Florida Statues require that all pupils entering kindergarten and the first grade to be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis,
polio, rubella, measles, mumps, Hib meningitis, hepatitis B and varicella (or history of illness). These immunizations must be up-to-date.
Students entering from out of state must have a physical. If under age 10, student must have above immunizations
(diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, rubella, measles, mumps, Hib meningitis, hepatitis B and varicella (or history of illness)).
A child is now permitted to enroll in the first grade if he turns six years old before September 1st and successfully passes kindergarten.
A Birth certificate is also required for students registering for the first time in public schools. All students enrolled in school must
have an up-to-date shot record and birth certificate.

HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDED

 School Health Staff provide health counseling, health education, health screenings, and referral and follow up of suspected or confirmed health problems. They also provide consultation with students’ parent(s) or guardian(s) regarding the need for health evaluation by the family physician, dentist, or other specialist when definitive diagnosis or treatment is indicated. School Health Staff review and maintain records on incidents of health problems, corrective measures taken, and other information that may be needed to plan and evaluate health programs and policies. The school nurse provides health information when necessary, regarding the placement of students in exceptional student programs and the reevaluation at periodic intervals of students placed in such programs.

 Meeting Emergency Health Needs

Onsite emergency health needs are provided at each school by school health staff employed by Suwannee County School District, the Suwannee County Health Department, and/or other trained Suwannee County School District staff who are currently certified by a nationally recognized certifying agency to provide first aid and CPR. Onsite emergency health needs means management and aid for illness or injury pending the student's return to the classroom or release to a parent, guardian, designated friend, or designated health care provider

When a student becomes ill at school, runs a fever, has a potential contagious illness or has a more serious  health  problem while at school, the parent/guardian will be notified to pick-up their child immediately.  A note from a doctor may be requested by the school before your child can return to school.

On the Annual Emergency Information and Health Update, please list friends/relatives as emergency contacts for your student when you cannot be reached. Please list your best contact information such as a cell phone number - if applicable

Annual Emergency Information And Health Update

It is very important that you complete the Annual Emergency Information and Health Update form and return it to your child’s school the first week of school.PLEASE provide us with emergency contacts and inform us of any health problems your children may have which can affect them in the school setting.

• Current accurate health and telephone information enables the school to contact you in case of emergency, accident or illness, and will help us to ensure the health and well being of your children.

• If any information changes during the school year, please contact the school immediately. It is the parent or legal guardian’s responsibility to keep their children’s health and contact information (telephone numbers, address, etc.) updated.

•  In case of a serious accident or illness at school, your child(ren) will be transported by ambulance to an emergency medical facility. The parent/legal guardian is responsible for all expenses.

 School Entry Health Examination

• Students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade who are making their initial entry into a Florida school must present a record of a physical examination completed within the previous 12 months.

• The exam record should be taken to the child's school upon enrollment.  Although a specific form is not required, it is recommended that Florida's standardized School Entry Exam form (DH 3040) be used to document completion of a physical examination. 

• It must be completed by a health care provider licensed to perform physical examinations.

• For students transferring to a Florida school, a comparable form from another state would be acceptable, if completed within 1 year.

  • Florida Statute (s. 1003.22(1), F.S.)

  • Rule (Chapter 6A-6.024, FAC)

For New Entries:

• Physical Exam on DH3040 (Form can now be printed on Yellow, White or any color paper) ***** 

*****In accordance with the Florida Plan for School Health Services, all pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students must submit documentation verifying that a Students’ Health Examination was performed within the 12 month period preceding initial entry into a Florida school. 

Sick Children

 The main reasons for keeping your child(ren) home are he/she is too sick to participate comfortably at school or might spread a contagious disease to other students. 

 We ask for your cooperation in helping us to control the spread of contagious diseases at school.  Please note: If you are a working parent please make arrangements for someone (who can be easily contacted), to pick up and care for your child if she/he becomes sick. Please be sure to list those people and their contact information on your child’s Emergency Information and Health Update.

 Please help keep your child and others healthy by keeping your child home if he/she has been diagnosed with or has signs and symptoms of any of the following:

• Vomiting more than once in the past 24 hours

• Diarrhea within the past 24 hours

• Fever  100.0 or greater within the past 24 hours

• Sore Throat/Red Throat

• Frequent Coughing and/or Sneezing

• Runny nose with thick yellow-green colored mucous

• Red, watery eyes

• Thick, yellow discharge from eyes

• Pain that does not go away (stomach, head, ear, or elsewhere)

• Rash over a large part of the body

• Chicken pox until sores have scabbed (usually 5-7 days)

• Impetigo, Ringworm or Scabies until under treatment and open areas covered

• Bacterial Pinkeye (thick eye drainage and redness of the white of the eyes) until under treatment

• Head lice or nits until your child’s head is free of live bugs and is substantially nit free

• Open, draining sores until under treatment and areas covered with absorbent dressing

 Your child may return to school when 24 hours have passed from the last sign/symptom of the illness. If your child has been sent home with a possible contagious disease a doctor’s note is required for your child to return to school.

