Nurse's Corner

Schexnayder, Jeanie

LVN
JeanieSchexnayder@vistausd.org
Ext. 64013

Hello Rancho Minerva families! 
In an effort to prevent COVID-19 community outbreaks, we are required to follow SDCHHS guidelines for in-person learning. If your student has any of the following symptoms, tests positive for COVID-19, has been in contact with a COVID-19 positive person, or is presumed positive by a doctor, please keep your student home and notify the health office and attendance immediately at 760-631-4500 xt 64013 for further instructions.
FEVER/COVID-19 SYMPTOM DECISION TREE

 SYMPTOMS:

  • Fever with or without chills (temperature >100.0that does not resolve within 30 minutes without medication)
  • Cough, shortness of breath
  • Nasal congestion
  • Sore throat
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
  • Fatigue
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Headache
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Poor appetite

 

SCHOLAR TO STAY HOME UNTIL:

  1. COVID-19 TEST NEGATIVE(Not antibody or antigen test. Must be a PCR COVID viral test)
    • May return 24 hours AFTER symptoms resolve
  2.  COVID-19 TEST POSITIVE or symptoms only
  • May return after 10 days only IF symptoms are improving, and there has been 24 hours without a fever, without the use of medication.
  • If a household member tests positive for COVID-19, the scholar must stay home for 10-24 days, regardless if they have symptoms or not. Please call the health office immediately to determine the correct return date for your child.      

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HEALTH TIP: We recommend having your child eat a nutritional breakfast in the morning before school, and obtain at least 8-9 hours of sleep. Be sure to turn off all electronic devices an hour before bedtime. This is will reduce the amount of students being sent home for 10 days for symptoms that are related to lack of sleep or hunger. All Rancho Minerva scholars receive free lunch and breakfast! Hooray!

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IMMUNIZATIONS:
 
Even if your scholar is enrolled in Virtual Learning, all students must be current with their immunizations before they can attend school. Important milestones include when students enter TK/K and 7th grade, or attend a new school. There are no changes to the immunization requirements for the 2020-21 school year.  Personal Belief Exemptions filed before 2016 expire at 7th grade. Medical waivers need to be renewed every year, unless permanent. A list of required vaccinations to attend school can be found below; a list of lifetime vaccinations is available at https://www.shotsforschool.org/.

Children entering TK/Kindergarten through 12th Grade must have:

  • 4 Polio (3 doses meet requirement if at least one was given on or after the 4th birthday);
  • 5 DTaP (4 doses meet requirement if at least one was given on or after the 4th birthday; 3 doses meet requirement if at least one was given on or after the 7th birthday);
  • 3 Hep B;
  • 2 MMR (both doses on or after 1st birthday);
  • 2 Varicella.

Children entering grades 7-12 must have:

  • All of the above;
  • 1 Tdap booster shot given on or after the 7th birthday.

During this time, we also encourage your child to get a flu vaccination. 

We understand there may be concern among parents about accessing health care during the pandemic, but it is important that our children stay on schedule for vaccinations to avoid an outbreak of preventable diseases like mumps or whooping cough.

If you have concerns about obtaining the required immunizations, please reach out to your primary care physician. Most providers continue to offer well-check and vaccination appointments, and are taking extra safety and hygiene precautions. 

If you have any questions about vaccination requirements, please contact us at 760-631-4500 ext. 64013, or send a question to info@shotsforschool.org. 

Sincerely, 

Jeanie Schexnayder, LVN

Rancho Minerva Middle School Site Nurse

WHAT IS A SCHOOL NURSE?

A school nurse is a Registered Nurse who has at least a baccalaureate degree and has a minimum of an additional year of post graduate education related to school health issues and is credentialed by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

A school nurse is also a certified audiometrist. School nurses sometimes have to be shared amongst school sites, therefore please direct initial and general questions,concerns, comments to the school's health tech.

Services Offered: . Hearing screening . Vision Screening . Scoliosis screening . Response to emergencies and appropriate follow up . Health counseling . Health Consultant with development of IEP plan . Referrals given to clinics and private physicians . Health technician training and supervision . Support employee wellness . Coordinate with parents and community agencies


Click on the link below to be directed to district page for more detailed information:

https://www.vistausd.org/bandaidsss

Shared with us from the SDCOE lead Nurse Corinne McCarthy

Week 1 (May 1 – 7): Mental Health Month 2023 

“Look Around, Look Within” 

Welcome to May Mental Health Month 2023! 

