One Team, One Dream
Attendance and Your Child's Health
Coming to school every day is critical for your child's well-being, engagement and learning. If your child is able to participate in typical day-to-day activities, then they can be at school. Children may even attend school if they have a mild cold, runny nose or a cough. Many times a cough and runny nose will linger for up to 2 weeks, and unless the student has an elevated temperature (= />100.4), they may remain or come to school. Please contact your School Nurse if you have any questions or need resources for medical assistance. We are here to help.
School Health Screenings
Health Screenings Start this Month
The Vision and Hearing Screening Program at the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) works to identify children with vision and hearing disorders who attend any public, private, parochial, denominational school. The mission : Preschoolers and school children with hearing and vision problems will be identified early and linked to appropriate remedial services. School children will learn about the preventative vision and hearing care.
Hearing Screening
The Vision and Hearing Screening Program requires that every child have a hearing examination or an approved hearing screening test prior to or within 120 days after entry into a Texas public or private preschool or school, licensed child care center, or child care home. The tests conducted to evaluate your child's hearing are screens; they are not diagnostic. This means that if your child fails a screen, it is necessary for him or her to be evaluated by his or her primary care provider to determine whether there is a vision problem. It also means that on some occasions a vision problem may exist
Vision Screening
ATTENTION PARENT: The Vision and Hearing Screening Program requires that every child have an eye examination or an approved vision screening test prior to or within 120 days after entry into a Texas public or private preschool or school, licensed child care center, or child care home. The tests conducted to evaluate your child's vision are screens; they are not diagnostic. This means that if your child fails a screen, it is necessary for him or her to be evaluated by his or her primary care provider to determine whether there is a vision problem. It also means that on some occasions a vision problem may exist that the screens will not identify.
Spinal Screening
In compliance with Health and Safety Code, Chapter 37, all children must undergo screening for abnormal spinal curvature in accordance with the following schedule:
Girls will be screened two times, once at age 10 (or fall semester of grade 5) and again at age 12 (or fall semester of grade 7).
Boys will be screened one time at age 13 or 14 (or fall semester of grade 8).
Suicide Awareness
Nearly all indicators of suicidal thoughts and behaviors as well as poor mental health increased from 2011-2021. The number of students who experience hopelessness, feelings of persistent sadness, seriously considered committing suicide or had a plan has increased. The percentage of students injured in a suicide attempt did not change. Talk to your children, reach out to your school or healthcare provider for help.
Immunizations
Heading back to school is an exciting time of year for students and families. Vaccines are essential to a healthy school year and protecting students from serious illness. Please ask your School Nurse for resources for vaccine clinics near you. Also, if you need a waiver for your child's vaccines, please go to: https://co-request.dshs.texas.gov/