Health Room

All students at Mary of Nazareth School must be fully immunized in accordance with the requirements of the state of Maryland. It is the policy of the Archdiocese of Washington that there are no exemptions permitted. If your child has a medical contraindication to being immunized to a contagious disease, it should be documented by a physician and a temporary exemption will be permitted.

MD Immunization Update 

MD State Immunization Requirements 

Please see the "Physical Assessment and Health Evaluation Requirements" section for the required forms.

There are several children in our school with allergies, including nut/peanut allergies. Please contact the school nurse if you have questions regarding your child’s classroom or if your child is newly diagnosed with a food allergy.

Allergy Friendly Product List

Allergy Agreement and Action Plan

Family Food Allergy Health History

Inhaled Medication Authorization Form

Asthma Action Plan (suggested, not required)

Parents will be called if student has lice. Student does not have to leave school until the end of the day, however, must submit proof of approved home or professional treatment and be re-checked by the school nurse before returning to class. A second treatment within 7-10 days is highly recommended. 

Head Lice Pamphlet

Head Lice Letter and Information

Returning to School Policy

A student diagnosed with Communicable disease and/or who misses 3 or more days of school due to illness or injury, must submit a Physician/Licensed Provider's Back-to-School clearance to RN before returning to class. Contact RN for accountability details & Back-to-School Clearance requirements.

• A Parent may always come to give medicine to their own child at school, except to treat acute illness symptoms; for safety & decorum please come to HR to administer any medicine or treatment. Acute illness cannot be treated at school; student will always be sent home for care of fever, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, etc.
• A Physician's Order or copy of Discharge Instructions is required on file in HR to authorize special instructions, exceptions, mobility assistance & accommodations, etc, during the school day eg. for frequent hydration and/or bathroom breaks, regular rest periods, special therapies, use of HR's wheelchair, etc.
• Whenever feasible, schedule routine/non-emergency medicine & treatments at home, outside of school hours.
• Try to anticipate Medication or Treatment needs before the school year begins. Get Authorization forms completed & renew meds for managing ADHD, Asthma, Severe Allergies, Diabetes, pain (headaches, orthodontia, tendonitis, cramps, etc), Seizures, etc, during the summer to avoid treatment delays and lost school/work time for all concerned.
• The first dose of any new medicine must be given at home, in a Doctor's office, in a Hospital or Clinic setting--not at school.
• ALL medication at school must be securely stored & administered in the HR under authorized adult supervision. (unless student is fully pre-authorized to carry & self-administer). Applies all Prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, including Controlled Rx, antibiotics, nebs/inhalers, allergy products, eye drops, nasal sprays, Tums/Pepto-Bismol, Tylenol, Motrin/Advil, Fast-Melts, vitamins, lotions/salves, etc.
• Each medicine or Treatment must have a separate Authorization Form completed each school year (in addition to any Action Plans) by both a Parent/Guardian and a Physican/Licensed Provider, and which must be on file in HR before anything can be dispensed or administered. Forms are available in HR or for download from school website (Important: the incomplete Health Room Forms Library at TADs is available ONLY under 'Admissions Forms' and ONLY during a student's First Year of enrollment at St Pius; thereafter you cannot access nor upload them. Please refer to our complete Health Room Forms Library at right and consult School RN for what is needed and help with processing).
• *NOTE: Unauthorized and/or unlabeled medicines CANNOT be accepted nor given at school, even with a parent's note from home. Unauthorized medicine will be confiscated and a parent will have to come to HR to retrieve it.
• Telephone Orders are accepted only from a Physician/Licensed Provider by the school RN; a hard copy of their written order and a signed Parent/Guardian Authorization must follow and be on file beforeany medicine/treatment can be provided.
• A Parent/Guardian must personally bring in and take home all antibiotic and controlled Prescriptions (eg. Rx for ADHD, Seizures, etc).
• ALL medicine must be in its original container, with a viable expiration date. Prescriptions must have the complete Pharmacy label affixed; OTC's must be in the original Manufacturer's container. Ask Pharmacist for labeled refills for all needed locations (home, school, day care, sports club, etc). *Parent also provides any needed supportive equipment eg. glucometer+test strips, syringes, oral dosers, inhaler spacer, nebs tubing+mask or T-piece, P.T./comfort measures, shelter-in-place supplies, etc *NOTE: HR does maintain (2) non-portable nebulizer machines for school-day use.

For medication safety & viability, please do not ever leave any medicine in a vehicle or garage where temperature extremes will denature and/or damage them, especially Rx rescue inhalers & EpiPens, rendering them useless in a medical emergency.

• Student may carry & self-administer medication in school ONLY with express written authorization of a Physician/Licensed Provider and a Parent/Guardian. Authorizations must be on file in HR. School RN will review policies & procedures with student to verify understanding & ability; priviledge will be revoked if student cannot manage appropriately or responsibly. It is always a good idea to have a duplicate Rx supply provided to HR for back-up.
• Emergency Medication (eg. rescue inhaler, EpiPen) is sent on all school Field Trips & off-campus activities unless otherwise instructed. The Homeroom Teacher will be responsible for medicines during the activity, unless student has been pre-authorized to carry & self-administer; School RN does not go off campus with Field Trips or other school-sponsored activities. 

Please send a sturdy, reusable water bottle, labeled with student's name, to school each day. 

Ample hydration fosters overall good health and well-being, especially in school-age children, for optimal growth and development; for improved stress-coping & stamina; for fewer complaints of headaches, allergy, or illness; for good digestion and motility; for better memory, participation and test performance; etc. 

The Health Room has a limited inventory of loaner PE uniforms for those torn or soiled during the school day. Loaners are for emergency First Aid & damage exchange only; all are clean, but "gently used," old-style items & fitted as available. Original clothing & explanation note will be sent home; please promptly launder & return all loaned items to the Health Room.