Medication and Health Policies
Current policies regarding student health, medication, screenings, and more are contained in each campus’s Family Handbook.
Health Screenings
As noted in our Family Handbooks, there are a number of State-mandated health screenings we are required to conduct for students throughout the school year. These include:
- Hearing and vision screenings for all students new to Great Hearts Irving (including all Kindergarteners),
- Annual hearing and vision screenings for all 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders,
- Annual Acanthosis nigricans screenings for all 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders, and
- Spinal screenings for all 5th grade girls.
Lower School Health Screenings for Distance Learners
This year, to ensure that all our distance learners receive these important, mandatory screenings, we have created a Sign Up Genius. Parents of distance learners in 1st, 3rd, or 5th grades, or who are new to Great Hearts Irving, should sign up for an appointment to bring their child to school to be screened by the school nurse. Please sign up for a separate appointment for each of your children. Parents should park and walk up to the Green Door. Nurse Johnson will be aware of your appointment and meet you and your child at the door. Please be sure to leave any siblings or other family members at home.
All visitors to campus are required to wear a mask at all times and will be asked to answer a number of health-related questions prior to entry. Those presenting with symptoms of respiratory illness or who were recently in close contact with positive individuals will be asked to leave and make another appointment. Please reach out to Annette.Johnson@greatheartsirving.org if you have any questions or concerns.
Sign Up for a Screening Appointment
Safe Return and COVID Response
Great Hearts America has compiled numerous resources regarding our network of schools’ response to the pandemic and plans for a Safe Return to in-person learning. These resources, including our Health Policy for Students and Staff, Face Coverings Policy, COVID Response Plan, and more can be found at greatheartsamerica.org/safereturn/tx. Specific information on our plans for a Safe Return here at Great Hearts Irving is available at greatheartsirving.org/safereturn.
Lower School Medication Drop Off
Our Safe Return Meet and Greet Celebration will provide Lower School parents the opportunity to bring in all prescribed/over-the-counter medications that your child will need for the upcoming school year. A Request for Medication Administration Form will need to be filled out when the medication is dropped off. This will also be the scheduled time to fill out and turn in all other medical forms and action plans. Visit greatheartsirving.org/meetandgreet for more information about this event.
Request for Medication Administration Form
Update on Nebulizer Policy
Due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the CDC recommends that schools do not use nebulizers during this time to limit the spread of contagions into the air. Both Great Hearts Irving Upper and Lower Schools will be nebulizer-free campuses until further notice. You will need to request:
- An updated written Asthma Action Plan,
- A quick-relief inhaler dedicated for school use only,
- A spacer or valved holding chamber dedicated for school use only, and
- A peak flow meter dedicated for school use only.
If your Upper School student will be self-carrying his/her inhaler this year, it is required that he/she have the necessary paperwork filed with the clinic. An Asthma Contract must be signed by the student, parent/guardian, and a medical doctor.
Lower School students are not permitted to self-carry inhalers.