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Integrated Day Charter School

Educating confident, socially responsible citizens and lifelong learners

Health Services

WELCOME TO MRS. RANKOWITZ' NURSE'S CORNER!

Check back often for the most up to date information.

  • Per the IDCS Parent handbook:

    • Illness: Exempted by the IDCS school nurse due to COVID, fever, vomiting, or other illness. ( Please call me 860-892-1900 ext. 431)
    • Health concerns such as illnesses or doctor’s appointments: A note from a medical professional is required for absence to be considered excused. A physician’s note is always required if the student is with illness more than five days in a row. If your child is out on two or more days preceding a weekend and does not return to school on Monday, the weekend days are counted in the five-day period. If your child’s physician will not examine your child or provide a note for return to school, please call our school nurse, Peggy Rankowitz, R.N. at (860) 892-1900 x 431 to arrange clearance for your child’s return to school. 

  • Please remember safe closed toe shoes/ or sneakers for physical education and recess. Remember crocs, slides, slippers and flip flops are not recommended safe shoes for school. Physical education classes require that students are wearing safe shoes such as sneakers or closed toe shoes.

Don't forget to get your flu vaccine.  All pre kindergarten students are required to have a flu vaccine by December 31st in order to attend school.  Proof of vaccination can be sent in with your student, emailed to peggyr@idcs.org or faxed to 860-892-1900.

Vision, Auditory, and Scoliosis Screenings in schools are mandated by Connecticut General Statutes.  See below for more information.

Health Screenings

  • Vision, Auditory, and Scoliosis Screenings in schools are mandated by Connecticut General Statutes. These will be completed each school year at the discretion of the school nurse. See below for more information.
     

Auditory Screenings

  • Section 10-214 of the CGS requires that each local or regional board of education shall provide annually audiometric screening for hearing to each pupil in kindergarten and grades one and three to five, inclusive. Additionally, hearing screenings are part of required school health assessments prior to entry into school, in the 6th or 7th grade and again in the 9th or 10th grade.
     

Scoliosis Screenings

  • Postural screening consists of screening for postural abnormalities. Section 10-214 of the Connecticut General Statutes (CGS) specify that postural screening be done for (1) each female student in grades five and seven, and (2) each male student in grade eight or nine.
     

Vision Screenings

  • Vision screening as mandated under Section 10-214 of the Connecticut General Statutes (CGS) consists of a screening for distance visual acuity.  Vision screenings are required annually to each student in kindergarten, grades one and three to five, inclusive.  Vision screenings are also mandated as part of school health assessments under Section 10-206 of the CGS prior to school enrollment, in grade 6 or 7.  The purpose of these screenings are to identify children with potential visual difficulties that may affect learning ability and school adjustment.

We all get sick...  Let's do our part to stay well and not spread our germs!

Clean Spaces

  • Keeping a clean environment helps limit spread.
    Wipe down counters, desks and other surfaces Daily or if soiled. Remember your kitchen and bathroom.
    Keep away from other family members who may not be sick.
    Wash bed sheets, blankets and clothing with hot soapy water will help contain the germs.
     

Cover Your Cough

  • Masks can be picked up from the nurse, if you forget one.
     

Diarrhea

  • IT is uncomfortable to talk about and to have. It is defined as loose or liquid stool occurring 2 or more times in 24 hours. It is wise to stay home as this is your body trying to clear a germ. Severe cases may require medical help and it can be contagious. Please give your body 24 hours after the symptoms stop before returning to school.

An ounce of Prevention - Germs, viruses and bacteria mainly travel by cough touch and body fluids:

  • cough- through the air to others eyes, noses, mouths
  • touch- contaminated hands touching surfaces that others then touch

Direct contact with blood or body fluids.

  • Washing hands, covering coughs, staying home to rest-(limit television and computer time), good personal hygiene, eating small healthy meals, keeping hydrated, will help prevent and shorten illnesses.
     

Germs Hate Clean Hands

  • Sing Happy Birthday song 2 times when washing hands.Handwashing before and after eating, using the bathroom, coughing or sneezing helps limit the spread of germs. 
  • Encourage students to use hand sanitizer when a quick sanitizing is needed but remember next time to wash with soap and water to help remove build up of sanitizer, dirt and grime. 
     

Stay Home if You are Sick

STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK. 

  • Fever, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, coughing.
  • REST. HYDRATE.  Please rest at least 24 hours after symptoms stop.   
  • Please contact your healthcare provider, to make sure you are not contagious.
  • Request a letter if seen for school, with return date. 
     

Vaccines

  • Get vaccinated. Everyone aged 6 months and older is eligible for the COVID vaccine. The world has learned this will make a difference.

A red stamp with the words 'PRODUCT RECALL' in white, distressed lettering.
 

Meat, Poultry, Happy Moose Juice, Cranberry Chicken Salad Recalls - October 2024

Milk Recall - September 2024  
 

HP Hood LLC Recalls Select Units of 96 oz Refrigerated Lactaid Milk Due to Possible Almond Allergen


HP Hood, the huge dairy conglomerate, has announced a recall of select units of their 96oz refrigerated Lactaid brand milk due to possible contamination with almonds.

The recall affects products shipped from September 5-18 to retailers and wholesalers in 27 states, including AL, CO, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, TX, VA, WI, and WY.

The company states: “people who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to almonds may run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.”

Popsicle Recall - August 2024 

A Pop-Tarts Jolly Rancher frozen confection pop with a prominent red 'RECALL' stamp.

COVID, Influenza, and RSV are just a few causes of viral respiratory illnesses- cough, fever, runny nose. The state of Connecticut and the Center For Disease Control and Prevention issued guidance in March of 2024. To help us move forward after the COVID pandemic. Please use the link below to help you decide if you are ill and what you can do to control viral illnesses.

If your child or someone in your home tests positive for COVID or influenza please contact your health care provider  for care and inform the school nurse of the reason for your absence.

Handwashing is the #1 thing you can do to prevent illness, watch the following videos- 

Children's Handwashing Video,

The second tool is to be vaccinated and up to date with yearly vaccinations.COVID vaccines are available for children as young as 6 months old. Vaccinations will be coming out in September for COVID and Influenza.Please check with your healthcare provider or watch emails for school clinics. The Influenza vaccine is required for all Preschool students per the state of Connecticut between August 1 and December 31. Please provide proof of immunization to the school nurse.RSV vaccines were released last year. Please check with your healthcare provider if this is something for you or your student.

Click on the guidance below to be redirected to the cdc website and additional guidance regarding respiratory viruses.

School Based Health Center

Outdoor time is important at IDCS from physical education to class time, garden time and recess. Please remember  to send your student with seasonally appropriate clothing- we do ask for a sweatshirt or sweater daily or to be kept in class, since we do have air conditioning and sometimes the building feels cold. We encourage boots on rainy days and shorts on hot days and remember all that cold gear when it gets chilly. Fresh air and free time help those bodies.
 

A 'Child Care Weather Watch' chart displays temperature ranges and corresponding color codes for outdoor activity.