School nursing is a healthcare specialty requiring specific expertise in nursing, public health, and education. Our school nurses are licensed, registered nurses educated to address the wide range of health topics that impact children at school:

  • Identify health concerns through assessments and observations
  • Provide health care counseling or guidance to students, families, and staff
  • Conduct care coordination including case management, chronic disease management, care planning, and assistance in finding a medical home or other health care providers
  • Provide medication management
  • Provide health screenings, referrals, and follow-up
  • Ensure immunization compliance and coordination of other health mandates according to state requirements
  • Provide health education, promotion, and disease prevention

 

General Required Health Forms

If you do not see your child’s grade level in the list below, then no additional health forms or immunizations are required. If you are new to the district or the state and have specific questions, please contact your school nurse or your healthcare provider.

Preschool

Kindergarten

3rd Grade

7th Grade

  • Certificate of Immunization completed by a healthcare provider to include boosters of the Tdap and Meningitis vaccines. Iowa law requires boosters before the first day of school.

9th Grade

12th Grade

  • Certificate of Immunization completed by a healthcare provider to include booster of Meningitis vaccine. Iowa law requires boosters before the first day of school.

 

Required Health Forms for Athletic Participation


All Students in 8th-12th Grade Participating in Athletics

Students with the following symptoms will be sent home:

  • A temperature of 100 or above (oral) or equivalent (normal temperature for 24 hours without medication before returning to school)
  • Vomiting (free from vomiting for 24 hours before returning to school)
  • Diarrhea (free from diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school)
  • Unexplained abdominal pain
  • Severe cold and/or cough
  • Unexplained skin eruptions or rash
  • Swelling, redness, tenderness, discharge of eyes (requires a doctor’s diagnosis and treatment, if needed, or until symptoms are gone)
  • Communicable disease (requires a doctor’s diagnosis and treatment, if needed, or until symptoms are gone)
  • Any health condition that in the nurse’s judgment is of concern for the child’s or other’s health

Parent/Guardian Responsibility
Parents/Guardians will be responsible for communicating information to the office staff and school nurse regarding illnesses, accidents, medication, physical education restrictions, communicable diseases, treatments, or pertinent medical and dental information. Parents are also responsible for informing the school of any changes of information on the health and emergency forms to include emergency contacts. It is important for school staff to be able to contact parents/guardians in a timely manner

When to Come to School and Why Attendance Matters
Any day children are free from any of the concerns listed above, they should be at school! While we certainly understand that illnesses and special circumstances are bound to happen, especially with children, please do your best to help your children be at school every day. Avoid scheduling appointments during the school day, when possible. Here are a few things to keep in mind when considering your child’s school attendance:

  • Research shows that missing 10 percent of a school year, or two days a month, negatively affects a student’s academic performance.
  • Poor attendance can influence whether children read proficiently by the end of third grade.
  • When students improve their attendance rates, they improve the likelihood of school success academically and socially.
  • All students in a classroom may suffer when even one student is chronically absent. The inconsistency can hamper a teacher’s ability to engage all students and meet their learning needs.

Administration of Medication to Students – Parental Authorization and Release Form

If medication is to be administered at school, the above school form must be filled out and signed by the parent/guardian. Additional forms may be obtained at the school’s health office. The medication must be in the original container that is labeled by the pharmacy or the manufacturer with the name of the student, name of the medication, time of day that it is to be given, dosage, and duration. Over-the-counter medication as provided by parent/guardian such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, cough drops, etc. requires parent/guardian’s written permission and must be brought in the original labeled container with specific directions. For any ongoing medication, longer than ten days, a physician must sign this request. The school nurse may determine that an over-the-counter medication–including food supplements and herbals, ordered by a parent–could be detrimental to the student, and thus may refuse to administer it.

Students in grades K-5 must supply all medications to be given at school with parent/guardian consent. Elementary schools will not have stock medications available. The authorization form is available on the district’s website under the forms section above or in the Health Offices.

Students in grades 6-12 may receive up to six doses per school year of either acetaminophen or ibuprofen, at the nurse’s discretion, with parent/guardian consent. After the six doses, the parent will need to provide medication for their student and a new permission slip. If the school nurse determines the over‐the‐counter medication could be detrimental to the student, the nurse may refuse to administer the medication. The authorization form is available on the district’s website under the forms section above or in the Health Offices.

State education laws require that all students be enrolled in and participate in a course of Physical Education. Students are required to participate in all PE classes. If a physician feels that a student should not participate or should only participate on a limited basis, parents must obtain a note from the physician with all restrictions noted and give this to the school nurse. Once the student is cleared by their physician to return to all activities, a clearance note must be given to the school nurse. In the case of an unexpected injury or illness, the school nurse may determine if a student is unable to participate in PE activities.

Students will be expected to go outside at recess each day unless there are individually approved circumstances or inclement weather conditions. If the student has returned from a lengthy illness, he/she may be held in from recess for no more than two days without a doctor’s note. Appropriate clothing for the existing weather conditions at the time is a must.

Waukee Community School District follows treatment guidelines for managing head lice developed by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Current guidelines state the following: “Children should remain in school for the rest of the day if head lice are detected. Notify parents by phone, provide educational materials on treatment, and review treatment protocols. It is reasonable to expect that treatment is started before the child returns to school the next day.”

To keep the incidence of head lice from being transmitted, parents are asked to check all family members for head lice regularly and to treat those found to have live lice or new eggs. If lice are found, parents are asked to notify the school nurse so that the incidence of lice in the school can be monitored.

If you have questions about the district’s head lice guidelines or need assistance in the treatment of lice, please contact your school nurse.


As a part of our established procedure of accounting for students each day, we would appreciate you calling the school secretary by 9 a.m. if your child will not be attending school that day or will be late. You may also choose to leave a message on the voicemail system at your child’s school prior to 8 a.m. or anytime after 4 p.m.

    • Brookview Elementary Attendance Phone Number – 515.987.2744
    • Eason Elementary Attendance Phone Number – 515.987.2765
    • Grant Ragan Elementary Attendance Phone Number – 515.987.2737
    • Maple Grove Elementary Attendance Phone Number – 515.987.2748
    • Radiant Elementary Attendance Phone Number – 515.987.2746
    • Shuler Elementary Attendance Phone Number – 515.987.2763
    • Walnut Hills Elementary Attendance Phone Number – 515.987.2742
    • Waukee Elementary Attendance Phone Number – 515.987.2762
    • Woodland Hills Elementary Attendance Phone Number – 515.987.5196
    • South Middle School Attendance Phone Number – 515.987.2785
    • Waukee Middle School Attendance Phone Number – 515.987.2787
    • Prairieview School Attendance Phone Number – 515.987.2757
    • Timberline School Attendance Phone Number – 515.987.2764
    • Waukee High School Attendance Phone Number – 515.987.2781
    • Northwest High School Attendance Phone Number – 515.987.2727

Iowa Code, Chapter 139a.8(6) and Iowa Administrative Code, 641-7.7(139) outline the immunization requirement for students attending licensed child care centers and elementary or secondary schools. Students shall have received the required immunizations and submit the Iowa Department of Public Health Certificate of Immunization or have a valid Certificate of Immunization Exemption, or Provisional Certificate of Immunization.

Specific grade-level health requirements are listed in the Health Forms section above. If you have questions, please reach out to your school nurse or your healthcare provider.