• Welcome to the RUSD Health and Wellness page! We strive to create a healthy and safe school environment for all of our students. For information about health and safety-related programs developed by our district and other agencies, keep watching this page, as information is updated regularly.

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    District Nursing Services

    Alison Mankin, RN is our District Nurse who oversees health services at Reed Union School District, and provides direct support to Reed and Del Mar Schools. To schedule an appointment or to discuss your child’s health concerns with Nurse Alison, please contact her at amankin@reedschools.org or (415) 271-3527.

    Ms. Shaghayegh Farasati is our Health Specialist at Bel Aire Elementary. You may reach her at
    (415) 847-0491.



    Immunization Requirements

    State Immunization Requirements as of 2016
    SB 277 was passed and became effective on January 1, 2016, which no longer allows exemptions based on personal beliefs for vaccines currently required for entry into California Schools.  Personal beliefs exemptions on file for a child already attending school will remain valid until the child reaches the next immunization checkpoint at 7th grade. 

    For more information about school immunization requirements and resources, please visit the California Department of Public Health's website at www.shotsforschool.org, or contact your local health department or county office of education.

    Important Health Information
    If your child has a medical condition which requires care at school and/or medication, please inform our district nurse, Alison Mankin, RN, amankin@reedschools.org  so that we can provide appropriate resources for the care of your child.  Complete the Health Alert to School Nurse form and email it to Nurse Alison at amankin@reedschools.org

    Illness/Injuries/Emergencies: Working parents should arrange for a nearby adult to be available to pick up their ill or injured child if necessary. Please indicate this person on your emergency card. 

    Health Accommodations: The school office must be informed of any changes in student health such as a recent medical diagnosis, surgery, injury, broken limb, concussion  or sprain. Parents must provide a written doctor’s note for any requests for accommodation in order for your child to return to school. A doctor’s note is also needed for extended absence.

    When to Miss School: Please follow our when to miss school in keeping your child home from school to prevent the spread of illness to our students and staff throughout the year. After an illness, your child must be free of vomiting and fever (without the use of fever-reducing medication) for at least 24 hours before returning to school.
    Please also make sure to call your school office to report an absence.

    RUSD Medication at School Policy: If your child requires medication at school, please follow the RUSD medication at school policy:
    • All medication – both prescription and over-the-counter – requires a completed Authorization to Administer Medication Form
    • Ask your doctor to complete all medication details, sign and stamp the form, then have one parent also sign the form. 
    • Parents must supply all needed prescriptions and over-the-counter medication in its original container (no loose pills).
    • All medication must be kept in the office, not in your child’s backpack or pocket (exceptions may be made for EpiPens and other emergency medication – contact Nurse Mankin for authorization). 
    • Please make sure the medication you supply has not already expired, and put an expiration date reminder in your calendar.


    Health Forms Required at School:
    If your child has one of the following health conditions AND takes medication at school, you and your child’s doctor will need to complete the Authorization to Administer Medication form (only if your student needs medication at school) along with the appropriate Action Plan and return both to Nurse Alison:
    Authorization to Administer Medication Form - required if your child needs medication at school.
    Food Allergy Action Plan - required if your child has a food allergy
    Asthma Action Plan - required if your child has asthma
    Diabetes Medical Management Plan - required if your child had diabetes. We also request a treatment flow chart from your provider. Please set up a meeting with our District Nurse, Alison Mankin prior to the start of school: amankin@reedschools.org or (415) 271-3527
    Seizure Action Plan
    - required if your child has seizures

    Head Lice Policy: Parents must inform the school office if their child has head lice so that families can be alerted to possible exposure and the need to inspect their children’s hair.  Students can attend school as long as they do not have any nits or live lice present. Please refer to the following Parents' Guide to Head Lice for head lice treatment, prevention and general information. 

    Communicable Diseases: Parents must inform the school office if their child has a communicable illness, such as strep throat, pink eye, flu, chicken pox, etc. so that families can be informed of possible exposure, and the school can take any necessary precautions to prevent any further transmission.  Detailed information about Communicable Diseases can be found here.


    Crutches, Casts & Wheelchairs: Schools will attempt to accommodate all necessary student supports as long as there is a doctor's note verifying their need, and parents supply all needed medical assistive devices. Please note that for safety reasons, students who require crutches cannot be on the playyards, blacktops, or fields during recess.  Students will be provided with a quiet space before school and during recess to avoid additional injury. 

    Nutrition and Food Allergy Guidelines
    We recognize that some children have severe food allergies and/or dietary needs that require special conditions. It is our goal and responsibility to maintain a safe environment for all students during the school day. The most effective way to accommodate a wide variety of food allergies is to implement grade-specific guidelines that recognize developmental awareness of our elementary-aged students. Kindergarten requires the most managed and restricted environment. As our students mature, we encourage them to take more responsibility for their food allergies and dietary needs.

    All three of our schools have open campus during after-school hours, weekends and holidays. As a result, we cannot guarantee that our students may not be exposed to nuts or other food residue left on the school grounds. We strongly encourage parents to take precautions to prepare for the possibility of exposure when your child is at school. Due to the viscosity and unique nature of nut products, Reed Union School District has implemented specific safety measures to meet the needs of students with nut allergies.

    Kindergarten-Fifth Grades: Nut-Restricted classroom and lunch tables

    • Classrooms will be designated as nut-restricted as needed to accommodate allergies.
    • All students will sit at lunch tables with their homeroom class.
    • Specific lunch tables will be designated as Nut Restricted to accommodate allergies.
    • ​Students are not allowed to share food with one another.
    • Families are asked not to send or bring any nuts or nut products to school.

    Sixth through Eighth Grades: students and families are encouraged to help create a Nut-Restricted campus by not bringing any nuts to school.
    RUSD families are encouraged to share in the responsibility of educating their children about food allergies and recommended safety precautions, including frequent hand washing, no sharing of food, use of hand wipes, etc. Our District Nurse Alison is available to discuss individual needs and concerns, as well as to arrange for medications that can be used at school in case of an allergic reaction.

    Nut-Free Snack Ideas
    More Nut-free/”Real Food” Snack Ideas

    Thank you for helping us keep our children and community healthy!

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