Welcome...

Hampton City Schools employs registered nurses to provide school-based health services. All are licensed in Virginia and many have bachelors or masters degrees in the field. Most of our schools have a full-time nurse. Moton Early Childhood Center has a part-time 25 hour a week nurse and Bridgeport Academy and The Performance Learning Center share one nurse. The nurse is responsible for providing care and serving as a medical resource and health consultant for students, parents and staff. The nurse reviews admission requirements, implements specialized health care plans, renders first aid, manages medications, provides in-service training, performs annual inspections, teaches health related topics, and serves as a vital link between parents and health care providers.

One Franklin Street Suite 363 Hampton, VA  23669
Phone:  727-2363 • FAX: 727-2364

“You cannot educate a child who is not healthy, and you cannot
keep a child healthy who is not educated.” -Jocelyn Elders

• Important Updates

Important Immunization Updates!

Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, a complete series of three doses
of Human Papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) is required for female students (COV §
32.1-46). The first dose shall be administered prior to entering the sixth
grade. Unlike any other required vaccine, after reviewing educational
materials approved by the Board of Health, the parent or guardian, at the
parent’s or guardian’s sole discretion, may elect for the child not to
receive the HPV vaccine.

Parents/guardians of rising sixth-grade girls are requested to provide the
school with documentation of HPV vaccine administration if the student
receives the immunization. If the parent/guardian opts not to have his/her
daughter vaccinated, the school division should not require
parents/guardians to sign a waiver form and no documentation is needed.
Sixth-grade girls who do not have proof of HPV vaccine administration should
not be excluded from school. These guidelines apply only to the HPV vaccine.

An HPV informational letter is sent home with all fifth-grade girls at the end of the school year. This letter has been approved by the Virginia Department of Health and includes information on Human Papillomavirus from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  (CDC)

To enter sixth grade, Virginia law requires written, official documentation be provided to the school nurse that your child has received a Tdap booster*.

It’s not too early for your child to get this booster. Many doctors’ offices stock a brand of Tdap that cannot be given to children until they have reached age 11.  However, the Hampton Health Department stocks a brand of Tdap that can be given at age 10.

Please contact your child’s physician, your military shot clinic, or the Hampton Health Department’s Immunization Clinic to schedule your child’s booster shot as soon as possible. Immunizations required for school entry are free at the Hampton Health Department.  The Immunization Clinic is located at 3130 Victoria Boulevard.  Their hours are 8 to 11:30 and 1 to 3:30 daily.

Taking care of this required booster shot now will alleviate confusion at the beginning of next school year, avoid long waits at doctors’ office or immunization clinics, and make a smoother transition into sixth grade for your child.  As soon as your child receives the shot, please bring the written documentation to the school nurse.  Your doctor’s office or immunization clinic will not forward this information to the school.

If you have further questions, please contact your child’s physician, the Hampton Health Department’s Immunization Clinic at 727-1172 ext. 21717, or your child’s school nurse.

*Virginia law requires all students to have a booster dose of Tdap (tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis) vaccine prior to entering sixth grade if more than five years have elapsed since the last dose of a tetanus toxoid containing vaccine.

Health Services Staff



Linda A. Lawrence,
RN, BSN, Coordinator                                   

 

 

Ann Fuhs,
Health Services Technician

 

HCS provides a full-time registered nurse at most schools. Moton Early Childhood Center has a part-time nurse of 25 hours.  Bridgeport and The Performance Learning Center share a nurse. We also have health clerks providing clerical and medical assistance to the nurses at our secondary schools and our Pre-K through eighth grade schools.

School Nurses (PDF)
Health Clerks (PDF)

The primary focus of school nursing is to be an advocate for children’s health and safety within the educational setting. The School Nurse’s duties are many and include:

  • Identifying, assessing, planning, intervening and evaluating the health needs of students with acute illness or injury
  • Screening for health factors impacting student education (vision, hearing, etc.)
  • Making referrals based on evaluation and need of the student (vision, hearing, Child Protective Services)
  • Administering medications
  • Training of medication administration to school personnel
  • Creating individualized health care plans for students with disabilities or health conditions that might interfere with the learning process
  • Providing health services for students with special health needs
  • Serving as a health expert to the child study and eligibility team
  • Educating parents, students and staff about chronic disease, health promotion, medications, and nutrition
  • Counseling students, parents, and staff regarding health concerns
  • Acting as a liaison between school, community, and health care providers
  • Participating on the crisis team
  • Identifying health and safety concerns in the school environment
  • Advising administrators and others about health trends
  • Serving on school committees
  • Following local, state, and federal policies
  • Maintaining confidential health records

The decision for medical care rests with the parents and parents are always contacted to take their child home or to the doctor as the need arises.  Transportation for students is also a parent responsibility. We hope that your child’s school experience will be happy and rewarding.  A portion of the school curriculum is devoted to teaching healthy behaviors, which hopefully will become life-long habits and help prevent the need for costly medical care.

