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.
About Tussing Elementary
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Tell Us About Your Child's Health!
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Tussing Elementary School Health Clinic is staffed by School Nurse Caitlin DeShane and Health Care Assistant Christina DiNapoli. Tussing Elementary School Health Clinic aims to support student success by promoting optimal wellness among our students.
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Caitlin DeShane | School Nurse
Caitlin DeShane
Contact information:
Caitlin DeShane
School Nurse
Phone: 614-834-2600
Fax: 614-834-2615
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Christina DiNapoli | Health Care Assistant
Christina DiNapoli
Contact information:
Christina DiNapoli
Health Care Assistant
Phone: 614-834-2600
Fax: 614-834-2615
About the School Health Clinic
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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!
Health Services
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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.
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Immunization Requirements for Students Entering Grade 12
This form documents that a student entering grade 12 has received the recommended immunizations.
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Immunization Requirements for Students Entering Grade 12-Nepali
ग्रेड 12 मा प्रवेश गन िवाथहका लािग प्रितरण खोपका आवकताह
Immunization Requirements for Students Entering 12th-Nepali-2023.pdf 161.89 KB (Last Modified on July 7, 2023)
2023-24 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:
- Stay home for five days, regardless of your vaccination status.
- If you test positive for COVID-19, you should stay home (which is called isolation) for 5 days. Day 0 is your first full day of symptoms.
- After 5 days, you may end isolation if you are fever-free for 24 hours (without use of fever-reducing medicine) AND your symptoms are improving. If you had a moderate or severe illness, you may need to isolate yourself longer and should talk to a doctor.
When to Remove Your Mask:
- After you have ended isolation, when you are feeling better (no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and symptoms improving, wear your mask through day 10.
OR
- If you have access to an antigen test, you should consider using it. You may choose to remove your mask prior to the 10 days by using an antigen test. If you have two consecutive negative antigen tests that are 48 hours apart, you can remove your mask prior to day 10. Testing should not occur before you complete your isolation period, as described above. Don’t start testing until day 6.
If you ended isolation but your COVID-19 symptoms come back, you should restart your isolation period back to day 0. Regardless of when you end isolation, it is important to wear a well-fitted mask when indoors and in public settings through day 10.