Health

Student having his temperature checked by the school nurse

Keeping students healthy and ready to learn is a shared priority between families and schools. This page provides important information and resources to support student wellness, including guidelines on when to keep your child home, chronic health conditions, required health forms, screenings, and immunizations. You’ll also find details about our medication policies, along with helpful resources on topics such as juuling and vaping. Together, these guidelines help create a safe and supportive learning environment for all students!

When to keep your student home from school

If your student has any of the follow health condition(s) they should stay home from school:

Oral temperature of 100 degrees F or higher.
Elevated (or possibly a normal) temperature combined with any of the following: a severe cold with yellow-green nasal discharge, excessive coughing, swollen glands, or skin rash.
Eyes inflamed with purulent discharge; if bacterial, may remain in school once any prescribed therapy is started.
Influenza: Students who are diagnosed with influenza ("the flu") should stay at home until fever-free for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medications AND overall symptoms are getting better before returning to school.
Drainage from ear(s)
Skin lesions (i.e. impetigo, ringworm and scabies) until under treatment with approved medication (consult school nurse for length of time)
Vomiting
Diarrhea (i.e. two or more loose stools)
Fainting, seizure, or general signs of listlessness
Questions about other communicable diseases such as fifth's disease, chickenpox, head lice, hand / foot / mouth syndrome, etc. should be directed to your child's school nurse.

Students will be re-admitted after being fever-free (without the use of fever-reducing medication) or symptom-free for 24 hours. Students with some conditions may return to school after being treated for 24 hours with an antibiotic. Call the school nurse for specific readmission guidelines.

Chronic Health Conditions

Please inform the school nurse of a chronic health condition and all emergency medications prescribed for your child. Each school has a registered nurse to provide case management and care for students with chronic (diabetes, asthma) and acute (concussion, broken bones) health conditions requiring treatment or accommodation during school.
In accordance with HB2008, injectable epinephrine (Epi-Pen) will be stored and available for use in the presence of potential anaphylaxis (life-threatening allergic reaction). Use of an Epi-Pen requires an immediate call to 911 and lawful custodians. Parents of students with a known history of potential for a serious allergic reaction are advised to visit with their physician regarding the need for student-specific medication. Refer to the Medication Policies section for procedures to follow in order to allow a student to self-carry emergency allergy or asthma medication.

Health Forms for New Students

Health Screenings

Hearing screenings are used to identify hearing loss and to make appropriate audiological, medical, and/or educational referral to maximize hearing and learning potential. Students to be screened annually are:

All preschoolers
Kindergarten through third grade, fifth, seventh, and 10th grades
Students new to the district
Students with hearing loss
Any student upon parent or teacher request

Vision screenings are utilized for early identification of students with potential vision problems. Students to be screened are:

All preschoolers
Kindergarten through third grade, fifth, seventh, and 10th grades
Students new to the district
Any student upon parent or teacher request

Other screenings that may occur at school include dental screening and height/weight screenings. Dental screenings help identify students at risk for dental problems. Height and weight screenings are used to identify students with potential growth problems. Questions about health screenings should be directed to the school nurse.

Vision and Hearing Screenings for Olathe Students Attending Non-District Schools

Recognizing that vision and hearing are crucial to learning and development, Olathe Public Schools is committed to serving Olathe students who attend a non-district school (for example, a parochial or private school) with vision and hearing screenings. If the student’s school cannot provide these screenings, the student’s parent/guardian may contact the Olathe Public School nearest to their home and request a time to come to the school for an annual vision and/or hearing screening performed by the school nurse.

There is no fee or cost to the family for the screenings, the only requirement is that the student lives within the Olathe Public Schools district boundary. If the student has special healthcare needs, the school nurse can help the parent determine whether a referral to a local ophthalmologist or audiologist is appropriate.

For questions regarding vision and hearing screenings, please contact your local Olathe Public School, or call our Health Services Department at 913-780-8231.

Juuling and Vaping

Juuling and Vaping: Get the Facts

Parents want what’s best for their children, but sometimes what they don’t know really can hurt the children. Below parents will find valuable information and resources to inform themselves about nicotine products that have been marketed as “safe” or “safer.” Discover the facts behind e-cigarettes / vaping / Juuling.

