Health and Wellness

Southern Boone School District Health Services & Procedures 

Health Services 
The district's health program is administered by a registered professional nurse on duty throughout the school term and a nurse in each building. This is to maintain for the students a state of physical, mental, and emotional well-being as well as a range of health services as follows:

  • Ensuring compliance with Missouri’s laws requiring immunization of school-age children 

  • Screenings: hearing, vision, height, weight, dental (parents will be notified of any abnormalities) 

  • Clinics: Vaccines, fluoride, dental exams, etc. 

  • First aid for injuries and illness during the school day 

  • Compiling and maintaining cumulative health records for all students

  • Implementation of District Wellness Policy 

  • Coordinate and oversee special dietary requests 

Accidents/Injuries 
If an accident occurs at school, first aid is given as soon as possible. If deemed necessary, the parent/guardian is contacted by the nurse or designated person. In a serious accident or emergency, when the parent/guardian cannot be reached, the student will be transported to the emergency room by ambulance. 

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PARENTS/GUARDIANS TO KEEP EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION AND MEDICAL CONDITIONS CURRENT.

General Health Information 
The following information is provided to parents/guardians regarding certain conditions that require absence from school, according to the State of Missouri guidelines: 

Students need to remain at home for the following: 

  • Fever of 100 degrees or higher (must be 24 hours fever free without the use of fever-reducing medications before returning to school) 

  • Undiagnosed rashes 

  • Vomiting/Diarrhea (must be free from vomiting/diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school) 

  • Fainting (until evaluated by a medical provider) 

  • Must be on antibiotics for contagious conditions for 24 hours before returning to school 

  • Red, inflamed eyes (should not attend if itching, pain, or drainage present) Consult a medical provider 

  • Impetigo (contagious skin condition involving “honey” colored crust) Consult a medical provider 

  • Ringworm (area must be treated and remain covered at school) 

  • Head lice (students must be kept home and treated for live lice). Students will not be allowed to ride the bus or return to class until examined by the school nurse and found to be free of live lice. Southern Boone does not have a “no nit policy”. 

  • Scabies (must provide documentation from medical provider of diagnosis, treatment, and date of return) 

  • Common childhood diseases- call anytime with concerns/questions

  • Chickenpox (may return after 7 days and all lesions have dry crust)

  • Strep throat (must be fever free and on antibiotics for 24 hours before returning)

  • Flu-like illness (remain home until fever free for 24 hours and the student feels well enough to resume daily activities) 

  • Mononucleosis (infected student may attend school once diagnosed as long as fever free, precautions are taken with water fountain use, and are able to resume daily activities)  

Students that are sent home ill, with elevated temperatures, vomiting, or diarrhea are asked to be kept home until they are symptom-free for 24 hours. Many students are sent home one day ill, return the next day, and then need to be sent home again because they have not fully recovered.

Students must be seen in the health office before being sent home for illness or injury. This is for the purpose of monitoring illness, and documentation. 

We appreciate parents sharing the diagnosis of children seen by a physician so that we can be alerted to possible illnesses in other students. Try to make a habit of obtaining a note from your physician whenever your child is seen for a visit and asking that their return date is noted also. 

Over-the-Counter Medication 
School personnel in the Primary, Elementary, and Middle School will dispense over-the-counter medication only with a written physician’s order. Medication to be given at school must be brought to the health office in its original container with the label attached as well as be accompanied by written parent/guardian permission in addition to the physician order. Parent/guardian permission forms may be found on our website. Instructions for medication administration should include: 

  • Student’s name 

  • Name of medication 

  • Specific instructions for administration

  • Physician’s name 

Parents/guardians of High School students have the option to give permission during online registration for their student to self-administer over-the-counter medications. High school students only may carry one dose of over-the-counter medication in the original medication bottle with parent permission. 

Prescription Medication 
School personnel will dispense prescription medications to students if written permission is obtained from parents/guardians to do so and appropriate direction on how the medication is to be administered. The prescription label will be considered the equivalent of a prescriber’s written direction. 

Students with chronic or specific medical conditions requiring medications for emergency situations should have their medications properly labeled as listed above. Specific written instructions should be provided as to when and under what circumstances medications are to be given (i.e. Asthma Action Plan). This information should be provided and signed by the student’s physician and parents annually.

Immunizations 
Students are required by State Law to be current on all immunizations before entering school and to remain in compliance throughout their school years. If they are not, they will not be allowed into school (or to continue) unless an exemption is signed by the parent/guardian or physician. For more specific information regarding immunizations and exemptions, please contact your building nurse. 

Wellness Policy 
The Southern Boone School District has a Board-approved Wellness Policy (written 6/2006, revised 6/2017) which includes guidelines for breakfast, lunches, birthday celebrations, classroom parties and fundraisers. The guidelines for parties and celebrations are as follows: 

  • We encourage healthy snacks 

  • No homemade foods are allowed, district-wide 

  • No suckers are allowed, district-wide 

  • No energy drinks or sodas are allowed, district-wide 

  • All foods, with the exception of fruits and vegetables, must come to school in their original containers and include an ingredient label 

  • Foods must be served with gloved hands by an adult 

  • All celebrations involving food must be after lunch 

Special Dietary Needs 
Southern Boone Schools will offer food substitutions to students that have a documented life-threatening or debilitating food allergy or condition. This must be documented by a medical provider. A medical statement must be completed and signed annually, stating the condition or allergy and approved substitutions. Appropriate substitutions will be made by food services based on availability and cost. 

The only substitution for milk will be soy milk or water. 

Please contact your building nurse for any other specific questions or concerns.