School Health Profile

Health Suite

Marie Reed Elementary School is fortunate to have a full-time nurse, Ms. Kamara on-site daily from 8:00am-4:30pm to tend to student illness and injury. The nurse is an employee of Children’s Hospital and is assigned to Marie Reed through the School Nurse Program. Ms. Kamara maintains immunization and health records for all students at Marie Reed. Families are required to submit updated immunization and health certificates upon enrolling at Marie Reed each year.

DCPS School Health Requirements

DCPS requires that health physicals and oral health assessments be conducted annually. Students must also be current with their immunizations to attend school. A series of medical forms should be turned in to the school as part of the enrollment process, and any updated forms throughout the school year should be submitted to the school nurse. The following documents are required:

• Universal Health Certificate (required annually for all grades, documenting immunizations, tuberculosis assessment, lead screening, and a physical exam). If you have questions about DC’s immunization requirements, please discuss them with your child’s physician. You can also contact the DC Department of Health Immunization Division at 202-576-9325.
• Oral Health Assessment (required annually for all grades).

Other necessary forms include:

• Medication and Treatment Authorization Form (as needed)
• Asthma Action Plan (as needed)
• Action Plan for Anaphylaxis (as needed)

All forms are available in the school’s main office and health suite, and downloadable above.

Immunization requirements

Unless you obtain a medical or religious exemption, DC law requires your child to receive immunizations against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, mumps, measles, rubella, polio, Haemophilus influenza type (Hib), hepatitis B, and varicella in order to attend school.

Common Wellness/Sickness Expectations

• When a child is treated by the nurse, she will contact the family to provide a report.
• If a child has a fever or is vomiting, the nurse will contact the family and ask for someone to pick the child up from school.
• If a child is found to have lice (nits or live), the parent must administer treatment and show proof of treatment to the nurse prior to returning to school. Because it is so easy to miss 1 or 2 nits (eggs), it is recommended to always repeat treatment 7-10 days after the initial treatment, to prevent another outbreak.
• In the event of a serious medical emergency, school administration will call 911 and the child’s family. If a child must be transported by ambulance, a school staff member will accompany the child until a family member can arrive.