Facts from the American Academy of Pediatrics

E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among teens: in 2018, over 20 percent of high school students reported having used e-cigarettes in the last 30 days.
Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm brain development, which continues until about age 25.
Juuling supplies stronger concentrations of nicotine in a shorter time than traditional cigarettes.
Some youth report waking up and Juuling / vaping during the night because they are so addicted they can’t make it through the night without nicotine.
Youth are uniquely vulnerable to the nicotine in e-cigarettes because their brains are still developing.
The solution and vapor from e-cigarettes contain harmful chemicals, some of which cause cancer.
Youth who use e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke traditional cigarettes in the future.
E-cigarette solutions can poison children and adults through swallowing or skin contact.
A young child can be killed by very small amounts of nicotine: less than half a teaspoon. Because of this, liquid nicotine is required to be sold in childproof packaging.
Calls to poison control centers related to e-cigarettes have skyrocketed in the last five years.
Symptoms of nicotine poisoning include sweating, dizziness, vomiting, and increased heart rate.
If exposure to liquid nicotine occurs, call the local poison center at 1-800-222-1222!

Important Documents about Vaping

Medication Policies

Each school in the Olathe Public Schools has a full-time nurse on hand. School nurses provide valuable services, including emergency care, medication dispensation, and health screenings. School nurses solicit cooperation with parents to uphold the following policies and procedures, which are for the protection of each and every student in the school.

Elementary Students:

All elementary student medications—including prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements, vitamins, or essential oils—must be administered through the health room under the supervision of the school nurse. Medications must be sent to school in the original container labeled with the student’s name and dosing information based on age or weight.

Required Documentation for All Medications

THC and CBD Products Policy

Exceptions to the Medication Policy

Two exceptions exist to the standard policy:

a. Health Room Stock Medications

Parents may provide permission during online enrollment for occasional use of health room stock medications, including:

Acetaminophen
Ibuprofen
Tums
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
Saline eye drops
Cough drops
Topical medications (antibiotic ointment, calamine lotion)

No healthcare provider order is needed for occasional use of these medications. The nurse will attempt to contact the parent when administering them.

b. Emergency Medication: Student Self-Administration

Students in grades K–5 with asthma or allergies may carry and self-administer emergency medication. This requires:

Written parent and physician signatures
Name and purpose of medication
Prescribed dosage
Conditions for self-administration
Verification that the student has been instructed in proper use

Middle School and High School

The middle and high school medication policy encourages increased student responsibility and varies slightly from the elementary policy. All prescribed medications should be brought to the school nurse’s attention.

Controlled Substances

Medications for attention deficit disorder or mental health—often classified as controlled substances—must follow these rules:

An annual order from a healthcare provider (MD, DO, PA, APRN, or DDS) is required.
These medications must be dispensed from the health room by a school nurse or trained staff member.
Students may not carry or self-administer controlled substances.

Download Medication Authorization Form in PDF format —

English or Spanish

The physician’s signature may be on this form or submitted by fax. Doctor’s notes should be dated no earlier than May 1 prior to the applicable school year.

THC and CBD Product Policy

Self-Administration of Emergency Medication

Students in grades 6–12 with a diagnosis of asthma or severe allergies may carry and self-administer emergency medication, if:

A written parent and physician signature is on file
The form includes the medication’s name, purpose, dosage, and administration conditions
Verification confirms the student has been properly instructed in self-administration

Download the Authorization Form for Self – Administration of Emergency Asthma/Allergy Medication in PDF format

English PDF or Spanish PDF

Non-Controlled Prescription Medications

Over-the-Counter Medications

General Rules for All Medications

Immunization Requirements

If you have questions regarding immunization requirements for school attendance, please contact your school nurse.

Early Childhood/Preschool

If immunization record is not complete, proof of a minimum of one of each required immunization according to grade level must be presented prior to admission and then, according to our district policy, additional boosters received prior to:

the second Monday in October for students enrolled thru Aug. 31,
the second Monday of January for students enrolled Sept. 1 thru Nov. 30,
the second Monday of April for students enrolled Dec. 1 thru March 31.

DTaP
Polio
MMR
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Varicella
PCV (Pneumococcal)
HIB (Haemophilus Influenza Type B)

Elementary

the second Monday in October for students enrolled thru Aug. 31,
the second Monday of January for students enrolled Sept. 1 thru Nov. 30,
the second Monday of April for students enrolled Dec. 1 thru March 31.

DTaP
Polio
MMR
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Varicella

Secondary

the second Monday in October for students enrolled thru Aug. 31,
the second Monday of January for students enrolled Sept. 1 thru Nov. 30,
the second Monday of April for students enrolled Dec. 1 thru March 31.

DTaP
Polio
MMR
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Varicella
Tdap (required for seventh grade or higher)
Meningococcal A,C,W,Y (first dose at 11 years of age and less than 16, second dose at 16+ years of age)