General Information

If your child is on medication, it is recommended that arrangements be made with the prescribing doctor so that the medicine may be taken before or after school hours.  If this is not possible, please see the school nurse for specific School Board policies regarding medication.  It is the responsibility of the parent to provide refills as necessary throughout the school year and to pick up all unused medication at the end of the school year.  Medication not picked up will be discarded.
Please note the following:

  • Proper medication permission forms must be completed by the prescribing doctor.
  • Medication must be brought to the school clinic in a properly labeled, pharmacy issued bottle by a parent or guardian. If the parent or guardian is unable to bring the medication to the school or retrieve such medication by the last student day of the year, another adult may be designated by the parent/guardian via phone or in writing to transport the medication.  For this purpose, an adult is defined as someone 18 years of age or older.
  • Narcotic analgesics, such as Tylenol with Codeine or Vicodin, will not be given in school.

Tylenol Policy Change Letter
Medication Request Form SBO 23 pdf

Carrying Medication:
Students may not possess medication at any time during school hours or activities. Exceptions may be made for those students who require certain inhaled asthma medications, self-injected epinephrine, or other emergency medication.  Student possession of such emergency medications shall require an additional form signed by a physician, parent, student, and the school nurse.  Students who abuse this privilege may lose the ability to carry and self-administer medications.
Authorization to Carry and Self-Administer Medications SBO 28 pdf

Other Medication Forms:
Asthma Action Plan
Parent Part of Allergy Form
Life-Threatening Allergy Management Plan

 

FAMIS Health Insurance for Children
Healthy students are more successful in school and are absent less often.  Children without health insurance are more likely to miss school, have untreated health problems, and have less academic success.   
 
Health insurance is important to make sure that kids are able to get all the help they need to grow up healthy. Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS) is Virginia's program that helps families provide health insurance to their children. FAMIS covers all the medical care growing children need to avoid getting sick, plus the medical care that will help them get better if they do get sick or get hurt.

Services covered by FAMIS
Doctor visits
Well-baby checkups
Hospital visits
Vaccinations
Prescription medicine
Tests and X-rays
Dental care
Emergency care
Vision care
Mental health care

Cost to the Family
There are no enrollment costs or monthly premiums for FAMIS. For some services, the family will have to pay a co-payment. Most co-payments are just $2.00 or $5.00. Some services, like regular check-ups, are free.
For more information or to apply:
·        Talk to your school nurse or parent involvement facilitator
·        Contact The Peninsula Institute for Community Health for local help at (757) 952-0179
·        Contact your local department of human services (in Hampton, Department of Human Services, at 1320 La Salle Avenue, Hampton, VA 23669 or call (757) 727-1800 to request to be sent an application)
·        Contact FAMIS toll free at 1-866-87FAMIS (1-866-873-2647) or apply online at www.famis.org <http://www.famis.org/
For more information or to determine if your child is eligible for FAMIS go to www.famis.org <http://www.famis.org/> and click on FAMIS eligibility.

Physical & Immunization Requirements

Physical Requirements
             
Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten:  Prior to the first day of school, all preschool and pre-kindergarten students must present a health physical dated within 12 months of school entry.  The physical form MCH213 must have the appropriate section relevant to preschool and pre-kindergarten completed and signed by a licensed physician, physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner. 
Note:  A new physical will be required for kindergarten entry.
           
Kindergarten through fifth grade:  Students entering kindergarten or who are new to Virginia schools through grade five must present prior to school entry a record of a comprehensive physical examination.  The examination must have been done within the past 12 months and contain all state required components.  The school entrance physical form (MCH213) must be completed and signed by a licensed physician, physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner. 
           
Sixth through twelfth grade:  At this time, no physical is required for school entry.

Immunization Requirements
           
Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten: All state of Virginia four-year-old shots are required for a child to participate in a preschool/pre-kindergarten program.  Any student turning four after the first day of school must complete all required shots within 15 days after their 4th  birthday to remain in the program.
           
Kindergarten through twelfth grade:  All students must adhere to the state of Virginia’s Minimum Immunization Requirements for Entry into School:

Documentary proof shall be provided of adequate age appropriate immunization with the prescribed number of doses of vaccine indicated below for attendance at a public or private elementary, middle or secondary school, child care center, nursery school, family day care home or developmental center.  Vaccines must be administered in accordance with the harmonized schedule of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American Academy of Family Physicians and must be administered within spacing and age requirements.

