Help your child get a healthy start to school
Are eye exams required for school attendance?
Missouri law requires incoming kindergarteners and first graders who have never attended school to have an eye exam by an optometrist or physician. Parents are required to present evidence of the examination to the school by January 1, 2010. However, parents may choose to opt out of the eye exam initially. The school district will provide a form for those parents to sign prior to January 1, 2010. Health screening fairs will continue in the fall and will include a vision screening. If there is reason to suspect a vision problem or failure of the vision screening, parents will be notified by the school nurse and may want to see an optometrist at that time.
What should I do if my child has a health concern, like asthma, diabetes, seizures?
Parents should notify the school nurse prior to the beginning of the school year so that an individualized health care plan can be initiated, along with physician’s orders for any health procedure that may need to be done during the school day. School nurses return the 21st of August.
What immunizations are required for school attendance?
All students are required by MO law to be immunized or medically or religiously exempted from the following: Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus (usually given together as DPT, Td, or DTaP); Polio (IPV or OPV); Hepatitis B (Hep B); and Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR). Varicella (Chicken Pox) vaccine is required for K-4th grades unless your child has had the disease. For further information, contact your health care provider, SPS Health Services website, public health department or the school nurse.
When should I keep my child home from school?
Keep your child home if your child experiences symptoms of illness: fever of 100 degrees or more; diarrhea; nausea or vomiting; unexplained rash; persistent earache or excessive drainage from ear; persistent coughing; sore throat; or head lice or nits. Your child should be free of symptoms for 24 hours prior to returning to school unless excused by health care provider. When in doubt, contact the school nurse. For further information about common childhood illnesses, visit the Health and Wellness website.
How can I keep my child healthy?
Sleep, fluids, regular exercise, proper nutrition, family time, and good personal hygiene including frequent hand washing are effective ways to keep everyone in the family healthy.
What should I send in my child’s lunch?
A variety of foods that include fresh fruits and vegetables are important. For more suggestions, visit Health and Wellness's Healthy Food Choices web page.
Healthy versus Non-Healthy Drinks
All SPS vending machines now offer 100% juice drinks and water. Some also offer flavored and non-flavored milk. Your child’s body needs water to maintain the best hydration levels. Juice and milk offer the best ingredients to help keep your body healthy. “Energy” shots, drinks and drinks that have ingredients such as high fructose syrup, caffeine, taurine and or guarna are not recommended for school-age children. When combined with some medications these drinks can be life threatening. Most “energy” drinks are not approved by the food and drug administration.
My child needs to take medication at school. What should I do?
Whenever possible, give medication at home. If the medication needs to be given during the school day, contact the school nurse. For the safety of our students, the Medication Policy is as follows:
ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL: Prescription and Non-Prescription medication to be taken at school shall be delivered and picked up by parent/guardian. Medication must be in the current prescription bottle or original container. A medication permit and administration form must be completed and signed by parent/guardian. The first dose of any medicine will not be given at school. Over-the-counter medications may be given at school for a period of (3) three days with permission form signed by parent/guardian and must be in original container. Administration for more than (3) three days requires a written standing order from a Doctor or authorized prescriber for the individual student, which can be faxed to the school. Any remaining medication must be 
picked up by a parent or designated adult within one week after the final date on the medication form. Medication will not be sent home with students.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: For Prescription Medication, the student’s authorized prescriber shall provide a written request that the student be given medication during school hours. In lieu of the prescriber’s written request, the District may accept a prescription label properly affixed to the medication in question. The parent/guardian will provide a written request to give medication. District personnel will NOT administer the first dose of any medication. Prescription medication that is to be taken for 2 weeks or less may be carried and self-administered by the student. Only a daily dose may be carried and must be in the prescription bottle or original container. High School students taking prescription medication on a daily basis for longer than two weeks must have written request from the authorized prescriber and the medication must be kept in a locked cabinet in the nurse’s office.
For more information, visit the Student Health web page.