Academics

Health Services

• Health Policy
• News & Announcements
• Calendar
• MS/US Forms
• LS Forms

Illness

To decrease the spread of illness among students, faculty and staff, we ask that you notify the school nurse and your division administrative assistant if you have been diagnosed with a communicable disease such as chicken pox, the measles, influenza (flu), strep throat, fifth disease, head lice, conjunctivitis (pink eye), etc. If necessary, a general memo will be posted in the Health Services link under “News & Announcements” notifying the Whitefield Academy community of a special health condition/situation.

In addition, we request that you do not return to school until:

• You are fever-free (less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit) for 24 hours without the assistance of fever-reducing medication such as Ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin, Acetaminophen, and Tylenol.
• You have been free of vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours and able to tolerate food and drink without the reoccurrence of vomiting or diarrhea.
• You have been taking an antibiotic and fever-free for 24 hours, if being treated for strep throat, conjunctivitis (pink eye), or any other contagious illness.

It is the policy of Health Services that all students, faculty, and staff will be sent home if they have a fever of 100 degree Fahrenheit or higher, have vomited, or have diarrhea. Students will be sent home for persistent nausea, headache, or pain unrelieved by over-the-counter medications.

Infirmary/Clinic

Whitefield Academy has two infirmaries/clinics staffed by one registered nurse. The Lower School infirmary is located in the Lower School Administrative building. The MS/US infirmary/clinic is located in the MS Administrative building. Clinic hours are 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m.

As it relates to the infirmary/clinic: the nurse dispenses medications, treats minor injuries and illnesses, coordinates care for students with chronic health problems, participates in health and wellness education, maintains student health records, and coordinates field trip first-aid procedures.

Students/faculty/staff who sustain a minor injury are to be seen by the school nurse to determine the response to the injury. This includes, but is not limited to on-site treatment, contacting parents/guardians, and referral to a medical provider or facility. If it is deemed a life-threatening occurrence or injury, 911 will be called.

Annual Physicals and Health Forms

Middle/Upper School Students
Each Middle or Upper School student enrolled at Whitefield Academy is required to have an annual physical examination (preferably between April 1 and July 31 of each year). In addition, each student is required to have health information and permission/release forms (GHSA and Whitefield) on file prior to school attendance or participation in any extra-curricular activities (including summer sports camps).

If your child is participating in fall sports, GHSA guidelines require that these forms be on file by the second Monday in July. Students will not be allowed to practice if all forms are not on file. For all other students (not involved in fall sports), these forms must be returned by August 1.

Each year parents/guardians are to complete the following forms:

• Student Health Information and Permission Form (2 pages)
• GHSA History Form

Each year your physician is to complete the following item/s:

• GHSA Physical Form
• GHSA Clearance Form

As needed throughout the school year:

• Authorization to Give Medication at School
• Anaphylaxis Action Plan
• Asthma/Reactive Airway Disease Health Plan

These forms are available under the MS/US Forms tab.

State of Georgia Forms (to be filed as indicated)

• State of Georgia #3231 Immunization Form (new students and students entering 6th grade)

Lower School Students
Each Lower School student enrolled at Whitefield Academy is required to have an annual physical examination. In addition, each student is required to have permission and release forms on file prior to school attendance. Students will not be able to attend the first day of school without all documentation.

Required forms:

• LS Emergency Contact Information Form (WA001-LS)
• LS Student Health Information and Permission Form (WA002-LS)
• LS Student Physician’s Form (WA003-LS)
• State of Georgia #3231 Immunization Form
• Georgia Certificate of Ear, Eye, and Dental Examinations Form # 3300 (PreK students)

As needed throughout the school year:

• Authorization to Give Medication at School (WA004-LS)
• Anaphylaxis Action Plan
• Asthma/Reactive Airway Disease Health Plan

These forms are available under the LS Forms tab.

Immunizations

In compliance with the State of Georgia Health Department, all students must have a Georgia Certificate of Immunization Form #3231 on file with the student’s other health records.

In compliance with the State of Georgia Health Department, prior to attending sixth grade, students must have documentation of a second MMR and a second Varicella (Chicken Pox) vaccine or documentation of disease. All students who obtain booster immunizations during the school year should submit Georgia Certificate Supplemental Vaccine Form # 3189.

If you choose not to immunize your student, a notarized statement for religious exemption or a notarized medical exemption from your physician must be on file with the student’s other health records.

In compliance with the State of Georgia Health Department, all PreK students must have a Georgia Certificate of Ear, Eye, and Dental Examinations Form #3300 on file with the student’s other health records.

All State of Georgia forms are available from your physician/health department.

Medication at School Guidelines

When possible, parents are encouraged to administer any necessary medication at home. Students are NOT permitted to have medicine in their possession on campus. The exception to this rule is MS and US students may carry inhalers, EpiPens, diabetic supplies, eye drops, and cough drops on their person, in their back pack, or in their locker. Additional exceptions may be made at the discretion of the school nurse.

In order to safely administer medications during school hours, the following are required:

• The Authorization to Give Medication at School Form must be completed and accompany the medicine. This form can be found on the LS Forms tab and the MS/US Forms tab.
• Any student who must take prescription medication in the course of the school day must keep the medication in the infirmary/clinic.
• All medication must be brought in by the parent in the original container (no baggies, envelopes, or foil), labeled with the student’s name and directions for administration.
• When filling a prescription, ask the pharmacist for a “school bottle”. Please do this for all medications that are to be administered at school, even short term antibiotics. Medication will not be administered from an envelope, baggie, or foil wrap.

