Health Related Guidelines

Allergies, Diabetes, Seizures and Other Medical Conditions

The school should be notified in writing if there is health information that may affect a child’s health or performance in school (ie. Peanut allergies, other allergies, asthmatic conditions, diabetes, seizures, reaction to bee stings or insect bites, bleeding disorders, migraines, digestive problems, etc.) The parent will be given a health plan to complete that explains in detail the student’s medical condition.

Bringing Medicine to School

No medication is to be transported to or from school by a student.
No medications will be given without written parental permission.
All medications must be given through the office, including cough drops.
The City of Salem Schools has a medication form that must be completed before medication can be administered at school.

Prescription Medications

Must have the City of Salem Medication form completed by a physician and signed by the parent before medications can be given
The form must contain the name of medication
Exact dosage to be given
Exact time dosage is to be given
Duration of time child is expected to take medication
Reason for medication
If more than one medication is prescribed, a form is needed for each medication. State clearly the time which they should be given.
Directions given on the prescription bottle and those on the medication sheet that is completed by the doctor, must be in agreement
Clear, simple, lay terminology should be used and not medical abbreviations
“Repeat as necessary” is unacceptable. If the medicine needs to be repeated, the exact conditions for this must be specified.

Non-prescription and short-term use of over-the-counter drugs:

May be given with a written note from the parent stating the same guidelines as required for the prescription medications
Note must be signed by the parent/guardian
Must be in its original container
Must have a current expiration date on the package

Medicine should be brought to school only in the original container or prescription bottle for which it was written. (No medications should be brought to school in a baggie, including cough drops)

For safety reasons, please do not send medication to school by a student. Parents or a designated adult are required to bring medications to school rather than sending it by a student. Students carrying medications may be subject to disciplinary action according to the City of Salem’s Standards of Student Conduct.

Dentist and Doctor Appointments

Children will be excused for dentist and doctor appointments. If possible, parents are encouraged to schedule these appointments during times that school is not in session. Please bring a written excuse from the doctor/dentist.

Health Nurse

Connie Ramsey, RN, is our school nurse. If you have questions regarding the health of your son/daughter, please call Mrs. Ramsey.

School Clinic

School personnel can check temperatures (using a head strip), allow the child to sit in the office and provide limited first aid when needed. Parents are requested to keep children at home if they have had a fever or diarrhea within 12 hours before the start of the school day.

Speech/Language/Hearing Services

In accordance with Public Law 94-142, West Salem Elementary School offers a wide range of services to communicatively handicapped children, including screening, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment of speech – language – and hearing disorders. The Speech-Language Pathologist is a member of the school’s Child Study and Eligibility Committee teams. Services provided by the Speech-Language Pathologist include:

Hearing screening for all students in grades K-5 in the fall of each academic year
Screening of all Kindergarten students for articulation, language, voice, fluency, and hearing
Articulation, language, voice, fluency and hearing screening for all students newly enrolled in the City of Salem School Division, throughout the academic year
Diagnostic assessment, and treatment for students who are referred and subsequently declared eligible for speech-language services
The Speech-Language Pathologist routinely participates in the child-study and eligibility process for children who are being considered for other program placements such as Learning Disabilities, Educably Mentally Handicapped, etc.
Providing on-going hearing screening for students who are referred by parents, teachers, doctors, etc.
Coordinating in-services and public awareness programs for teachers and parents concerning speech-language services available within the public schools
Providing diagnostic assessment and treatment for preschool children who have speech, language problems.

Referral to the Speech/Language Pathologist can be made by parents, teachers, or upon the request of a medical doctor. Referrals are made whenever a child is suspected of having problems with any of the communication skills listed below:

Articulation – if the child is having difficulty saying certain sounds, or whose speech is difficult to understand
Language – if the child experiences difficulty understanding what is said to him; has difficulty expressing himself, or uses sentences that seem inappropriate for his age
Voice – if the child’s voice is chronically harsh (hoarse), or he uses an inappropriately high or low voice pitch
Stuttering – if the child repeats or prolongs sounds or words, or exhibits any other behaviors that interrupt the flow of speech
Hearing – if the child has chronic ear infections, or appears to have difficulty hearing

If you suspect that your child has a speech, language, or hearing problem, or if you have any questions about the Speech-Language Program at West Salem School, please feel free to contact the school, or call Central office at 389-0130.

Student Illnesses/Accidents and Emergencies

Parents will be notified if a student is hurt or too sick to stay in school. The City of Salem Rescue Squad will be contacted if a student requires immediate emergency treatment, with parents being contacted if possible. If parent contact cannot be made, instructions on the “Student Emergency Information Form” will be followed.