Health Office

Saint Joseph Catholic School is staffed daily by a licensed school nurse and/or registered nurse. If illness or injury occurs during the school day, students should report to the Health Office. The nurse will provide an assessment and make a determination on whether the student is able to remain in school or be sent home. Parents and guardians will be called by the school nurse or a staff member when appropriate. In cases of emergency, 911 will be called. We are here to provide safe and compassionate care for your child, and our goal is to keep our school community healthy. 

Nurses Schedule:

• Monday: Nurse Deb - delink@stjosephwsp.org 
• Tuesday/Wednesday: Nurse Joey - jonilan@stjosephwsp.org 
• Thursday/Friday: Nurse Molly - molauth@stjosephwsp.org 

Health Office direct line: 651-789-8324

General guidelines for staying home from school:

• Fever of 100 or more, child can return to school after 24 hours fever free
• Vomiting or diarrhea, child can return to school 24 hours after last episode
• If your child has a cold with a cough, green and/or yellow nasal discharge, decreased appetite or interrupted sleep, we recommend checking with your family healthcare provider prior to sending them to school
• Red eyes with drainage or matter, please check with your family healthcare provider before sending your child to school
• Undiagnosed rash, please check with your family healthcare provider before sending your child to school.

 
Communicable Diseases

• Please notify the Health Office if your child has a communicable disease which includes influenza, COVID-19, RSV, varicella (chicken pox,) pink eye, lice, strep throat, impetigo, ringworm, measles, among others
• Varicella (chicken pox): students may not return to school until vesicles are dry and crusted; this usually takes 6-7 days from onset
• Head lice: students can return to school after treatment for head lice
• Pink eye: students can return 24 hours after treatment or clearance from healthcare provider
• Impetigo or scabies: students can return 24 hours after prescription treatment
• Strep throat: students should stay home from school until results of throat culture have been received and may return after 12 hours of antibiotic treatment
• Influenza/COVID-19: may return when fever free for 24 hours and symptoms are improving

Please use your best judgment and keep children home when they are sick.
Call the school attendance line to report illness: 651-457-3031

Medication Administration
Saint Joseph Catholic School follows the policy of ISD 197 for Administration of Medications to students. If any medication (either prescribed or over the counter) is needed to be given to a student during the school day, please send a labeled container with the medication along with a completed Medication Permission form signed by both the child’s healthcare provider and a parent or guardian. The Medication Permission form is good for one school year. A direct handoff of medication between parent and school staff is best practice. In the case of controlled medication, a handoff and count of medications must be done with nursing staff and parent or guardian. Children are not to carry medications with them during the school day.

Medication Permission Form

Health Concerns
Please contact the school nurse with any healthcare concerns so we can best meet your child’s needs during the school year.

• If your child has an allergy, please fill out an allergy action plan and send it to school along with any medications needed and a Medication Permission Form each school year. 

Allergy Action Plan

• If your child has asthma, please fill out an asthma action plan and send it to school along with any medications needed and a Medication Permission Form each school year.

Asthma Action Plan

Physical Examinations
It is strongly recommended that students have a physical examination on file when starting Kindergarten and upon entering 7th grade. If the student is participating in any school sport, it is a requirement to have a current physical exam on file every three years. 

Immunizations
Minnesota State Immunization Law (M.S. 121A.15) states that all students must be immunized or show proof of legal exemption to attend school. Failure to be immunized or provide documentation of immunization or exemption will prohibit the student from attending school.

Health Screenings
Saint Joseph Catholic School provides Vision Screening for grades 1, 3 and 5, Color Vision Screening for boys in grade 1 and Hearing Screenings for grades 1 and 3. If a student does not pass a screening, a rescreening will be done. If they do not pass the rescreen or if any concerns are present, the school nurse will send home a referral letter. Please contact the Health Office with any concerns regarding hearing or vision.