Nurse
Kathy Sanchez-Nelson
nelson_ks@aps.edu

Health Assistant
Jessica Martinez

School Health Office Information

The nurse and nurse assistant maintains a careful watch on the health of the students in the school. In addition to working with the students who become ill or hurt, they help teachers as the resource people in health education. The nurse and assistant are interested and assist in the SNAP program (see cafeteria). In addition, the nurse and assistant serve on the Support Staff and assist in the diagnoses and referral of students who need special assistance and care.

A school nurse or assistant is available at the school on a daily basis. Policies, which apply to health, immunization and medications are:
1. Parents or guardians will be contacted immediately when a child needs to be sent home.
2. Work and home phone numbers MUST be correct so immediate contact can be made.
3. An emergency number must be provided in addition to the work and home numbers. This can be a relative, neighbor, friend or someone who can provide the school with information or assistance if the parent or guardian is not available.
*If emergency care is needed and a parent or guardian cannot be reached, the school will call 911.

IMMUNIZATIONS
New Mexico State Law requires parents or guardians to provide the school with a current immunization records. All students enrolling in the Albuquerque Public Schools for the first time; in kindergarten or first grade must be immunized against:
Diphtheria, Pertusses, Tetanus (DPT)
Polio
Rubella (If the child has not had the disease)
Rubella (If the child has not had the disease)
The school nurse or health assistant will provide any additional immunization information. Children will not be allowed to attend school if immunizations are not current.

MEDICATION
1. No school employee other than the school nurse or nursing assistant is permitted to administer medication.
2. Medications are to be given at school only when absolutely necessary.
3. The physician must submit in writing his/her exact recommendations that must include:
a. Name of drug
b. Dosage of drug
c. Schedule of administrator
4. Students may be allowed to assume responsibility for taking their own medication provided the presenting physician and the parent or guardian recommends it in writing.
5. The nurse or assistant must be aware of all students who are taking medication at school.

Dear Parent or Guardian,
When head lice become known at school, the school must take action quickly. As you know, head lice are a troublesome, contagious problem. It spreads through direct contact or through the sharing of personal items such as hats or brushes. Head lice may be contracted any place where children interact. Schools and sleepovers may be places to catch head lice since children are playing so closely together.
To benefit all students and their families, our school has adopted a no-nit policy to manage its problem. Under this policy, a child who is found to have head lice will be sent home for treatment with a head lice-killing product and for the removal of all lice eggs, called nits. The child will not be permitted to return to school until every single nit has been taken out of the child’s hair.
The purpose of this policy is to prevent the spread of head lice. Even one nit can transmit head lice from one child to another. Therefore, it is extremely important that parents are vigilant in treating their child’s head lice, removing the nits, and cleaning the household environment. Our goal is to contain the problem before it becomes widespread.
Even though we require that your child be head lice and h=nit free, our goal is to have him/her return to school as quickly as possible. We want to minimize any disruption to your child’s education.
I recognize that being sent home from school can be upsetting for you r child and is disrupting to you. Let me assure you and your child that this policy is not a punishment, it is a precaution. Our goal is to get your child back to school as soon as possible and to control the situation for everyone’s benefit.

Thank you for your cooperation. Please call me with any questions at 836-7738

Sincerely,

Judith Touloumis
Principal