Welcome to the Waverly Elementary health office information page. The health office is staffed by registered nurses, Mrs. Rickwood and Mrs. Kopacz who also staff Clarks Summit Elementary (CSE) Health Office.
Health Office Staff
Certified School Nurse
Claire Rickwood MSN, BSN, RN, CSN. CPR Certified.
Member of the National Association of School Nurses and Pennsylvania School Nurses and Practitioners.
Assistant Nurse
Kerri Kopacz MS, RN, CPN. CPR Certified.
Schedule:
Monday/Wednesday/Friday – Mrs. Rickwood is @ CSE 8:20 am- 3:35 pm
Tuesday/Thursday – Mrs. Rickwood is @ Waverly 8:20 am-3:35 pm
Monday/Wednesday/Friday - Mrs. Kopacz is @ Waverly 8:45 am – 3 pm
Tuesday/Thursday – Mrs. Kopacz is @ CSE 8:20 am – 3:05 pm
We can be contacted daily by telephone or email.
- Telephone -570-585-6304 (Waverly) or 570-585-7304 (CSE)
- Email - Mrs. Rickwood – [email protected]
- Email - Mrs. Kopacz –[email protected]
What do your school nurses do?
We care for your children daily if they become ill or are injured; administer any physician-prescribed medications if needed in school and provide emergency care if required. We support any students who may have a health condition, helping the student, teacher, and family plan for and manage that health condition in school. We also help your child with any temporary conditions while in school (such as a fracture), under the guidance of their doctor. We complete annual health screenings as mandated by the Pennsylvania Dept. of Health and school health law and maintain your child’s school health record while they are a student here at Abington Heights. We provide health education and information when required and help guide our school staff with health-related issues.
What do we need from you?
Registration Paperwork
When your child registers for elementary school (K-4 th grade) we require:
1. A complete, up-to-date copy of their immunization record from their doctor
2. A copy of a recent physical exam with any parent information completed, with all doctor information
complete, signed, and dated, with the office stamp if possible.
3. A copy of a recent dental exam, signed and dated by the dentist. A dental form is required when
starting school and again in 3rd grade.
4. A completed Emergency Contact Card (an update is required each year)
5. An up-to-date Health History
Kindergarten forms should be dated within a year of starting school. If you have any immunization questions, or your child is not fully immunized before starting school, please contact Mrs. Rickwood as soon as possible.
Link to Abington Heights Health service page with printable medical forms, including health history, and physical and dental forms. https://www.ahsd.org/departments/health_services
Link to Pennsylvania school Immunization requirements – K -12th grade.
https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/Documents/School%20Health/SIR8.pdf
We need Communication!
Please communicate your child’s health needs to the school nurse, so if needed, we can help your child in school. Please contact us particularly if your child needs medication in school, has a permanent or temporary health condition, has a question about your child’s health screenings, or has a specific health-related question. Also please let us know if your child is having any social or emotional issues that may cause them to visit the health office.
Medications in School
Medication should be given at home but can be administered during school hours if required. Please note that medication cannot be administered in school unless prescribed by a doctor or dentist. We require a medication form to be submitted to school for each medication, completed by the parent AND the child’s doctor/dentist. This includes cough drops, which can be a choking hazard and should not be sent to school in backpacks. Please contact the nurse if your child will require medication in school, either daily, as needed, or for a possible emergency.
Medication must be dropped off by the parent and is not permitted to be transported by the student. Medication forms can be printed from the Abington Heights website (link above) or can be sent home with your student from the health office. Our district medication policy can also be accessed via this link. Specific medication forms are available for students who have specific health conditions such as severe food allergies or asthma. Medication forms need to be renewed every year. Please contact the health office with any questions.
Student Health Conditions
Please contact the nurse if your child has any health concerns that the school nurse should know about, permanent or temporary. All health-related information is treated confidentially and is shared only as necessary for the health and safety of your child. Complex and chronic health conditions can be managed in school with planning and communication between the school nurse, parent, teacher, and other school staff, following the guidance of your child’s doctor. Our goal is to minimize the impact the condition may have on the student’s school day. If your child has a temporary condition such as an orthopedic injury or a concussion, which will restrict their activity or require help in school, contact the nurse before your child returns to school and ensure we have written guidance from the doctor on any limitations.
Health Screenings
Vision, hearing and growth screenings are completed annually by the elementary school nurses with all grades, K 4, except for 4th grade who are screened for vision and growth only. You will receive your child’s BMI result later each school year. We will contact you about the vision and hearing screenings only if your child has difficulties and requires a referral for a specialist exam with an eye doctor or an audiologist.
Staying Healthy
To keep our school students healthy, please help your child get 9-12 hours of sleep each night as recommended by the CDC. Hand washing is another healthy habit that your child should be encouraged to do frequently during the day. Washing your hands is easy, and it's one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs, especially before eating or after using the bathroom, as recommended by the CDD. Teaching your child how to cover coughs and sneezes, with a tissue or their sleeve helps avoid spreading illness.
Encourage your child to drink more water, (rather than soda). Send them to school each day with a water bottle which they can refill from our water bottle stations. Help them make healthy food choices and be active each day. All of these healthy habits will help your child feel better and minimize illness. If your child is sick, and you are unsure if you should send them to school, use the following guidance, call their doctor or check in with the school nurse.
*Keep your child home if they have a fever, or had a fever in the last 24 hours
*Keep your child home if they have had nausea and vomiting or have had diarrhea
*Keep your child home if they have a persistent cough
*Keep your child home if you suspect they have pink eye, with redness and/or purulent discharge
*Keep your child home if they have an undiagnosed rash
*Keep your child home if they were just diagnosed with strep throat and started antibiotics less than 24 hours
ago
The list is not exhaustive. You know your kids best. A child who has the sniffles but hasn't slowed down at home is likely well enough for the classroom. But one who coughed all night and had a hard time getting up in the morning might need to take it easy at home.
Health and health promotion links for families
https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about_sleep/how_much_sleep.html
https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html
https://www.chop.edu/news/stay-or-go-when-keep-your-child-home-school
https://healthychildren.org/English/Pages/default.aspx
https://www.myplate.gov/
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/index.html
Immunization Link
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/index.html
Poison Control Link
https://www.poison.org/