Health & Safety

  • Emergency Evacuation & Drills

    Safety drills, including but not limited to fire, tornado, health, and evacuation are conducted on a monthly basis.   In case of an actual fire or emergency where children and adults cannot return to the building, all staff and students will be escorted off-site and parents will be notified with address and pick-up procedures.

    Emergency School Closing Procedures

    Closing During the School Day

    The normal expectation will be that every effort will be made to adjourn at regular dismissal time.  However, on rare occasions, when maintaining the regular schedule may result in large numbers of students being unable to return home safely, school will be dismissed early.  Parents should:

    • Fill out the emergency school closing card at the beginning of the year so we know who to call in this case.  Notify the school office if any emergency contact information changes throughout the school year.
    • Watch for an automated phone, text, and email messages from the school or District.
    • Listen to area radio/television stations to hear if schools will be closed.
    • Know that elementary students will not be dismissed unless school personnel are certain that students will be properly supervised when they reach home or emergency destinations.

    Closing After-School, Evening & Weekend Programs

    If the schools are closed for emergency reasons, all activities (recreational, athletic, co-curricular, clubs, organizations) will be canceled.

    Student Family & Emergency Contact Information

    A Student Information page is printed from the information we receive from the family on registration day at the start of each school year.  This information sheet will be distributed at the beginning of each year for updating. Please make any changes on the form, sign and return to the school office as soon as possible.  If you have more than one child at school, you need to fill out one sheet for each child. The emergency contact information is required to let the teacher and principal know what to do with your child if the entire class and school has to be evacuated due to a fire, water main breaks, severe weather, etc.

    Health Concerns During School Day

    When illness or accidents occur at school, children are sent to the office, which is staffed by the administrative assistant and office aide.  Staff provide basic first aid, band-aids, take temperatures, and give lots of TLC. All information concerning the health room and students is strictly confidential.   Our district nurses are available during the school day for questions or emergencies and will come to schools when needed.  

    Head Lice Guidelines

    Head lice control is a community-wide problem and does not reflect poor hygiene.   Anyone can get head lice. Lice is spread through direct head-to-head contact, sharing hats, brushes and other personal items.  Lice cannot fly, jump, or swim. Lice do not carry disease and they cannot make you sick. Children CANNOT get lice just by being in school or in a classroom with another child who has lice.  School is generally not the place where children get lice. Lice are present all year round.

    Children should be discouraged from head-to-head contact and sharing any items that come in contact with the hair. Parents should screen their own children thoroughly at home (weekly if possible).  This can prevent the disruption of classroom activity and faster recognition and treatment of head lice. Parents are responsible for the treatment of live lice and the removal of eggs. Information regarding children with head lice and head lice checks is confidential and cannot be discussed with others. We do not exclude children for head lice.  If live lice are found on a student during the school day, parents will be notified but not asked to pick their student up. The student will remain in school. This follows both the American Academy of Pediatrics policy and National Association of School Nurses.  

    Immunization

    State law (140.05 Wisconsin Statutes) requires all children entering school to be immunized.  Per Wisconsin legislature, if these requirements are not met by the 30th day of school, students will be excluded from school until they receive these immunizations.  These requirements can be waived only if a properly signed medical, religious or personal conviction exemption is filed with the school office. Please click here to review the Center for Disease Control immunization guidelines https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/

    Health Restrictions and Concerns

    In order to better understand and meet the needs of your child, it is important that you share with school any physical limitations (also see “Exclusions from Physical Education”) chronic health concerns (diabetes, asthma, etc.), life-threatening conditions (allergies, seizures, etc.), or other health concerns that may affect your child during the school day.  These health concerns should be filled out on the emergency information forms prior to the first day of school and reviewed each year.

    Medication

    Prescription and non-prescription medication should be administered to or by students before or after school, and under a parent or medical supervision. If a student must take or receive a prescription or non-prescription medication while on school property or during district-sponsored events, his/her parent must first submit written authorization. Medication authorization forms are available at the school’s office on the district’s website at: www.wauwatosaschools.org/medication

    School Board Policy #5330 and state law govern the administration of medications to students while in school.

    • All medications brought onto school grounds must be in their original packaging, with the pharmacy label (prescription) or package instructions (non-prescription) clearly intact and readable. Medications brought to school in baggies, envelopes, or other types of containers will be kept in the office but not administered. A parent will be notified.
    • All non-prescription medications must be provided to the school office in the original manufacturer’s container.  Doses cannot exceed the manufacturer’s recommendations.
    • District staff shall monitor all situations involving student medication.
    • Medications carried by students will be confiscated and parents will be notified if proper authorization is not on file.
    • If a student will need an inhaler at school for asthma, a parent/guardian will need to complete the following document for school: Asthma Action Plan or provide an equivalent from the child’s physician.  Wisconsin law allows students to self-carry inhalers.
    • If a student will need to have an Epi-Pen at school, the child’s health care provider will need to complete and sign the form: Allergy Action Plan

    Please click the link  to review the Wauwatosa School District Medication Policy

    Allergies

    The Wauwatosa School District is aware of increasing concerns for children with life-threatening allergies. Accommodations for students with life-threatening allergies are made according to the student’s need and developmental level. Forms for the student’s health care provider and parent/guardian are required and are also available on the school website. Teachers and administrators receive education and training regarding allergies.

     

    School District Nurse

    Katelyn Lasse, RN, BSN 414-773-1961 and

    Alicia Styka, RN, BSN Phone: 414-773-1962

    Please click below to review the Wauwatosa School Districts additional Health Information.

    www.wauwatosaschools.org/healthservices

     

    Wauwatosa Health Department

    Wauwatosa Public Health Department nurses act as a consultant to teachers and principals. They will coordinates services with the School District Nurse if needed and under certain circumstances are available to counsels students and parents if requested.  Please call the Wauwatosa Health Department, (414) 479-8936, if you would like to access a Public Health Department nurse.