Health and Wellness

Yes. California requires all students to have immunizations. California no longer allows immunization 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 grade span (TK/K-6th and 7th-12th). 

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

Please follow the CDPH's guidance when determining whether to keep your child home from school. 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.

CDPH Recommendations for When to Students Should Stay Home from School

Communicable diseases may necessitate a doctor's note or other specific actions as determined by health care professionals. Please also make sure to call your school office to report your child's absence.

• COVID-19: In accordance with Public Health and Education Codes, if your child tests positive for COVID-19, he/she/they should stay home for 24 hours from when symptoms first started. Your child may return after 24 hours, if symptoms are mild or improving, including fever-free for 24 hours without medication. Please contact your healthcare provider with medically-related questions. As of September 30, 2024, families may order at-home test kits at no cost at https://www.covidtests.gov/.

If your child has a medical condition which requires care at school and/or medication, please contact Alison Mankin, RN, so that we can create a plan to care of your child. Complete the Health Alert to School Nurse form and email it to Nurse Mankin at amankin@reedschools.org.

RUSD encourages families to inform the school office of any significant changes in student health that need accommodations (e.g. recent medical diagnosis, surgery, injury, broken limb, concussion, sprain, etc.). Some accommodation requests may necessitate a written doctor’s note by a qualified healthcare professional for consideration of implementation. A doctor’s note may also needed for an extended absence for illness or other medical need.

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 Mankin:
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

RUSD recognizes that some children have severe food allergies and/or dietary needs that require special consideration. Complete the Health Alert to School Nurse form and Food Allergy Action Plan if your child has a severe food allergy and email it to Nurse Mankin at amankin@reedschools.org.

It is our goal and responsibility to maintain a safe environment for all students during the school day. We know that developmental awareness of students for managing their allergies necessitates varied management strategies and adult support. While prek and kindergarten require the most adult support, as students age they gain more independence in managing their allergies.

RUSD 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, we may implement specific safety measures to meet the needs of students with nut allergies.

RUSD families are encouraged to share in the responsibility of educating their children about their allergies and recommended safety precautions, that may include frequent hand washing, no sharing of food, use of hand wipes, etc. Nurse Mankin 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.

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.*
• Please make sure the medication you supply the school has not expired.

*Exceptions related to personal emergency medication must be authorized. Please contact Nurse Mankin for more information. 

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

Families should inform the school office if their child is suspected or diagnosed with a communicable illness (e.g. COVID-19, strep throat, pink eye, flu, chicken pox, etc) so the school can take any necessary precautions to prevent any further transmission. Families should direct questions to and follow the direction of their qualified healthcare providers. RUSD follows the exclusion and readmission requirements for students with communicable diseases in accordance with the law. As such, some readmission protocol may require a written doctor's note.

Communicable Diseases from Marin County Public Health Department can be found here.

COVID-19: In accordance with Public Health and Education Codes, if your child tests positive for COVID-19, he/she/they should stay home for 24 hours from when symptoms first started. Your child may return after 24 hours, if symptoms are mild or improving, including fever-free for 24 hours without medication and may consider taking additional precautions, such as using a mask around others, especially indoors, for 5 days to prevent transmission to others. Public health states that individuals without symptoms of illness who test positive for COVID-19 may remain in school and may consider taking additional precautions for 5 days to prevent potential transmission to others. Please contact your healthcare provider with medically-related questions.As of September 30, 2024, families may order at-home test kits at no cost at https://www.covidtests.gov/.

RUSD may provide minor first aid and will support your child with care. Families are contacted by the school if there are injuries, illness, or other circumstances that may be noteworthy for health and wellness or may interfere with the student's ability to participate at school. Should it be needed, families may need to pick up their child from school. Families should arrange for a nearby adult to be an available option to pick up their ill or injured child in the event that the parent/guardian is unable to pick up a student. Families should identify this person on the student's emergency card. 

Students found to have live lice at school may remain at school until the end of the school day. Parents will be informed that their child's lice should be treated at home or at a professional lice treatment service as soon as possible, and before the child returns to school. Parents should refer to the California Department of Public Health guidelines for treating and managing lice in their household. Please refer to RUSD Board Policy 5141.33 and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website for more information on lice including, prevention, treatment, and care.

In accordance with Public Health and Education Codes, if your child tests positive for COVID-19, he/she/they should stay home for 24 hours from when symptoms first started. Your child may return after 24 hours, if symptoms are mild or improving, including fever-free for 24 hours without medication and may consider taking additional precautions, such as using a mask around others, especially indoors, for 5 days to prevent transmission to others. Public health states that individuals without symptoms of illness who test positive for COVID-19 may remain in school and may consider taking additional precautions for 5 days to prevent potential transmission to others. Please contact your healthcare provider with medically-related questions and notify the school of your student's absence.*

CDC Preventing the Spread of Respiratory Viruses When Sick

As of September 30, 2024, families may order at-home test kits at no cost at https://www.covidtests.gov/.

*Staff must follow the CalOSHA COVID-19 Prevention Requirements.