Health Services
Support students and staff in promoting positive health practices and limiting the effects of health conditions.
The Licensed School Nurse collaborates with the educational team to help create a school environment that supports student health and limits barriers to learning. Contact our Licensed School Nurse if your student has a health condition, chronic disease, or if you have any concerns about your child's overall health and well-being.
If your child needs a prescription medication on a regular basis while in school please note that the Minnewaska Area School District has specific guidelines for use of medications while in school. Students are not supposed to have prescription medications in their lockers, bags, pockets, backpacks, purses, & etc., unless they have a medical condition (i.e.: asthma, seizures, severe allergies, diabetes) that requires this.
To self-carry prescription medications, a physician’s order and parental consent is needed and the proper paperwork must be on file in the school health/nurse’s office prior to use. If your student takes an over-the-counter medication, a medication permission slip must be signed & dated by a parent/guardian.
Please make sure to include student’s name, grade, & instructions (dose, time, & why it is to be given). Medication must be in the original bottle/container with its label attached.
There may be times a physician’s order is also required for an over-the-counter medication. Over-the-counter medications will not be given if they are past the expiration date. Grades 7-12 students may have some over-the -counter medications such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen in their locker if a parent permission slip is signed, and in the Nurse/Health office to notify of self-carry. Medication Permission Forms have to be done each school year. Medication orders & consents do not carry over from year to year.
All medications are to be supplied and dropped off by a parent/guardian. Written consents must be in place prior to administration. If the proper paperwork is not in place, the medication will not be given at school until the proper orders and consents are received. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to obtain the proper consent from the physician or primary care provider.
If your student takes a prescription medication, a physician’s order & a parent/guardian signature is needed before it will be given. Please use the Minnewaska School Medication Permission Form. Clinic forms are allowed but they must have the required physician/primary care provider signature and parent/guardian signature. Prescription medications must remain in the original bottle/container labeled by the pharmacy. Pharmacies will provide extra bottles/containers for at school when requested. All medications will not be given if they are past the expiration date.
If a student takes a medication for asthma, seizures, diabetes, or severe allergic reactions/anaphylaxis/epi-pen: an individual student treatment and health plan will be required. These need to be written up, reviewed, signed, & dated by a physician & parent/guardian. This has to be done every school year as health plans do not carry over from year to year. Additional health plan forms:
- Asthma Action Plan
- Seizure Action Plan
- Diabetes Management Plan
- Allergic Reaction/Anaphylaxis/Epi-pen Plan
If any medication remains at the end of the school year, you will be sent a notice when it is time to pick it up at the end of the school year. Any medicines not picked up within the time frame given will be discarded and disposed of.
The school does not carry stock medications. Frequently used over-the-counter medications & supplies that should be provided by parent/guardian: Tylenol, Ibuprofen, pain medications, allergy medications, cold & cough medications, cough drops, Tums or antacids, tampons/pads, eye drops, contact solution, & etc.
Please let your student know that medications of any kind are not to be shared with classmates or friends. Disciplinary action can occur if this happens.
Please contact us at (320) 239-1316 if you have any questions or concerns regarding medications or your child’s health while in school. It is our goal to keep your student healthy and learning while in school!
Children's Dental Services is a non-profit dental clinic that accepts all forms of insurance. Children's Dental Services offers free and reduced-cost care based on income. Children's Dental Services is happy to work with families to help them apply for reinsurance or discounted care and can work with families to create payment plans as necessary. Children's Dental Services will see patients of all ages.
Treatment available includes but is not limited to Cleaning, exams, fillings, sealants, crowns, extractions, fluoride, and x-rays.
Location
Starbuck Community Center
Appointments (PDF)
To make an appointment, call 612-746-1530 or 1-866-543-6009.
- If a student has a fever of 100º or more, the student should stay home until they have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication.
- If a student has vomited or had diarrhea they should stay home until 24 hours after the last episode.
- If a student has any unidentified rash, check with your physician/primary care provider before sending him/her to school.
- Reddened eye/s, drainage from the eye, crusted shut when waking up in a.m. Please have student see their physician/primary care provider before sending student to school.
- Specific illnesses may require a defined period of absence from school, contact the school health office if you have questions.
- If a student doesn't feel well and appears sick looking (pale, cough, sore throat, body aches, lethargic, etc.).
- For strep throat, pink eye, impetigo, and other infections that are contagious in nature and require an antibiotic, a student must be on the antibiotic for 24 hours before returning to school. Please keep them home longer if they are not feeling well or if instructed otherwise by your physician/healthcare provider.
REMEMBER to inform the school when you intend to keep a student at home for the day (or a time period) for any type of illness/sickness. Please call and let the attendance secretary know first thing in the morning.
Other things to keep in mind:
If your child gets sick during the school day, we will contact you. Please have a plan in place if you should get called and your student has to go home from school. If you cannot be reached, your first and second emergency contacts will be contacted and asked to provide the needed care.
If your student sees the doctor and you anticipate they are going to have be absent or miss school, then please ask the doctor/primary care provider for a note. Most clinicians are used to schools needing this. With the proper authorization signed by your physician/primary care provider, your student will be excused for medical purposes. This is especially important if your child is having some attendance problems because of reoccurring health issues.
Allergies, anaphylaxis and asthma:
- American Academy of Allergies, Asthma and Immunology
- American Lung Association
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
- Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network
- Minnesota Asthma Program- MDH
Attention Deficit Disorders:
Diabetes:
- American Diabetes Association
- Diabetes Exercise and Sports Association
- Minnesota Diabetes Program- MDH
- National Diabetes Education Program
Nutrition:
Physical Activity:
School Health Topics/Miscellaneous:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Minnesota Department of Health
- School Nurse Organization
- Vaccine Information
Concussion
Seizures: