Information from the Nurse
Nurse Abby's contact information
freyab@springfieldpublicschools.com
My name is Abby Frey, and I am the school nurse at Van Sickle Academy. My job is to ensure the safety and well-being of your student(s) while here at VSA. If your child has any medical concerns including asthma, diabetes, a seizure disorder or has a critical allergy to food, insects, or latex, please contact my office.
If your child needs medication during school hours (ex. Albuterol inhaler, epi pen, seizure medication, or medication for chronic headaches) an order from the doctor is needed each school year. Please do not send any form of medication with your child without an order from your doctor. If you need to administer medication, you may come to the school at any time. Call the nurse office or stop by to discuss the steps necessary if your child has a prescription medication that should be administered in school.
Each year your child should have a complete physical from his/her primary doctor. This is especially important if your child would like to play a sport during the school year. Please provide your nurse with a copy of your child’s physical and updated immunizations each year as they occur so that a complete health record is maintained.
Some immunizations are required for safe school attendance per state regulations. A letter will be sent home to students with a non-compliant status in the next few weeks. With a non-compliant status, your child is not able to participate in before/after school activities, sports, field trips, and may be at risk for further exclusion. Please be sure to communicate with your child’s pediatrician regarding necessary vaccinations and call the nurse’s office if you have an upcoming appointment scheduled or questions.
Screenings performed in the middle school include:
Staying Safe in School – COVID-19 Guidance
Medical Clearance for sports:
The following is needed for sports clearance by the school nurse:
If your child needs medication during school hours (ex. Albuterol inhaler, epi pen, seizure medication, or medication for chronic headaches) an order from the doctor is needed each school year. Please do not send any form of medication with your child without an order from your doctor. If you need to administer medication, you may come to the school at any time. Call the nurse office or stop by to discuss the steps necessary if your child has a prescription medication that should be administered in school.
Each year your child should have a complete physical from his/her primary doctor. This is especially important if your child would like to play a sport during the school year. Please provide your nurse with a copy of your child’s physical and updated immunizations each year as they occur so that a complete health record is maintained.
Some immunizations are required for safe school attendance per state regulations. A letter will be sent home to students with a non-compliant status in the next few weeks. With a non-compliant status, your child is not able to participate in before/after school activities, sports, field trips, and may be at risk for further exclusion. Please be sure to communicate with your child’s pediatrician regarding necessary vaccinations and call the nurse’s office if you have an upcoming appointment scheduled or questions.
Screenings performed in the middle school include:
- All students will receive a free Postural or scoliosis screening sometime during the school year during your student’s gym class. The postural screening is a simple observation of the back, first standing and then bending at the waist. Each student will have complete privacy during the screening.
- All 7th graders will receive free routine vision, hearing screenings, and a height and weight assessment sometime within the school year as well. The school nurse will supervise your child’s screening and will make sure privacy is respected at all times.
- All 7th graders will also be given the opportunity to complete the SBIRT screening survey with their school nurse. This tool helps professionals to have an open and confidential discussion with students about substance use. It also allows for the opportunity to do a brief intervention and make referrals if necessary.
Staying Safe in School – COVID-19 Guidance
- Handwashing/sanitizing is readily available in schools–Perform frequent hand washing/sanitizing and cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Wash your hands
- There is no requirement for masking in schools.
- Anyone who wishes to mask, including those who face higher risk from COVID-19, will be supported in that choice. Masks are readily available upon request in all schools.
- Do not come to school if you’re sick– Monitor for Symptoms consistent with COVID-19
- Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills.
- Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms
- Headache, when in combination with other symptoms
- Muscle aches or body aches
- Nausea, vomiting, when in combination with other symptoms
- Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
- Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms
- Get vaccinated and boosted! Visit vaccination clinics or your medical provider. To find COVID-19 vaccine locations near you: Search vacccines.gov Call 1-800-232-0233 or Text your zip code to 438829.
- Get a COVID-19 test if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in close contact with someone who has recently tested positive for COVID-19. Can get tested at local pharmacies or your medical provider. Search for local COVID-19 Testing facilities here.
- Testing Positive for COVID-19
A student or staff member who tests positive must isolate for at least five days. They may return to school after day five if they have no symptoms. If they have symptoms, they may return to school after day five if their symptoms are getting better, and they have not had a fever for 24 hours. Return-to-school precautions include masking through day 10. - If the student or staff member cannot mask, they can only return to school after testing negative on at least day five. Any student or staff who tested positive may return to school on day 11 with or without a negative test.
- Testing Positive for COVID-19
- Call the school to report a student’s Covid-19 positive case– If your student/staff that tests positive for COVID-19 please follow isolation guidance. Staff who test positive should report it to their school administrator.
- COVID-19 Close Contacts
Vaccinated and unvaccinated student or staff who are exposed to COVID-19 should wear a high-quality mask for 10 days and get tested at least on day 5. Quarantine is no longer required.
- COVID-19 Close Contacts
- Wear your mask indoors if you are returning from isolation or if you have been exposed to someone who had recently tested positive for COVID-19.
Medical Clearance for sports:
The following is needed for sports clearance by the school nurse:
- A recent physical from the last 13 months
- You should ask your provider for a copy of a “Sports Physical”. A sports physical will indicate clearance for sports which is necessary for sports clearance by the school nurse. Office visit notes do not count as physicals.
- An up-to-date record of your student’s immunizations. If a student athlete is not up to date, they will not be cleared by the school nurse.
- Include a clearance (return to play) note from a physician if there has been a recent injury including a broken bone or concussion, or if your student has had a recent lengthy illness, surgery, etc.
- Medication orders for emergency treatments are required prior to clearing students by the school nurse to participate in a sport.
- Emergency treatments include Epi-pens, inhalers, and diabetic orders.
