Health & Wellness Centre

    The Health & Wellness Centre is open Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m.to 3:30 p.m.  During this time, Lorraine Feher, the school nurse is available to address any health concerns. Counselling services are also available through the Health and Wellness Centre.

905-668-3358 ext. 248

School Health

The primary role of the School nurse is to support student learning by acting as an advocate and liaison between the home, the school, and the medical community regarding concerns that are likely to affect a student’s ability to learn. The School nurse coordinates school health programs in the following manner:

• Health Services: Serves as the coordinator of the health services program, provides nursing care, and advocates for health rights
• Health Education: Provides health education to students, staff and parents
• Healthy Environment: Identifies health and safety concerns in the school environment and promotes a nurturing school environment
• Nutritional Services: Supports school food service programs and promotes the benefits of healthy eating patterns
• Physical Education/Activity: Promotes healthy physical activity and sports policies/practices that promote safety
• Counselling/Mental Health: Provides health counselling, assesses mental health needs, provides interventions and refers students to appropriate school staff or community agencies.
• Parent/Community Involvement: Promotes parent/community participation in assuring a healthy school environment
• Staff Wellness: Provides health education and counselling, promotes healthy activities and environment for school staff

Is Your Child Too Sick For School?

Early in the morning it is often difficult to make a decision about whether or not your child is sick enough to stay home from school.  The main reasons for keeping your child home are if she is too sick to be comfortable at school, and/or if she might spread a contagious illness to other children.  Here are some guidelines to help make the decision easier:

As a rule of thumb, a child should stay home if there is:

• A fever over 100.4^oF (38.0^oC) – while you can treat the fever, and usually make the child feel better, the cause of the fever (as well as the risk of passing it to others) is still there.  A fever is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as a sore throat, vomiting, or a rash.  Children with fever should stay home until there is no fever for 24 hours. 
• Diarrhea – it can be very embarrassing and uncomfortable for your child to have an episode while in school.  If diarrhea persists, consult your daughter’s doctor.
• Frequent Vomiting – a single episode of vomiting, without any other symptoms such as a fever or a rash, may not be reason enough for your daughter to miss school.  However, be sure the school can reach you if symptoms occur again during the day.  If frequent vomiting occurs, consult your child’s doctor and keep the child out of school until the illness passes.
• A frequent cough – especially if it is frequent during the day, can indicate a worsening of cold or allergy symptoms.  It may also be the sign of a secondary infection (sinusitis, pneumonia), which may require medical treatment.
• Persistent pain (ear, stomach, etc)
• A widespread rash
• Pink eye – symptoms include a reddened eye with either a cloudy or yellow discharge.  Your daughter should stay home until symptoms subside and she has been on antibiotic eye drops at least 24 hours or until the doctor recommends the child return to school.

All of these illnesses can be easily spread, both in school and in the family.  Keep in mind that hand washing is the single most important thing you can do to help prevent the spread of infection.  Whenever there is doubt in your mind about sending your daughter to school contact the school nurse.