Meet Our School Nurse 
Sarah Derr, RN - sderr@spotsylvania.k12.va.us
Clinic phone:  540-786-8218, option 2
Fax:  540-786-5006

Clinic Information

School admission requirements
Before any child is admitted for the first time to public kindergarten, such child must have a comprehensive physical examination by a qualified licensed physician or nurse practitioner within 12 months before the date of first entering kindergarten. The school nurse will review the documentation during the registration process.  This includes:

• Physical examination

• Health Assessment

• Tuberculosis Risk Assessment/Screen

• Developmental Screen

• Hearing & Vision Screen

• Dental Screen

• Complete up-to-date Certification of Immunization Record

New & Transfer students
New and transfer students must also submit comprehensive physical examination reports from their previous schools.

Emergency Care & Illness
It is very important to keep your contact and emergency contact information current. We will attempt to reach you by phone, starting with parents, then to emergency contacts listed when parents cannot. Also, make sure the person you have listed as the emergency contact has agreed to be on your contact list and is willing to care for your child if you cannot be reached. 

Screenings
Vision, hearing, and fine/gross motor screenings are done by the nurse each fall for kindergarten (that are not done during physical), all third graders, and all new students transferred from outside the county. Students found to have abnormalities are screened twice and notices are only sent home for any abnormalities detected during these screenings. Parents must follow up with the child’s physician for further evaluation and return findings to the school clinic.

Regular School Attendance vs Illness
Regular school attendance is important to your child’s success in school, and we appreciate your efforts in this matter. However, there are times when your child should not attend school due to illness. 

Fever of 100 degrees or higher. Children must be “fever-free” for 24 hours without medication before returning to school. As a special note, please do not administer medications to lower a fever and then send your child to school; there is a possibility that your child may have a contagious condition.

Vomiting and/or diarrhea. There should be no vomiting or diarrhea 24 hours before sending your child to school.

Rash, itchy/reddened eyes with or without discharge – it is recommended that your child be evaluated by a physician. These are some signs/symptoms that may mean your child is contagious. Please have the physician write a note when it is safe for your child to return to school and send it with your child or bring to the clinic.

Medications at school 
Medications required to be taken during school hours, either prescribed or over the counter, must have a Medication Request Form signed by the physician and on file in the clinic.  Medication is administered only by the school nurse or trained staff. Medications with physician orders must be brought to school by an adult in the original unopened containers that are properly labeled. Students may NOT carry medications to school at any time. This includes over-the-counter medication such as cough drops, nasal sprays, eye drops, and ointments/creams like Neosporin, Tylenol, Motrin, Aspirin, etc. Before you do bring a medication to the clinic check the expiration dates.