Immunizations

The Georgia Department of Human Resources requires that all students entering a public school in Georgia present a Certificate of Immunization (Form 3231).  Students have 30 days to comply with the law or they will not be allowed to come to school. Students who are entering a Georgia public school for the first time must present an Eye, Ear, Dental, and Nutrition Certificate (Form 3300). These forms may be obtained and completed at the McDuffie County Health Department or by your child’s doctor’s office. The school must have these forms on file. Please help us comply with the law and protect our children.

For students entering 7th grade or any "new entrant" 8th-12th grade students must have proof of an adolescent pertussis booster vaccination (T dap), an adolescent meningococcal vaccination (MCV4) and all vaccines required for school attendance. 

If you have questions regarding exemptions from immunization requirements, please contact the School Nurse. 

Illness or Injury

If a student becomes seriously ill or injured at school, every effort will be made to contact the parent/guardian or designated person. To assist us in contacting you, please be sure that current work and home phone numbers are on file in the office along with correct address information.

Parents When Should Students Be Kept Home : 

Please do not send your student to school:

• Temperature is 100 or above, children need to be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication before returning to school.
• If the student has been on an antibiotic for LESS THAN 24hrs. 
• They have had diarrhea or vomiting in the last 24 hours.
• They have a rash with fever.
• They have  bacterial pink eye, (red or pink watery eyes that may have white or yellow discharge), they may not return until 24 hours after antibiotic treatment has begun.
• They have Strep throat-they may not return until after 24 hours of treatment and with out a fever.
• They have ringworm, they may return after 24 hours of treatment and area must be covered with a bandage while in school until area is resolved.
• They have chickenpox, they must stay out of school until all lesions have crusted over.
• They have a frequent OR persistent cough.
• They have frequent OR persistent complaints of pain/discomfort

Long Term Medical Needs 

If your child has a food allergy, insect allergy, asthma reaction, seizure disorder, Diabetes, or chronic health condition parents need to contact the school to complete an action plan to address these medical issues while at school. A physician's signature will be required and forms to be on file in the clinic. 

Medication

When a student has medicine that must be administered at school, we MUST have an Authorization of Medication Administration form completed by the parent/guardian on file for each medication a child is administered during the school day. This pertains to prescription and over-the-counter medications. Forms are available from the school nurse. The medication to be administered must be in the original prescription container that is clearly marked with the student’s name and dosage on it. A note from a parent/guardian with the instructions must also accompany the medication. Students may not transport medication to and from school without proper authorization.  Aspirin/aspirin free products are NOT kept at school for student use.

Head Lice

Regulations for Treatment

To prevent exposure to other students, any student identified as having head lice must be treated satisfactorily to be readmitted to school. You can follow the below steps, contact the Health Department, or your personal doctor. To be readmitted to school we will need your signed statement of treatment as well as the shampoo box top. 

• Washing hair with a special shampoo you can purchase at your local pharmacy such as: Kwell (prescription only); A-200- pyrinate; Barco (with comb and shampoo); Rid (shampoo and comb)
• Combing the hair with a fine comb designed to remove the dead residue
• Washing ALL clothing, head gear, sleeping mats (if your child has one for school), blankets, towels, sheets, and pillow cases in HOT water, detergent, and CLOROX (use CLOROX for Colors when washing dark colored items)
• Place pillows and stuffed animals in plastic covers for two (2) to three (3) weeks
• Vacuum all upholstered furniture and clean wooden furniture- especially chairs
• Check your child's hair frequently and carefully for any signs of lice or nits (egg sacks that look like dandruff)
• Clean all items your child has at school