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	I’m Denise Brown and this is my second year as the school nurse at Mathews. Before I came to Mathews Elementary, I worked in a Pediatric doctor’s office for 16 years. I received my nursing degree from Lander College in 1985. I’m married and have 3 children. Justin - 18 who is a freshman at USC Upstate, Tyler – 16, and Kristin – 13 who attend school in Abbeville. My primary concern is the overall health of the students at Mathews and helping them get the most of their classroom time. Here in the Health Room, I take care of everything from abrasions to illnesses. At the beginning of the year, I did the annual Health screening which includes vision and hearing. Notes were sent home with students about their results and requested referral if necessary. I also teach about health and prevention issues during the year. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me at 941-5680 or come by the Health Room.
MEDICATIONS  When medications need to be given at school, there is a form for both OTC and prescription medications. Parent/Legal guardian should bring the medication in so that the appropriate form can be filled out and signed. This form gives the school permission to give the medication. Students are not supposed to have any medications with them at any time. All medications are to be kept in the health room. When students who take routine medications here at school are running low, I will send home reminder notes. Please send a refill of your child’s medication as soon as you can, so that your child does not run out of his/her medication. About a week or two before the end of school, I will home notes with the students regarding their medications. Any medications left over will have to be picked up by a parent/guardian. Permission form for Prescription Medication Permission form for Over-the-Counter Medication
HEAD LICE The policy for managing head lice is: Students in grades 1 through 12 who are found to have head lice should be excluded from school at the end of the school day until after their first treatment with a head lice removal product. Students in kindergarten and students who are considered medically fragile regardless of grade level should be sent home as soon as head lice are discovered until after their first treatment with a head lice removal product. The primary way head lice is passed from student to student is direct contact – meaning: head – to – head contact which is the most common. Also, by sharing hair brushes/combs, helmets, bed linens, pillows, stuffed animals, earphones. Students may return to school the morning after a treatment with a head lice removal product.
HEALTH ROOM HAPPENNGS
5^th Grade Hygiene Program It’s time once again to present the 5^th grade hygiene program. This year the program will be on May 2, 2008. Parents/guardians, you should be getting letters home around April 23^rd or 24^th telling you about the program. The program includes a short video, questions and answers, and the students will receive a pack with a few items. We ask the students not to open the pack until they get home. The boys will once again be with Mr. Steelmon and the girls with me and we will both have an assistant in the room. If you do not want your child to participate, please sign the form at the bottom and return to your child’s teacher by May 2, 2008. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at 941-5680 or stop by the Health Room.