Diphtheria, Tetanus, & Pertussis (DTaP, DTP, or Tdap) - A minimum of 4 doses. A child must have at least one dose of DTaP or DTP vaccine on or after the fourth birthday. If the child has received six doses of DTaP or DTP before the fourth birthday, additional doses are contraindicated. DT (Diphtheria, Tetanus) vaccine is required for children who are medically exempt from the pertussis containing vaccine (DTaP or DTP). Adult Td is required for children 7 years of age and older who do not meet the minimum requirements for tetanus and diphtheria.  Effective July 1, 2006, a booster dose of Tdap vaccine is required for all children entering the 6th grade, if at least five years have passed since the last dose of tetanus-containing vaccine. This immunization is also required for new students grades 7th through 11th.

Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (Hib) Vaccine - This vaccine is required ONLY for children up to 60 months of age. A primary series consists of either 2 or 3 doses (depending on the manufacturer) followed by a booster dose at age 12-15 months. However, the child’s current age and not the number of prior doses received govern the number of doses required. Unvaccinated children between the ages of 15 and 60 months are only required to have one dose of vaccine.

Hepatitis B Vaccine - A complete series of 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine is required for all children born on and after January I, 1994. However, the FDA has approved a 2-dose schedule ONLY for adolescents 11-15 years of age AND ONLY when the Merck Brand (RECOMBIVAX HB) Adult Formulation Hepatitis B Vaccine issued. The 2 RECOMBIVAX HB Adult doses must be separated by a minimum of 4 months. If the 3-dose hepatitis B vaccine schedule is used, there should be at least 1 month spacing between the 1st and 2nd doses and 4 months spacing between the 1st and 3rd doses.

Measles, Mumps, & Rubella (MMR) Vaccine - Measles, Mumps, & Rubella (MMR) Vaccine - A minimum of 2 measles, 2 mumps, and 1 rubella. (Most children receive 2 doses of each because the vaccine usually administered is the combination vaccine MMR). First dose must be administered at age 12 months or older. Second dose of vaccine must be administered prior to entering kindergarten but can be administered at any time after the minimum interval between dose 1 and dose 2.

Pneumococcal (PCV) Vaccine:  Two to four doses, dependent on age at first dose, of pneumococcal 7-valent conjugate vaccine for children less than two years of age.

Polio Vaccine - A minimum of 4 doses of polio vaccine. One dose must be administered on or after the fourth birthday.

Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine - Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine - All susceptible children born on and after January 1, 1997, shall be required to have one dose of chickenpox vaccine administered at age 12 months or older. Effective March 3, 2010, a second dose must be administered prior to entering kindergarten but can be administered at anytime after the minimum interval between dose 1 and dose 2.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)- state legislation requiring the HPV vaccine for female students entering the sixth grade will go into effect on October 1, 2008. The first dose shall be administered before the child enters sixth grade (Code of Virginia §32.1-46, subdivision 12). After reviewing educational material approved by the Board of Health, the parent or guardian at the parent’s or guardian’s sole discretion, may elect for the child not to receive the HPV vaccine. The letter went home with all 5th grade girls in the spring.  A copy of the letter can be found here.

Vaccines must be administered in accordance with the harmonized schedule of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American Academy of Family Physicians and must be administered within spacing and age requirements (available at:http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/child-schedule.htm)

Virginia School entrance requirements can also be located at:
http://www.vdh.state.va.us/epidemiology/immunization/requirements.htm


• Hurricane Supply Kit
• Hurricane: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety
• Family Emergency Preparedness Guide for Severe Weather Situations              
• Tornado Preparedness www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/index.shtm and www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/tornadoes/
• City of Hampton Emergency Management
• Pandemic Influenza Response Plan

If you or a loved one has medical and/or functional needs, NOW is the time to register them on the Regional Hampton Roads Medical Needs Registry www.hrspecialneeds.org   The sixteen participating localities are the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg, and the counties of Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, Southampton, Surry and York. IF YOU DON’T REGISTER FOR THE MEDICAL NEEDS REGISTRY, YOUR CITY EMERGENCY PLANNERS DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU WHEN PLANNING.



General Information

Mission Statement: 
School Health Advisory Board for Hampton City Schools will advise and advocate for a variety of school health issues.

Purpose:
The School Health Advisory Board for Hampton City Schools shall advise, support, and assist with the development of effective board practices and procedures, review relevant school health policies, foster family and community support and involvement in developing and implementing school health programs.  This will include health instruction, healthy school environment, school health services, school counseling, physical education, family life education, school services, and health promotion for staff members.



