HEALTH
SERVICES INFORMATION
The School Nurses, Health Aides, and numerous volunteers are screening
students this fall checking vision, hearing, scoliosis, and growth.
Effective screening programs are intended to identify health problems that
otherwise would not be identified until a later date, when treatment is
less effective or more costly.
Early detection of vision or hearing
deficits is essential to optimize learning capabilities.
Approximately 7.5% of school-age children have vision problems and
3-5% of children experience hearing deficits.
This year, vision screening will be done
for 1st and 4th grade; hearing screening for 1st and 3rd grade; scoliosis
screening for 5th, 7th, and 9th grade girls and 7th and 9th grade
boys. Scoliosis screening dates and information will go home with
the students prior to that event.
Every elementary student (unless
parent/guardian states otherwise) will have his or her weight and height
measured and BMI (Body Mass Index) calculated. As with all health
information, this health data is kept confidential. The school
nurses will look for changes in growth pattern and inform parents, if
indicated.
If you do not hear from the School Nurse, you can
assume that your student had no abnormal screening results. Please
call your school's health office if you have concerns or questions
regarding screening, and anytime you have concerns about your student's
health.
