HEALTH INFORMATION

School Health Services are provided by the City Health Division located in Room 820, 634 North Grand, 612-5000. Height, weight, vision, and hearing screenings are provided for students.

As your child’s health record is permanent and stays with them through the 12th grade, students must have a physical exam by his/her private physician. Immunization dates (including month, day and year) are required by Missouri State Law for diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT), oral polio, measles, rubella and hepatitis B for your child to remain in school. Your child’s health record is on file at the School Health Service office. Parents should return all completed forms promptly to the school office.

If you are transferring from another school, we need immunization dates for a required state report by the first day of school. Please do not rely on the record requests supplying this information. To avoid exclusion from school, return exact month, day and year for dates requested. These are required for your child to stay in school. (See Missouri State Law Immunization Requirements.) Graduating 8th grade students are given copies of their immunization dates.

*TGCA has created separate COVID-19 Policy that may change throughout the year due to CDC and local state and city guidelines. Please see the school website and communications for specific policies for the 2020-2021 school year.

Immunization Requirements

State law regarding immunization of your child reads: “It is unlawful for any student to attend school for longer than one month unless the child has been immunized against polio, diphtheria, measles, rubella and hepatitis B” or unless exemptions have been signed by a physician and filed with the school. State law also requires that parents furnish the school office with “satisfactory evidence” of immunization or exemption from

immunization against the diseases named above. “Satisfactory evidence” of immunization can be any one of the following:

1. Records kept by the parent regarding types and dates of immunization received by the child

2. A statement by a licensed physician that the child has been immunized against the diseases mentioned above, giving dates of each immunization

3. A statement by a licensed physician that he is in the process of immunizing the child. (When the immunization process is complete, the parent or the physician should notify the school office.)

Remember that only one of the above is needed as proof that your child has had the necessary immunizations.

Medical Exemption

A child shall be exempted from the immunization requirements upon certification by a licensed physician that such immunization would seriously endanger the child’s health.

Missouri Immunization Schedules

The completion of the appropriate schedule for the appropriate age will meet the current requirements of the Missouri Immunization Law.

Note: The school nurse will determine compliance and will notify you if you are not in compliance with State Law.

Health Problems

Students must report health problems to the school office at the beginning of the school year or as soon as the problem arises. Special problems include vision and hearing disturbances, diabetes, seizures, rheumatic fever, recent surgery, asthma, medication or anything else that might limit students at school. Parents of younger children should inform the school office and the teacher in writing.

Medicine at School

According to Missouri regulations, we must have written permission before unlicensed personnel (teachers, office staff, etc.) may dispense any medication to your child.  Most prescription medication which requires three doses a day could be given before school, after school and at bedtime, then no medications would be needed during school hours.

For over-the-counter medication to be administered to your child during the school day, we must have a signed Parent Authorization for Over-the-Counter Medication Administration form stating that the medication may be dispensed at school.  We must have one form per medication.  The medication must be in its original bottle with the label, placed in a Ziploc bag clearly labeled with the student’s name and grade level, and turned into office staff for administration.  Students will not be able to carry medications with them at school.  Forms can be located on the school website.

For prescription medication to be administered to your child during the school day, we must have a signed Physician Authorization for Prescription Medication Administration form stating that the medication may be dispensed at school. Prescription medication should be brought to school in a container appropriately labeled by the pharmacy, placed in a Ziploc bag clearly labeled with the student’s name and grade level,  and turned into office staff for administration.  Students will not be able to carry medications with them at school.  We must have one form per medication.  Forms can be located on the school website.

Illness at Home

When your child is ill and/or running a temperature, please do not send him/her to school. Children who are ill cannot concentrate on schoolwork, and it is an injustice to expect them to attend. Also, it needlessly exposes other students to something that may be contagious. Students must be fever free for 24 hours, without fever reducing medication, before returning to school.  Students who have exhibited vomiting or diarrhea must also be kept home until they have been free of symptoms for 24 hours.

If a student is absent for more than three days, they must bring a signed doctor’s release. When returning to school after contracting the following diseases: streptococcus infection, scarlet fever, impetigo, infectious hepatitis, and COVID-19 a doctor’s release is also required. Head lice require an empty treatment bottle as proof of treatment. Students must be checked by the school nurse before returning to class.

Illness at School

When children become ill at school, they should tell their teacher and report to the school office. If it is necessary for a child to go home, the office will contact a parent and the student will be released when the parent arrives at the school office.  Students with temperatures of 100º and higher will be sent home. In the event that a parent is unable to pick up the child, a special arrangement may be made with the school office to have another adult pick up the child. Students must be fever free for 24 hours, without fever reducing medication, before returning to school.  Students who have exhibited vomiting or diarrhea must also be kept home until they have been free of symptoms for 24 hours.

Please remember that in the event of an accident, school personnel can give only emergency care. Parents are responsible for any additional care needed.

Change in Emergency Information

We ask that you provide us with information on where you (or a friend or relative) can be reached in an emergency. The emergency telephone numbers you give us are our only means of locating you if your child has an accident or becomes ill at school. It is therefore extremely important that you keep us informed of any changes in emergency phone numbers by calling the school office, emailing the school office, or by sending a note with your child. Only the primary contact may update emergency contact information.

It is also the parent’s responsibility to inform the school of:

1. A change of address, home, cell and work phone numbers

2. A change in place of employment

3. A change in your child’s health