Handbook: Student Services
HEALTH PROGRAM
The school health program seeks to fulfill the obligation the school has to promote and protect the health of its children. This program is managed by the school nurse who is on duty to provide care for health problems or injuries. The nurse is available to consult with parents/guardians regarding health-related school problems.
All FRPS students will be screened for vision and hearing.
You can help the school meet its obligation by observing the following practices:
Illness
Do not send your child to school if s/he appears ill. The following signs and symptoms are indicators of illness:
- Temperature of 100 or above
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
- Sore throat, swollen glands of neck or throat
- Acute cold symptoms or persistent cough
- Red, inflamed or discharging eyes
- Any suspected communicable disease
- Earache, toothache, persistent headache
- Head and body lice
- Acute state of asthma or allergy attack
- Unexpected, unexplainable profuse sweating
- Undiagnosed rashes. A note from the doctor stating the child is not contagious is required to return to school if the child is sent home with an undiagnosed rash.
Generally, a student who is too ill to participate in physical education classes should remain at home. However, illnesses preventing children from participating in physical education classes must have a doctor’s note.
Children diagnosed with contagious diseases such as ringworm, scabies,
conjunctivitis (pinkeye) or impetigo must have a note stating the name of the medication with which they have been treated to return to school. Students may return to school after being treated for 24 hours.
A STUDENT MAY NOT RETURN TO SCHOOL UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN CLEAR OF FEVER, VOMITING OR DIARRHEA FOR 24 HOURS.
Always check with the nurse at your school if there are questions about the appropriate time for student return.
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Health Records
A health record will be maintained by the school nurse for each student enrolled in Fort Rucker Schools. These records will be kept in the nurse’s office during the school year and will then become a part of the student’s cumulative record. These records may be reviewed upon request.
Any allergies or medical problems that may show up periodically at school should be indicated on these records by the parent. Parents will need to provide an Epipen Jr. for children with severe allergies to food or insects. All food allergies must
have a doctor’s note describing what the child may and may not have to eat at school.
Consent Form for Health Provider
When community medical or mental health providers request that a child’s teacher complete a behavior rating or behavioral checklist, the Ft. Rucker Schools require that a parent sign a consent form for the release of information. The rating/checklist is then completed by the teacher and given to the school psychologist or counselor who sends it directly to the medical/mental health provider who requested the information.
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Injuries at School
First aid will be given immediately in the event of an injury to a student. If the injury is of a serious nature, the parent/guardian will be notified and medical assistance secured as soon as possible. The principal is advised of all injuries.
When students request to see the school nurse, the following procedures will be followed:
- A student must have a referral slip from the teacher to come to the nurse’s office during school hours.
- If the nurse is not in her office, students should report to the school office for assistance.
Medication
Due to Lyster Army Hospital Pharmacy regulations, medications CANNOT be dispensed at school UNLESS the container bears a pharmacy label with:
- the student’s name
- the current date
- the type (name) of medication
- the dosage.
All medications should be brought to school by a responsible adult. Children may not bring medications on their own. At both schools, a medication release form will need to be completed in the nurse’s office indicating the time it is to be given and when it is to be discontinued.
Over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, throat sprays and cough drops also need a pharmacy label or doctor’s note in order for the students to receive them at school.
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SPECIAL EDUCATION
Special education programs for pre-school children with disabilities and for children in grades Pre-K through 6 are available at FRDS. Students eligible to attend the Ft. Rucker Schools and identified as meeting established criteria are eligible for special education services. Students transferring into FRDS must also meet DODEA eligibility guidelines. Fort Rucker Schools continue to promote the least restrictive setting that provides maximum benefit to the student.
Parents will be notified and are urged to participate in all meetings concerning their child. No individual evaluations or placements will be done without parental permission.
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CHILD FIND
Special Education Services are available to all students including preschoolers. If you have concerns regarding your child’s academic, physical, social, or language development, please contact the child’s teacher or the principal. Preschool children ages three and four years with developmental delays, physical disabilities, or speech-language problems may be eligible for services. Contact Ft. Rucker Primary School Principal if you are concerned about your preschooler. For infants and toddlers, ages 0-2, please contact Educational and Developmental Information Services (EDIS) at 255-7237.
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COUNSELING PROGRAM
The counseling program is an integral part of the total school program. Counselors provide group guidance, individual counseling, and consultation with teachers, students, and parents. The school counselors have an opportunity to meet with the students in the schools for group lessons in self-understanding, expressing ideas, interpersonal relations, decision making, motivation, and bully prevention.
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GIFTED EDUCATION
Gifted education students are defined as those who exhibit extremely high performance and capability. Students identified through multiple measures will be provided differentiated instruction as well as social and emotional support. The Gifted Review Committee will determine each student’s eligibility status. After reviewing a student portfolio, the committee will determine a student eligible, ineligible, or monitored.
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READ 180
Read 180 is a program offered to students who have difficulty reading in grades 3-6. This program uses guided reading, computer instruction, silent reading and other strategies to assist the student in mastering reading.
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SPECIAL AREAS
Fort Rucker Schools offer a diverse range of specialized instruction. The disciplines of art, music, physical education, library science, K-3 Spanish, and guidance are taught in a rotational schedule. Each discipline has varied subject matter, concepts, skills, vocabulary, and a means of communication and expression. The DARE Program is also an integral part of the student’s curriculum.
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Standardized Testing
StandardAugust 4, 2008in grades 3-6 to guide instruction in the classroom. The results of these tests provide a continuing record of each student’s needs and progress. The assessments are also utilized in the Community Strategic Plan. Assessments that are administered throughout the year include:
- Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) for students in grades one, two and three.
- Terra Nova Multiple Assessment for students in grades 3-6.
- Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) a computer based assessment given five times each year to grades one through six.
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SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION OF STUDENTS
The principal may suspend a student for willful disobedience, inflicting physical injury, verbal threats open defiance of authority, destruction of school property, or when other means of correction have failed to bring about proper conduct. Parents will be notified and a conference will be held. A teacher may not exclude a student from class without the approval of the principal.
The superintendent has the authority to expel a student. The principal may recommend to the superintendent that a student be expelled. Students will be afforded a hearing before a decision is made on expulsion.
Fighting or violence directed toward another student will not be tolerated at any time. This behavior will result in immediate
suspension.