Health Services (Nurse)
The DGS Nurse & Health Services team works closely with families and staff members to ensure the optimum health and safety of students.
Report An Absence
Health Requirements
Health Requirements
9TH gRADE sTUDENT hEALTH rEQUIREMENTS
- Complete immunization history and Child Health Examination Form (*forms are due July 1 prior to the start of grade 9)
- Dental Examination Form
- Transfer students from out of state (who have never attended an Illinois school before) will need to provide an Eye Examination Form dated within 12 months of the first day of school
12th Grade Student Health Requirements:
- Two doses of the Meningitis (MCV4) vaccination are required for entry into 12th grade. Any child entering the 12th grade shall show proof of having received two doses of meningococcal conjugate vaccine prior to entering the 12th grade. The first dose shall have been received on or after the 11th birthday, and the second dose shall have been received on or after the 16th birthday, at least eight weeks after the first dose. If the first dose is administered when the child is 16 years of age or older, only one dose is required. The form is due on July 1, prior to the start of 12th grade.
Health Requirements for Transfer Students in Grades 10, 11, & 12
Transfer from another Illinois High School:
- Must provide a copy of their 9th grade physical with all immunizations and a dental exam form.
Out-of-State Transfer Students:
- Must provide a copy of their high school physical with all immunizations from their previous high school.
- Must provide an Eye Examination Form dated within 12 months of the first day of school.
Transfer Students from Outside of the Country:
- Must provide all current updated immunizations, health records and TB Skin test requirements at the time of registration.
- Must provide a certificate of child health examination form and an Eye Examination Form dated within 12 months of the first day of school.
Religious Exemption Requests
The Illinois Department of Public Health and Illinois State Board of Education requires that the Illinois Certificate of Religious Exemption Form be completed by the parent/guardian and signed by the primary care provider if religious exemption is requested.
Medication During School Day
Medication During School Day
If medication must be given to a student at school, the procedure below will be followed:
- All prescription and over-the-counter medication will be administered by a school nurse. Students are not allowed to carry medications, with the following exceptions:
- Students with Asthma may carry an inhaler.
- Students with severe allergies may carry an Epi-Pen.
A Medical Authorization Form must be completely filled out and signed by the student’s parent or guardian and licensed prescriber, and on file in the Nurse’s Office.
- Permission to administer over-the-counter medication must be renewed annually.
- Permission to administer prescription medication must be renewed annually.
- Prescription medication must be brought to the Nurse’s Office by a parent or guardian in the original container.
- DGS nurses will dispose of any medications that are not picked up at the end of the school year.
Action Plan Forms
- Asthma Action Plan Form: This form must be completed for students with Asthma and must be accompanied by the authorization for medication administration form.
- Authorization for the Administration of Medication Form (e.g. inhaler).
- Food Allergy Action Plan Form: To be completed for students with severe food allergies. To be accompanied by Authorization for the Administration of Medication Form (e.g. EpiPen).
- Seizure Action Plan Form: To be completed for students with a seizure disorder. To be accompanied by
- Authorization for the Administration of Medication Form, if emergency medication prescribed (e.g. Diastat).
- Diabetes Medical Management Plan: This plan should be completed by the student's personal diabetes health care team. To be accompanied by Authorization for the Administration of Medication Form (e.g. Insulin, Glucagon).
Health Concerns
Health Concerns
If your child has specific health concerns, please note these concerns on the Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination form. Contact the school nurse at the beginning of the school year to coordinate care and plan for potential emergency response.
Please remember to update emergency contact information as needed throughout the school year.
Illinois State law (PA 99-0843) requires that an Asthma Action Plan be requested from parents of children with asthma. An Asthma Action Plan is a written plan developed by the child’s physician indicating how to treat and control their asthma symptoms during the school day. The Asthma Action Plan is to be submitted to Health Services at the beginning of the school year. The plan will remain valid for the current school year and must be renewed each school year or when updated by the physician, or as requested by the school nurse.
- Click here for the Asthma Action Plan form.
