance (e.g., concentration, memory) among students.

SLEEP

Adequate sleep contributes to a student’s overall health and well-being. Youth who do not get enough sleep have a higher risk for many health problems, including obesity, diabetes, poor mental health, and injuries. They are also more likely to have attention and behavior problems, which can contribute to poor academic performance in school.

WHAT PARENTS CAN DO

As a parent you can model good sleep habits and implement a media curfew. Technology use may contribute to late bedtimes.

Want more resources? Talk to your school nurse or visit the Health Services page.

Health Conditions

ADHD

Allergies and Anaphylaxis

If your student has been diagnosed with a life threatening allergic reaction to a substance, you will want to immediately contact the nurse so staff can be informed and training can be conducted if necessary.

All medications to be given at school must be prescribed by a health care provider and provided by the parent/guardian. Please have your healthcare provider complete the Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan form.

If you have questions about accommodations for your student at a specific school, contact the school nurse. They will be able to answer questions and facilitate the writing of health care plans and training personnel as needed.

Learn More About Food Allergies

STOCK EPI:

In order to address severe allergic reactions and in accordance with State recommendations, epinephrine will be stocked in BVSD schools to treat first-time severe allergic reactions.

Parents are still responsible for informing the school of any known life-threatening allergies of their child, providing orders from their child’s provider, and supplying the school with emergency medication prescribed for their student.

Asthma

If your student requires medication at school, have your healthcare provider complete the Colorado Asthma Action Plan.

If you have questions about accommodations for your student at a specific school, contact the school nurse. They will be able to answer questions and facilitate the writing of care plans and training personnel as needed.

More Information on Asthma

More Information on Outdoor Air Quality

Autism

Concussions & Head Injuries

NMSHS follows the BVSD Concussion Protocol. If a student becomes concussed either while involved in school activities or outside of school activities, their parent/guardian will need to contact the NMSHS school nurse, the school counselor and the attendance office to notify them of the concussion. The NMSHS nursing staff will then require documentation from the assessing doctor’s office or the emergency room.

Once NMSHS receives this information the student will be placed on the concussion protocol. The student will need to discuss their concussion and any academic adjustments that are recommended/required as part of the concussion protocol that is put in place with each teacher. As the effects of concussions vary from student to student it is imperative that the student communicate directly with their teachers. Also, it is important for students to check in with teachers for attendance. Students are required to attend all classes while on the concussion protocol unless their doctor recommends otherwise and a note is provided from the doctor’s office that confirms this.

BVSD Concussion Protocol

More information regarding BVSD Concussion Protocol can be found at:

Please visit the NMSHS Athletics page for additional information on Concussions & Head Injuries.

Diabetes

Information for newly diagnosed students with Diabetes or students just starting school:

Contact your school to schedule a meeting with the school nurse. The school nurse will want to talk with you prior to school starting to gather information, review provider orders and develop a health care plan. Also notify the school nurse of any school-sponsored, before and after school activities and programs that your child will be participating in. The school nurse will review with you what supplies are needed.

BVSD also has a Diabetes Resource Nurse available to assist families and school personnel with questions and concerns. Contact Carrie Lee, ND, RN at: carrie.lee@bvsd.org.

Some things to consider and discuss:

Your child might need to be reminded to test and to have scheduled snacks - consider a timer/watch/reminder.
Classroom parties: Parents need a heads up to plan for extra snacks or how they will be handled.
Some teachers like to give candy rewards for good behavior. Discuss alternative options with your child and their teacher.
Teachers and students need to know how a change in activity levels (extra recess, extra strenuous PE or absence of recess (assemblies instead of a recess or PE) can affect blood sugar levels.
Make sure your child also knows what’s expected of them (depending on their age, independence, and abilities), and what their teacher and health assistant will help them with.
You will need to plan for field trips and other away from school activities are handled.

Learn More About Diabetes

Dietary Needs

BVSD Food Services is able to accommodate many food restrictions and other dietary needs. For example there is a gluten free option every day in every school - every school has a salad bar that is completely gluten free.

If your child has a food intolerance or other special dietary need such as Celiac Disease, please let your school nurse know and we will make sure the teaching and kitchen staff are aware.

Food Services Nutrition and Allergens site has information on all meals and snacks served at BVSD, you can sign up for allergen alerts there also.

Epilepsy / Seizures

If your student has been diagnosed with epilepsy or a seizure disorder, you will want to contact the nurse so staff can be informed and training conducted, if necessary. Your child may have medications, and you will want to have it available at school so that your student can be treated immediately if needed.

All medications to be given at school must be prescribed by a health care provider and provided by the parent/guardian. Please have your healthcare provider complete the Seizure Action Plan and Medication Order form.

Learn More About Epilepsy

Head Lice

Head lice can be a nuisance but they have not been shown to spread disease. Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home or school has nothing to do with getting head lice.

Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association of School Nurses advocate that "no-nit" policies (requiring a child to be free of nits before returning to school) should be discontinued for the following reasons:

Many nits are more than ¼ inch from the scalp. Such nits are usually not viable and very unlikely to hatch to become crawling lice, or may in fact be empty shells, also known as casings.
Nits are cemented to hair shafts and are very unlikely to be transferred successfully to other people.
The burden of unnecessary absenteeism to the students, families and communities far outweighs the risks associated with head lice.

Students diagnosed with live head lice do not need to be sent home early from school; they can go home at the end of the day, be treated, and return to class after appropriate treatment has begun. Nits may persist after treatment, but successful treatment should kill crawling lice.

Head Lice 101 - a resource for parents

More Information on Lice

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Health Room

Resources

Immunizations

Students must submit documentation of immunization or exemption

Local & State Public Health Agencies

State Requirements and Forms

Resources

Student Health Forms

Screening and Preventative Care

Vision and Hearing Screening

Dental Screenings

Physicals

Student Accident Insurance

Student Accident Insurance

Meet our Health Room Staff

Rosemary Smith

Danielle Timm

HEALTHY EATING

BEING ACTIVE

SLEEP

WHAT PARENTS CAN DO

Health Conditions

ADHD

Allergies and Anaphylaxis

Asthma

Autism

Concussions & Head Injuries

Diabetes

Dietary Needs

Epilepsy / Seizures

Head Lice

Physical Health Topics