Anne-Marie Guerrier, BSN, RN, PEL-CSN, NCSN

MEET YOUR SCHOOL NURSE

My name is Anne Guerrier (students call me Nurse G) and I wanted to intruduce myself as your School Nurse at Holmes. I am a local Oak Parker and am excited to have the opportunity to serve the children and families of Holmes School. My goal as your School Nurse is to keep the students at Holmes School healthy, to the best of my ability, and in the classroom, so they can be effective learners. As your School Nurse, I will work with you to educate Holmes' students about the importance of a healthy and nutritious diet, exercise, illness and disease prevention, dental care, and hand washing.

STUDENTS WITH HEALTH CONDITIONS AND MEDICATION INFORMATION

It is extremely important that I am made aware of any and all health concerns that your child may have. If this information was not given, updated during registration, or changes during the school year; please contact me at as soon as possible. I must know about new diagnoses, hospitalizations, injuries, medications, etc.  Students spend many hours at Holmes and being aware of these health concerns will help us keep your child safe and healthy. 

If your child has been diagnosed with a health condition, such as ASTHMA, FOOD ALLERGIES, DIABETES or SEIZURES, please provide a current Emergency Action Plan (forms are linked) along with the District 97 Medication Authorization Form.  ALL FORMS MUST BE RENEWED AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY SCHOOL YEAR.

All medications, including over-the-counter medication (Advil, Tylenol, Benadryl, cough medication, etc.), require a completed Medication Authorization Form by your licensed physician stating the name of the medication, diagnosis, dose, time to dispense, how often to administer and any side effects. 

WHEN TO KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL

Regular and consistent attendance is imperative for your child to succeed in school however, do not send your child to school if they are not feeling well and/or presenting with the following symptoms.  In order for your child to be able to learn and to control communicable diseases in the school, it is important to keep your child home for the following reasons:

• A temperature of 100°F (37.7°C) degrees or higher
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing 
• Constant “runny” nose - especially with yellow or green mucus
• Rashes or any scratching for unknown reasons
• Watery, red, itchy eyes with drainage
• Has symptoms that keep him or her from participating in school, such as:
  • Very tired or lack of appetite
  • Cough that he or she cannot control, sneezing often
  • Headache, body aches, or earache
  • Sore Throat—a minor sore throat is ok for school, but a severe sore throat could be strep throat, even if there is no fever. Other symptoms of strep throat in children are headache, stomach upset, or rash. Call your doctor if your child has these symptoms.

If your child comes to school with any of the above symptoms, they will be sent home from school. 

HABITS TO SUPPORT STAYING HEALTHY

Overall good health is essential for regular attendance and success in school. The following is a brief list of basic practices that can support your child's good health:

GOOD HAND WASHING with soap and water for at least 20 seconds several times throughout the day. The D97 Handwashing guidelines can be found on: http://www.op97.org/health-services/documents/1HandHygiene.pdf.

• COVER cough or sneezes with elbow and wash hands after blowing nose.
• CLEAN and disinfect surfaces routinely.
• EAT a nutritious breakfast every day.
• SLEEP at least 9-10 hours every night.
• DO NOT share food, utensils or cups/straws with friends.
• HYDRATED:  drinking a minimum of 8 glasses of water daily; students should carry a water bottle and refill it as the day goes along.

FOOD ALLERGIES

District 97 is committed to creating a positive learning environment for all students that is safe, equitable, inclusive and focused on the whole child. To that end, the number of children who have food allergies is increasing. Approximately 10% to 15% of our students have a food allergy. The most common allergen is nuts of any kind.

Every food-allergic reaction has the possibility of turning into a life-threatening reaction within minutes. With this in mind, we created a Food Allergy Management Program for the district that will help preserve and protect the health and safety of our students. This program includes the following guidelines/requirements.

Holmes Snack Policy:  At Holmes our classroom snacks are only fresh fruits or vegetables, applesauce, fruit/vegetable squeeze pouches, and seaweed (please check to ensure no sesame) so please do not send any other types of food with your child for their classroom snack.

Nuts and nut products are not allowed in any of our schools. This includes products that are labeled “processed in a facility that shares equipment with nut products.” The shift to include lunch was necessary as many students may be eating their lunch in spaces other than the lunchroom.

• There is NO food sharing between students at any time during school.
• There is NO eating or drinking on school buses.
• Please read all packaging to ensure the item is not produced on equipment shared with nuts.

PLEASE NOTE: If a student in your child’s classroom is allergic to other food products that must be restricted, your child’s teacher will let you know what those products are and what steps, if any, need to be taken in conjunction with the district’s Food Allergy Management Program.

School Physical, Eye, and Dental Examination Forms

All children in the State of Illinois are required by law to have a health examination and provide proof of having received the required immunizations.  Students enrolling in the following grades must provide a completed Certificate of Child Health Examination and Immunization record at the start of the school year:

• Preschool (PKP/Early Childhood)*
• Kindergarten*
• 6th Grade
• Students new to the State of Illinois

*For Preschool (PKP and Early Childhood programs) and Kindergarten students: lead screening is a required part of the health examination.

Immunization requirements for the State of Illinois.

The school physical examination must be dated within one year prior to the first day of school.  Parents must complete and sign the Health History section on the examination form and your child's physician must complete all of the physical examination requirements.   

It is recommended that you keep a copy of your child's examination at home for your records. 

Families who object to their child having health examinations or immunizations are required to complete the Illinois Certificate of Religious Exemption which must be signed by the child's parent or legal guardian AND the child's health care provider responsible for performing the child's health examination. 

Eye Examination

Illinois law requires that a professional eye exam and Eye Examination Report be completed by an optometrist or a physician who provides complete eye examinations be submitted to the school nurse no later than October 15 of the year the child is first enrolled in kindergarten or is enrolled for the first time in a State of Illinois school.  The examination must be completed within one year prior to October 15th of the year the child enters an Illinois school. If you are unable to provide proof of an eye examination, please return the Eye Exam Waiver Form to the school nurse.

All children enrolling in kindergarten in a public, private, or parochial school and any student  enrolling for the first time in a public, private, or parochial school shall have an eye examination.  Each of these children shall  present  proof of having been examined by a physician who performs eye examinations or an optometrist within the previous year (within one year prior to the date of entering school), in accordance with Section 27-8.1(1.10) of the School Code and this Part  before October 15 of the school year.  (Section 27-8.1(1.10) of the School Code)

Dental Examination 

All children in the State of Illinois in kindergarten, 2nd, 6th, and 9th grade are required to have an oral health examination.  Each child is required to submit a Proof of Dental Examination Form by a dentist prior to May 15 of the school year and the examination must have been completed within 18 months prior to the May 15th deadline. If you are unable to provide proof of a dental examination, please return the Dental Exam Waiver Form to the school nurse.

Vision and Hearing Screenings

Vision and hearing screenings are provided annually to students in mandated grade levels as designated by the State of Illinois through the Illinois Department of Public Health.  Please note that Vision screenings are not a substitute for a complete eye exam and vision examination by an eye doctor.  Your child is not required to undergo the vision screening if an optometrist or ophthalmologist has completed and signed a report indicating that an eye examination has been administered within the previous 12 months.  More informaton on Vision and Hearing screening can be found in the appropriate tab on the left of this page.

VISION SCREENINGS

• Preschool, Kindergarten, 2nd, and 8th grades
• Special Education students (this includes students in speech)
• Transfer students from out of state
• Teacher and/or parent requests

HEARING SCREENINGS

• Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades
• Special Education students (this includes students in speech)
• Transfer students from out of state
• Teacher and/or parent requests