adult putting a bandage on a yoiung student

Health And Wellness

Overview

Our clinic staff includes a Registered Nurse and Clinic Assistant who work together to promote optimum health for the school community. Functions of our school health team include:

  • Review of health records to identify students with health needs

  • Developing emergency action plans for students with health problems such as asthma, allergies, diabetes, and seizures

  • Identification and follow-up of health problems affecting children’s learning

  • Referrals to community resources

  • Individualized health education to students, parents, and school personnel

  • Medication administration

  • Review of student’s immunization records

  • Investigation and follow-up of communicable diseases

  • Participation on IEP teams and 504 planning

  • Emergency First Aid

  • Health Screenings (hearing, vision), health education classes

  • Promotion of wellness activities for faculty and staff

  • Representation on committees within the school

Health Concerns

Students with health concerns such as asthma, diabetes, seizures & life-threatening allergies will need to have a health plan form completed by a physician. You may find these forms online at the Student Health and Safety link below. These forms are also available in the clinic.

Parents of students with health concerns are encouraged to contact the school nurse.

Medication Procedure

Administration of Non-Prescription Medications:

Parent will complete a medication administration request form and provide the medication in the original, unopened, packaging with the student’s name on it. Per CCPS Policy, school personnel may not administer non-prescription medication more than twice a day, more than three consecutive days, or more than three times per month without the written authorization of the student’s licensed health care provider. All medication will be brought to the clinic by the parent.

Administration of Prescription Medications:

School personnel will administer prescription medication to a student only with a written order from the student’s licensed health care provider that specifies the name of the medication, required dosage, and time the medication is to be given. A medication request form will be completed by the parent and provider. The medication, in its original container will be brought to the clinic by the parent. Students are not allowed to transport medication to and from school.

If your student requires prescription medication at school, please provide the required order when presenting the medication to clinic personnel. There are two medication request forms. One is for prescription medications and one is for over-the-counter medication

Sick Day Guidance

Keeping your child home is advised if illness symptoms would prevent participating in school.

School Wellness

Chesterfield County Public Schools recognizes the connection of students’ health and wellbeing on the ability to achieve personal, academic, and developmental success. Here in Chesterfield, we believe in supporting the whole child, where students’ intellectual, physical, social, emotional, and mental wellbeing is nourished. We, as a school division and a community, have an important responsibility to create learning environments that promote healthy, active choices and behaviors.

Good nutrition, particularly eating a healthy breakfast, is linked to positive student outcomes.  Additionally, emerging research has supported the connection between being physically active to improved indicators of academic achievement including increased engagement and improved behavior. But equally as important, we are equipping students with lifelong healthy habits for their current and future success.  Kids are made to move! So let’s get them moving!

Safe Water Initiative

As part of our efforts to provide a safe and secure environment for students and staff, CCPS is working in partnership with Chesterfield County Government to test drinking water throughout the school division.

Lead testing for drinking water in schools

In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly enacted new legislation regarding testing for drinking water in schools. The legislation requires school boards to develop and implement a program to test for lead in drinking water:

§ 22.1-135.1. Potable water; lead testing

Each local school board shall develop and implement a plan to test and, if necessary, remediate potable water from sources identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as high priority for testing, including bubbler-style and cooler-style drinking fountains, cafeteria or kitchen taps, classroom combination sinks and drinking fountains, and sinks known to be or visibly used for consumption. Such plan shall be consistent with guidance published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the Department of Health. The local school board shall give priority in the testing plan to schools whose school building was constructed, in whole or in part, before 1986. Each local school board shall submit such testing plan and report the results of any such test to the Department of Health. Each local school board shall take all steps necessary to notify parents if testing results indicate lead contamination that exceeds 10 parts per billion.

The Chesterfield County Risk Management’s Environmental Health Safety Office, in partnership with the Chesterfield County Public Schools Facilities Department, has developed a plan that provides guidance to meet these requirements. The plan is based on recommendations provided through the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s 3T’s for reducing lead in drinking water.

A triennial testing program has been developed for all school buildings, with prioritization of facilities built before 1986. Each school will be tested every 3 years.

How testing works

  • All drinking water sources are identified and labeled. Sources include water fountains, bubblers, bottle fillers, ice machines and sinks used in kitchens.  

  • A contractor completes water sampling and submits the samples to a regulated testing lab approved by the Virginia Department of Health. 

  • Samples are collected after water has not been used for at least eight hours (but not more than 18 hours). 

  • Sample collection begins at approximately 6 a.m. before school staff arrives. Sampling is conducted Tuesday through Friday while school is in session. 

  • The contractor collects an initial draw sample as well as a 30-second flush sample from each priority outlet. The initial draw samples the water that comes out of the faucet immediately after turning it on. A 30-second flush sample is a water sample taken after the faucet has run for 30 seconds at full force. 

  • All initial draw samples are tested, and if results show lead levels are 10 parts per billion (ppb) or higher, or if a copper content above the EPA Action Level of 1,300 ppb (1.3ppm) is detected, a test of the flush sample is required.

  • If results from the flush sample are not below the actionable level of 10 ppb lead and 1300 ppb copper, the water source will be remediated. That could include cleaning the aerator, a 30-minute flush or changing the water fixture. 

Tobacco & Vaping

E-cigarettes/vapes are the most commonly used tobacco product among U.S. and Chesterfield County youth. Vapes may contain nicotine, although they may be used to deliver marijuana (THC) and other drugs. Other tobacco products youth may use include cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, nicotine pouches and synthetic nicotine products. Nicotine in any form is highly addictive. 

Support youth in quitting tobacco for good.

Most youth who vape or use tobacco products want to quit. Free resources for quitting tobacco and vaping include:

Talk to youth about tobacco and nicotine

Did you know that it is illegal for anyone under 21 in Virginia to purchase, use or possess any tobacco or nicotine product? It is also illegal for anyone to purchase tobacco products for (or sell to) underage youth. If you talk to youth early and often about substance use, including tobacco and nicotine, they are more likely to respect your rules and advice. For more information and conversation tips, visit: