Health Services

• Information about COVID-19 vaccines for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Symptoms, are they from the vaccine or a current infection?
• Teen vaccine fact sheet
• Vaccinating pregnant individuals

• CDC COVID-19 Parental Resources Kit
• COVID-19: When a student, faculty, or staff member can return to school
• The Center for Disease Control
• The Indiana State Department of Health
• The Tippecanoe County Health Department

COVID-19: When a student, faculty or staff member can return to school

TSC Health Services Exclusion and Medication Policy Revisions for 2021-22
TSC Health Services Exclusion and Medication Policy Revisions for 2021-22 - Spanish Version

Students with vomiting, diarrhea, undiagnosed skin rashes, eye infections, or fever over 100° should not attend school. Students exhibiting these symptoms at school will be sent home.

With vomiting and diarrhea, the school nurse will evaluate any associated circumstances and other symptoms before making an exclusion decision. Children vomit for reasons other than illness, including coughing, stress, exertion, reflux and food intolerance.

Students with vomiting, diarrhea, or fever over 100º should not return to school until the symptoms have resolved without medication for 24 hours.

Students with pink eye may return to school with a doctor’s note when the symptoms subside or when a student shows treatment has begun with appropriate eye drops. Contagious skin rashes should be reported to your school nurse and a note will be required by your child’s physician to return to school.

Per ISDH and TCHD-Doctor’s notes for students sent home from school for suspected COVID symptoms should state that the student has been evaluated and cleared to return for a non-COVID related illness.

• Examples of what the note might say: “Student may return to school on [date], and his/her illness was not related to COVID-19,” or, “Student’s illness was not COVID-related, the student has an alternate diagnosis and may return to school on [date].” 
• This is not a HIPAA violation. 
• The provider’s contact information also must be included. 
• The provider should note any additional criteria to return to school.

Please remember with all of these exclusion criteria that our job is to facilitate students remaining in school. Our goal is to have the child miss as little class time as possible.

• Indiana State Health Department Novel Conronovirus (COVID-19)
  • Public Resources - be sure to visit Back-to-School Resources
  • Recent Public Updates

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Temperature 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher when taken by mouth (or school board policy if threshold is lower)
• Sore throat
• New uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing (for students with chronic allergic/ asthmatic cough, a change in their cough from baseline)
•  Diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain
•  New onset of severe headache, especially with a fever
•  Loss of taste or smell

This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list as we learn more about COVID-19.

CDC - Symptoms of Coronavirus 

Call your doctor for advice, prior to going to the office, clinic, or hospital, if you:

• Develop symptoms and have been in close contact with someone known to have COVID-19 OR
• Have recently traveled from an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of COVID-19

Update 9/17/2021: 
The Indiana State Department of Health recently updated their guidance related to COVID testing options that can be accepted by Indiana Schools. Per ISDH, home COVID tests with a positive result can be accepted by schools and no follow up/confirmatory testing is required. Home COVID tests with a negative result will not be accepted by the schools. Negative home COVID tests must still be confirmed by a follow up rapid or PCR test done at a testing facility for symptomatic and non-symptomatic students and staff. 

Update 8/27/2021: 
The Indiana State Department of Health recently updated their guidance related to COVID testing options that can be accepted by Indiana Schools. Confirmatory PCR tests are no longer required for antigen (rapid) tests performed in a clinical setting (pharmacy, MD office, state test site). Either a PCR or an antigen (rapid) test result performed in a clinical setting will suffice for testing for COVID-19 for both asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. Home tests will not be accepted and will need to be confirmed by a rapid or PCR COVID test done in a clinical setting. 

TSC students with close contact exposure to a family member or person exhibiting Covid symptoms with a pending Covid test result, may be instructed to isolate at home until those test results are received. Additional isolation or quarantine time may be recommended by the health department or physician; this information should be communicated with your child’s school. Documentation may be requested for attendance purposes. 

TSC administration and health services will consider recommendations from the ISDH or physicians related to quarantine and isolation times for individuals and families who have close exposure to a known positive covid case. Documentation may be requested for attendance purposes.

When possible, families are encouraged to submit attendance documentation electronically to their child’s school. 

Parents can contact the IN State Department of Health Covid hotline at 1-877-826-001 or the Tippecanoe County Health Department TCHD COVID-19 for questions related to Covid-19. 

School Children and Testing for COVID-19

The following is offered to help parents address questions related to their children and possible COVID-19 exposure in the school setting.

The best place to get advice and guidance when you are worried is to contact your child’s doctor to discuss symptoms and testing options. The physician will recommend the proper pathways for care and facilitate testing as needed. 

If your child is sent home from school with illness or concerns about COVID-19 infection, but does not have a medical emergency, please do not seek testing or evaluation through the emergency room. The emergency room is unable to provide outpatient testing or return to school letters.

Indiana University Health offers a free virtual clinic for COVID-19 screening using the IU Health Virtual Visit app. This free tool is available in Spanish and to all regardless of age. There you can connect with a healthcare provider and review your child’s symptoms. The virtual screening team will recommend the proper pathways for care and facilitate testing as needed.

Per ISDH and TCHD-PCR testing is recommended for anyone experiencing COVID symptoms. If a negative rapid antigen test is received for a symptomatic person, the school may request a follow-up PCR COVID test or a doctor’s note stating that the student’s illness is non-COVID related and that they are cleared to return to school prior to allowing the student to return to school.

There are external sites that offer testing for asymptomatic patients. If a child needs a COVID-19 test for clearance to participate in activities such as sports, in-person classes or other school related events please use these options: 

• The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) continues to expand its drive-through testing clinics across the state. Testing is free for anyone age 12 and up who lives or works in Indiana. Locations change frequently; check the online map to find a drive-through clinic near you.
• The ISDH also partners with OptumServe to provide testing sites across the state. Registration is required; patients can self-schedule online or by phone at 888.634.1116. Testing is free for anyone living and working in Indiana; children may be tested as well.

Espanol - sitio de pruebas ISDH

The Indiana Department of Health has set up a COVID-19 test clinic near you at Tippecanoe County Central Office. The office is located off J R Hiatt Drive in the former YMCA building. No appointment is necessary, so come in when it’s convenient for you.

Clinic information:
                    WHEN:    8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays
                    WHERE:   Tippecanoe County Central Office
                                     1950 S. 18th St.
                                     Lafayette, IN 47905

Here are some facts you should know:

• The test is available at no cost to you.
• This site offers PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests using a swab of the nostrils (anterior nares).
• Testing for children ages 6 months to 2 years old is available with parental assistance.
• This site is indoors.
• You’ll receive results by email or text no later than 5 p.m. the next day, including weekends.  

Learn more about COVID-19 testing at coronavirus.in.gov.
 

If you are planning to travel, the local health department and ISDH recommend following CDC guidance related to travel restrictions. Information related to travel can be found here Travel/CDC.

TSC families and staff are encouraged to follow all recommended guidelines related to travel restrictions. Quarantine time that is recommended due to travel may not be counted as an excused absence by the school. 

Parents can contact the IN State Department of Health Covid hotline at 1-877-826-0011 or the Tippecanoe County Health Department TCHD COVID-19 for information and guidance related to travel. 
 

COVID-19: When a student, faculty or staff member can return to school

TSC Health Services Exclusion and Medication Policy Revisions for 2021-22
TSC Health Services Exclusion and Medication Policy Revisions for 2021-22 - Spanish Version

Students with vomiting, diarrhea, undiagnosed skin rashes, eye infections, or fever over 100° should not attend school. Students exhibiting these symptoms at school will be sent home.

With vomiting and diarrhea, the school nurse will evaluate any associated circumstances and other symptoms before making an exclusion decision. Children vomit for reasons other than illness, including coughing, stress, exertion, reflux and food intolerance.

Students with vomiting, diarrhea, or fever over 100º should not return to school until the symptoms have resolved without medication for 24 hours.

Students with pink eye may return to school with a doctor’s note when the symptoms subside or when a student shows treatment has begun with appropriate eye drops. Contagious skin rashes should be reported to your school nurse and a note will be required by your child’s physician to return to school.

Per ISDH and TCHD-Doctor’s notes for students sent home from school for suspected COVID symptoms should state that the student has been evaluated and cleared to return for a non-COVID related illness.

