Okay, so it is that time of year that parents, students, and teachers have a love-hate relationships with. It is time to
get ready for school.
I just wanted to give some reminders to parents on things I have noticed over my the years.
1)
Fill out the registration form completely. They ask these questions for a reason and the reason is normally some law. If you don't understand a question. please ask.
2)
List good emergency contacts. They will ask for emergency contacts. Make sure you list people that the office will be able to contact, if they can not reach you. We have had students who were sick that we could not send home, because the office could not get through to the parent(s) or
any of the emergency contact numbers. Oh and if any of these numbers change, let the office know.
3)
Keep schools informed of child custody/visitation issues. If there is a child custody/visitation issue the school needs to have a copy of the court documents. If a parent is no longer allowed to visit a child, the school needs to know and have evidence of that.
4)
Keep the school informed of medical issues. If your child has an allergy (even if it is mild)
please let the school know in writing, so it can be put in their file and with their information. If it is a severe allergy, make an emergency plan with the school. The school can help you through this process.
If the school is really being a pain about an emergency plan, start asking about evaluating a
504 Plan. This plan is for "disabilities" that could impair education and fulfills federal requirements. Being diabetic. I could have been put under a 504 plan. This would also be for things like hearing loss and low vision. Please let the school know about those as well. We have had meeting with the parents, halfway through the school year, where the parent asks it their kid is wearing their glasses. Glasses??? No, we didn't even know they needed them.
5)
Medicines dispensed at school. These are to be done at specific locations (school office, or nurses office mainly). The reason is that only trained personnel is allowed to dispense medications at school.
If your student is taking a Rx that needs to be taken with lunch, give the office enough for the month in a labeled container. Do not have the student bring it back and forth daily. There was an ADHD kid whose parents had them do this.
Also please warn the office and teachers if there is a change in medications that might impair education. That way if it becomes an issue (sleeping in class, hyperactivity, spacey) the teacher can let you know immediately, so you can contact the doctor.
If your child needs aspirin, cough syrup, or things like that, the office actually does need to see a note. I know, it sounds crazy, but...we don't
know what allergy the student has (most parents don't tell the school) and it may be that they are addicted to something or they maybe taking more than what they need, leading to an overdose. The school could be held liable for that.
Summer is almost done,
almost time for school.
