Health Services
Supporting a healthy learning environment for every student
Health Services professionals support a healthy learning environment for each student by responding to students’ health needs at school, and by educating students about how to stay healthy.
Health Services employees partner with community providers, the district Enrollment Center and others to connect families and students to health care, including immunizations.
Main Contact
Bobbi White, RN
Osseo Middle Nurse
School Office: 763-391-8800
WhiteB@district279.org
Parent Information
- Communicable Diseases
- Infections Disease Preparedness Plan
- Emergencies
- Excuse from Physical Education
- Forms
- Illness
- Immunizations: Is Your Child Ready for School?
- Medications
- Mental Health
- MN Student Survey 2019
- Northwest Immunization Clinic
- Special Health Care Needs
- Student Accident Insurance
Communicable Diseases
COVID-19
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
This list does not include all possible symptoms.
Students and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 should remain in isolation for 5 days from the onset of symptoms or positive test results and wear a well fitted mask for 10 days from the onset of symptoms or test result. Students may return to the building on day 6 if symptoms are improving, and there has been no fever for 24 hours without fever reducing medications.
Students and staff who have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 may attend sites and are encouraged monitor for symptoms and wear a well fitted mask for 10 days. Close contacts are encouraged to get tested on day 5 after exposure even if you have no symptoms.
If you have questions on isolation or masking, please visit the MDH or CDC webpages.
Fifth Disease
The primary Fifth Disease symptom is a rash. A fever or sore throat may also be present. The characteristic rash causes an intense redness of the cheeks ("slapped cheek") in children. It often begins on the cheeks and is later found on the arms, upper body, buttocks and legs. It has a very fine, lacy, pink appearance. In general, the rash around the face will fade within 4 days. The rash on the rest of the body fades within 3-7 days of its appearance. However, the rash tends to come and go for days or even weeks, especially in response to sunlight or heat. Pain, redness, and swelling of the joints may be a common occurrence in adults, especially in women.
Your child may attend school if s/he is not running a fever and is not uncomfortable. Consult your physician for further information.
CAUTION: Pregnant women and parents of children who have an impaired immune system, sickle cell anemia or other blood disorders should consult their health care provider about the potential exposure.
Influenza (not the stomach flu)
Your child may have chills, body aches, fever, and headache. Your child may also have a cough, runny or stuffy nose, and sore throat. Illness may last up to 7 days. If your child has been infected, it may take 1 to 4 days (usually 2 days) for symptoms to start.
If you think your child has the flu, tell your childcare provider or call the school to report it. Keep your child home from childcare and school until 24 hours after fever is gone (without the use of a fever reducing medicine) and your child is healthy enough for routine activities.
Norovirus (Stomach Flu)
Your child may have watery diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. Other symptoms may include headache, stomach cramps, and tiredness. Illness usually lasts for 24 to 48 hours.
Spread:
- By eating food or beverages contaminated with stool.
- By touching hands, objects, or surfaces contaminated with stool.
- When someone vomits and germs get in the air.
Norovirus is easily spread in the household.
If you think your child has norovirus, tell your childcare provider or call the school. Keep your child home from childcare and school until 24 hours after diarrhea and vomiting have stopped.
Pink Eye
Conjunctivitis (Pink eye) is redness and soreness of the eye, usually caused by viruses or bacteria.
Symptoms
- Redness, itching, pain, and drainage from the eyes
- You child may have a fever
Spread
- By touching secretions form the eyes, nose or mouth
- By touching hands, objects or surfaces contaminated with secretions.
Contagious Period
- While symptoms are present
Call your Health Care Provider
- If your child has thick drainage from the eye. Your provider will determine if treatment is needed. If the infection is caused by a virus, no treatment is usually needed. Antibiotic treatment may be prescribed if a bacterial infection is diagnosed.
Does my child need to stay home?
- No, unless your child has a fever or is not healthy enough to participate in routine activities. Antibiotics or a note from your health care provider are NOT required to return to school.
- Most children with Pink Eye get better in 5-6 days without antibiotics.
Ringworm
Ringworm is a fungal infection (not a worm) of the skin. Please watch your child for the following signs and symptoms. Ringworm appears as flat, ring-shaped sores. The edge of the sore is usually reddish in color and may be dry and scaly or moist and crusted. As the sore enlarges outward, the center often becomes clear.
Ringworm is spread by direct contact with the sores of an infected person, infected pet, or from contaminated objects. To prevent spread, children should not share hats, combs, towels, or clothing.
If you suspect your child has ringworm, please see a physician for appropriate treatment and keep your child home for a full 24 hours after treatment has been started.
Please report all confirmed cases of ringworm to the school.
Strep Throat
If your child does not appear well and develops a fever, sore throat, upset stomach, headache, or unexplained rash, consult your doctor. Adequate early treatment of streptococcal infections is essential to cure the disease and to prevent further complications.
- If a 24 hour throat culture is taken, DO NOT have your child return to school until the results of the culture are known.
Please report all confirmed cases of strep throat to the school.
Students with strep throat are to be excluded from school until at least 12 hours after treatment begins and until the student is without fever for 24 hours.
Infections Disease Preparedness Plan
Osseo Area Schools is committed to providing a safe and healthy learning environment for all our students, staff, community, and visitors. To ensure we have a safe and healthy learning space, Osseo Area Schools has developed the following Infectious Disease Preparedness Plan. All staff are responsible for implementing this plan. Our goal is to mitigate the potential for transmission of infectious diseases in our schools and community.
Emergencies
If your student has an emergency, we need to contact you. Please be sure to complete and return the Emergency Contact and Health History form every fall for each student in your family. This emergency and health information is available to school staff, as necessary, to work with your student. Accurate and up-to-date information makes it possible for school personnel to provide proper emergency care according to your wishes. Should your telephone number or place of residence change during the school year, be sure to notify the office staff at your student's school.
In case of a medical emergency or illness, school personnel will attempt to notify you immediately. It is your responsibility to make arrangements for the proper care and transportation of your child if he/she should be met with an accident or become too ill to remain in school. These arrangements include designating friends or relatives who would be available to pick up and care for your child in the event we are unable to reach you. Including their names on the emergency form allows us to contact them and release your student to their care. If the emergency is highly urgent, school staff will call 911 and a copy of the emergency form will be given to the ambulance attendant
Excuse from Physical Education
Forms
Illness
Children should not be in school if they have a temperature of 100 degrees or above. Children who have a contagious illness or are experiencing vomiting, diarrhea or other symptoms of illness that may prohibit active participation in school routines should not be in school until appropriate treatment is secured. Students should be free of elevated temperature, vomiting, and diarrhea symptoms for 24 hours prior to their return to school.
If a student has contracted a contagious disease and a doctor has confirmed it, please inform the student's teacher. Parents of other students may then be cautioned to watch for signs of the disease and help prevent its spread throughout the classroom.
While at school, if a student develops a temperature of 100 or above and/or shows other symptoms of illness, parents will be contacted to pick him/her up. If the parent/guardian cannot be reached, information on the emergency card will be used.
Immunizations: Is Your Child Ready for School?
To go to school in Minnesota, students must show they've had the required immunizations, or must file a legal exemption* with the school.
Check to see if your child has the required immunizations.
For more information, call your doctor, clinic, or health plan, or visit the Minnesota Department of Health website.
* Parents may file a medical exemption signed by a health care provider or provide conscientious objection signed by parent/guardian and notarized.
Medications
Diagnosis, treatment of illness, and/or prescribing medications are the responsibility of physicians, not school personnel. School personnel will administer medications that have been prescribed by a physician to be given during school hours with parent permission. Morning or evening medications should be given at home to avoid interruptions in the school day.
Medication Administration Authorization form is required to be completed annually by your child’s physician, with a written or electronic authorization by a parent/guardian, for a medication to be dispensed to your child from the health office during the school day.
- Parents/guardians must inform the building nurse when a student requires medications during the school day. Students observed by school personnel self-administering unauthorized medications shall be reported to their parents/guardians.
- Required for the administration of ALL medications. This includes prescription and over-the counter (i.e. Tylenol, Ibuprofen) medications. The form must include the student’s name, diagnosis, name of medication, dose, time to be given, date of order and signatures parent/guardian and physician.
- Prescription medication must be provided in a pharmacy-labeled container that indicates pharmacy name and telephone number, student’s name, physician, name and dosage of medication, and description of medication inside. Parent/guardian should request from the pharmacist a duplicate labeled bottle for the prescription if it will need to be given at home and school.
- Over-the-counter medication must be in the original container.
- The building nurse will administer prescribed medication. In the absence of the nurse, the medication will be administered by a trained designee named by the principal, in consultation with the building nurse.
- Check the expiration dates of the medication(s). Expired medications will not be administered.
- Controlled Substances. A Parent or legal guardian is responsible to pick up all medication(s) that are controlled substances at the request of the school.
Self-Administration of Medication Authorization Form is required to be completed annually for self-carry and self-administration. By completing this form, the parent/guardian is not requesting school personnel to store or administer the medication to the student. Parent/guardian will ensure the medication will be properly labeled for the student.
- Prescription asthma inhaler for asthma or reactive airway disease. A parent/guardian’s written or electronic authorization and a review by RN with the student is required. (A physician’s order is needed only if an inhaler is kept in the health office for nurse to administer).
