Health Matters
with Brenda Abaro, SHA
Thank you so much Makaha family for having me on campus as your school nurse for the past few years. Unfortunately, I will no longer be on campus every week to support Mrs. Abaro in the health room. I will still be working in the complex area and hope to support Makaha Elementary in other ways this school year.
~ Dayna Mersberg, BSN-RN, Hawaii Keiki Program
Aloha Makaha Surfers!
Welcome to Makaha Elementary's health room newsletter. We hope that you are well rested from the summer and are ready for the new school year! We are so happy and excited that it is looking to be as close to "normal" as it has been in a long time!
Be sure to scroll through the entire newsletter for some of the latest information, including videos and instructions for receiving the Covid-19 vaccination!
We are hoping this newsletter will be a good tool for you, with some valuable information and resources from credible sources.
Be sure to check back often!
We will be monitoring the Covid-19 situation carefully and follow all guidelines set by our district and State Health Department. As you explore the information below, note that along with infographics and videos, there are clickable buttons and links that will take you to websites containing further information.
Can you also do us a favor and let others know about our newsletter? Mahalo!
Prepare for the 2021-2022 School Year!!!
Beginning Fall 2020, additional immunizations were added and required for all students entering childcare or preschool, kindergarten, 7th grade, and post-secondary school, and for students entering school in Hawai'i for the first time. See the requirements here:
New vaccination and health requirements
Emergency Action Plan (EAP): If your child has a serious medical condition such as Asthma, Severe Allergy (requiring the use of Epinephrine injection), Diabetes, or Convulsions or Seizures, please consider having and Emergency Action Plan in place, so that school staff may understand how to assist your child, should a medical emergency occur while at school.
If your child needs and EAP or you would like to renew your current plan for the 21-22 SY, please contact Mrs. Abaro in the health room.
Students will be provided mask breaks periodically throughout the school day, outside of their lunch period. Safety protocols have been put in place so that it is done in a beneficial, but safe manner.
Parents, please help to keep our school and community safe from the spread of COVID19. We ask for your kokua in screening your child(ren) every morning before school.
If your child has any of the following symptoms or displays ANY type of illness, please keep them home.
IF your child presents with symptoms of illness in school, you will be contacted and arrangements must be made for your child to be picked up as soon as possible.
**Be sure the school has updated contact information (current and working telephone numbers) and have multiple emergency contacts on file in the health room to help facilitate release from campus**
Mahalo for partnering with us
Activate & Set Up Your Thermometer
Makaha Elementary School Health Room Contact Information
Did your child get sent home from school for Covid-like symptoms? Are they sick at home? Are you a teacher or staff who left work for Covid-like symptoms? View the video below to see the steps you need to take to be able to return to campus safely.
The DOE Exclusion Policy applies to students who get sick at home AND those sent home from school with Covid-like symptoms
Traveling? Please click the button below to find out information on travel requirements
For vaccine related questions call (808) 586-8332
Monday through Friday
7:45am - 4:30pm
Hawaii Keiki Health Hotline
Students and families can call the hotline from anywhere. The nurse will provide a basic triage assessment over the phone regarding the caller's health concern or question about their child. The caller may receive basic health advice or information and, with parental consent, may be scheduled for a telehealth visit with an HK nurse practitioner. Families may also request to make an appointment with a specific HK nurse practitioner. Students will be referred to the appropriate medical and/or mental health care and can connect with other service providers such as HIDOE support staff such as counselors, social workers, and behavioral health specialists.
HIDOE students' information will be kept in the Health Office Anywhere (HOA) which is HIDOE's school-based electronic health record. HOA keeps a record of visits to the health room and is HIPPA and FERPA compliant. Additionally, the HK nurses document telephone visits and telehealth visits in a medical record system known as Epic. Epic allows the nurse practitioners to communicate with your child's regular doctor.
Dashboard from the City and County of Honolulu (see picture above)
Accurate advice and information is critical for community resilience. This page has links to trusted sites that are continually updated:
One Oahu
Below you can see some of the information available on this site:
The 2021-2022 School Year
NO Spare Clothing in the Health Room
Due to Covid19 safety concerns and limited space in the health room, this year we will not be able to provide extra clothing to students, for whatever reason. If you feel your child needs a change of clothing in school please speak to his/her teacher to see if a spare set can be kept in the classroom. Mahalo for your understanding.
