IMMUNIZATIONS AND EXEMPTIONS

IMPORTANT IMMUNIZATION REMINDERS

Parents of K3-K5 students and 7th and 11th Graders should check the School website under the MY ACS tab for immunization requirements that apply to your child.  11th Grade Parents, please make note of the NEW MCV4 booster shot requirement. You may submit immunization forms to the Main Office in person or via email to Mrs. Sara Crawford. Your child must have an updated immunization record on file or a current, notarized religious exemption form to attend ACS.

Georgia law requires children attending a school or childcare facility to have certain immunizations. These immunizations are documented by your healthcare provider on a Georgia Immunization Certificate known as Form 3231. Every year these forms are checked for updated immunizations for those children in Kindergarten (K3, K4, and K5) and those entering grade 7 and grade 11.

Georgia allows for 2 different types of exemptions.

Medical Exemption:  this is given when a child’s healthcare provider deems that a child is unable to receive certain vaccinations. This type of exemption must be marked on the Georgia Immunization Certificate (Form 3231) not a separate written letter from your healthcare provider. This exemption also requires that a new Georgia Immunization Certificate (Form 3231) be filled out every year.

Religious Exemption:  this allows parents to make a decision based on their religious beliefs/convictions to exempt their child from immunizations. A form (2208) called an Affidavit of Religious Objection must be filled out instead of the Georgia Immunization Certificate (Form 3231). The Affidavit of Religious Objection (Form 2208) must be notarized. A letter or other documentation from a religious group or leader is not needed. This form does not expire.

If there is an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease, like the measles, then those children who are not immunized will be excluded from school.

Georgia Immunization  Requirements

Meningitis Vaccine Letter
 

MEDICATION POLICY

According to the Student Handbook, students will not be permitted to take medication at school unless a permission note is sent from home. In this case, all medications will be kept in the front office or in the Nurse’s office for distribution when needed. Any student possessing prescription or over the counter medication not in accordance with the above guideline will be considered in violation of the School’s Medication policy and subject to disciplinary action.

A student who has documentation from a parent or healthcare provider RE medications such as Albuterol Inhalers, Epipens, and diabetic related medications may carry them on his/her person and may be self administered as the need arises. Such students are advised not to permit any other student to handle, possess or use his/her medication. Violation of this guideline could result in disciplinary action. Documentation is also needed for medications that are kept in the front office or in the Nurse’s office such as extra prescription medication like Methylphenidate for ADHD. Parental consent for over the counter medications (i.e. Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, Benadryl) is included in the ACS registration documents completed virtually at the beginning of the school year. This is the “Permission to Treat” virtual form. Written permission from the parent or healthcare provider RE such medications and their usage releases Athens Christian School and its employees from civil liability for administering such medications or if the self-administering student suffers an adverse reaction to the medication.

Per Georgia Senate Bill 126, nurses and other school employees are able to stock and administer an epipen to a student or faculty member who is having an actual or perceived anaphylactic (allergic) reaction, regardless of whether the student or faculty member has a prescription for epinephrine. Such persons are authorized to administer Levalbuterol Sulfate (Xopenex) or Albuterol Sulfate, if available, to a student or faculty member in perceived respiratory distress, regardless of whether the student or faculty member has a prescription for Levalbuterol Sulfate (Xopenex) or Albuterol Sulfate. Any school employee who in “good faith” administers or chooses not to administer such medication to a student or faculty member in such circumstances shall be immune from civil liability. 
 

MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM

Molluscum Contagiosum (AKA Molluscum) is a skin rash caused by a virus. The bumps/lesions of the rash are usually flesh colored, soft and smooth and may have a small dent in the center. They can grow as big as the size of a pencil eraser. The bumps/lesions are usually painless, but may be itchy, red or swollen. They can get infected with bacteria if scratched open. Usually the rash is on the trunk, arms or face but can be anywhere except on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

Molluscum spreads from skin to skin contact or by contaminated surfaces. The virus enters the body through a break in the skin. Typically the rash may be present up to 6 months but can last longer. Most of the time, no treatment is required. At ACS, we require bumps/lesions to be covered at all times.

Prevention:
Wash hands with soap and water.
Cover the bumps/lesions with clothing or a bandage.
If swimming, cover the bumps/lesions with a watertight bandage.
Try not to touch, scratch or rub the bumps/lesions.

Information obtained from Nemours KidsHealth.org and CHOA.org

God's Medicine "You crown the year with Your goodness and Your paths drip with abundance." Psalm 65:11

THE FLU

• fever (100.4 or higher)
• chills
• headache
• muscle aches 
• tiredness 
• sore throat 
• cough
• runny nose 
• nausea/vomiting  
• diarrhea

• under 5 years old
• weakened immune systems from a chronic illness or medication

• Washing your hands with soap and water often. Especially after using the bathroom, after coughing or sneezing and before eating.
• Do not share drinks or utensils.
• Wipe down high touch areas.
• Cover your cough or sneeze. If using a tissue, put the tissue in the trash once it has been coughed or sneezed on. If no tissue is available, cough or sneeze into the bend of your elbow.
• Stay home if you are sick. 

