School Health Update---Dec. 2007   

Mrs. Smith, R.N.

Screenings:    Health Screenings are not diagnostic.  They help identify students with physical characteristics that might be suggestive of a health problem and allow for a process to support parents of students meeting referral criteria so that you may follow up with appropriate health care providers for a diagnostic evaluation and treatment.

Vision Screening:  All students at the Downtown had their vision screening during November.  Parents only received a report if noticeable difficulties were noticed.

Hearing Screening:  Heartland AEA audiologists will be at the Downtown School on January 28 and 29^th to conduct their annual hearing review. 

Height and Weight Screening:  I will be monitoring the heights and weights of our friends at several levels.  DMPS school policy recommends we screen 1^st and 5^th graders.  I will also be screening some 3^rd graders who participated in a Ht. /Wt. study for the past two years.   Screening will be done in a fashion to offer confidentiality to our friends.  Again you will only receive follow up reports if a characteristic of a potential concern is identified.

Flu Update-  It has started…The State of Iowa is reporting a few cases of THE FLU.  Just a reminder, symptoms of the flu may include upper respiratory congestion, fever, general body aches, and coughing.  If your child is ill please call the school so we may monitor trends at our school.  It is recommended that a child/staff stay home until they are fever free for 24 hours.  Good hand washing is the best practice for preventing an unwelcomed encounter with the FLU BUG.

Immunizations:

 State of Iowa Immunization Laws Require the following vaccines when enrolling in kindergarten in Iowa:

     Four (4) DPT- (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis) including one   

               after the fourth birthday.

     Three (3) Polio- including one after the fourth birthday.

     Two (2) MMR-(Measles, Mumps and Rubella) after the first birthday and

                at least 28 days later.

     Varicella-One shot after the first birthday.

     Three (3) Hepatitis B- usually started 2 months.

07-08 Recommended Health Screenings

Physical Exams:

Required in all licensed preschools and recommended in Kdg. 3, 6 and 9^th grades

Vision:  School screenings are done for all preschoolers and K-5^th graders.  The district policy is to only notify families if concerns are identified.  Please remember this is only a screening and all visual difficulties can not be detected with our screening. The entire school was screened for visual concerns in Nov. 07. 

Hearing:  The Heartland AEA audiologists will be at the Downtown School Jan 28-Jan 29, 2008.  They will screen all students unless written notice is received in the office by Jan 24^th.

Heights and Weights:  The district recommends that students in 1^st and 5^th grades be screened each year.  We are also screening friends in 3^rd grade that were a part of the ISU study for the past two years.  I will only send out letters if a friend is above or below the Physical Growth NCHS Percentiles.

Dental and Lead Screening:  The State of Iowa passed a law requiring dental and lead screenings for new kindergartens in fall of 08.  A policy has not been set at this time to establish district review procedures.