We are very fortunate to have a full-time nurse in every building. The role of the school nurse is to support student success in education. According to the National Association of School Nurses, "school nursing is a specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well-being, academic success, and lifetime achievement of students."
Franklin County is committed to meeting the healthcare concerns of our students. The responsibilities of school nurses are very broad. They manage clinic visits, review student records, perform screenings, consult with health professionals and parents, perform medical procedures, promote health education, and advocate for student needs.
The school nurse serves as the health professional for the school community and provides guidelines for district health policies, goals, and objectives.
Use the tabs below to locate important information, forms, and services provided by our school nurses.
Current Health Topics
- Acute Illness
- Head Lice
- Health Screenings
Sick Day Guidelines: If your child is sick and you're unsure whether they should attend school, please see our Sick Day Guidelines.
Medication Policy: If your child requires medication during school hours, proper forms and instructions are required. Medications must be brought in by a parent in original containers. Leftover medication must be picked up by the last day of school or it will be discarded.
To have your student's medication stopped, the nurse must be notified by the parent and they will have to have an order from the physician to discontinue the medication.
Eating Disorders: Learn more here
Student Registration Requirements (K–12)
- Current physical (K-5) (within 12 months)
- Proof of current immunizations
- Valid birth certificate
Middle & High School Immunization Requirements
7th graders must have:
- Meningococcal Conjugate (2 doses)
- HPV vaccine series (2 doses, parental discretion)
- TDAP
12th graders must have a second dose of the Meningococcal vaccine or submit exemption documentation.
Note: Students cannot attend 7th or 12th grade without documentation of required immunizations.
Sick Day Guidelines
Students should stay home if they have:
- Fever over 100°F (must be fever-free for 24 hours without meds)
- Vomiting or diarrhea (must be symptom-free for 24 hours)
- Persistent pain or rash
- Cold symptoms or cough
- Communicable diseases (e.g., chickenpox, impetigo, conjunctivitis, etc.)
Doctor's clearance is required for return after treatment of a communicable disease.
Food Allergy Guidelines
Notify the school nurse of any food allergies. Only store-bought, pre-packaged food with nutrition labels may be brought in for class events. All items must be approved by the nurse in advance.
Head Lice Guidelines
Franklin County has a NO NIT policy. Students with lice or nits will be sent home. They must be checked by the school nurse and cleared before returning. Students may not ride the bus to school during this time.
More info: Identifying Head Lice
Scoliosis Information
For Parents of Students in Grades 5-10
- Scoliosis is a sideways (lateral) curving of the spine.
- One in 10 persons will have scoliosis. Two to three persons in every 100 will have a progressive condition. In one out of every 1,000 cases, surgery may be necessary.
- Frequent signs are a prominent shoulder blade, uneven hip and shoulder levels, unequal distance between arms and body, clothes that do not “hang right”.
- Eighty percent of scoliosis cases are idiopathic (cause unknown). Scoliosis tends to run in families and affects more girls than boys.
- Spinal curvature is best corrected when a young person=s body is still growing, and can respond to one or a combination of treatments (exercise, body brace, etc.). Mild cases may not need treatment, but should be monitored.
- Usually without pain in its early years, scoliosis can advance rapidly during the growing years. Curves that are moderate to severe will continue to advance in adulthood and can increase with each pregnancy. Left untreated, scoliosis can cause obvious physical deformity, pain, arthritic symptoms, heart and lung complications, and can limit activities.
- Kyphosis (round back) may occur in developing adolescents. It should be screened for and may need to be treated.
If you have concerns about your child's posture or spine development, you may contact your child's physician or school nurse to schedule a screening.
Health Screenings
Elementary
- Motor: Grades K–3
- Vision: Grades K–5
- Scoliosis: Grades 5
- Height & Weight:Grades Kindergarten, 3rd, 5th
- Hearing: Grades Kindergarten, 3rd
Middle School
- Vision: Grade 7
- Height & Weight: Grade 7
- Scoliosis: Grades 6–8
- Hearing: Grade 7
High School
- Vision: Grade 10
- Height & Weight: Grade 10
- Scoliosis: Grade 9
- Hearing: Grade 10
Thank you to the Smith Mountain Lions Club for assisting with vision screenings!