Health Services

Sara Moss, Nurse

Lorenia Rivera, Health Assistant

Health Office General Information

I am looking forward to working with you and your family this year. With your help, I will be here to support your children’s health needs. My responsibility is to keep students in class whenever possible. The average healthy student may never have a need to visit the school nurse or may likely make no more than 5 to 7 visits per school year. Proper use of the Health Office is encouraged. However, be assured acute illnesses and injuries will always be addressed immediately.

The school nurse is not allowed by law to make a medical diagnosis, prescribe treatment, or administer medication without a doctor's order. First aid and medical care provided by the school nurse are primarily for illnesses or injuries that occur during the school day. School is a healthy environment. The nurse's major responsibility is to maintain that environment and give each child the best opportunity to learn and reach his/her full potential through health education, health assessments, identification of health problems, the making of appropriate referrals/follow-ups, and altering the school environment to meet special health needs.

Illness/Emergency

School is no place for a sick child. Please keep your child at home if he/she has diarrhea, vomiting, a fever, rash, deep cough, or a communicable disease such as chicken pox, strep throat, pink-eye, etc. If you are unsure of your child’s symptoms, please call the school nurse before sending him/her to school. If your child has been ill with fever, he/she must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school.

You will be notified if your child becomes ill enough to be removed from school, sustains more than a minor injury, or for any other emergency. It is the parent’s responsibility to make arrangements to pick up your ill or injured child as promptly as possible. In accordance with district procedures, elementary and middle school students are not permitted to walk home when ill or injured. High school students may walk or provide their own transportation per agreement between the parent/guardian and the school nurse.

Health Concerns

It is imperative that you notify the nurse of any medical condition(s) your child may have such as diabetes, asthma, allergies, seizures, vision and hearing problems, a physical or mental disability, etc. This will allow the school staff and school nurse to better serve your child.

Medications (PVSchools Policy)

When it is necessary for your child to take medication during school hours, the following requirements must be met:

• A medication permission form signed by parents/guardians is required. Form can be obtained from the health office. (Name of the medication, dosage, time, and dates to be given must be stated on the form.)
• Prescription medicine must be current, in its original container, and with proper prescription label (Name of student, name of the medication, dosage, time, and route of administration). A separate medication form needs to be completed for each medication.
• Medications brought to school which do not meet the necessary requirements will not be dispensed by the nurse and will be kept in a locked cabinet in the Health Office until a parent/guardian verifies the medication and follows the procedures for dispensing the medication or picks up the medication.
• If your child requires a morning dose of medication, it is recommended that he/she receives it at home before leaving for school. We have found that the educational process is enhanced when students take their morning medication(s) at home. They arrive at school ready to meet the day.
• The Health Office will stock over-the-counter medications such as Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, antihistamines, and antacids. In order to administer any of these medications to your child, an over the counter medication record form needs to be completed and signed by parent/guardian.
• Students may not keep medications with them due to safety concerns. If a student is required to keep medication to self-administer as needed, a separate form needs to be completed and signed by medical provider, parents, and student.
• It is expected that medications be brought to school by the parent/guardian unless the parent/guardian has given written permission for the student to transport medications.
• Most pharmacies will dispense two bottles of prescribed medicine if you request it, one for home and one for school.
• Any extra medication(s) that have not been picked up by the parent/guardian at the end of treatment or at the end of the school year will be disposed of.

Emergency Card

Per district policy, parents/guardians must complete and sign the student’s emergency card to complete registration and enrollment. Emergency cards for high school students must be returned within a week of receiving them. Please make sure you have answered ALL questions, as we do not keep emergency cards from the previous year. Please notify the records clerk or nurse of any home, work, or emergency telephone number or address changes immediately so we may update your child's emergency card.

Immunization Requirements

Arizona State Law ARS ß 15-872 states that children must have documented proof of immunization on file at school. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to furnish the school with the month and year of each immunization for your child. If your child is missing or delinquent in receiving the required immunizations, your child may be excluded from school until the needed immunizations are received and documented proof is presented to the school nurse.

All students entering PVHS must be up to date on their immunizations before they can be admitted to school. Visit the Arizona Department of Health Services website to find current immunization requirements information. Should you have questions regarding your child’s immunizations, please feel free to contact the school nurse.

Contact PVHS Health Office

Welcome to PVHS. I am excited to work with parents and students as a team. Do not hesitate to contact me or my assistant.

Health Office hours: 7:00 am to 3:30 pm (Nurse available: 7:30 am to 2:10 pm)

Sara Moss, Nurse: (602) 449-7003, smoss@pvschools.net

Lorenia Rivera, Health Assistant: (602) 449-7013, ldelgadorivera@pvschools.net