The school maintains a sick room staffed by a nurse each day from 8:00 - 3:10. Sick or injured students should be referred to the school nurse. The nurse plans programs to educate employees and students about health, safety and related issues, policies and procedures. The school nurse is the only employee who would ever administer medication to a student. Teachers and administrators receive CPR training and other training as may be appropriate.

All parents must complete a Medical Permission Form for each student prior to the start of the school year.

Immunization Requirements

PDS follows the Tennessee Department of Health Rules for Immunization. All students must have an up-to-date Tennessee Certificate of Immunization to attend school.

Note

The immunizations your son receives for Senior Kindergarten are the last ones he will have until he enters the 7th grade. If your son is re-enrolling for 1st-6th grade, you may ignore this section. The SK Certificate of Immunization is the last one you need to turn in while a student at PDS.

The state’s immunization schedule follows the current schedule published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

This link provides all of the detail on immunization requirements:
https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/immunization-program/ip/immunization-requirements.html

If you have questions about immunization, please contact the school nurse:
Alice Ball, RN, BSN

In order to better serve PDS students who must take medications during the school day, please assist us by following these guidelines which are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on School Health and the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department:

Prescription Medications

1. Parents must bring the medication to the office. Children are not allowed to transport medication. The medication should be provided to the school in the original container labeled by the pharmacist. This label must include patient’s name, name of the drug, dosage, how often taken and reason for the medication. This label will serve as the doctor’s order. The medication will be kept in a locked space in the school nurse office. The school nurse will keep a record (date and time) of all medication administered.
2. If a child is given a prescription to be taken “three times daily,” it is recommended that the parent give it to him before he comes to school, after going home from school, and before bedtime. The school will give medication only when dispensing is ordered more often or with lunch.
3. It is the responsibility of the parents to get refills when the bottle is sent home.
4. Please complete the Prescription Medication Authorization Form

Over the Counter Medications

PDS provides some over-the-counter medications, such as brand or generic versions of Advil, Tylenol, Benadryl, Tums and topical (skin) medications. The student will not be given any of these medications unless a permission form is filled out and on file in the nurses’ office.

A separate form is required for parent-provided oral, over-the-counter medications such as Mucinex, cough syrup and allergy medications like Zyrtec. If you would like your son to be given any of these medications you must bring the medication in the original bottle labeled with the student’s name and grade along with a completed permission form. This form may be picked up in the nurses’ office or completed online.

To ensure the safety and well-being of all PDS students, parents are requested to follow these important guidelines. If you have any questions or concerns regarding circumstances, please feel free to call the school nurse at 901–842–4627.

Food Allergy

See our Food Allergy Policy, Protocols And Procedures handbook item.

Medical Problems

All medical concerns should be brought to our attention immediately. Please help us keep down the spread of illness by keeping your son at home when he is sick. If your son has vomited, had diarrhea, or had fever in the last twenty-four hours, he cannot be at school.

YOUR SON MUST BE FEVER FREE WITHOUT FEVER REDUCING MEDICINES AND WITHOUT MEDICATION TO CONTROL VOMITING AND/OR DIARRHEA FOR A FULL 24 HOURS BEFORE RETURNING TO SCHOOL.

He will be sent home if he has a fever or any other contagious illness, i.e. pinkeye, etc. We strongly encourage good hand washing - it is the best defense against children spreading germs to one another. Please send a note if he is to be excluded from physical activity (i.e. recess, gym); otherwise, we will expect him to participate in all activities.

Sincerely,
Alice Ball, R.N., B.S.N.