Norfork Public Schools
Nursing/Medical Updates/Requests
Immunizations: All students must have an updated immunization record or an exemption record on file in the Nurse’s office for the current school year. Parents/guardians are required to provide the school district with this information within 30 days of the start of school. Please contact your county Department of Health to check on this status for your child, schedule appointments, and receive immunizations. The ADH (Arkansas Department of Health) website provides the link for applying for exemptions. Please keep a copy of these records for yourself and provide a copy for the school district. If there are any questions regarding immunizations, exemptions or the process please don’t hesitate to call or email me at 870-499-7192 and/or [email protected]
Vision/Hearing/Growth/BMI/Scoliosis: These health screenings are state mandated at certain grades/ages to ensure the students physical ability is at its best while growing and learning. If you (parents/guardians) have completed any of these health screenings for your child, please provide the school district a copy, so we will not re-screen unnecessarily. There are different due dates for each health screening. If you do not wish for the school nurse to screen your child, you must provide a written notice to the school district explaining which screenings you are refusing and why. Verbal refusals are not allowed. Also, with all the changes due to COVID, please be aware the traditional methods of screening(s) throughout the school year may look different this year. I will keep everyone updated as much as possible.
Food Allergies: We are no longer able to take a verbal or written form of communication for food allergies &/or sensitivities from the parent. FDA/State Cafeteria guidelines now require a written note from your child's PCP (Primary Care Physician) stating exactly what not to allow that student to be fed.
Pre-existing Medical Conditions: Students with Anaphylactic reactions, Asthma, Diabetes, Seizures, and other conditions requiring medications or treatment plans must provide paperwork from the PCP or medical doctor. Parents/guardians must bring medications (prescribed and OTC), including returns and refills, into the school nurse for their child and complete required paperwork on all medication(s) administered, or possibly administered, while at school. If your child has a pre-existing or life-threatening health condition, an Action Plan for their diagnosis has to be provided by your child’s PCP (Primary Care Physician), in the event of that occurrence/emergency, stating exactly what to do. If your PCP does not know what this request is, Action Plan paperwork can be provided by the school district for your PCP to fill out. Please know I will help in any way I can to get paperwork completed and medications secured for the safety of your child when at school.
COVID-19 protocols and updates: All parents/guardians must pre-screen your child/children before coming to school each and every morning. A screening questionnaire will be provided on our School Web-Site, Facebook page and by paper copy if needed. If you answer “yes” to any of the questions or their temperature is 100.4 or greater please keep that child home. You may call the school with questions or direction on how to proceed when and if needed. It is pertinent that everyone, parents/guardians/students/employees, understands to NOT come to school medicated for any illness. If you are administering fever reducing medications (Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Aspirin, etc) then you should not be coming to school. If you are sick, please stay home. As long as you are communicating with the school routinely on your child/household(s) health status, this will be lenient regarding the absentee policy..
Secondly,we are asking you to fill out an in depth Past Medical History on each school aged child in your household, virtual & non-virtual, and attach it with your Back-to-School packet. This will allow me to better triage the health care needs, if your child presents to my office not feeling well/sick throughout the day...year. If I send your child home sick, suspicious of COVID-19, you will need to be in continuous communication with me on
their progress as to when they will be able to return to school. They may need to follow up with their PCP to be diagnosed and a Return Back to School note. They may need to be tested for COVID. A negative COVID test will not automatically allow them back on campus. Please understand our district operates under Federal, State and District guidelines, so each individual's situation will be different depending on these guidelines and their illness. However, we are determined to keep our district as safe as humanly possible and we will assist and guide you through this process as much as possible.
Mask...what seems to be the hardest change of all. Currently the state has mandated masks be worn on individuals 10 years and up. Our school district is enforcing 3 graders and up wear masks, when not able to socially distance themselves 6 feet or more. If your child has a pre-existing health condition(s) or has special needs, prohibiting the use of a mask, a note from your child's PCP will be required for them to be on campus without one; however, if your child rides the school bus they will be required to wear a mask while on the bus regardless. This is the district's transportation policy.
In an effort to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus within our staff and student body we are asking all parents/guardians, of students who will be in attendance on-site, virtually off-site, and all employees to notify our designated Point of Contact(s) immediately when the following occurs:
- Someone in the household has been tested positive for COVID-19.
- Someone in the household has been identified as a Close Contact to a positive case of COVID-19 and is requiring quarantine and/or recommended to be tested for COVID-19.
- Student(s) attending on-site and virtually (off-site), including employee(s)/staff, who are being tested for COVID-19. If symptomatic, student(s)/staff should remain in quarantine pending results of their COVID-19 test and further directions from the ADH (Arkansas Department of Health.)
Please call Superintendent, Chip Layne at 870-499-5228 &/or School Nurse, Makayla Rangel at 870-499-7192, or email [email protected] &/or [email protected]
Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Together we can help keep our school district family safe, healthy and ready to learn during this unique time.