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Dear Prince Families,
Welcome back for our 2025-2026 school year! I am looking forward to working with each of you to ensure that this year is both healthy and safe for every member of the Prince Avenue family.
Safety is of utmost importance at Prince Avenue Christian School, and we will rely heavily on your partnership with our faculty and staff to help promote the safety of all students.
The Nurse’s Clinic is located in the 200 hallway near the fine arts department. To help you prepare for the upcoming school year, I will be available to meet parents and answer questions during the lower school parent orientation meetings and all Wolverine Welcome events.
As the school year begins, I would like to remind you of some important details.
Upcoming Vaccine Deadlines:
Please ensure that your child is up-to-date on all state-required school entry vaccines or has the proper vaccine exemption documentation on file. Check with your child's Primary Care Provider to confirm that your child is in compliance.
The deadline for vaccine updates for the following grades is
August 8th:
- PreK-3
- PreK-4
- Kindergarten
- 7th Grade
- 11th Grade
Importance of Good Hand Hygiene, Nutrition, and Sleep Patterns:
During the first few weeks back to school, it is a known fact students are at a higher risk of getting sick due to increased social interaction. Maintaining good hand hygiene is key to preventing the spread of sickness along with promoting a nutritious diet and good sleep patterns. I would like to encourage you to make sure that your student gets plenty of nightly rest and begins each new day with breakfast. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that school-age children sleep a minimum of 9 hours per 24 hours on a regular basis to promote optimal health. Many mid-morning headaches and stomachaches are due to rushing out of the door without eating breakfast and a lack of hydration. Starting every day with a nutritious meal will help your child feel more alert, focused, and ready to learn.
Clinic Forms and Medication Administration:
If a child needs to take medication in school, whether it is a daily inhaler or daily oral medication, the parent must complete the PACS Medication Authorization Form, and the medication must be provided to me in the original bottle labeled by the pharmacy. It is helpful to have all medications and Medication Administration Forms turned in as soon as possible. Just as a reminder, we have over-the-counter medications available in the clinic: Tums, Claritin, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Motrin, and Pepto-Bismol. Please do not send loose pills or full bottles of over-the-counter medications with your child to school.
School Illness Protocols:
Cases of flu, strep, and COVID are already on the rise this season. Please be diligent in reviewing your child's symptoms and assess if it is necessary for your child to remain home from school due to illness.
Following a bout of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or fever, your student should stay at home and be observed for further symptoms. Fever is defined as a temperature of 100.4 or above, as measured without the use of fever-reducing medication. It is also advisable for your student to forgo attendance if there are symptoms of sore throat with a fever, chills, a persistent and productive cough, severe ear pain, and discharge or redness of the eye(s). Please remember that prior to returning to school, your student’s temperature should remain within a normal range (97.0-100.0) for 24 hours - without the use of fever-reducing medication.
As a reminder, the school nurse does not diagnose, but it is within my scope of practice to treat minor conditions not requiring the care of a physician, to assist in referrals, and to follow up with your student about new conditions and/or needs. I will advocate for your student’s healthcare needs in the classroom and serve as a medical liaison with teachers and the school’s leadership. If, at any time, you feel a need to discuss the health of your child, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Tabitha Hawk, RN, BSN
School Nurse
schoolnurse@princeave.org
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