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Murch Health Policies and Services

>>  Murch School Health Profile

School Nurse

A registered nurse is on duty every school day from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The nurse is available for first aid, health screening, and to promote the health and safety of the entire Murch school community. Confidentiality on all health matters is respected.
>> School Nurse: Krista Hallford; direct: 202-282-0354

Health Forms

To prepare for enrollment, please make sure your children are up-to-date with these student health forms.

• District of Columbia Oral Health (Dental Provider) Assessment Form
• School Health Checklist
• Instructions for the District of Columbia Universal Health Certificate
• District of Columbia Universal Health Certificate

Immunization and Health Screening Requirements

These are the new immunization requirements for 2011-2012.

At school entry, all students must have completed the basic series of diptheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP), polio, Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR), Hepatitis B, and Varicella (if there is not a history of chicken pox disease) vaccines. A record of each child's immunizations must be on file in the health office. Parents should maintain a copy of this immunization record at home as well.

Children's School Services, School Health Program requirements specify that all students must present certification that required immunizations have been administered in order to complete enrollment. A listing of free immunization clinics is available in the nurse's office.

All new and transfer students must have a completed record of physical and dental examinations separate from their completed required immunizations. Students have ten (10) days to come into compliance with their immunization requirements once school starts. The requirements include a current record of TB testing, and students below the age of 6 must have a lead screening. Children under age 5 must have completed the HiB series (Hemophilus Influenza B). HiB is not required after the age of 5. Children born on or after 01/01/2005 must have 2 doses of Hepatitis A prior to enrollment.

Health Screening in School

Children's School Services provides vision screening of grades Pre-K, K, 1, 2, 4, and ungraded levels. Height and weight measurements are performed by the nurse for these grade levels. The hearing screening will be performed from grades K, 1, 2, 4, and ungraded levels. A health certificate survey is performed annually by the nurse for enrolled Pre-K, K, 1, 3, and 5. Results of the survey are submitted annually by the nurses to Children's School Services, School Health Program. Health certificates and dental certificates must be submitted to enable the nurse to perform the annual health certificate survey for these target grades.

Lice

If a child is known to have head lice, and this is discovered in school, the following will happen:

• School nurse will contact the parents.
• School nurse will communicate this information to the teacher of the student.
• School nurse will send home a letter to the rest of the students in that class.
• The student will be sent home.

If a child is known to have head lice, and this is discovered outside of school, the following must happen:

• Parents will contact the school nurse.
• Parents will provide treatment to ensure that all lice are removed.
• School nurse will communicate this information to the teacher of the student.
• School nurse will send home a letter to the rest of the students in that class.
• The child may not enter the school building.

Students with documented cases of head lice may return to school when the following occurs:

• School nurse conducts a thorough check upon return.
• The student is nit free.
• The nurse communicates in writing to the teacher that the child may reenter the classroom.
• If any evidence of head lice exists after this thorough check, the child will not be allowed to enter school and will need to receive additional treatment.

>> Recommended Lice Treatment Plan from Advice on Lice

Medications at School

D.C. policy requires that appropriate forms be completed by both parent and physician before any prescription or over-the-counter medication can be administered to a child. These forms are available from the nurse or you can download them below. The District of Columbia has enacted The Student Access to Treatment Act of 2007 (SATA). This law permits students enrolled to self- administer inhaled asthma medication and auto-injectable epinephrine at school, in transit to, and from school on school- sponsored transportation, and at school- sponsored activities provided they have a written authorization from their healthcare provider, have a medication action plan on file with the school and are capable of self- administration.

If your child needs to take medication or receive a medical treatment during school hours, please have your medical provider complete the appropriate forms and submit them to your school nurse.

• Authorization for Medication Administration Form
• Asthma Action Plan
• Anaphylaxis Action Plan

Chronic Illness

Parents of children with a history of any chronic illness (food allergy, asthma, etc.) that may affect school performance should contact the school nurse to develop an individual health plan.

Communicable Diseases

Parents are requested to report immediately any child's communicable illness (e.g. strep throat, chicken pox, lice, etc.) to the nurse. Children with fever, sore throat, or nausea should not come to school. Students with possible contagious eye infections, undiagnosed skin eruptions, head lice, or illness that interferes with classroom performance will be excluded from class. Parents will be notified to pick up the child.

Children should be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to school. Children being treated for communicable illnesses should not return unless their healthcare providers have given written medical clearance to return. This form should be submitted to the nurse to be kept on file at the school.

Accident or Sudden Illness at School

The school nurse will contact parents to advise them in case of illness or accident. Please keep work numbers current. The school must have the number of a relative, friend, or neighbor in case parents cannot be reached. If emergency transportation is required, a student will be accompanied by a staff member if the parent is not present.

H1N1

At school we work hard to keep viruses from spreading. There are simple steps that you and your children can take to prevent the spread of the swine flu virus and other diseases.

Cover your cough and sneezes to help stop germs from entering the air.

• Ideally you should cough or sneeze into a disposal tissue.
• If you do not have a disposable tissue, you can cough or sneeze into the elbow of your sleeves, not into your hands.
• After coughing or sneezing, you should wash your hands with soap and water.

Frequent hand washing prevents the transfer of diseases.

• Use soap and water, lathering well above the wrists and rub your hands together for at least 15-20 seconds.
• A good way to make sure your children are scrubbing their hands for the right amount of time is to sing the Happy Birthday or Row, Row, Row Your Boat songs twice.
• Once you are finished scrubbing rinse and dry your hands.
• Hand sanitizers are a good temporary solution, but should not replace washing hands with soap and water.

If your child should develop any symptoms of the flu, such as feeling tired, cough, runny nose, sore throat and a temperature of 100 degrees or higher it is important that you keep him/her at home and contact your healthcare provider to obtain a medical evaluation.

Safe Routes to School

We encourage our students to walk and bike safely to school to get regular exercise, protect the environment, and build our Murch community. Murch is a model school in the DCSafe Routes to School program and has an active School Safety Patrol program. 

Safe Drop-off Procedures

There are many cars, parents, children, and other community members who are rushing to get to school, work, or other destinations in the morning. Please be patient. The Murch Student Safety Patrol works hard to help the morning drop-off run smoothly and safely.