First Quarter Note
Welcome back to school! I am Kathy Stinely, BSN RN, the nurse for Gale Elementary. Both Ms. Hannah, your health assistant, and I are excited to have students back in person! Ms. Hannah and I will be working with your teachers and Ms. Osollo to ensure that the mitigation measures used to limit the possibility of COVID19 spread at school are in place and followed. We recognize that attending school during a pandemic can be scary and stressful. We are available to answer any questions that you may have and will be communicating with families when positive cases are identified in our school community. Our main goal this year, as in any year, is to keep our students healthy, safe, and in school.
The number one thing parents can do to help us meet this goal is to keep your student home during COVID if they aren't feeling well. Students who have headaches, complaints of nausea, sore throat, cough, or other symptoms associated with COVID19 should be kept home and tested. Students who have COVID19 symptoms can return to school once they feel better, have a negative COVID test, and have been fever free without fever reducing medication for 24 hours. If you choose not to have your child tested, they will need to isolate for 10 days from the onset of symptoms. If you aren't sure what to do when your child doesn't feel well, you can take the Pima County Health Department's "Quarantine Quiz" or call the Health Office for guidance.
The start of any new school year brings exciting opportunities to both students and school staff. Under the best of circumstances, it can also be challenging and stressful for both parents and students. If you have a student who has a medical diagnosis or specific health needs, please contact us in the health office. We will work with you to make sure student's needs are met while they are at school. I also ask that you explore this website. The tab labeled HEALTH PROBLEMS has general information for you regarding school policies for medications and other health related information. Under this tab you will also find specific information for students with diabetes, food allergies and asthma, along with the forms we use to plan your student's care. In addition to information on specific diagnoses, the website has guidelines on when students should stay home from school due to illness and information on sun safety, nutrition and exercise to help keep you and your students healthy.
The website also has a section on immunizations. Kindergarten students will need to provide an up to date immunization record as part of enrollment. If you have any questions regarding how to read your child's record or what shots they should have had go to the TUSD site for details or contact a health office staff member. If you have questions or concerns regarding immunizations, please take a moment to look at the information listed in the immunization section of the Health Office webpage. I also will be happy to answer any questions or address any of your concerns. Just stop by or give me a call.
The Health Office staff looks forward to meeting and working with you and your students to ensure a healthy and happy year of learning!
Nurse Kathy
The number one thing parents can do to help us meet this goal is to keep your student home during COVID if they aren't feeling well. Students who have headaches, complaints of nausea, sore throat, cough, or other symptoms associated with COVID19 should be kept home and tested. Students who have COVID19 symptoms can return to school once they feel better, have a negative COVID test, and have been fever free without fever reducing medication for 24 hours. If you choose not to have your child tested, they will need to isolate for 10 days from the onset of symptoms. If you aren't sure what to do when your child doesn't feel well, you can take the Pima County Health Department's "Quarantine Quiz" or call the Health Office for guidance.
The start of any new school year brings exciting opportunities to both students and school staff. Under the best of circumstances, it can also be challenging and stressful for both parents and students. If you have a student who has a medical diagnosis or specific health needs, please contact us in the health office. We will work with you to make sure student's needs are met while they are at school. I also ask that you explore this website. The tab labeled HEALTH PROBLEMS has general information for you regarding school policies for medications and other health related information. Under this tab you will also find specific information for students with diabetes, food allergies and asthma, along with the forms we use to plan your student's care. In addition to information on specific diagnoses, the website has guidelines on when students should stay home from school due to illness and information on sun safety, nutrition and exercise to help keep you and your students healthy.
The website also has a section on immunizations. Kindergarten students will need to provide an up to date immunization record as part of enrollment. If you have any questions regarding how to read your child's record or what shots they should have had go to the TUSD site for details or contact a health office staff member. If you have questions or concerns regarding immunizations, please take a moment to look at the information listed in the immunization section of the Health Office webpage. I also will be happy to answer any questions or address any of your concerns. Just stop by or give me a call.
The Health Office staff looks forward to meeting and working with you and your students to ensure a healthy and happy year of learning!
Nurse Kathy