Allergies & Health Concerns

We have students who have life threatening allergies to all nuts. We ask that parents be vigilant in making sure nuts or nut products are not sent to school in snacks or lunches with your child. This would include snacks and lunches for students when they are participating in off-site school activities / field trips. These students do not have to eat the nut product to have a reaction. A reaction can occur from touching or smelling nuts.

This is a life threatening condition to these students and so it is with their safety in mind that we enforce our nut-aware policy at MTS. It is a parent’s / guardian’s responsibility to inform the school staff in writing of a child’s health concern. We will continue to educate both the children who have this life threatening condition as well as those who do not. We will
continue to encourage an empathetic understanding of severe allergies and the seriousness of the consequences.

Student Health

Medical information is completed at the beginning of each school year. 
Parents are responsible for informing the school of a student's health needs or health concerns which could affect the student's behaviour, learning or the welfare of other students and/or staff. 

If your student has a health concern please inform the office/principal, or appropriate staff member when a health concern is diagnosed. It is important that we are informed of any health concerns:

• At the beginning of each school year
• When a health concern changes, and
• When a student changes schools

We will work with you to complete the Student Health Plan and the Student Health Emergency Response Protocol Form as required. For more information please review our Administrative Regulation 6002 - Student Health Services.

Administering Medications

Parents need to be aware that school personnel are not authorized to dispense or administer medication without the written consent of the parent. When medication must be taken at school, a Student Health Plan form must be completed and approved by the principal. 

Emergency Forms

A Student Health Emergency Response Protocol Form must be completed for each child. This information is vital to ensure the proper care and safety of your child during illness, accident or emergency. Please notify us immediately of any changes to ensure we have accurate records. 

Illness & Contagious Diseases

When children are ill it is in their best interest, and that of their fellow students, to remain at home where they are able to rest until they are fully recovered.

For the protection of all others in the school we are obligated to adhere strictly to the isolation time periods listed below. Students who are sent back to school prior to the full term of the isolation period will be returned home.

Isolation Periods

Measles - 4 days after appearance of rash
Chickenpox - 5 days after the appearance of the first crop of blisters
Mumps - 9 days after swelling appears
Pink Eye - until treated and no signs of infectious state is present
Head Lice - until treated with recommended anti lice shampoo

If students become ill at school they can rest in the nurse’s room for a brief time until it is determined that they can return to class. If the illness is of a more serious nature, parents will be notified to pick up their child. Parents will always be contacted if the illness or injury is deemed serious.

The school should be made aware of any medical problems so that we are best able to assist a student in the event of an emergency. Please keep us up to date with your emergency phone contact numbers.

Injuries at School

Should your child be injured at school the following procedures will be followed:

• A school staff member will take action to ensure the safety of the student and administer minor first aid.
• The parent or guardian will be telephoned and appraised of the situation and asked, if necessary, to come to school, and advise us of their wishes regarding their child’s injury.
• If we are unable to contact the parent/guardian or emergency contact person, an administrator will decide if emergency treatment is necessary.

If emergency treatment appears to be necessary, the child will be transported to a Hospital, at the parents’/guardians’ expense. Parents/guardians will be contacted as soon as possible.

School Nurse

A public health nurse is available at the school on a rotating basis. The nurse is an excellent source of information for public health concerns and can help you and your child in a variety of ways. Services provided by the public health nurse
in schools include:

• Immunization and control of communicable diseases
• Working with students and families to address concerns of physical and emotional health
• Providing consultation to teachers in the area of health education
• Participating in health promotion activities such as injury prevention programs to improve the over-all health of the school community.

Students, parents and school personnel may utilize any of these services. If you have questions or require additional information, please connect with the public health nurse at your school or call the public health district office in your area.The nurse visits McKenzie Towne School one half day every week. Otherwise, they may be reached at the South Community Health Centre at 403-943-9300.