If your student has seizures, please complete the Seizure Action Plan form.
Resources
Medical Forms
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the sick day guidelines?
- My student has a medical note; how should we handle this?
- My student is on crutches, what is the protocol?
- What is the school's Emergency Action Plan (EAP)?
- What are the Vision/Hearing Screening requirements?
What are the sick day guidelines?
Students should stay home from school if they:
- Have a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher; must stay home until his/her fever has been gone for 24 hours without medication.
- Have vomiting/diarrhea: must stay home until free of vomiting/diarrhea for 24 hours
- Have a diagnosis of “strep throat”; must have a physician's note to return to school and have taken antibiotics for at least 24 hours.
- Have a communicable skin rash and/or infection; must have a physician's note to return to school and be using prescribed treatments; must cover the infected area to remain in school.
Keep your child home if they have signs or symptoms of respiratory illness like influenza or COVID-19. The flu and COVID can be serious. Symptoms include:
- High fever
- Chills
- Headache, body aches, ear ache, sore throat
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Dry cough
- if COVID, loss of taste or smell
Students diagnosed with COVID-19 may return to school when both are true for 24 hours: they are fever-free without using fever-reducing medications and their symptoms are improving overall. Upon return and for the next 5 days, the CDC recommends enhancing hygiene practices, wearing a well-fitted mask, and keeping as much physical distance from others as possible when indoors.
Your student cannot return until fever-free and free of diarrhea or vomiting for 24 hours without the use of medications.
Please contact the health office with any questions or concerns. Per school policy, absences must be called in or entered in HAC by the guardian by 12 noon on the day of the absence. Doctor’s notes should be forwarded directly to our office.
My student has a medical note; how should we handle this?
All medical notes for students should be emailed/delivered to the health office. This applies to all medical notes for PE and athletics including any injuries, concussions, and sports/PE restrictions for medical reasons. We can only accept medical notes from MD, NP, PA, or DO.
Parents may email the notes to the DGS Nurses' Office. If a student hands their note to a teacher or coach, the coach can either hand deliver the note or take a picture and email it to the nurse. The nurses' office sends the notes to students’ guidance counselors, coaches, and teachers/PE teachers as needed. If a note needs clarification, a nurse will call the doctor or their assistant as needed.
Clearance notes should also be sent to the nurse's office.
Notes brought by students over the weekend are to be given to the athletic trainers who will use their discretion in allowing physical activity in sport depending on the doctor’s instructions. Coaches and staff can reach out to the Athletic Director or Associate Principal of Student Support Services for consultation if needed. Only athletic trainers or nurses should take orders from medical providers.
My student is on crutches, what is the protocol?
What is the school's Emergency Action Plan (EAP)?
An Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is valid for one academic school year. The EAPs are available from the school nurse for students with allergies/anaphylaxis, asthma, and seizures. MD orders are requested for students with diabetes. If your child has another chronic condition, please reach out to the nursing staff to discuss this prior to the first day of attendance. The parents/guardians are responsible for providing medications and/or supplies needed during the school year. The parents/guardians are also responsible for notifying the school and school nurse of any changes in their child's health condition, care, medication, and contact numbers.
What are the Vision/Hearing Screening requirements?
Vision & Hearing Screening will be provided for children of mandated age/grade/groups each year. Vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor. Your child is not required to undergo this vision screening if an optometrist or ophthalmologist has completed and signed a report form indicating that an examination has been administered within the previous 12 months and that the evaluation is on file at the school. Vision screening is NOT an option. If a vision examination report is not on file at the school for your child, your child in the mandated age/grade/group will be screened. Please contact the school nurse if you have questions regarding the vision and hearing screening program.
Contact Us
Contact Us
- Main Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Phone: 630-795-8528
- Fax: 630-795-7192
- Room A106, next to the Main Office
- General Nurse's Office Email, south-nurse@csd99.org
- Jade Bottoms, BSN, RN, CSN
- Mary D'Aquila, BSN, RN
- Health Office Administrative Assistant: Lori Balsamo