2024-25 Family Handbook
Health & Wellness
School nurses are in the schools each day supporting the academic success and social, emotional, behavioral, and physical health of all students. Other staff are also available to assist children for first aid or illness in the absence of the nurse.
Allergy Management
Students with allergies should provide documentation of allergies to the school nurse before school begins or upon enrolling in the district. Any medication required for use needs to be securely stored in the nurse’s office with an updated prescription. Any children with food or insect allergies that have been identified by a doctor must send documentation that will be kept in the child’s health files.
Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting
In compliance with state law and to provide protection to victims of child abuse and neglect, incidents of alleged child abuse should be reported to the proper authorities. Licensed employees are mandatory reporters, to report alleged incidents of child abuse that they become aware of within the scope of their professional practice.
Communicable Diseases
507.3 Communicable Diseases - Students
507.3R1 Communicable Diseases - Student RegulationStudents with a communicable disease will be allowed to attend school provided their presence does not create a substantial risk of illness or transmission to other students or employees. The term "communicable disease" shall mean an infectious or contagious disease spread from person to person, or animal to person, or as defined by law.
Concussions are a type of brain injury that disrupt the way the brain normally works. Concussions can occur in any sport or recreational activity and can result from a fall or from players colliding with each other, the ground, or obstacles. Concussions can occur with or without loss of consciousness, but most concussions occur without loss of consciousness.
Teach your child that it’s not smart to play with a concussion.
OBEY THE LAW. 2011 Iowa Acts, 32 (2011 SF 367)
Seek medical attention right away.
Keep your child out of participation until s/he is cleared to return by a licensed healthcare provider.
Tell all of your child’s coaches, teachers, and school nurse about ANY concussion.
Confidential Medical Services
Any confidential medical services that need to be provided within the Bettendorf Schools will be administered in a discreet manner. Please work with your building nurse if you have additional concerns or questions about medical services your student may need.
Dental Screening
Kindergarten and 9th-grade students are required by the state to provide a certificate of dental screening or exemption. The purpose of the dental screening requirement is to improve the oral health of Iowa's children. Dental screenings help with early detection and treatment of dental disease; promote the importance of oral health for school readiness and learning; and contribute to statewide surveillance of oral health.
First Aid
First aid is given for injuries that happen at school, but follow-up is the responsibility of the parent. PLEASE notify the school of any change in address or phone numbers. If a child is unable to attend recess or PE, the student must have a note from the doctor.
Health Record
A cumulative health record is maintained for each student. The nurse should be informed of any changes or developments pertaining to your child's health. Health Services Goal: To support academic success and social, emotional, behavioral and physical health of all students.
The State of Iowa requires the following health screenings. Learn more on the health services webpage
Kindergarten | 3rd Grade | 9th Grade |
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Illness
507.4 Injury or Illness at School
507.4R1 Stock Epinephrine Auto-Injector SupplyPlease notify the school office each day that your child is absent due to illness. Provide two symptoms of the illness for anonymous state required illness reporting.
When your child becomes ill at school, you or the person you have designated will be called. Please be prepared for this possibility and list emergency contacts for timely pick up of ill students.
Is My Child Too Ill to Attend School?
Parents are often confronted with this decision when their child complains of not feeling well. Please consult your doctor for specific medical advice.
Fever - 100.4 Degrees or HigherA fever is a sign of illness. A child with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher should not attend school. The child should be free of fever, without fever-reducing medication, for 24 hours before returning to school.
Sore Throat/Colds/Cough
Minor cold symptoms are common and usually don't interfere with school attendance. A persistent, frequent cough and/or constant nasal drainage may affect your child's performance at school, and he/she may be more comfortable at home. Most sore throats are caused by viruses as seen in colds or seasonal allergies. However, for children between the ages of two and eighteen, there is a risk to develop “strep” throat. The only certain way to diagnose “strep” throat is with a throat culture. The physician will usually prescribe an antibiotic such as penicillin and your child should stay out of school at least 24 hours after the medication has started.
Vomiting/Diarrhea
A child who has vomited should wait 24 hours and be able to retain solid foods before returning to school. A child who is having frequent diarrhea stools should not attend school. If there is cramping/abdominal pain with diarrhea, the student may be more comfortable at home. However, if your child is sick for more than three days, you may need to seek medical advice.
Pink Eye
Most eye infections are highly contagious. Symptoms include redness of eyes or eyelids, crusting of lashes and/or drainage from eyes. This infection is spread by hand to eye contact. Students may return to school 24 hours after treatment or when there is no longer a discharge from the eye.
Communicable Illnesses
The following website of communicable diseases is offered as a guideline in establishing a communicable disease control program in the Bettendorf Schools. The term "communicable disease" shall mean an infectious or contagious disease spread from person to person, or animal to person, or as defined by law.
https://hhs.iowa.gov/public-health/center-acute-disease-epidemiology/epi-manual/reportable-diseases
Students with a communicable disease will be allowed to attend school provided their presence does not create a substantial risk of illness or transmission to other students or employees.
Head Lice
Students are checked for head lice on an as needed basis only. Students found to have a lice infestation must receive appropriate treatment before returning to school.
Hearing
An audiologist from Mississippi Bend Area 9 Educational Agency screens children PreK - 2nd grade, 5th grade, new students, and students with known hearing issues annually. Students may also be referred and screened outside of this annual screening of specific grades.
Home Hospital Instruction
Home/hospital services are provided to a student when a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, a licensed physician assistant (PA), or a licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) determines that the student will, or is anticipated to be, absent from school for a minimum of 10 days during the school year due to a medical condition. The goal of home/hospital instruction (HHI) is to afford the student experiences equivalent to those afforded to other students at the same grade level. It is designed to enable the student to return to the classroom without having fallen behind. Thus, the substance or content of the instruction, generally academic, is to enable the student to remain on pace with the other students in his or her class.
Immunizations
No student may be enrolled in the district without proof of immunization.
Students enrolling must submit a certificate of immunizations against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles, rubella and any other immunizations required by the state of Iowa.
Children born on or after July 1, 1994, must show proof of three doses of hepatitis B vaccine prior to enrollment.
Students born after September 15, 1997, must have immunization against chicken pox after 12 months of age or a reliable history of the disease.
The student may be admitted conditionally to the attendance center if the student has submitted proof of immunization and has not completed required immunizations but is in the process of doing so. Failure to meet the immunization requirement will be grounds for exclusion.
Lead Testing
The law (House File 158) which requires evidence of a blood lead test when children enter school (i.e., before the age of 6 and provided to the elementary school in which the child is enrolling). The requirement applies to children enrolled in public and private schools and those who are homeschooled.
See the Iowa Department of Public Health website for more information.
Medications
507.2 Administration of Medication to Students
507.2E2 Parent Authorization & Permission for Administration of Prescriptions and Over the Counter/Nonprescription MedicationSome students may need prescription and nonprescription medication to participate in their educational program. These students shall receive medication as an accompaniment to their educational program.
Medication shall be administered when the student's parent or guardian (hereafter "parent") provides a signed and dated written statement requesting medication administration at school, and the medication is in the original labeled container, either as dispensed or in the manufacturer's container with the name of the child, name of the medication, the time of day to be administered, the dosage and the duration.
Please refer to the following Board Policies, available on the district website at www.bettendorf.k12.ia.us
Physical Form
Physical forms are required for participation in sports in middle and high school. Forms are available on the athletic webpages and Health Services webpage.
Vision
Each child in kindergarten through fifth grade is given yearly vision screening. Parents are notified if a concern is discovered. This screening does not take place of a recommended annual vision exam by your provider.