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Arlington Public Schools health services are provided by the School Health Bureau of the Public Health Division of Arlington County’s Department of Human Services. The mission of the School Health Bureau is to provide students and their families with preventive and early intervention services that enable the student to learn to the best of his or her potential. Our School is staffed with a School Health Aide. Additionally, we have an assigned Public Health Nurse (PHN). School Public Health Nurses cover anywhere from 1 to 3 schools.
Contact
School Health Office Phone: 703-228-8354
School Health Aide:
Melissa Bermudez
Email: [email protected]
Tel: (703) 228-8354 (Mon-Fri)
Public Health Nurse:
Lee Harper-Chen, RN
Email: [email protected]
Work Phone: (703) 228-8368 (Tues & Thurs)
Work Cell (voice only, no texts): (703) 364-9043
- Please contact the school health office and the school attendance line for all absences related to illness.
- The school health office will be open Monday-Friday during school hours by appointment.
- All medications must be dropped off by a parent or guardian. Please call the school health office for an appointment to drop off medications or update your student’s health information.
School Health Entry Requirements
Per the Code of Virginia (§ 22.1-271.2. Immunization requirements (virginia.gov) and § 22.1-270. Preschool physical examinations (virginia.gov)), students must meet school health entry requirements. School health staff will be following up with parents of students who are missing required vaccines and physical examinations. More information about school health entry requirements is available online.
School Health Entry Requirements for New Elementary Students
- Physical Examination done within 12 months prior to starting school – School Entrance Health Form (Physical Exam Form)
- Students will need a new physical exam when rising from Pre-K to Kindergarten.
- Immunization Records – https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/immunization/requirements
- Tuberculosis (TB) test or screening done within 12 months prior to starting school
Illness Procedures
Students should stay home if they show signs of illness the night before or the morning of school. Please do not administer medications such as Advil/Tylenol to a student having a fever or discomfort and then send them to school. The clinic staff will call parents/guardians to pick up students if they show signs of illness while at school that interfere with their ability to participate in school activities, such as fever, persistent stomach or headache, persistent vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat, etc.
Parents/Guardians should promptly inform their school’s attendance office and the school nurse if their child is diagnosed with or tests positive for COVID-19, flu, RSV, or other infectious illnesses. Children may be excluded from school if they have an illness that prevents them from participating comfortably in school activities or if there is a risk of spreading contagious disease to others.
Clearance to return to school after illness:
- Fever: A student with a temperature of 100.4°F or greater. The student should not return until 24 hours of no fever, without the use of fever-reducing medications.
- Diarrhea: The student should not have loose stools for 48 hours without the use of medications before returning to school.
- Vomiting: The student should have no vomiting episodes for 48 hours without the use of medications before returning.
- Certain communicable diseases: Students and staff diagnosed with certain communicable diseases may have to be excluded for a certain period. Contact your School Nurse for more information.
- Bacterial illness: Bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) or strep throat may return to school when they have been on antibiotics for 24 hours and are feeling better.
Injury Accommodations
Injury Accommodations: If your student suffers an injury and would need accommodations in school such as limited P.E., please submit a doctor’s note to the clinic. This will enable the clinic staff to inform all teachers.