
Tell Us About Your Child's Health!
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Before the start of each school year, please be sure to contact your school nurse and child’s teacher to discuss any health concerns your child has, including severe allergies, seizures, diabetes, asthma, and current medication. During the school year, please be sure to update the school nurse and teacher about any new or changing medical conditions or medication.
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What Do School Health Clinic Staff Do?
School Health Clinic staff can:- provide first aid and care to students who become ill or injured during school hours
- educate school staff regarding health matters that affect the students/community
- collaborate with other school professionals, parents/guardians, and the student’s healthcare providers as needed
- provide healthcare counseling to students as needed.
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If Your Student is Sick
Any student will be sent home if he or she has a temperature of 100 degrees or higher, vomiting, diarrhea, or signs and symptoms of a possible communicable disease.
Please keep students home until they remain fever-free for 24 hours without the aid of medication and are free of vomiting or diarrhea symptoms for 24 hours prior to returning to school. All children with suspicious rashes must be excluded from school until the rash has been determined non-contagious by a doctor.
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Immunization Requirements
Please view the Ohio Department of Health's Ohio Immunization Summary for School Attendance here. Link opens in a new window.
According to Board Policy 5320 and 5320 AG, immunizations in compliance with state law and the Ohio Department of Health are required for each student unless the parent(s) files an objection. The board of education also requires tuberculosis examinations in compliance with law.
Students eligible for kindergarten and students new to Pickerington Schools must present written evidence of similar immunizations, or written evidence to indicate that they are in the process of receiving immunizations, to be completed no later than the day of entrance. Students failing to complete immunizations within 14 days after entering are not permitted to return to school.
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Student Health Screenings
State-mandated health screenings (such as vision and hearing) are completed during the school year. Please contact your school nurse if you have concerns regarding your child and the screening process.
Vision screenings are done for all new students and those in preschool, kindergarten, and grades one, three, five, seven, and nine. Hearing screenings are performed with preschool, kindergarten, first, third, fifth, ninth, eleventh, and new students. Referrals letters are sent home if the school nurse suspects a concern or if the student fails a screening.
Vision screenings are not meant to replace comprehensive eye exams, but can help find children at risk for eye problems.
Sometimes, parents or teachers can tell if a child is having a problem. Squinting, complaining of things appearing blurry, or holding reading material close to their face may be signs. Other signs may be less obvious. Sometimes having a short attention span or losing interest in activities that require students to use their eyes for an extended period of time may signal a vision concern. Children who lose their place when reading may be having difficulty seeing. Avoiding reading, drawing, writing or other close activities may also be a sign of a vision problem. Children with vision problems may also turn their heads to the side when looking at an object in front of them to see it better.
Success in school is closely tied to eye health. The earlier a vision concern is found and treated, the better off your child will be. Please contact your child’s school nurse if you have any questions about vision and hearing screenings.
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Everyday Tips to Prevent the Spread of Illness
We are asking you to do your part to help prevent the spread of disease. The CDC recommends these everyday preventive steps:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick. This is worth repeating…please stay home when you’re sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
We are committed to the health and safety of our school community and appreciate your help in keeping it healthy!
Forms & Information
Health Services
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Physical Exam Form
For new students enrolling into kindergarten or grade 1. Please have your child’s health care provider complete this form and return it to your child’s assigned school building. Your child will not be cleared to attend school until this form has been signed and returned to the school on or before August 1.
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Administering Nonprescription Medications
This form is to request the administration of non-prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications to your child.
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Authorization for the Possession and Use of an Epinephrine Autoinjector
This form authorizes the possession and use of an epinephrine autoinjector by a student.
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Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan
FARE's Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan, formerly the Food Allergy Action Plan, outlines recommended treatment in case of an allergic reaction, is signed by a physician and includes emergency contact information.
School Nurses
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Marcia Stewart | Districtwide Health Coordinator
Contact information:
Marcia Stewart
Districtwide Health Coordinator
Phone: 614-833-2110
Degrees and certifications:
MSN, RN, LSN
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Caitlyn DeShane | School Nurse
Contact information:
School Nurse Caitlyn DeShane
Tussing Elementary
Phone: 614-834-2600
Fax: 614-834-2615
Violet Elementary
Phone: 614-548-1500
Fax: 614-548-1511
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Elizabeth Moody-Ganoom | School Nurse
Contact information:
School Nurse Elizabeth Moody-Ganoom
Fairfield Elementary
Phone: 614-834-7608
Fax: 614-834-7610
Harmon Middle School
Phone: 614-835-2008
Fax: 614-408-2515
Degrees and certifications:
MSN, RN, LSN
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Marnica Dreher | School Nurse
Contact information:
School Nurse Marnica Dreher
Pickerington High School North
Phone: 614-830-2780
Fax: 614-408-2524
Heritage Elementary School
Phone: 614-833-6385
Fax: 614-408-2541
Degrees and certifications:
MSN, RN, LSN
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Melanie Thompson | School Nurse
Contact information:
School Nurse Melanie Thompson
Pickerington Elementary
Phone: 614-548-1400
Fax: 614-548-1410
Lakeview Junior High
Phone: 614-830-2200
Fax: 614-408-2545
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Rachel Ross | School Nurse
Contact information:
School Nurse Rachel Ross
Sycamore Creek Elementary
Phone: 614-834-6200
Fax: 614-834-6210
Ridgeview STEM Junior High
Phone: 614-548-1700
Fax: 614-548-1710
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Rhonda Carmel | School Nurse
Contact information:
School Nurse Rhonda Carmel
Pickerington High School Central
Phone: 614-548-1808
Fax: 614-548-1810
Diley Middle School
Phone: 614-830-2908
Fax: 614-408-2502
Degrees and certifications:
BSN, RN, LSN
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Tami Tackett | School Nurse
Contact information:
School Nurse Tami Tackett
Toll Gate Elementary
Phone: 614-834-6308
Fax: 614-834-6310
Toll Gate Middle School
Phone: 614-834-6408
Fax: 614-834-6420
Degrees and certifications:
RN
2022-23 COVID Guidelines
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Pickerington Schools follows Franklin County Public Health's guidance on COVID illness and exposure. Please adhere to the following guidelines if you have tested positive for COVID or live with someone who has tested positive for COVID.
COVID Test Positive:
- The student/staff should stay home for five days from the onset of symptoms.
- The day the student/staff started having symptoms is day zero.
- The student/staff should return to school on day six as long as the positive person is no longer running a fever, not taking any fever-reducing medications and has an improvement in symptoms.
- It is recommended that the student/staff wears a mask when indoors and around others for days six through 10 and unmask on day 11.
Student Attendance
To be marked as medically excused, the parent/guardian will need to provide documentation of:- a proctored COVID test result or
- a note from the healthcare provider
Recommendations for Family Members
The recommendation for family members and anyone living in a household where there is a positive case:- If there are no COVID symptoms, the individual may return to work/school wearing a mask for 10 days from last contact with the positive person.
- If possible, test on day five.
- If you develop symptoms, get tested and stay home until you know the results.
For more resources, visit our testing, isolation and quarantine or vaccine
webpages. For more information, read the Franklin County Community Mask Advisory.