This month, we have a special focus on getting the word out about what you can do to take action for your own mental health as well as for everyone in your school community. Read this brief article for an idea of what to expect this May as we take some time over the next few weeks to consider how our surroundings impact our mental health. 

In the coming weeks you are encouraged to “look around” and “look within”. We know the world around us affects our mental state because our surroundings determine if, how, and when our needs are met. We are impacted by our housing situations, our home environments, our neighborhoods and towns, and our natural surroundings. While we can’t change everything, this month’s resources will focus on areas where we have agency to change some elements of the spaces we occupy to protect our well-being. Start by broadcasting these  Feel Better Bops and bring some mental health rest, recuperation, and rejoicing into your day! 

Life can be challenging, but every day shouldn’t feel hard or out of your control. If it does, one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition is to take a  mental health screening. Your screening results can be used to start a conversation with your primary care provider, a trusted friend, and/or a family member. You may also use your results to consider  mental health support options or to create a  mental wellness plan for addressing your needs. 

This week, join other school communities across the nation by completing the  Take Action for Mental Health Pledge. With this pledge, we commit to ourselves and others around us to make mental health a priority and do what we can to support each other. After you take the pledge, check out the  SDCOE Staff Wellness Infographic or the May Mental Health Month calendar of activities  and  wellness recipes to try a new activity each day! 

Important Dates This Week: 

*See more May training opportunities! 

Crisis Line: 

Don’t wait until you’re in a crisis situation to get help. Keep this number on hand: 

Call, text or chat to receive free and confidential support. Access a trained counselor 24/7 who will listen, understand your problems, provide support, and connect you to resources as needed. 

Social Media: 

Support mental health awareness and connect with one another on  social media throughout the month of May by using the hashtags #LookAroundLookWithin, #LookAround, #LookWithin, and #MentalHealthMonth

 Any scholar with symptoms of COVID-19 will be required to stay at home for a minimum of 10 days, unless a negative COVID-19 test is provided
IF A SCHOLAR IS ILL WITH ANY SYMPTOM OF COVID-19, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PICK THEM UP FROM SCHOOL IMMEDIATELY. NO EXCEPTIONS. 
Scholars with COVID-19 symptoms will be placed in an isolation room until parent/guardian or an emergency contact arrives. We recommend making arrangements now for pick-ups and extended absences, as this situation will inevitably arise for most.

COVID Testing Protocol Update for Symptomatic Scholars (04/11/2022)

Based on recent updates on the COVID Decision Tree for K-12 Schools, we are currently accepting PCR lab and antigen home tests as proof of negative results for symptomatic scholars.  If you elect to test your child with a home test, you must submit a total of two home tests to our Health Office prior to your student's return to jeanieschexnayder@vistausd.org . DO NOT BRING THE TESTS TO SCHOOL. Please email a picture of the first antigen home test to our Health Office 15 minutes after collection, with your students first and last name, date, and time of collection written on the actual test cassette.The second test must be collected the next day, at least 12 hours after the first test was administered.  Please be sure to collect the sample within that time frame. Email a picture of the second antigen home test to our health office with the scholar’s full name, collection date, and time written on the test cassette 15 minutes after collection. If results are not submitted with the necessary information, a confirmatory PCR test will be required.

***Free PCR tests are still being offered to families at our Vista testing sites. Results are often received in 24 hours, and are still the most accurate and preferred method for testing. ***

Please feel free to contact the health office if you have any additional questions. 


Best Regards,

Jeanie Schexnayder, LVN 

760-631/4500 xt 64013



   DAY ONE Include:

 DAY ONE- WRITE ON TEST CASSETTE EACH DAY :
1) First and Last Name

2)Date Test was taken 
3) Time test was taken

4) E-mail photo immediately after taking  

                                                                                    


DAY TWO  :
1) First and Last Name

2) Date
3) Time test was taken

4)Email photo immediately. DO NOT bring tests to school. Tests must be submitted before your child arrives.


COVID TESTING SITES 

(locations/days/times subject to change)

**Call 211 or visit 211.org for  testing sites in the county.