 Medication Administration

Administration of medications during school hours is discouraged unless a physician determines that a student’s health needs require them to be given while at school.

• Medication must be transported to and from school by the parent/guardian or a responsible adult designated by the parent or guardian.

• o   Suwannee County School District has a "Zero Tolerance" drug policy.  Don't put your child at risk of disciplinary action!  As the parent you can avoid potential problems for your student.  Don't send any medications to school with your student.  Remember, even over the counter medications such as Tylenol and Advil are considered drugs. 

• Instructions on using medication shall be provided in writing by the physician or licensed prescriber or described on the medication container provided by the physician, licensed prescriber or pharmacist.  

• All medications shall be delivered to the school office or health clinic with the Medication Authorization form completed  (form is available online on the Student Services webpage at www.suwanee.k12.fl.us), and signed by the student’s parent(s) or legal guardian and the prescribing health care provider, to grant permission for administering the medication.

• A separate Medication Authorization form must be completed for each medication that must be given during school hours or school sponsored activities.

First dosage of any new medication shall not be administered during school hours because of the possibility of an allergic or adverse reaction.

• Only medication in its ORIGINAL container from the store or pharmacy is accepted.

• Non-Prescription medications in small-sized bottles are preferred due to limited storage space.

• The school can accept no more than a 30 day supply of prescription medications.

•  Both prescription and non-prescription medication sent to the school must have current labeling on the bottle.

• Medication in bottles that have expired labeling will not be given to the student.

• The medication in the bottle must MATCH the label, MATCH the student, MATCH the Authorization Form, and have a CURRENT prescription label on the bottle (if it is a prescribed medication.

• A new prescription bottle with correct labeling is required for any dosage change.

• The school cannot alter dosages without a new authorization form from you and your child’s doctor/healthcare provider.

Unused medication should be retrieved from the school/office within one week after medication is discontinued and at the end of the school year. Otherwise, the school will dispose of the medication. Medication left at the end of the school year will be discarded

Authorization For Students To Carry A Prescription, Inhaler, Epipen, Insulin Or Other Approved Emergency Medication

 If you have a student who has asthma or other health-related conditions that require self administration of medicine or emergency type(s) of medication, or a student who needs to carry medication on his/her person, you must complete an Authorization for Students to Carry a Prescription, Inhaler, Epipen, Insulin, or Other Approved Medication Form. You may obtain a form from your child’s school. This form requires a physician, the parent/guardian, and student’s signature. You are strongly encouraged to keep a “back-up” supply of any emergency medications such as an inhaler, epipen, diabetes medication, etc. in the school clinic. For further instructions, please call or visit your child’s school nurse.

Please instruct your student that under NO circumstances should medication be shown to or shared with another student!

Suwannee County School Board Definition of Substance Abuse:

The use of any drug when such use is unlawful , and the use of any drug when such use is detrimental to the user or to others but is not unlawful.

Health Screenings

The Suwannee County Health Department and the Suwannee County School District provide health screenings to students in Suwannee County Schools.  Florida Statute 402.32 of the School Health Services Act requires these screenings. These screenings are designed to detect health problems that could affect your child’s learning and/or growth. The screenings are done according to the grades in our current School Health Plan. The screenings for our county include:

• Vision – K,1st, and 3rd grade students and students entering school for the first time

• Hearing – K,1st, and 3rd  grade students and students entering school for the first time

• Growth and Development  (Height and Weight) with BMI calculation - 1st, 3rd,  and  6th  grade students

• Scoliosis -  6th grade students

• Dental – All grades- visual inspection of the mouth as time and/or funding allows

 These screenings will not harm your child in any way. Screening teams will screen students in the grades listed above during the months of October, November, and December.   If your child does not pass any part of the screening exam(s) you will be notified in writing. Results of your child’s health screenings will remain confidential and shared only with school personnel with a need to know. 

Excluding Students From Services

Parents who do not desire their child to participate in health screenings or health education are requested to send a written letter of exclusion to the school nurse. 

Health   Instruction

Health instruction will be provided by properly trained personnel as mandated by the Florida House Bill 1739 which requires that public school curriculum include instruction to reduce destructive behavior in children, human growth and development, AIDS and pregnancy prevention.  This legislation established abstinence from sexual activity outside marriage as the expected standard for all school age children and states that human growth and development education will stress this standard.  Parents may review the content of the curriculum by calling the school for an appointment.