- Epinephrine or other medication. A physician’s order, parent/guardian written authorization, and a review by RN with the student is required.
Self-Administration of Medication Form is required to be completed annually, either written or electronic consent, for secondary students’ self-carry and self-administration of:
- Non-prescription pain relief medication. A secondary student may possess and use non-prescription pain relief in a manner consistent with the labeling. The district may revoke a student’s privilege to possess and use non- prescription pain relief if the district determines the student is misusing or abusing this privilege.
- Ephedrine or pseudoephedrine containing products. This form does not allow students to possess or use any non-prescription medications with ephedrine or pseudoephedrine as an active ingredient.
All medication forms are available on the ISD 279 district website under Services > Health Services-> Forms, https://www.district279.org/services/health-services or can be requested from the building nurse at your child’s school.
Mental Health
OASIS is an information and support program for parents of children with various diagnoses and disabilities, and other learning and behavior differences. The group is open to all parents, caregivers, and staff.
Educators, students and families, you are welcome to join this free training on mental health and pertinent issues in school and the community. Remember, this is an opportunity for educators to gain access to FREE CEUs! These trainings are provided in conjunction with District 279 and Prairie Care.
MN Student Survey 2019
Click here to access the reports on the Minnesota Department of Education website.
Northwest Immunization Clinic
The Northwest Immunization Clinic located at the Enrollment Center offers free immunizations to eligible students. Minnesota is a “No Shots, No School” state; in order to enroll, students must be up-to-date on required immunizations.
The clinic also provides assistance with accessing local health care, health insurance, employment, and other community resources. The nurse can also provide baby shots and shots for adults needing to obtain a green card.
The Northwest Immunization Clinic is a program of the Northwest Family Resource Collaborative in partnership with Osseo Area Schools. The clinic is funded by the Northwest Family Resource Collaborative in partnership with Osseo Area Schools.
To schedule an appointment please call 763-585-7361.
Special Health Care Needs
ISD 279 works to make appropriate plans for those students with special health care needs. The primary responsibility for a student's health care rests with the parent/guardian. School health service is supportive health care that enables education of the student in a safe manner. A student with a "special health care need" is one with a chronic health problem that requires specialized health support beyond routine medication administration during the school day in order to attend school.
Students with special health care needs must be identified and appropriate initial plans developed before attendance at any district building. A team meeting that includes parents/guardians, student (if reasonable), building nurse, appropriate teacher, and others as directed by the principal shall be held for the purpose of establishing the needs and the plan of care (Individualized Healthcare Plan), and initiating the 504 or IEP process, if indicated.
- If a parent's request for service does not match the team's expectation of required care or is considered not to be a school health service, an independent evaluation by a neutral physician may be required and paid for by the school district.
- Provision of direct health care procedures (g-tube feedings, catheterization, etc.) beyond medication administration shall be authorized by physician order and parent/guardian signature. Orders must be renewed at least yearly or at the time of any changes in the procedure.
- The building nurse will be responsible for the case management of all special health needs. The building nurse may delegate health care in accordance with the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act when necessary. A regular documented program of training and supervision of appropriate teachers and other involved school personnel will be required.
- An Individualized Healthcare Plan (IHP) shall document the student's health concern/need, plan of care, and goals/desired outcomes. The IHP should also include an emergency plan if a student's condition may predictably result in an emergency situation. The IHP is the result of the initial team conference. It is written by the Registered Nurse and is filed in the student's health folder.
- Information regarding a student's health needs shall be shared with those personnel who need to know in order to work with that student. This information shall be considered private in accordance with federal and state data practices law.
- The provision of special health care will be done in a manner that will protect privacy, promote developmentally appropriate student independence and minimize interruption to the education of the individual student and other students in the classroom. The location of services will be determined on an individual basis with the previous factors, safety and classroom needs in mind.
- Equipment requirements particular to the needs of a given student and beyond that routinely used for the general health needs of students will be supplied and maintained by the student/family. Students with tracheostomies must have an emergency kit with them at all times.
- Requests for health service while off school grounds (during the school day for school-related activities) will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the district nurse. An invitation may be extended to the parents to attend and provide for their student's unique health needs. In the absence of parent help, a plan will be made to accommodate students with special health needs.
Student Accident Insurance
Osseo Area Schools does not provide health or accident insurance for injuries incurred by your child at school. Therefore, we encourage you to review your present health and accident insurance program to determine if your coverage is adequate.
Student Assurance Services, Inc. offers families the opportunity to purchase supplemental accident insurance at low cost. Supplemental insurance may be appropriate for families with large deductibles or co-insurance payments, including HSA plans.