The mission of the chemical health program is to empower students to make healthy choices that lead to academic success, social well-being, and emotional health.

Please see the following files for additional information on chemical health issues:

• Chemical Health Assessments
• What a drug problem may look like
• Resource Guide for Parents
• How can you tell if your child is using drugs?
• If you suspect your child is using drugs
• Proactive Approach to Adolescent Suicide Prevention

Contact Information
Katie Ward, Chemical Health Specialist
952-226-8783

Please report all diagnosed diseases and illnesses to your school health office; regardless of exclusion guidelines.  

Exclusion Guidelines for Common Childhood Illnesses and Diseases:

Acute Bronchitis: Student is required to remain home until fever is gone (without the use of a fever reducing medication) and the student is well enough to participate in routine activities. 

Chickenpox:  Student is required to remain at home until all blisters have dried into scabs; usually by day 6 after rash began.

Conjunctivitis (pink eye): No exclusion required unless the student has a fever or is not healthy enough to participate in routine activities. Antibiotics or note from a health care provider is not required to attend school.

COVID-19: Student is required to remain home until fever is gone (without the use of a fever reducing medication) and the student is well enough to participate in routine activities. Students are encouraged to wear a mask for 5 days after symptoms improve or, if no symptoms, test date.

Croup: Student is required to remain home until fever is gone (without the use of a fever reducing medication) and the student is well enough to participate in routine activities

Fifth Disease (Parvovirus): No exclusion required if other rash-causing illnesses are ruled out by a health care provider. Persons with fifth disease are no longer infectious once the rash begins. 

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease: Student is required to remain home until fever is gone (without the use of a fever reducing medication) and the student is well enough to participate in routine activities. Sores and rash may still be present.

Head Lice: No exclusion required but treatment is recommended before returning to school. 

Impetigo: Student is required to remain home at least 24 hours after treatment has started AND sores are drying/improving.

Influenza: Student is required to remain home until fever is gone (without the use of a fever reducing medication) and the student is well enough to participate in routine activities

Measles: Student is required to remain home until 4 days after rash appears.

Meningococcal Disease: Student is required to remain home until treatment for at least 24 hours of appropriate antibiotics has started, fever is gone (without the use of a fever reducing medication), and the student is well enough to participate in routine activities

Molluscum Contagiosum: No exclusion required. Parents/guardians are encouraged to cover bumps with clothing when there is a possibility that others will come in contact with the skin. If not covered by clothing, cover with a bandage. Students may not participate in swimming or other contact sports in sores cannot be covered by watertight bandages.

Mononucleosis: Student is required to remain home until fever is gone (without the use of a fever reducing medication) and the student is well enough to participate in routine activities

Pertussis (Whooping Cough): Student is required to remain at home until 5 days after appropriate antibiotic treatment begins. During this time the student should not participate in any childcare, school, or community activities. If not treated with 5 days of antibiotics, exclusion should be for 21 days after cough onset.  If there is a high index of suspicion that the student has pertussis (recent exposure), the student will be excluded until 5 days of antibiotics are completed or until the laboratory test comes back negative. 

Pneumonia/Respiratory Infections/RSV Infection: Student is required to remain home until fever is gone (without the use of a fever reducing medication) and the student is well enough to participate in routine activities

Ringworm: Student is required to remain home until treatment has started. Any student with ringworm should not participate in gym, swimming, or other close contact activities that are likely to expose others if the lesions cannot be fully covered or until 72 hours after treatment has begun. Athletes should follow their specific sport guidelines.

Shingles: Exclusion is not required if blisters can be completely covered by clothing or a bandage. If blisters cannot be covered, exclusion required until blisters have crusted. Students with severe (painful) cases should remain home; regardless of the ability to cover blisters.

Streptococcal Infection (Strep Throat/Scarlet Fever): Students required to remain home for at least 12 hours after antibiotic treatment begins, be fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of medications, and well enough to participate in routine activities.

See the Hennepin County Disease Manual for exclusion guidelines for additional guidance.

Few health conditions are as closely related to learning as concussions. Please alert the School Nurse should your student sustain a concussion, as there are often educational implications subsequent to a concussion.

Prior Lake Savage Area Schools require a doctor’s note (preferably from a health care professional experienced in evaluating concussions) to make school accommodations. To assist in planning for any possible accommodations, we ask that the child's health care provider complete the Returning to School After a Concussion Form  or Acute Concussion Evaluation Care Plan (if your student will need more specific accommodations during the school day).

Please review the CDC fact sheet about concussions — including signs, symptoms, and danger signs.

If your student has a chronic, potentially life-threatening health condition (i.e., asthma, severe allergy, bee sting allergy, diabetes, seizures) please obtain an action plan from your student’s health care provider that outlines the student’s triggers, specific needs, and/or potential medications needed. If one is not available, please contact your student’s Licensed School Nurse to create a plan.

Prior Lake- Savage Area Schools encourages families to routinely check their child’s head for signs of lice and nits. Lice is commonly spread when children share personal items such as hats, combs, pillows, and blankets.

If a teacher suspects a student has head lice, the student will be brought to the health office for a head check. The health office will notify the parent/guardian of the affected student upon discovery of infestation. Siblings can be checked by the health office with a parent request. 

For more information, please review: 
https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/headlice/headlice.html

The Health Office Staff offer hearing and vision screenings each school year. 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.

Mass vision screening will be done for all 1st , 4th and 7th grade students; hearing screening will be completed for all 1st and 4th grade students. Screenings are also completed periodically for students who are having difficulty learning in class or who may have symptoms of a hearing or vision deficit such as frequent headaches. If you prefer your child is not screened for vision or hearing, please contact your student’s health office.

If you do not hear from the School Nurse, you can assume that your student had no abnormal screening results for vision or hearing. Please call your school’s health office if you have concerns or questions regarding screening.

Minnesota law requires written proof of certain vaccinations for children in child care, early childhood programs, and school. However, if a child has a medical reason or if his/her parents are opposed to any or all of the vaccinations, a legal exemption is available.  For more information, contact your student's health office.

Minnesota School Immunization Requirements 

MDH Immunization Form 

If your child does not have a regular clinic, or is unable to get an appointment to update immunizations, resources are available in the community.

Park Nicollet: Barrier Free Immunization Options

Scott County: Public Health Clinic  

The Licensed School Nurse may create an individualized health care plan for your student if staff outside of the health office are needed to respond to or make accommodations for your student due to their medical diagnosis. This plan helps to ensure that all necessary needs and information are considered while your student is attending school.

General Measles Information

Measles: Frequently Asked Questions 

 Measles Fact Sheet (English) 
Measles Fact Sheet (Hmong) 
Measles Fact Sheet (Somali) 
Measles Fact Sheet (Spanish) 

 

In the event your child is required to take medication during school hours, please complete the following form:

Prescription Medication Authorization Form
Your child’s physician must sign and complete page one. The Parent/Guardian must review and sign page two.

OTC Medication Authorization Form
The Parent/Guardian must review and sign page one. 
If dosing instruction exceeds recommendation, a physician order will be required.

Minnesota State Law requires schools to maintain a permanent health record for every child registered in the district showing immunizations and health conditions. Health information pertinent to the student’s safety and ability to learn in school is requested upon entrance into Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools and updates are requested annually. Parents are encouraged to notify the school of health problems, updated vaccines, or diagnosis of infectious disease. Information is considered confidential and shared with school personnel only as needed, and only with parent/guardian permission or where required by law.

We ask that all students/parents complete an annual update through Infinite Campus. Current students are encouraged to keep the school informed of any changes to phone numbers, addresses, emergency contact information, etc.