School Health

Annual Health Update:

2021 -2022 Medical REGISTRATION FORM ORLEANS SOUTHWEST SUPERVISORY UNION 2020-2021

 

Prescription Medication Order:

2021-2022 Prescription Medication Order

 

Non Prescription Medication Order:

2021-2022 NON Prescription Medication Order

 

Asthma Action Plan

 

Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan

 

For students with food allergies, a letter from your medical provider documenting the allergy is required before the school kitchen will be able to provide alternative meals.  Please call the school nurse with any questions.

We are required to follow state regulations regarding  vaccinations required for school entry in Vermont. Please provide  an updated copy of your child’s immunization record each year.

 

If you are unable to obtain a copy of your child’s immunization record from their primary care provider, you can request a copy directly from the Vermont Immunization Registry. 

 

To document your child’s COVID-19 vaccination, submit a copy of their vaccine card or a printed copy of their immunization record which includes their COVID-19 vaccine AND this COVID-19 Vaccination Attestation form. Contact your school nurse with any questions. 

 

To request an exemption from the required immunizations, you must submit an exemption request form annually.  Vaccination exemptions can be requested for religious reasons  or for medical  reasons. Contact your school nurse with any questions.

 

OSSU is now offering both PCR and rapid antigen testing in our schools for weekly surveillance testing and for response testing. If you want your child to be able to take advantage of all types of testing currently offered, please make sure that you have completed all three consent and registration forms:

 

Weekly Surveillance Testing 

 

Response Testing Universal Consent

 

Rapid Antigen Testing self-registration form

 

Please keep reading if you want to learn more about these testing options

 

Weekly Surveillance Testing (PCR test)

Many of you have already been participating in our weekly surveillance testing for COVID19.  This is a PCR test offered every Tuesday morning, and is for asymptomatic staff and students.  After completing the consent form once, your student may participate in Weekly Surveillance Testing without any additional pre-registration. If you have not yet signed up, we encourage you to do so now.  Participating in this weekly testing also meets the requirement for unvaccinated middle and high school students who are participating in sports, music, drama, or other extracurricular activities that include contact with students at other schools. 

 

Response Testing for symptomatic students

We are now able to offer testing for COVID19 in the school health office prior to a student being sent home due to illness.  All students with symptoms of COVID19 will continue to be sent home from school. We will always call home to discuss your child’s symptoms and obtain verbal permission prior to performing PCR or rapid antigen testing in the school health office. However, these options can only be offered if  you have previously completed the Response Testing Universal Consent AND the Rapid Antigen Testing self-registration form.

 

Availability of this testing may vary based on testing supplies on hand,  availability of overnight shipping (required for the PCR testing), and state eligibility requirements for testing type. 

 

If you agree to a rapid antigen test for your symptomatic child, that will be performed first.  A positive rapid antigen test is a valid positive COVID19 result, and your child will be sent home to begin quarantine.  A negative rapid antigen test is NOT considered a valid negative COVID19 test result, and your child will still need to go home from school until a PCR test has been completed.  In this case, we can collect the PCR test in the school health office prior to your child going home.  If you do not wish to have the rapid antigen test, you can request PCR testing only. 

 

Response Testing to end quarantine:

We are often able to offer the COVID19 PCR test required on Day 7 of quarantine after a close contact exposure to COVID19.  This is often pre-arranged when we have a group of students who are quarantining due to close contact exposure at school, but can also be arranged if your child is in quarantine due to exposure in the community.  Contact your school nurse to request a PCR test to end quarantine. These tests are collected carside, in the school parking lot.  This option requires the Response Testing Universal Consent.

 

Test To Stay (TTS) rapid antigen testing

This testing option is offered to unvaccinated students and staff who have been identified as close contacts to a person with COVID19 at school. This option is offered to allow these students to attend school while completing their required quarantine. TTS may not be offered at all schools or for all quarantining groups.  TTS cannot be offered to students who are in quarantine due to exposure to COVID19 in the community. 

 

During TTS, students may attend school, but may not participate in extracurricular activities or community activities, and should be quarantined at home when not in school.  If you wish to have this option available to your student, please complete the Response Testing Universal Consent AND the Rapid Antigen Testing self-registration form.

 

If your child is participating in TTS, they will need to be driven to school by a guardian or other responsible adult.  They will remain in the car with the adult until their rapid antigen test result is available, and then will come in to join their class if the result is negative.  Any student whose test is positive will need to return home and begin a 10 day quarantine.

Still need to get vaccinated?  The Vermont Department of Health offers vaccinations in many locations around the states, and has many resources for COVID-19 vaccine information and vaccination registration can be completed online.

 

To document your child’s COVID-19 vaccination, submit a copy of their vaccine card or a printed copy of their immunization record which includes their COVID-19 vaccine AND this COVID-19 Vaccination Attestation form. Contact your school nurse with any questions. 

 

 

This document reviews the key information you need for deciding When to stay home, When to come to school.  This guide is based on the VCHIP Return to School algorithm, which is developed with collaboration between Vermont Pediatricians and the Vermont Department of Health. Always use the online version of these guides, as updates and changes are made from time to time. 

 

If your student has an unplanned absence, contact your school office, and then complete this form to provide more information to your school nurse. You will be contacted by a school nurse if any follow up is needed. 

For our student athletes ages 12 and up, the VCHIP Return to Play after COVID-19  form must be completed by your child’s primary care provider before returning to athletics after a positive COVID-19 test, regardless of symptoms or severity of illness. 

 

Can I send my child to school if they had close contact with a person who has COVID-19?

 

That depends...

 

If your child is NOT vaccinated for COVID-19 or if they are vaccinated but are experiencing any symptoms consistent with COVID-19, they must stay home from school until they have met quarantine requirements and  had a negative COVID-19 test. Contact your school nurse to discuss your specific situation.

 

If your child IS vaccinated for COVID-19 and they are NOT having any symptoms consistent with COVID-19, they may come to school, but must wear a mask at all times (including outdoors), and should be tested for COVID-19 after the last exposure to the person who has COVID-19.  Contact your school nurse with any questions.

 

What about if someone in my household has COVID-19?

 

If someone in your household has a positive COVID-19, your child must stay home from school until cleared by the school nurse to return.  Contact the School Nurse to discuss your specific situation.

 

If one of my children or family members is a close contact to a person with COVID-19, do we all have to stay home?

 

No.  Only the person who was a direct close contact to a person with COVID-19 will need to follow the close contact guidance found above.  Contact the School Nurse with any questions.