Health Services
The health and social services department coordinates and provides health and social services to promote a healthy school community and maximize educational outcomes.
Too Sick for School?
Deciding when a child is too sick to go to school can be a difficult decision to make. When trying to decide, use these guidelines to help make the best decision.
- Fever: Keep a child home if they have a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Remember a child must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school.
- Sore throat: Be mindful of sore throats, especially those with a fever or swollen glands in the neck. If your child has strep throat, they can to return to school after 24 hours of appropriate treatment.
- Diarrhea: Three or more loose stools in a 24-hour period.
- Vomiting: Keep a child home if they've thrown up two or more times in a 24-hour period.
- Rash: Watch for rashes, especially those that cause a fever, itching or swelling.
- Chronic cough and/or green nose discharge: These conditions may be contagious and require treatment. Please visit your healthcare provider.
- Ear: Any ear pain with a fever should be evaluated by a physician. Untreated ear infections can cause permanent hearing loss.
- Eye Redness: Eyes that have matted or crust on the eyelids after sleep, mucus or pus drainage, redness, and pain should be evaluated by a health care professional for possible "pink eye" or conjunctivitis.
- Lice or Scabies: Your child is able to return to school after treatment.
- Chicken Pox: Children with Chicken Pox must remain home for five days after the beginning of blisters, or until all pox are scabbed over and dry.
- Other Symptoms: Unusually tired, pale, has a lack of appetite, is difficult to wake, confused or irritable. If symptoms persist, check with your doctor or the school nurse.
Latest Health Updates
NEW ASTHMA PROCEDURE CHANGE 2019
Starting in the 2019-20 school year, there will be a change in our asthma procedure to follow current guidelines that best serve our students and families. We have added a place on the Medication Authorization Form for your health care provider to designate the severity of your student's asthma: mild, moderate, or severe. Only students with severe asthma will need to have a Medication Authorization Form, medication, and emergency care plan completed prior to attending school or be excluded until it is complete. *Please talk with your health care provider about what type of asthma your student has and how this is documented on the form.
Latest Vaccine Updates
MMR Vaccine Exemption Law Change 2019
As of July 28, 2019, a new state law (House Bill 1638) removes the personal and philosophical option to exempt children from the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine required for school and child care attendance.
Children without a medical or religious exemption, current MMR vaccines or proof of immunity will need two doses of MMR vaccine to be allowed to start school on September 4, 2019.
Because MMR vaccine doses must be administered at least a month apart, your child may be entered into school if they have paperwork showing at least one dose of MMR vaccine by the beginning of the school year. This will place your child under conditional status for up to 30 days, at which point you will need to provide records showing your child received the second dose of vaccine.
You can find more information at the WA Department of Health exemption law change web page, including FAQs: www.doh.wa.gov/mmrexemption
Quick Links
Contact
Kim Dunn-Hawthorne
Director of Health & Social Services
Elaine Irons-Hunt
Lead Nurse
Lauren Thompson
Compliance Manager
Pamela Keller
Administrative Secretary
Phone
206-631-3011
Address
15675 Ambaum Blvd SW
Burien, WA 98166
Fax
206-631-3385