Health Services

Please inform the school nurse of a chronic health condition and all emergency medications prescribed for your child. Each school has a registered nurse to provide case management and care for students with chronic (i.e. diabetes, asthma) health conditions requiring treatment or accommodation during school.

• Students who have provider issued injectable epinephrine (Epi-Pen) will be stored and available for use in the presence of potential anaphylaxis (life-threatening allergic reaction). Use of an Epi-Pen requires an immediate call to 911 and lawful custodians. Parents of students with a known history of potential for a serious allergic reaction are advised to visit with their physician regarding the need for student-specific medication. Refer to the Student Self-Administration of medication policy for procedures to follow in order to allow a student to self-carry emergency allergy or asthma medication.

Returning to school after testing positive for COVID:

In alignment with CDC and KDHE, the Piper School District has adopted the following guidelines. 

A person can begin returning to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, BOTH are true:

• Symptoms are improving overall, AND
• No fever is present, without using fever-reducing medications

As always, if your student is too ill to attend class or needs medications due to illness prior to coming to school please keep them home.  

Kansas law requires that all students under the age of nine must have a completed health assessment on file before enrolling in any Kansas school. The assessment can be performed by a physician, a nurse certified by the Kansas State Department of Education, or someone working under a physician's direction. The assessment must be completed within 12 months of the student's enrollment and no more than 60 days after.  Students who do not comply with this policy may be excluded from school until the assessment is completed.

Click here for the health assessment form.

References:

Kansas Classroom Handbook of Communicable Disease:

https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/13715/Kansas-Classroom-Handbook-of-Communicable-Diseases-PDF?bidId= 

CDC Covid-19:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html 

CDC Head lice:

Providing Care for Individuals with Head Lice | Parasites - Lice | CDC

When groups of people are in close contact with one another for extended periods of time, the risk is high for the spread of illness and disease. That is why schools observe disease prevention and control.

Students will be excluded from school when displaying one or more of these symptoms:

• Temperature of 100.4 or greater

• Undiagnosed rash

• Vomiting

• Persistent diarrhea

• Nuse judgment based on physical assessment

Students will be readmitted after being fever-free (without the use of fever-reducing medication) or symptom-free for 24 hours. Students with some conditions may return to school after being treated for 24 hours with an antibiotic. Call the school nurse for specific readmission guidelines.

Quick Links:

How sick is too sick? https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OMAmSJ8Gc9C7gUFnoD37TEUXPlnGmT0-/view?scrlybrkr=18760b68

Kansas Handbook of Communicable Disease: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/13715/Kansas-Classroom-Handbook-of-Communicable-Diseases-PDF

FALL IMMUNIZATION EXCLUSION DAY

For the 2024-2025 School Year is: September 30th.

Official/valid immunization documentation must be provided to Piper School District. Present immunization information at enrollment. 

Any student attending Piper Schools must be in compliance with the State's current immunization laws and regulations. Any student who does not meet the State's requirements will NOT be allowed to attend school on or after September 30th until one of the following documents is provided to the school nurse:

1. Up to date immunization records or a scheduled plan to give shots needed signed by the physician

• For information about immunizations required for students attending Kansas schools, please read the Kansas Department of Health and Environment's School Immunization Requirements for 2024-25 (PDF).
  For more information about these and other required and recommended immunizations against vaccine-preventable diseases, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage about vaccines, or visit the Immunization Action Coalition website.

2. Signed Medical or Religious Exemption according to the provisions of the law  

• USD 203 Religious Exemption forms are required annually by the exclusion due date. Click here to access the form.

• Medical Exemptions must come from your healthcare provider.
  If you have questions regarding immunization requirements for school attendance, please contact your school nurse.

Concussions and other injuries that might affect or interrupt education should be reported to the school nurse. Any plans that a healthcare provider gives regarding concussions or injuries should be turned in to the school nurse. Plans may not be implemented without proper documentation. 

Concussions or injuries that occur during school events must be reported to the school nurse.

Click here to learn more about the KSHAA Concussion Guidelines and Forms.

Students who have daily recess should dress appropriately for the weather conditions.

When we stay indoors:

• Windchill below 20 degrees farighent 

• Local heat advisory in effect

• Lightning in the area

• At administration discretion due to weather conditions

Students are prohibited from carrying over the counter medications in school. The following over the counter medications are available with parent permission for administration:

• Acetaminophen

• Ibuprofen

• Diphenhydramine (for urgent needs only)

• Tums

• Hydrocortisone cream

• Antibiotic ointment

• Cough drops

Student’s must turn prescription medications into the school nurse. Prescription medications will not be administered to students without a prescriber’s order. The order is attached. Beginning in 5th grade, students may carry a rescue inhaler with provider order on file in health services office. All medications must be in their originally labeled containers at all times.

Click here to access the medication administration form

Click here to access the Permission form for self-administration of medication.

Click here to access the Meal Modification form:

Health screenings in the school setting are used to identify students that are at risk and do not replace a comprehensive examination by a healthcare professional. 

Hearing screenings are used to identify hearing loss and to make appropriate audiological, medical, and/or educational referral to maximize hearing and learning potential. Students to be screened annually are:

• Each year hearing screening procedures will be conducted for students in their first year of school attendance in the district. Such procedures will be provided for other students at a frequency of not less than once every three years unless otherwise specified by state law. Students known to have hearing difficulties and students referred by teachers, parents, and/or physicians will be screened regardless of grade level.

• Students new to Kansas school districts.

• Students with known hearing loss are not screened, but may be seen by the district Audiologist. 

• Students that are identified as ESOL learners 

Vision screenings are utilized for early identification of students with potential vision problems. Students to be screened are:

• All preschoolers

• Kindergarten 1st grade,3rd grade, 5th grade, 7th grade, and 10th grade

• Students new to Kansas school districts.

• Any student upon parent or teacher request

Free dental inspections will be provided to students annually, planned for by designated school staff, and conducted by appropriate dental care providers. Students presenting a certificate from a legally qualified dentist providing that a dental examination was completed in the three months prior to the school dental inspection need not be provided with an inspection.

A certificate of the result of a school dental inspection, together with suggestions of requirements for the curing of any defects found, shall be made by the dental care provider making such inspection.  One copy of this certificate is to be furnished to the child examined, and another will be filed with the clerk of the board.  No dental work other than the inspection and provision of the certificate shall be performed by the examining dental care provider without the consent of the parents or guardian of the child.