Welcome Students, Parents &/or Guardians!  It is our goal to work with you and our faculty to keep your student healthy and ready to learn. Listed below is general information regarding school health services:

In order to best meet the emotional and behavioral needs of our students, MOT Charter campuses have support staff which includes Nurse, Psychologist, Counselors and Special Education resources.

To reach our K-8 Academy Wellness Staff during their hours of 8:15 am to 3:30 pm:

• Phone: 302-376-5125 | Fax: 302-376-5120
• Email: beth.twitchell@mot.k12.de.us

Offices are located across the hall from the main office.

To reach our High School Wellness Staff during their hours of 7:15 am to 2:30 pm:

• Phone: 302-696-2000 | Fax: 302-696-2001
• Email: HSNursesMOT@mot.k12.de.us

Offices are located across the hall from the main office.

Health Policies

MEDICATION POLICIES

All medication is kept in the nurse’s office. Guidelines regarding medication include:

• Medication must be brought to school and picked-up from school by a parent/guardian.
• All medication must have the pharmacy label or the original container (for over-the-counter medication). This is a state law; therefore • noncompliance will result in your child not receiving the medication at school.
• Any medicine caught carried by a student, will be taken and kept at the nurse’s office until a parent or guardian comes to pick up.
• All students with asthma and/or allergies are recommended to have asthma (inhalers/nebulizers) and allergy (epi-pens) medications kept at school. Asthma, allergy, and seizure action plans are required to be updated annually.
• Any student going home due to health issues determined by a school nurse evaluation, must be discharged from the nurse’s office directly to their parent/guardian. To help ensue privacy, all phone conversations related to student health issues are conducted on the phone in the nurse’s office. Use of a personal cell phone is in conflict with the code of conduct.

NEW STUDENTS

Students who are entering MOT Charter as a first time student must complete the required health forms. According to Delaware laws and the Department of Education regulations, all children entering Delaware public schools are required to have written documentation of the following:

• 5 or more doses of DtaP, DTP, or Td vaccine (unless 4th dose given after 4th birthday)
• 4 doses of IVP or OPV (unless 3rd dose was given after the 4th birthday)
• 2 doses of MMR vaccine administered after the age of 12 months
• 3 doses hepatitis B vaccine
• 2 doses of varicella (chicken pox) vaccine or written documentation of the disease
• Physical Examination done within the past 2 years
• Tuberculosis – results of Mantoux screening completed within the last 12 months or written documentation from a physician or public health clinic stating that the child has a low risk factor

Ninth Grade Screenings: All 9th graders will have school-provided hearing, vision, and scoliosis screenings (before December 15th).

Student Health in the News: Concussions

What is a Concussion?

nurse, formsA concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury, or TBI, caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that can change the way your brain normally works. Concussions can also occur from a fall or a blow to the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth.

Health care professionals may describe a concussion as a “mild” brain injury because concussions are usually not life-threatening. Even so, their effects can be serious.

Most people with a concussion recover quickly and fully. But for some people, symptoms can last for days, weeks, or longer. In general, recovery may be slower among older adults, young children, and teens. Those who have had a concussion in the past are also at risk of having another one and may find that it takes longer to recover if they have another concussion.

Symptoms of a Concussion

Difficulty thinking clearly
Headache
Fuzzy or blurry vision
Irritability
Sleeping more than usual
Feeling slowed down
Nausea or vomiting (early on)
Dizziness
Sadness		 Sleep less than usual
Difficulty concentrating
Sensitivity to noise or light
Balance problems
More emotional
Trouble falling asleep
Difficulty remembering new information
Feeling tired, having no energy
Nervousness or anxiety

Some of these symptoms may appear right away, while others may not be noticed for days or months after the injury, or until the person starts resuming their everyday life and more demands are placed upon them. Sometimes, people do not recognize or admit that they are having problems. Others may not understand why they are having problems and what their problems really are, which can make them nervous and upset.

The signs and symptoms of a concussion can be difficult to sort out. Early on, problems may be missed by the person with the concussion, family members, or doctors. People may look fine even though they are acting or feeling differently.  Source www.cdc.gov/concussion