The purpose of the School Health Program is to create an environment of wellness that supports student learning. Please help us by filling out a health treatment plan if your child has a chronic illness or requires special medical treatments.
Clinic News
By now, you probably know that it is recommended that everyone 6 months of age or older receive a flu vaccination each year. While it's best to get your flu shot as soon as it is available (sometimes as early as August)! Flu season usually peaks in January or February and continues through May. Getting a flu shot is not only the single best way to protect yourself from getting sick, it's also the best way to prevent the spread of flu to others.
Help us make Virginia the healthiest state in the nation by getting a flu shot and encouraging your friends and family to get one as well.
It is important to get a flu shot even if you had one last year. Your immune protection from vaccination declines over time, so an annual vaccination is needed to get the best protection against the flu.
The flu is a serious disease, especially for certain age groups and people with certain chronic health conditions, such as:
- Children younger than five, but especially younger than two years old
- Adults 65 years of age or older
- Women who are pregnant or just had a baby
- People with chronic health conditions
To find out where to get a flu shot in your area, contact your local health department or use the vaccine finder. And visit our Miss The Flu page for more information on how to miss the flu, not your life!
Important Health Information And Forms:
As we are entering the cold and flu season, this is a reminder of the best health practices to decrease the spread and transmission of viruses in PWCS schools.
Please remember to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw used tissues in the trash. If you don't have a tissue, cough, or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands. Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, dry hands with a paper towel, and use the paper towel to turn off the faucet. If soap and water are not available, hand sanitizers may also be used to preform hand hygiene. Remember to stay home when you’re sick until at least 24 hours without a fever or the use of fever reducing medicine. Together we can help stop the spread of germs that may make you and others ill.
PWCS COVID Mitigation FAQs
PWCS Student Health Services Main Page
PWCS Vaccine Requirements
School Entrance Health Form
Medication Administration in School - Policy
Medication Administration Authorization
Management of Asthma in the School Setting - Policy and Documents
Asthma Action Plan
Allergic Reaction Policy and Documents
Allergy Action Plan
Diabetes Management in School - Policy and Documents
Virginia Diabetes Medical Management Plan
Management of Seizures in School - Policy
Seizure Action Plan
REASONS YOUR CHILD SHOULD STAY HOME FROM SCHOOL OR MAY BE SENT HOME BY THE NURSE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY:
- Fever of 100.4º F and over - exclude until student has been fever-freewithout the use of fever reducing medications (like Tylenol or Motrin) for at least 24 hours.
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye), strep infections, ringworm, and impetigo are all infections and must be treated with medication for a minimum of 24 hours before returning to school. Please do not allow affected students back before this time so that other students are not infected unnecessarily.
- Rash of unknown origin with fever and/or behavioral changes, until a primary care provider has determined that the illness is not a communicable disease.
- Head injury.
- Severe coughing or difficulty breathing.
- Colds - a child with thick or constant nasal discharge should remain home.
- Diarrhea - sudden increase in frequency to more than three loose/watery stools per day. Exclude until student has been symptom free for at least 24 hours.
- Vomiting - unless the vomiting is determined to be caused by a diagnosed non-communicable/non-infectious condition (such as dysmenorrhea, dysphagia, etc.).
- Abdominal pain that continues for more that two hours or intermittent abdominal pain associated with fever or other signs or symptoms.
- Stiff neck associated with fever and/or a recent injury.
- Inadequate immunizations with known disease outbreak in school.
- Refer to the Virginia Department of Health's "Communicable Disease Reference Chart for School Personnel" for other exclusions/information.
- Refer to PWCS Regulation 757-1
All students should have up-to-date parent/guardian contact information and three local emergency contacts on file with the school in the event that contact needs to be made due to a student health emergency.
Department Links
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
FLU UPDATES
Prince William Health District
Department Contacts
Kim Rabago
Business: 703-970-9188
Email: [email protected]