Life Threatening Food/Insect Allergies

The following guidelines are set forth by the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology. These recommendations are for handling food/insect reactions in the school setting.

Any student who has been diagnosed with a life-threatening food/insect allergy which requires a prescription for an EpiPen must abide by the following directives. These steps have been implemented to ensure the health, safety, and well being of the student while they are entrusted in our care.

Parent Responsibilities

• Parent/guardian is responsible for providing a specific care plan (Anaphylaxis Action Plan) to the school nurse before the beginning of each school year. A physician signature is required. The original will be kept with the student’s health file. For LS students, the teacher will receive a copy. In the MS and US, the advisor will receive a copy. The Anaphylaxis Action Plan form can be found on the LS Forms tab and the MS/US Forms tab. You may also obtain one from your physician.
• Parent/guardian is to provide an EpiPen to the school nurse. The EpiPen must be in the original box, labeled by the pharmacist. The clear case must be labeled with a black sharpie. For LS students, the EpiPen in the clear, labeled case will be kept in the classroom RED bag. The RED bag is taken to all specials, lunch, recess, and field trips by the teacher’s assistant. If the student attends Club Cub, or an after-school program, an additional EpiPen (following the above guidelines), must be given to the director of that activity—Club Cub or the after-school activity. If a student attends both Club Cub and an after-school activity, only one additional EpiPen is necessary—it is to follow the student from Club Cub, to the activity and back to Club Cub where it will remain throughout the school year unless otherwise specified by the parent/guardian.
• MS and US students must carry their EpiPen with them at all times. It may be carried on their person in a purse or in a pocket, or it may be carried in a backpack. The clear case must be labeled with a black sharpie for easy identification in the event it is misplaced. It is the responsibility of the parent and student to label the EpiPen. For obvious safety reasons, it is imperative the location where the EpiPen will be kept during school hours is clearly written on the Student Health Information Form. In addition, any student requiring an EpiPen will carry their EpiPen with them to lunch, PE, and any after-school activity. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the coach/teacher/adult in charge of the after-school activity of the location of the EpiPen.

Whitefield Academy Faculty/Staff Responsibilities

• All faculty are annually serviced on the signs and symptoms of anaphylactic reaction and the proper administration of an EpiPen.
• LS teaching assistants are responsible for maintaining/transporting the RED Bag containing the EpiPen, and checking the expiration date.
• LS Only: Peanut-free areas are reserved in the cafeteria. These surfaces are wiped down by the teacher's assistant prior to the students sitting down for lunch.
• Antiseptic wipes/hand cleaner are located in the cafeteria so that teaching assistants may aid students in cleaning their hands before and after they eat. There are bathrooms with sinks and soap within the cafeteria as well.
• If an allergic reaction is suspected, the nurse will be summoned to the location of the student.
• If an EpiPen is administered, 911 and the parent are always notified.

Asthma

The following guidelines are set forth by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. These recommendations are for handling asthma attacks in the school setting. Any student who has been diagnosed with life-threatening asthma which requires a prescription for an inhaler and/or a nebulizer must abide by the following directives. These steps have been implemented to ensure the health, safety, and well being of the student while they are entrusted in our care.

Parent Responsibilities

• Parent/guardian is responsible for providing a specific care plan (Asthma/Reactive Airway Disease Health Action Plan) to the school nurse before the beginning of each school year. A physician signature is required. The original will be kept with the student’s health file. For LS students, the teacher will receive a copy. In the MS and US, the advisor will receive a copy. The Asthma/Reactive Airway Disorder Health Plan form can be found on the LS Forms tab and the MS/US Forms tab. You may also obtain one from your physician.
• Parent/guardian is to provide an inhaler and/or a nebulizer to the school nurse. The inhaler/nebulizer must be in the original box, labeled by the pharmacist. The inhaler must be labeled with a black sharpie. For LS students, the inhaler will be kept in the classroom RED bag. The RED bag is taken to all specials, lunch, recess, and field trips by the teacher's assistant. If the student attends Club Cub, or an after-school program, an additional inhaler (following the above guidelines), must be given to the director of that activity—Club Cub or the after-school activity. If a student attends both Club Cub and an after school activity, only one additional inhaler is necessary—it is to follow the student from Club Cub, to the activity and back to Club Cub where it will remain throughout the school year unless otherwise specified by the parent/guardian.
• MS and US students must carry their inhaler with them at all times. It may be carried on their person in a purse or in a pocket, or it may be carried in a backpack. The inhaler must be labeled with a black sharpie for easy identification in the event it is misplaced. It is the responsibility of the parent and student to label the inhaler and/or the nebulizer. For obvious safety reasons, it is imperative the location where the inhaler will be kept during school hours is clearly written on the Student Health Information Form. In addition, any student requiring an inhaler will carry their inhaler with them to lunch, PE, and any after-school activity. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the coach/teacher/adult in charge of the after-school activity of the location of the inhaler.

Whitefield Academy Faculty/Staff Responsibilities

• All faculty are annually serviced on the signs and symptoms of asthma and acute asthma attack and proper administration of an inhaler.
• LS teaching assistants are responsible for maintaining/transporting the RED Bag containing the inhaler and medication, and checking the expiration date.
• If the condition necessitates the use of a nebulizer, the parent will bring the labeled nebulizer to the clinic. After administration of the medication, the mask will be rinsed with warm water and left to dry before returning to case.
• If the nebulizer is to be returned home after school each day, it is the responsibility of the parent to return it to the clinic each day.
• Staff shall notify parent/guardian if the medication needs refilling.