Student and Parent Resources
- Too Sick for School
- Medications at School
- Immunizations
- Back and Backpack Health
- Respiratory Illness
- Seizure
- Sunscreen at School
- Head Lice
Too Sick for School
Medications at School
Medications at School
- All medications at school, prescription or over the counter, require a signed Parent/provider form.
- Medications must be signed in with school nurse or medication assistant.
Prescription Medications
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All prescription Medication must be in most recent container with proper label to remain at school.
- Parent/Guardian should bring all medications to school, NEVER send to school with student.
- If new medication, first dose should be given at home in case of allergic reaction.
- On students last day of school, the medication should be picked up. Medications will be disposed of if left after the last day of school.
- NO medication will be given without correct forms signed and correct medication verified.
Over the Counter Medications
- Over the Counter Medication must be presented to the School Nurse or Tained Medication Assistant.
- OTCs must be in the original, unopened, and sealed container.
- OTCs will be given as directed per label on the bottle with a signed OTC medication form.
- OTCs may not be kept for more than 2 weeks without written authorization from an authorized licensed healthcare provider.
Self Carry Medications
- Students may carry certain medications with them at school. This will be determined by the physician, parent and school nurse.
Immunizations
Immunization Requirement for School Entry
- Children entering school are required by Alabama Law (Code of Alabama 1975, 16-30-4) to present a Certificate of Immunization (COI), formerly known as a "Blue Card".
- Children entering Kindergarten need the following vaccines: DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis), Polio, MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella), and Varicella.
- Children entering the 6th Grade (ages 11 and 12) need the following vaccine: Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis).
Religious Exemption
A written objection from the parent or guardian of a student or child based on religious tenets and practices shall be submitted in person by the parent or guardian to the County Health Department for issuance of a Certificate of Religious Exemption from the required immunizations.
Medical Exemption
A licensed healthcare provider can provide individual exemptions from the required immunizations or testing on a Certificate of Medical Exemption. The Certificate of Medical Exemptions is required to be on forms approved by the Alabama Department of Public Health, and will be accepted in lieu of the Certificate of Immunization.
Vaccination at the Marshall County Health Department
Call (256)582-3174 to schedule an appointment to have your child vaccinated at the Marshall County Health Department. Walk-ins are not guaranteed to be seen that day; appointments are taken first.
Immunization Chart
Additional Immunization Resources
Back and Backpack Health
Carrying too heavy of a backpack may affect children's health and have long-term effects. Research shows that children carrying more than 10% of their body weight is damaging to their spinal and postural health.
What are the possible problems related to carrying a heavy backpack?
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Strain to the shoulders and back, affecting overall ease of movement and causing pain/discomfort.
- Affects balance and posture.
- Spinal problems such as scoliosis (crooked spine) and disc degeneration.
- May alter nerve communication.
- Pull bones out of alignment by stretching ligaments/muscles.
What should I do?
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Your backpack should weigh no more than 10% of your body weight.
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Make sure you wear your backpack with both straps over your shoulders. Wearing your backpack over just one shoulder puts your spine out of balance and stresses that side.
- See your physician or chiropractor for an exam for early detection or if you are symptomatic.
- For more information, view applicable law documents at ALSDE Health Laws & Policies.
Respiratory Illness
Each year, respiratory viruses are responsible for millions of illnesses and thousands of hospitalizations and deaths in the United States. In addition to the virus that causes COVID-19, there are many other types of respiratory viruses, including flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The good news is that there are actions you can take to help protect yourself and others from health risks caused by respiratory viruses.
Respiratory Virus Guidance Snapshot
For respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19, flu, or RSV, individuals may return to school and normal activities if the following is true for at least 24 hours: symptoms have mostly resolved with overall improvement, and if a fever was present, the fever has been gone without the use of fever-reducing medication.
Please reach out to your school nurse with any questions as to when your child can return to school and other school-sponsored activities.
For more information, please see the CDC website pages regarding COVID-19, Influenza (Flu), and Respiratory Syncytical Virus (RSV).
Seizure
Seizure Curriculum
The Alabama Health Services Seizure Safe Schools Curriculum is the school nurses training program that provides a framework for local school districts to implement the Alabama Seizure Safe Schools Act (Alabama Act No. 2021-76). This act allows registered nurses to delegate to unlicensed school personnel in the school setting the nursing act of administering pre-measured medication for the treatment of a seizure to students. This curriculum was developed to ensure that local school districts are adequately prepared to delegate the administration of seizure medication to school-age children with epilepsy and to provide continuity in training school personnel. The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE), in collaboration with the Alabama Board of Nursing (ABN), developed a standardized training program for registered nurses to educate and validate the competency of those unlicensed school personnel to whom the administration of medication may be delegated. The purpose of this curriculum is to provide a standardized, evidence-based training program for the school registered nurse to utilize in training seizure management and medication administration to unlicensed personnel in schools. According to the Alabama Board of Nursing (ABN) Administrative Code § 610-X-7.-10(5)(c), rectal medications are not delegated in the school setting.
Unlicensed Seizure Medication Assistants (USMA)
Pursuant of Seizure House Bill 76, each local board of education shall annually publish a list of Unlicensed Seizure Medication Assistants (USMA) on the local board of education's website:
| School Name | USMA Last Name | USMA First Name |
|---|---|---|
| BCS | Liverett | Steve |
| BCS | Heard | Jimmy |
| BCS | James | Margaret |
| BCS | Whitt | James |
| BHS | Jenkins | Tiffany |
| BHS | Trammell | Vicky |
| BHS | Hanson | Hannah |
| BMS | Simmons | Jenny |
| BIS | Smith | Alicia |
| CES | Gaskin | Julie |
| CES | Edwards | Emily |
| CES | Hopper | Bella |
| CES | Ragone | Savannah |
| CES | Powell | Leila |
| BES | Mulkey | Lana |
| BES | Stweart | Olivia |
| BES | Holland | Kristi |
| BES | Watts | Anna Leigh |
Sunscreen at School
A new law allows Alabama school students to apply personal sunscreen at school without the need for special permission from a doctor or parent. Must be a FDA approved sunscreen.
According to the CDC, application of sunscreen while outdoors is a simple step to protect yourself from the harm of overexposure to sunlight's UVA and UVB rays. A sunscreen with SPF of 30 or higher should be applied at least every two hours, especially after swimming or sweating. Follow the directions on the suncreen bottle label.
Alabama Sunscreen Law
Head Lice
Boaz City School Policy is to send a student home if found to have live Lice. If the student has Nits only, a letter will be sent home with the student at the end of the day. Upon returning to school the parent or guardian should bring the student to the office to be cleared to return to class. This will be done by the school nurse or another school staff member.
Head lice can be a nuisance but they have not been shown to spread disease. Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home or school has nothing to do with getting head lice.