• Examples of what the note might say: “Student may return to school on [date], and his/her illness was not related to COVID-19,” or, “Student’s illness was not COVID-related, the student has an alternate diagnosis and may return to school on [date].” 
• This is not a HIPAA violation. 
• The provider’s contact information also must be included. 
• The provider should note any additional criteria to return to school.

Please remember with all of these exclusion criteria that our job is to facilitate students remaining in school. Our goal is to have the child miss as little class time as possible.

Students will not be sent home for having nits in their hair, but will be sent home for live lice. Students sent home with live head lice must be checked by health office personnel before they return to class.

Head lice is very distressing to kids as well as parents, but they do not pose a health threat. Lice do not transmit diseases, and are spread most commonly by close person-to-person contact. Dogs, cats or other pets do not play a role in transmission. Lice move by crawling, and do not jump or fly.

Common places that lice are transmitted include school, daycare, home, sporting activities and slumber parties.Transmission may occur in the following ways:

• Wearing clothes, such as hats, scarves, coats or helmets of an infested person.
• Sharing combs, brushes, hair ties or towels with an infested person.
• Lying on a bed, pillow, couch, carper or stuffed animal of an infested person.

All reasonable measure will be taken to prevent the spread of lice at school. Students will be reminded not to share coats, hats and brushes/combs at school. We recommend that you routinely check your child for head lice at home. Below is a head-lice treatment checklist that should be followed in the event your child has lice.

• Head Lice Treatment Checklist
• Head Lice Treatment Checklist - Spanish

Vision screenings: Measurement of Visual Acuity only (Distance and Near) are completed annually for all students in 1st, 3rd, 5th and 8th grades or any student with a suspected visual defect can be performed by the school nurse and/or health assistant. A Modified Clinical Technique are visual tests performed on all 1st Grade students by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Hearing screenings are completed annually for all students in 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th grades; a student who has transferred into the school corporation; and a student who is suspected of having hearing defects.

Based on State of Indiana referral recommendations, parents/guardians will be notified by a referral letter if a concern is identified during the screening process. Further medical evaluation will be recommended and should be obtained.

IN State Department of Health Required and Recommended School Immunizations

• 2018-2019 School Year
• 2019-2020 School Year
• 2020-2021 School Year - Spanish

All minimum intervals and ages for each vaccination as specified per 2018 CDC guidelines must be met for a dose to be valid. A copy of these guidelines can be found at http:/www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules.

According to Indiana Code 20-8.1-7-10.1 (c) (1): When a student enrolls for the first time in a school corporation, a statement of the student's immunizations will be supplied to the school by a parent or guardian. This record must show that the student has received at least the minimum number of immunizations at the required intervals for the student's age. Students may not attend school until required immunizations are up to date.

Please refer to the TSC policy 5320-Immunization for further information.

Medication Administration

TSC Health Services Exclusion and Medication Policy Revisions for 2021-22
TSC Health Services Exclusion and Medication Policy Revisions for 2021-22 - Spanish Version

Medication Requirements

All prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications must be FDA-approved and will be kept in the school health office. Your child may not carry any medication at school. All prescription and Over-The-Counter (OTC) medications must be in the original container with the current pharmacy or package, labeled correctly with the most current date, student’s name, dosage, frequency and match the current doctor’s orders on file with the health office. At no time will medications be transported by a student. Any change in prescription medication, dosage or time to be given must be in written form from the parent with an accompanying doctor’s order.

Written permission with instructions from the parent/guardian are required for all prescription and OTC medications. Permission forms are available at your school's health office and in the button marked Health Services Forms.

Emergency Medications

Your child may not carry any medication at school, with the exception of inhalers, diabetic supplies and epinephrine (Epipen). These emergency medications may be carried only with written permission from your child's physician and from the parent/guardian.

Students in Prep K through 4th grade will keep emergency medications in the nurse’s office unless we have a physician’s note indicating the medication should be carried by the student. Students administering emergency medications outside of the nurse’s office will report to the nurse that the medication was administered.

Return of Medications to Parent/Guardian

Medications must be picked up in the health office by a parent, guardian, or designee who is at least 18 years old and with written permission from the parent/guardian. Medications (with the exception of emergency medications with permit to carry) CANNOT be sent to school or sent home with a student. Failure to comply with this may result in disciplinary action for your child

• TSC Health Services Newsletter September 17, 2021
• Servicios de salud de TSC Septiembre 17 2021