From your Health Office...           

Hello! Welcome to Andover Public Schools. We are happy to have you here.  At Andover, our Health Room goal is to enhance your students' learning capabilities by keeping them healthy and functioning to their fullest potential in their classrooms. Health Services at USD 385 are a collaboration between the parents, the students, and your Health Office Team.

Be assured that we take your trust in us very seriously. Yearly we will require you to complete a health history for your student(s). Please be sure it is updated fully and that we have accurate phone numbers for you in case of an emergency. Health information is kept confidential, teachers are informed of a student’s medical conditions as necessary for your child’s care and safety (ex. diabetes, asthma, severe allergies, etc.). If you have any questions please feel free to contact the nurse or health clerk at your school.  

We require proof of completed immunizations and physicals as set forth by Kansas Statutes.  All students are required to present proof of current immunization status, signed by a physician. Another form is the Health Examination Report (physical) which also must be signed by a physician, but is only necessary for kindergarteners and students under the age of 9 who are entering Kansas schools for the first time. Children who transfer from other Kansas schools should provide a copy of the entrance exam they had for their former school. 

Prescription medications are given at school with physician authorization. Over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, cough drops and Advil require a parent’s signature and must come in unopened, labeled as appropriate for age, unexpired containers. You may get the forms for both from the Health Room or on our Andover Public Schools website. Daily medications are distributed to students who have a doctor’s order only as prescribed.

If you feel that your child is truly ill, please do not medicate him/her and send him/her to school. Students who have vomited or run a fever (above 100 degrees) should not return to school until they have experienced 24 hours symptom-free without the aid of medication. We appreciate if you let us know if your child has contracted a communicable disease such as chicken pox, strep throat, fifth’s disease, etc. You are welcome to call us or inform the school administrative assistant who will let us know.

If a child who comes to the office complaining of “illness” does not have a fever, we have them rest for 15 minutes. They are then sent back to class for a trial period.  When a student is ill enough to be sent to the health room a second time, we routinely call a parent. Any child with a fever of 100 degrees or above MUST be sent home. Parents need to sign the student out through the school office. All students seen in the nurse’s office must bring a pass from their teacher. Occasionally students will have to wait to be seen by health room staff while we assess emergencies.

Injuries are often seen in our office. Mild scrapes can be tended to by the students themselves. Injured areas that are nonspecific, mild, or do not exhibit severe symptoms are treated with cold packs, ice packs, and rest as needed. More severe injuries are provided care specific to the injury, ex. gel or ice packs, immobilization, neurological examinations, circulation checks, etc. Parents are notified. We always attempt to notify a parent when a student bumps their head (so that parents know to monitor closely that evening at home). Most parents tell us they prefer to be informed.  

We try to fit as much as possible into each day. We know that students of this age are more susceptible to flu, strep throat, chicken pox, various trips, slips and falls, along with varied viral infections. We try to schedule state-mandated and other programs (dental checks, vision and/or hearing checks, elementary heights and weights, secretion precautions lessons, etc.) to utilize as little time away from the classroom as possible.

If you have any questions or concerns please call or come and see us. If you call the office they can transfer you to our room. We are always open to concerns, suggestions and improvements!

Thank you for your attention and again welcome,

Your school nurses and health clerks

Kellie Bamford, District Lead Nurse