• Your child does not perk up with a fever reducer for at least 15 minutes every 4 hours.
• Your child has new or worsening symptoms.
• Your child has a fever that went away and then came back after at least 24 hours of being fever free.

STREP THROAT

• Sore throat
• Fever
• Swollen tonsils
• Difficulty swallowing
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Not all sore throats are strep, so if your child has any of the above symptoms they will need to see their pediatrician so that a throat swab can be done to determine if it is strep.

WATER SAFETY

1. If you have young children, it is important that there be some form of barrier i.e.  fence/gate to keep your child out of the pool when unsupervised.  
2. Having a pool alarm or cover can be helpful in deterring children from entering  the pool when you are not around.  
3. Removing toys from the pool after swimming is done for the day.  4. If you have an above ground pool, removing the ladder after swimming. 5. If you have a small wading pool, empty out the water after use.  

GASTROENTERITIS

• No urine for 8 hours/dry or sunken eyes/inside the mouth is sticky
• Child does not “perk up” with quiet activity (playing on a tablet/computer, reading books, drawing/coloring) between vomiting episodes or with diarrhea
• Your child starts having additional symptoms i.e. fever, headaches, pain with urinating…
• If you child had a head injury and then started vomiting
• If your child has abdominal pain that is not relieved by vomiting or diarrhea but is constant
• Vomiting or diarrhea that stops and then comes back
• Or if you are just concerned about you child but none of the above apply

COVID-19 QUARANTINE GUIDELINES

• If you HAVE symptoms and receive a POSITIVE covid-19 test, you are to quarantine for 5 days from the START of symptoms. You may discontinue quarantine after the 5 days as long as there is no fever for 24 hours (without medication) and you are not worsening.
• If you have NO symptoms and NO exposure but go out and test and your test is POSITIVE, you must quarantine for 5 days from the test date.
• If you have been EXPOSED to someone who has tested POSITIVE for covid-19 and you have NO symptoms you will need to quarantine for 5 days from the last exposure date. **If you continue to have NO symptoms, you may go get a covid-19 test on day 5 of quarantine and if that test is NEGATIVE and you still have NO symptoms, you can discontinue your quarantine. If that test is POSITIVE, you will then have to quarantine for 5 days from the date of the test.**
• If you develop symptoms during your quarantine period. You will need to quarantine for 5 days from the start of your symptoms, you may test if desired but not required at that time because if the test is negative it will not get you out of quarantine any faster. 
• Day one of symptom onset or of a positive test is considered day 0 when calculating days.

BEHAVIOR

When your child is sick and no longer “perks up” or is no longer playful, that is concerning. Your child should have at least 15 minutes of quiet play every 4 hours with a fever and 15 minutes of quiet play every 2 hours without a fever. For example, if your child has a fever and you notice that they are just laying around or crying, you can first try to give a fever reducer/pain reliever (Tylenol or Motrin). If after 1 hour, your child is still just “laying around” or crying, they would need to be seen. That would mean, even with medication, they still feel so bad that they cannot play or do some sort of quiet activity. For a teen that would be where they feel so bad they cannot text on their phone. Watching TV does not count as a quiet activity but playing on a tablet would because it involves “doing” something.

Without a fever an example of needing to be seen would be pain not relieved by medication. Examples of a medical emergency would be if you ever look at your child and they look like they are pulling in at the neck or chest with every breath or they are blue or unresponsive.

FEVER

A normal body temperature is between 97.0-100.3F. A fever is any temperature that is 100.4F or higher. There are many reasons that kids get fevers. It could be from being over dressed or bundled. Also in younger kids, fevers can appear after immunizations. Fevers also arise due to 

infections. In the instance of infections, your body is heating up to fight off the infection, which is not a bad thing. I know that fevers can be frightening to parents. The number of the fever isn’t as important as the behavior of your child. For example, if one child has a temperature of 100.4 and is not playful, is just laying around or very irritable and another child has a temperature of 103 but is still active and playing, the sicker child is the one with the lower temperature. Behavior is key. If your child has a fever but is still playful and acting “like their normal self” then you do not necessarily have to treat the fever with medications. But, if your child is having a change in behavior with the fever (sluggish, laying around, not playing or irritable) then give them a fever reducer. If after 1 hour, your child’s behavior has not improved then your child will need a medical exam. Something to note, any fever in a child less than 3 months old would require an immediate medical exam. 

Since a fever can be the sign of an infection, there are restrictions regarding coming to school with a fever. At ACS, if your child has a fever (100.4 or higher), they are not permitted to return to school until they have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications (Tylenol or Motrin). 

During these times with COVID-19, we are extra cautious and would request that if your child has a fever, sore throat, new or worsening cough, diarrhea/vomiting/abdominal pain, or severe headache then stay home from school and contact your child pediatrician. 

God’s Medicine “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.” Psalms 103:2-3

PINK EYE (CONJUNCTIVITIS)

HAND HYGIENE

SINUSITIS (SINUS INFECTION)

• Your child has a cold lasting 7 days or longer or if the symptoms are not improving but are worsening.
• Allergy medication is not helping when it normally does
• Fever (temperature greater than 100.3)
• Pain in the cheeks or around the eyes
• Swelling around the eyes