Welcome Back!!
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Welcome to the 2025 2026 school year! I am looking forward to a safe and healthy school year. I would like to outline some of the guidelines regarding the Nurse’s Office here at Hilltop. Please keep this letter for future reference.
Heat Related Concerns
Since school starts when we are still in the midst of very warm weather some precaution will be taken to protect the students from heat related illness. Students are encouraged to bring a water bottle to school. All staff have been in-serviced about recognizing the signs and symptoms of any heat related illness. Hilltop also has recess weather guidelines in place that may limit time outside and shift recess inside due to extreme conditions. Weather Guidelines
Medications
If your child needs to take medication during the school day, a Permission to Administer Medication form must be filled out for your child at the beginning of each school year. All medications must be supplied in the original or prescription container. All medications must be kept in the Health Office, including cough drops. Please do not send unlabeled medication in envelopes or ziplock bags. These guidelines are for the safety and protection of all the students. Medications should be brought in by an adult. If you need to make other arrangements please contact the nurse ahead of time.
Chronic Health Conditions
If your child has a chronic health condition that requires specific nurse intervention please notify the nurse as soon as possible. If they have a life threatening allergy, asthma, diabetes, or seizures you can find the Emergency Medical forms here. Health Services / Medical Forms
Inhalers and Nebulizers
If your child uses an inhaler, it should be kept in the Nurse Office. If you and your Physician feel your student is ready to self carry their inhaler. Please make sure the Physician fills out the self carry portion of the Asthma Action Plan. This year we will be able to administer nebulizer treatments again! We have a nebulizer machine in the office but should your child need a treatment at school you would need to supply the tubing and medication.
Over the Counter Medication
The Nurse office does not carry stock medication of Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Benadryl, Itch cream etc. If these are medications you are wanting your child to have at school you will need to fill out a Permission to Administer Medication form. All forms, even those for only over the counter medications will need a Physician signature.
Special Diet Request-Food Allergies and Religious/Personal Beliefs Food Restrictions
For any special diet requests, food allergies and personal belief food restrictions please fill out the following form for nutrition to mark the students nutrition account. Student Nutrition / Allergies & Special Diet Requests
Screenings
Vision, Hearing and Acanthosis screenings will be conducted through the nurse office. I will be screening Pre-k, Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade. In addition 5th Grade girls will be screened for scoliosis in October. Notices will be sent out prior to this screening.
PE Excuses
If your child needs to be excused from PE please email Nurse Mericle. Students needing to be excused from PE longer than three days need to have a note supplied by their physician. If your child is excused from PE his/her activities at recess will be restricted as well.
Splints/Crutches/Casts
Students with, but not limited to casts, splints, sutures, boots, crutches or wheelchairs, may not participate in physical education, recess, or school-sponsored sports/physical activities until such appliances or sutures are removed and/or written clearance is provided by the healthcare provider. Students wearing soft splints and soft braces for preventative purposes may participate in physical education with written permission from the healthcare provider. Students on crutches or scooters or in wheelchairs must have healthcare provider documentation outlining parameters for use.
Fever
A student will be sent home with a temperature of 100.0 degrees or above. A temperature check is always obtained on all students complaining of a headache, stomachache, nausea, vomiting, earache or sore throat, or if the student has had a recent fever or was given medication for fever at home. A student must be fever free (without using fever reducing medications) for 24 hours before returning to school.
Vomiting
A student will be sent home if they have vomited at school. A student is not always sent home for coughing and then vomiting (or drainage induced vomiting), unless it becomes a problem for the student in the classroom or the teacher. The nurse will assess the student and use their discretion. A student must wait 24 hours after vomiting has stopped to return to school.
Diarrhea
A student will be sent home if they have diarrhea and it indicates a contagious illness. A student must wait 24 hours after diarrhea has stopped to return to school.
Earache
A student complaining of an earache will be assessed by the nurse. This assessment may include visualization of the inner ear with an otoscope. The nurse will contact the parent when any signs and symptoms of possible infection are noted.
Pink Eye
The student will be sent home if there is any evidence of matting of the eye or eyes that suggests infection is present. This is a highly contagious infection, but is easily treatable with medicated eye drops. The student may return to school after seeing a physician and following the doctor’s prescription. Typically the student may return after 24 hours on prescription eye drops, and no matting remaining in the affected eye/eyes, but doctor’s orders will be followed. Eye drops can be given at school with a written note from the parent and in the original box with the student’s prescription label on it. If the eye is red, but no matting, the nurse may call or send a note home for the parent to be aware to observe for signs of pink eye.
Stomach Ache/Nausea-
The nurse will assess the student. The student may be offered crackers and water and/or mints. The student may be allowed to rest in the nurse’s office for 10-15 minutes. If no vomiting occurs, and no other significant findings are assessed by the nurse, the student will be sent back to class. If actual vomiting occurs, the student may be sent home as per the vomiting protocol.
Change of clothes
For Pre-K and Kindergarten (and any other students prone to accidents). Parents/guardians are asked to provide a total of two extra sets of clothing, including at least one additional pair of shoes and socks. One set is to be placed in a plastic zip lock bag labeled with the student’s information, room, and teacher to be stored on campus, preferably in the student’s cubby. The final set of clothing can travel to and from school in their backpack. I do keep some extra clothes in the Nurse’s Office but as of the end of last year I have an extremely limited supply. What is on hand is based on whatever has been donated so I can’t always guarantee the correct size is available.
Headache
The student will be assessed by the nurse and may be given water and/or crackers and may be allowed to rest for 10-15 minutes with an ice pack to their forehead. OTC medications (Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen) may be given if the consent has been signed for the student by the parent, the parent has provided OTC medications and at the nurse’s discretion.
Sore Throat
The student will be assessed by the nurse. If pus pockets, petechiae (bruising) or a red beefy appearance is noted in the throat, the student will be sent home. If a diagnosis of strep throat is made by a physician, the student can only return to school after they have been on antibiotics for 24 hours and they have also been fever free for 24 hours (without using fever reducing medications).
Splinters
Splinters will only be removed if they are protruding from the skin.
Lice
A student is sent home if an infestation if live lice or nits (eggs) are found. If sent home, the student must begin treatment for the lice immediately. The student will need to check in with the nurse before returning to the classroom and the nurse will use their discretion on a case by case basis.
Rashes
A student will be sent home for any unidentified rash or if the rash spreads. The nurse will use their discretion on a case by case basis.
Head Bump/Injury
A student will be assessed on an individual basis. The type and severity of the injury will determine treatment. A phone call may be made, or a note sent home depending on the need of the student.
Your child(ren) are important to me. I look forward to getting to know them and you this school year. If you have any questions or concerns I am always happy to talk with you. Please feel free to call 940-464-0564 x 51014 or stop by the office.
Emily Jewel Mericle, RN
Hilltop Elementary School Nurse