Health & Wellness

Click below for 2021-2022 COVID protocols 

*IMPORTANT: Stuart cannot accept hard copies of medical forms. All information must be uploaded to Magnus, and any medical information sent to the school will be destroyed for privacy and safety reasons.

Beginning with the school year 2021-22 all students are required to submit an annual Preparticipation Physical Evaluation form to Magnus. Please use the form from Magnus or print it from this link Preparticipation Physical Evaluation Form . At any time, there must be an updated exam available for your child in Magnus. An exam is valid for 365 days.

Before the medical examination, the form should be printed out from Magnus (or from above link) with the History portion filled out and signed by the parent. This page should be reviewed by the doctor as a part of the examination.

During the visit to the doctor’s office an updated immunization form should be obtained.

When the Preparticipation Physical Evaluation expires, it must be replaced within a 14 days grace period.

If it at any point turns out to be a problem for the student/family/guardians to update the physical exam as required, Stuart will provide an option for an exam to be performed. The cost for the exam will be billed to the student’s Stuart account in full amount.

The parents/guardians are welcome to be present during the exam.

Please see additional information below on immunization requirements and concussion forms. Allergy Action Plans, Asthma Action Plans and Immunization Forms should be uploaded to Magnus by June 10 - July 17.

All New Students are required to submit a valid Preparticipation Physical Evaluation form, Immunization Record and other needed medical forms to the health office through Magnus through June 10 - July 17.

All athletes are required to make sure they have a valid Preparticipation Physical Evaluation form on file in Magnus. In addition, Upper School athletes must read and complete required forms that are available in Magnus by July 17, 2021. 

All Middle and Upper School athletes must complete the “Health History Update Questionnaire” prior to the first day of practice.

*IMPORTANT: Stuart cannot accept hard copies of medical forms. All information must be uploaded to Magnus, and any medical information sent to the school will be destroyed for privacy and safety reasons.

Preschool Immunization Requirements:

All students entering school must be up to date on all immunizations. Proof of immunizations must be submitted to the health office prior to the start of school.

Influenza (Flu) Vaccination

All children between the ages of 6 months – 59 months must receive the influenza vaccination annually. Please submit proof of vaccination to the health office as soon as the child receives the vaccination - the latest by December 1, 2021. If your child does not receive the vaccination due to medical reasons, a medical exemption notice must be written by the pediatrician.

Kindergarten Immunization Requirements:

All students entering kindergarten must submit proof of a minimum of one varicella and their second MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccination prior to the start of kindergarten.

Grade 6 Immunization Requirements:

Every September, all students entering sixth grade, who will be 11 years of age or older before the first day of school, are required to receive a booster of the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis) and one dose of the meningococcal vaccine Type A, C, Y, W-135. These immunizations requirements must be met before the first day of school and proof must be submitted to the school nurse. Failure to complete these requirements will result in exclusion of the student. If the student does not turn 11 until after the first day of school, she will need to meet the requirement within 30 after her 11th birthday.

All New Student Immunization Requirements:

All new students must submit proof of all required immunizations to the health office prior to the start of school.

COVID-19 Immunization

The COVID vaccine is not required for Stuart students, but fully vaccinated students do gain some privileges and for health reasons it is highly recommended.

Fully vaccinated people do not have to quarantine after traveling and are not required to be tested before or after domestic traveling. They must, however, follow all requirements for international traveling. In addition, a fully vaccinated person, identified as a close contact with a COVID-infected person, is not required to quarantine.

If you chose to have your child immunized with COVID-19, please, upload an image of the vaccination card to Magnus, Immunization Forms.

If your child has allergies or asthma, please have your child’s physician complete the Allergy Action Plan and/or Asthma Action Plan and upload it to Magnus in the relevant section.

If your child has other chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, epilepsy), please submit a medical plan through Magnus. 

EPIPENS:

• If your child is prescribed an Epinephrine auto injector you MUST supply the health office with 2 EpiPen’s and Benadryl if the doctor has prescribed that.
• If your child self-carries an EpiPen, the second auto-injector MUST be kept in the health office and you MUST fill out the Parental Consent for Self-Administration and Self-Carry of an Auto-Injector or Inhaler  .

INHALERS:

• If your child is prescribed an Inhaler you MUST supply one inhaler to the health office
• If your child self-carries the medication, a second inhaler MUST be kept in the health office and you MUST fill out the Parental Consent for Self-Administration and Self-Carry of an Auto-Injector or Inhaler

If your child is required to take medication during the school day, the Permission to Administer Medication in School form must be completed by your child's physician and submitted to the health office through Magnus. The medication must be brought in by the parent/guardian in the original pharmacy labeled container with medication name written in English and the child’s name easily readable and handed over to the nurse.

Field Trips

There is not a nurse present on Field Trips.

Students are not permitted to carry medications themselves other than EpiPen’s, Inhalers and/or other officially signed in medications. All medications will be kept and dispensed by a delegate.

The Field Trip Medication Form must be filled out by the student’s physician and packed together with the medication following the instructions on the form.

By state law, it is required that all children between the ages of 6 - 59 months must receive the influenza vaccination annually. Parents/guardians of children this age must submit proof of vaccination by uploading the immunization record to your child’s Magnus account (Immunization section) as soon as the child has received the vaccination - at the latest December 1. Lack of compliance will result in exclusion from school. If your child does not receive the vaccination due to medical or religious reasons, a medical exemption notice must be written by the pediatrician.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (though not required) that EVERYONE (any child older than 59 months and all adults) receives a flu vaccination for the 2021-2022 season.

