Health Services

Determining whether a child is too ill to attend school can be a challenging judgment to make. To assist you in this process, consider the following criteria to make the most appropriate decision.

• Fever: Keep a child home if they have a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Due to the coronavirus we will be following guidelines advised to schools by WA State Department of Public Health which is currently 24 hours after fever is gone and symptoms get better.
• Sore throat: Be mindful of sore throats, especially those with a fever or swollen glands in the neck. If your child has strep throat, they can to return to school after 24 hours of appropriate treatment.
• Diarrhea Three or more unexplained episodes of watery or loose stool in 24 hours OR sudden onset of loose stool and feeling unwell. Student may return 24 hours after last episode.
• Vomiting: Keep a child home if they've thrown up two or more times in a 24-hour period.
• Rash: Watch for rashes, especially those that cause a fever, itching or swelling.
• Chronic cough and/or green nose discharge: These conditions may be contagious and require treatment. Please visit your healthcare provider.
• Ear: Any ear pain with a fever should be evaluated by a physician. Untreated ear infections can cause permanent hearing loss.
• Eye Redness: Eyes that have matted or crust on the eyelids after sleep, mucus or pus drainage, redness, and pain should be evaluated by a health care professional for possible "pink eye" or conjunctivitis.
• Lice or Scabies: Your child is able to return to school after treatment.
• Chicken Pox: Children with Chicken Pox must remain home for five days after the beginning of blisters, or until all pox are scabbed over and dry.
• COVID-19: Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 should follow the Washington State DOH guidance and should isolate for 5 days. Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 are encouraged to wear a mask for days 6-10 following the positive result. If your child tests positive for COVID-19, you do not need to report the test to your school.
• Hospitalization/Surgery/Injury: If your student has any health-related needs or accommodations following hospitalization, surgery, or injury, please contact the school office or school nurse prior to reentry.
• Other Symptoms: Unusually tired, pale, has a lack of appetite, is difficult to wake, confused or irritable. If symptoms persist, check with your doctor or the school nurse.

Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
Washington State Department of Health
Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
Kitsap Public Health Department (KPHD)

Students enrolling in school, from preschool through 12th grade, whether attending in-person or online, must receive the necessary immunizations as listed in the charts below to fulfill immunization requirements. Students of the same age range participating in before and after-school programs must also meet the immunization requirements appropriate for their grade level. These requirements are in alignment with the national Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Immunization Schedule.

• (English) 2023 - 2024 School Immunization Charts
• (Español) 2023 - 2024 School Immunization Charts

*Students that are eligible for the McKinney-Vento program are not required to provide health documents at the time of enrollment as a condition of enrollment. If there are barriers for the family to access these documents please contact the McKinney-Vento liaison.   

Prior to your student's enrollment, whether for in-person or online learning, please supply a medically verified immunization record. This can be obtained from your student's health care provider, or you can access and print it yourself using MyIR, a complimentary online tool from the Department of Health. MyIR allows families to view and print their official immunization records independently. Visit the MyIR registration page to begin the sign-up process.

• Certificate of Immunization Status Form

Under Washington State Law, parents or guardians have the right to seek exemption for their child from the immunization requirements of schools or childcare centers. These exemptions can be invoked for personal/philosophical, religious, or medical grounds. However, exemptions for measles, mumps, and rubella cannot be claimed due to personal or philosophical reasons. To apply for an exemption, a fully completed Certificate of Exemption must be submitted to the school or childcare center. For more details about exemptions, please visit the Department of Health website.

• Certificate of Exemption Form

Life-threatening health conditions pose a significant challenge to students' daily lives and their education. Defined under Washington State Law: RCW 28A.210.320 and North Kitsap School District Policy: 3413, a life-threatening health condition refers to any health situation that could put a student's life at risk during the school day, if a medication or treatment order and a nursing plan are not in place.

To manage these conditions effectively, the district requires that students with any life-threatening health condition submit a medication or treatment order to the school record’s staff or the school nurse before attending school. This ensures that the school is aware of the student's condition and is prepared to handle any emergencies that may arise.

Once a medication or treatment order is received, the school nurse develops a nursing plan tailored to the student's specific needs. This comprehensive approach ensures that the school staff can promptly and appropriately respond to any health emergencies that may occur during the school day.

In the absence of a medication or treatment order, students with life-threatening health conditions may be excluded from school following due process. This precaution is taken to ensure the safety of the student until such orders are received and a suitable plan is established.

Examples of life-threatening conditions include:

• Severe bee sting or food allergies
• Severe asthma, seizures, heart problems
• Diabetes

However, the North Kitsap School District encourages parents to contact their building's School Health Consultant or the Student Health Services Office (360) 396-3580 directly for inquiries about any other illnesses that their student might be experiencing.