2011-2012 Members:
Louise Bartlett, Healthy Family Partnership
Pat Thompson, Curriculum Leader for Health and PE
Julia Bryant, Director of Food and Nutrition Services
Jackie Claiborne, Assistant Principal
Lora Howerton, Guidance Counselor
Eleanor Kimball, School Nurse
Linda Lawrence, Coordinator of Health Services
Nancy Lemis, Epidemiologist, Hampton Health Department
Karin Pace, Newport News/Hampton Community Service Board
Kathy Pfeiffer, School Nurse
Matt Scott, Pastor
Student Representative
Gloria Smith, Minority Health Coalition
June Sullivan, Horizons Unlimited
Jesse White, Curriculum Leader for Career and Technical Education
Cpl. Brian Snyder, Hampton Police
Susan Garrett, parent
Sharon Warren, Community Member, Retired Educator
Andrea Williams-Roots, Health and PE Teacher
Amy Jordan, Parent

 


2011-2012 Pre- Scheduled Meeting Dates (all these meetings are held in the 5th floor conference room at the Ruppert Sargent Building, One Franklin Street. Meetings are from 4-6PM).


      October 11, 2011
      December 13, 2011
      February 21, 2012
      May 15, 2012

2010-2011 Accomplishments:

  • Evaluated the Wellness Policy for comprehensiveness and strength by using the WellStat Tool
  • Reviewed the new Middle School Family Life Curriculum that had been created in house. 
  • Reviewed and made recommendations to revise the Medication Policy.  The policy revisions were taken to the Policy Review Committee and passed by the School Board effective June 2011.

2009-2010 Accomplishments:

  • The SHAB decided to develop a survey to capture data on snack and juice habits that include vending machines usage.  SHAB members submitted various questions that were then discussed and refined.  A total of 13 questions were included in the survey.  SHAB worked with Mrs. Wellbrock, Research Assistant for HCS,, to develop and distribute the survey.  The survey was sent out to employees via e-mail from March 23, 2010 to April 19, 2010.  Data was collected and sent out to the principals on May 20, 2010.   The effectiveness of sending the survey will not be able to be evaluated until next school year but will be determined by the number of schools that make changes in the type of foods and beverages they sell at school. Most importantly, the survey was used to bring recognition to the types of beverages and foods that are being sold in the vending machines and assessed what employees would like to purchase from the machines.  Majority of the employees would like to see healthier choices.
  • SHAB in conjunction with Human Resources put together an Employee Health Fair on May 3, 2010 at the SAC Building. It was very successful.
  • Recommended changes to the Family Life Policy
  • Reviewed FACS Curriculum “Baby Think it Over Program”. SHAB recommended continuing this program in all four high schools and suggested expanding it to the middle schools.

2008-09 Accomplishments:

  • Employee Wellness Brochure was created.
  • SHAB in conjunction with Human Resources put together an Employee Health Fair on May 5, 2009.
  • Hampton City Schools Pandemic Influenza Plan was presented to the School Board.
  • Recommend the use of two different videos by “Always” to be used as part of the fourth and fifth grade Family Life Curriculum. The videos were selected after receiving SOL information from the Curriculum Leader of Health and PE. The committee specifically wanted to make sure that the menstrual cycle was being addressed. The SHAB also recommended that all Family Life instruction for this age group be facilitated during the same week division wide.

2007-2008 Accomplishments:

  • To market the Wellness Policy to staff and parents.
  • Met with Hampton City Schools Public Information Officer and developed a marketing plan.
  • Designed and published a Wellness Brochure to be mailed to all Hampton City Schools families in August of 2008 in preparation for next school year.
  • Placed articles in the employee newsletter, Hampton Herald.
  • Appeared twice on channel 46 talk show with Public Information Officer, to provide information to the public regarding the Wellness Policy.
  • Reviewed and Revised 4th and 5th grade Family Life Curriculum. Still needs more review but made some important changes for this school year (07-08).
  • Approved Power Point that is now being used to teach the Family Life Curriculum to 4th and 5th grade that also includes menstruation.
  • Recommendation was made to improve accountability of teaching Family Life at this level. Now there is a new documentation process that was instituted to track opt-outs and actual teaching of Family Life at the Elementary Level.

SHAB Contact person:
Linda Lawrence RN, BSN
Coordinator of Health Services
Hampton City Schools 
One Franklin Street
Hampton,VA  23669
757 727-2363
llawrence@hampton.k12.va.us