Getting a flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19; however, a flu vaccination has many other important benefits: Flu vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization and death. Getting a flu vaccine this fall will be more important than ever, not only to reduce your risk from flu but also to help conserve potentially scarce health care resources.

Click here for more info about the flu from Nurse Boss

HEALTH OFFICE REMINDERS REGARDING TICKS, MOSQUITOES AND SUN

The CDC has seen a rise in tick and mosquito-borne diseases and recommends taking preventative measures for protection. The following is detailed information about the issues with links to CDC recommendations. 

Preventative Measures Regarding Ticks | Ticks

The CDC recommends using repellents on skin and clothing. Wearing light clothing with long sleeves and pants makes it easier to see the ticks and keep them off the skin. Tuck the pant legs into the socks and wear a hat.

When you come back in after time spent outside, it is recommended to take a bath/shower within two hours to wash off the ticks and perform a full body check to find any attached ticks. Check under the arms, in/around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist and in the hair.

If you need to remove a tick from your skin, grasp it with tweezers as close as possible to the skin and pull back. Dispose of the tick either in a sealed container, submerge in alcohol or flush it down the toilet. DO NOT CRUSH IT WITH YOUR FINGERS! Wash the site of the bite and your hands with alcohol, an iodine scrub or soap and water.

If you develop flu-like symptoms, a fever, chills, joint pain, aches and pain or a skin rash, you need to be checked out by your doctor.  It can take up to several weeks to develop symptoms after a tick bite.

Preventative Measures Regarding Mosquitoes | Mosquito Bites

Protect yourself and your family by using EPA-registered insect repellent, covering up and keeping mosquitoes outside your home. Apply protectant to your child before sending him/her to school or camp.

Preventative Measures Regarding Sun | Skin Cancer

It is recommended to seek the shade, use a UVA and UVB sunscreen with factor 15 or higher and wear sun protective clothing, a hat and sunglasses. Apply protectant to your child before sending it to school or camp. Along with the sun comes the heat! Drink plenty of fluids and stay hydrated.

Social Emotional Learning in the Lower School will consist of self awareness, learning how to respect others, navigating the highs and lows of friendship and community at their age and even understanding things like empathy, kindness and boundaries. Students will learn early on about mindfulness practices and we’ll do fun and interactive activities. We will be utilizing a multimodal approach, so that every learner can grow in their understanding of God, self and others. I envision having a very collaborative working relationship with faculty and staff, as to both reinforce and help support the five goals of Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart. 

Here at Stuart, we have a warm and nurturing environment, where children are free to be curious, to learn and to explore. We are a community that encourages girls to excel in their God-given talents and abilities and I look forward to continuing that noble work through the lens of our Lower School SEL program!
 

Counseling Programs

• Individual Brief Counseling
• MS Classroom Guidance
• US Seminar
• Responsive Services
• System Support in Policy & Procedures
• MS/ US - Advisory Programs 
• Senior Transition Summit
• Health & Wellness Day 
• Wellness Campaigns
• Coordination of Care Services
• Parenting Education Programs
• Peer Mentorship Program

What is wellness?

Wellness refers to the well-being of our mental health. When we are mentally well we can learn, create, and enjoy life more wholeheartedly. Wellness is cognitive care: It’s reducing stress responses and is about calming charged emotions. It is the ability to keep a balance of tasks and commitments so we do not to over-complicate our lives, and keep ourselves from overwhelmedness and burn-out. It is learning what works for us, to nurture and soothe our souls when we get taxed and weary. In our community, we are students, faculty and staff, as well as parents and community partners. The wellness goals of the counseling office are constructed in 8 core areas:
 

• Wellness Area #1: Emotion - we look at how we are you coping with the cares of life and creating key connections with others. We want to create a menu of mindfulness - where we have listed those activities, thoughts and actions that spark joy inside of us and others. 

• Wellness Area #2: Environment - We want to find places and spaces to occupy. These spaces should make you feel alive and exhilarated, such as the lake, a local park or hiking trail, or a field to play your favorite sport.  

• Wellness Area #3: Intellectual - We want to explore personal interests and creative capabilities for exploring and expanding one's sense of self intellectually.

• Wellness Area #4: Physical - Understand the brain/ body connection. How stress hormones can overly tax the mind and how keeping physically healthy through movement, diet, sleep, and exercise are foundational to wellness. 

• Wellness Area #5: Vocation - Define & Explore career interests and goals in the field of psychology and neuro-science. Help the students to be mindful of how well they are enjoying learning and the growth process of getting there. In this area, exercise gratitude for your learning opportunities, and consistently look forward to areas to grow in their leadership potential, and enjoy the journey of how new experiences and new knowledge will ultimately shape their career paths. 

• Wellness Area #6: Spiritual - Here, students are assisted in exploring a source of faith and hope that will stand in challenging circumstances.

• Wellness Area #7: Relationship - Here, we ask questions such as: How well are their connections? Do students have a place with others where they feel a sense of belonging? We teach that belonging begins with a confidence in oneself that is then willingly and courageously shared with others. 

• Wellness Area #8: Offering of Service - service beats the blues and banishes a sense of meaninglessness and lovelessness. It makes for better community and an enhanced sense of well-being for others. The counseling office supports students in their service activities by highlighting the significance of their contribution.