Rachel Walker RN
Valley Ridge Academy Health Room Hours: 8:00 am-3:30 pm
Phone: 904-547-4104, Fax: (904) 547-4109 email: [email protected]
AMAZON WISH LIST-Support Our School Nurse: A Wishlist for a Healthy School Year.
Donations: Clorox wipes, Ziploc bags, tissues, coloring books, bottled water, snacks, and mints are appreciated. We accept donations of gently used: pants, shorts for the accidents/spills (undergarments must be new). We have plenty of T-shirts.
BIG SMILES DENTAL PERMISSION FORM FOR DENTAL VISIT AT SCHOOL AUGUST 25TH, 2025.
2025 Health Screening for K, 1st, 3rd, and 6th are scheduled for September 25-26th. If you do not your child screened please sign opt out letter sent on Parent Square ASAP and return to school.
- Click Here for: School Health Services Provided to students at school
- Click here for: Nutrition, and Physical Activity Information for Parents
Medical Management Plans for Students with
Health Conditions
(Note: The School must have a new medical management plan on file EACH school year and ALL prescription medications must have a prescription label and be signed into the clinic by a parent/guardian.) Students can only carry: Inhalers, EpiPen/Auvi-Q auto-injectors, Neffy, pancreatic enzymes, and emergency Glucagon with a current Medical Management Plan with physician authorization. Students found in possession of medications without the proper paperwork on file will be subject to disciplinary action as noted in the Student Code of Conduct.
- Allergy Medical Management Plan
- If food substitutions are needed please have a food allergy substitution form filled out by a physician and turned into the school. Food Allergy Substitutions Form email the food service manager at VRA for any food restrictions at [email protected]
- Asthma Medical Management Plan
- Bleeding Disorders Medical Plan
- Cardiac Medical Management Plan
- Cystic Fibrosis Medical Management Plan
- Diabetes Plan-Contact Nemours for plan and fax to me at 904-547-4109
- Medical Procedure Form-needed for g-tube feedings, suctioning, or other complex procedures
- Seizure Medical Management Plan-or have Nemours fax to me at 904-547-4109
Medication at School
Prescription and Over the Counter Medications at School:
- Please review Medication Policy for medications at school
- If your student requires prescription medication or over the counter medication to be given at school this form must be completed and signed by the physician and the parent then signed into the health office by a parent.
- Medication Authorization Form (For prescription medications and OTC medications for elementary students)
- Only Middle School students can carry Over the Counter medications with this signed permission form filled out by a parent and student. Medication MUST be kept in original bottle. Please have student bring form to clinic so a copy can be kept on file at the school. Over the counter Self Carry Form for Middle School student only
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- If over the counter medication needs to be kept in the school nurse office and given by a nurse the Medication Authorization form must be filled out by a physician.
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Please refer to the St. Johns County School District Illness Guidelines found here https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/health/illness/ for general health concerns related to your child.
WHEN TO KEEP MY CHILD HOME?
Deciding when to keep your child home from school can be difficult. Please follow the recommended guidelines below…….
ILLNESS GUIDE
When a child is sick and needs to stay at home, parents should send in a note the next day. If a medical provider makes a specific diagnosis (such as strep throat, conjunctivitis or chicken pox), let the teacher or school nurse know.
There are several reasons to keep (exclude) sick children from school:
- The child does not feel well enough to participate comfortable in usual activities, such as with extreme signs of tiredness or fatigue, unexplained irritability or persistent crying.
- The child requires more care than the school staff is able to provide without effecting the health and safety of the other children.
- The illness is on the list of symptoms or illness for which exclusion is recommended.
- The child is not vaccinated due to medical or religious reasons and there is an outbreak in the school.
The following list gives guidelines and recommendations for exclusion from school due to illness. Children with minor illness need not be excluded unless one or more of the following exists.
| ILLNESS OR SYMPTOMS | EXCLUSION IS NECESSARY | |
| Chicken Pox | Yes – Until blisters have dried and crusted (usually 6 days). | |
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Conjunctivitis (pink eye) (pink or red eyes with thick mucous or pus draining from the eye) |
Yes – May return 24 hours after treatment begins. If your health provider decides not to treat your child, a note is needed. | |
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Coughing (severe, uncontrolled coughing or wheezing, rapid or difficulty in breathing) |
Yes – Medical attention may be necessary. NOTE: Children with asthma may be cared for in school with a written health care plan and authorization for medication/treatment. |
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Coxsackie Virus (Hand, foot and mouth disease) |
No – May attend if able to participate in school activities, unless the child has mouth sores and is drooling. | |
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Diarrhea (frequent, loose or watery stools not caused by diet or medication) |
Yes – if child looks or acts ill; diarrhea with vomiting; diarrhea that is not contained in the toilet. | |
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Fever with behavior changes or illness Fever is an elevation of body temperature above normal. |
Yes – when fever is elevated above 100.4° and is accompanied by behavior changes or other symptoms of illness, such as fatigue, rash, sore throat, upper respiratory symptoms, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. Must remain at home for at least 24 hours or until all symptoms subside medication free. | |
| Fifth’s Disease | No – child is no longer contagious once rash illness appears. | |
| Head Lice | Yes – Please notify the school if absent due to head lice. May return after treatment and removal of all live lice and nits from hair. After lice treatment, the student must report to the health room with parent/guardian to be examined for lice/nits before they can return to class. Student will also be rechecked in 10 days for a final lice/nit recheck | |
| Hepatitis A | Yes – Until 1 week after onset of illness or jaundice and when able to participate in school activities. | |
| Herpes | Yes – if area is oozing and cannot be covered, e.g., mouth sores. Otherwise, may return to school. | |
| Impetigo/Staph/MRSA | Yes – May return 24 hours after treatment starts. Wound must be covered with dressing taped on all 4 sides. | |
| Body Rash with fever | Yes – Seek medical advice. Any rash that spreads quickly, has open, weeping wounds and/or is not healing should be evaluated. May return to school when medical provider determines that illness is not communicable. | |
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Mild Cold Symptoms (stuffy nose with clear drainage, sneezing, mild cough) |
No – May attend if well enough to participate in school activities. | |
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Upper Respiratory Complications – large amount of thick nasal discharge – extreme sleepiness – ear pain – fever (above 100° orally) |
Yes – Seek medical advice. May return when symptoms are improved. | |
| Ringworm | Yes – May return after treatment begins. Area should be covered while in school for the first 48 hours of treatment. | |
| Roseola | No – Unless child cannot participate in usual activities and has fever. | |
| Scabies | Yes – May return after treatment is started with note from medical provider. | |
| Strep Throat | Yes – May return after 24 hours of antibiotic treatment and no fever for 24 hours. | |
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Vaccine Preventable Diseases (mumps, measles, whooping cough) |
Yes – Until judged not infectious by a medical provider. Report all cases to Health Services Coordinator. | |
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Vomiting (2 or more episodes in the past 24 hrs) |
Yes – until vomiting resolves or health care provider determines that cause is not communicable. Note: Observe for other signs of illness and for dehydration. |
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