Hello Bobcat Families!   

My name is Kristen Ramsey, and I have been a nurse for almost 21 years. I have spent my nursing career working in the hospital setting and am looking forward to learning new things in a more community-based area of nursing. I have most recently been working as a postpartum nurse caring for moms and their newborns. I am passionate about educating and caring for others. My favorite part of nursing is connecting with people, and I am so excited to connect with your children and care for them while they are at school.

I was born and raised in Arizona. I have been married for 17 years and have four children. My oldest two are twin girls who attended Copper Creek and now attend Hillcrest. My third is my son, who has one more year at Copper Creek, and my youngest daughter is just finishing Kindergarten at Copper Creek. We have been so happy with the Copper Creek community for our family. I am looking forward to becoming a bigger part of this community and look forward to meeting you all!

The State of Arizona has revised the immunization requirements for preschool, kindergarten and first grade children entering school for childcare. In addition to Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus (DPT) and Polio (OPV), Varicella (Chicken Pox) immunizations, youngsters need to complete a second dose of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine and receive at least the first dose in a series of three for Hepatitis B prior to starting school. Children entering Preschool will need Hepatitis A immunizations (there are two needed) and 3-4 Hib vaccines. Children turning 11 years old, regardless of grade, will need to have a Tdap and Meningitis Vaccine.

Parents and guardians should contact their physician, the Arizona Immunization Program Office (602-364-3630), or their school nurse if they have questions or would like clarification. Copies of the immunization form are available at all district schools. The form includes a place for certification of religious, medical or personal exemptions, if appropriate.

Pupils who lack documentary proof of immunization shall not attend school during outbreak periods of communicable immunization-preventable diseases as determined by the Arizona Department of Health Services or local health department. The Department of Health Services or local health department shall transmit notice of this determination to the school administrator responsible for the exclusion of the pupils. 

For information on free immunization clinics, please visit the Maricopa County Department of Public Health website, or call 602-506-6900.

(Ref. DVUSD Policy JLCB)

DVUSD Medication Policy

• MEDICATION AT SCHOOL - ANY MEDICATION MUST BE BROUGHT TO SCHOOL BY AN ADULT. The following written consent must also be given:

  State laws and school district policy strictly regulate how medication is given at school. When it is necessary for the nurse to dispense medication to a student during school hours, the following requirements must be met:

  • 
    Physician’s Order : Prescription medication must be prescribed by your  physician or other licensed medical professional and a written  order must accompany the medication. It must include the name of the medication, dosage, time to be given, and how long to be given (if applicable). It must include the child’s name and current date. When obtaining new prescriptions, many pharmacies will issue a second labeled container for school use if you request it. If the medication is a sample given by the physician, please send a signed note from the physician telling who the medication is for, the date, and instructions for giving the medication.
  • Signed Parent Consent : There must be written permission from the parent to administer the medication to the child at school. Consent forms are available by selecting the forms tab on my website.  Consent forms are also available in the health center.
  • Original Container : The medication must be brought to the nurse in the original container. Any medication should be transported to and from the nurse’s office by the parent or an adult designated by the parent. This includes “over the counter” medications, such as Tylenol, cough syrups, antacids, etc. A signed medication consent form is needed for “over the counter” medications. The nurse’s office does not provide any medications. Other than provided by a parent, over-the-counter medications cannot legally be dispensed by anyone except a pharmacist or a physician.

  Students may not carry medication at school—not on their person, in their backpack or lunch box without prior authorization from the school nurse.

  
  Medications are not kept in the nurse’s office over the summer. Medications not picked up within one day of the end of the school year will be discarded.
  
  FIELD TRIP MEDICATIONS
  If a student needs medication while on a field trip, the medication must be furnished by the parent and given to the teacher prior to departure for the field trip. A signed field trip medication form must accompany the medication. The medication must be provided in the original container with only the number of doses needed for the field trip. Medications such as tablets and capsules cannot come from the school nurse’s supply. The school nurse cannot legally direct anyone other than another nurse to give medications.

Physical Education Excuses:

A written parental excuse is required of your child cannot participate in PE class for a week or less.  A written Doctor's excuse is required if your child cannot participate in PE class for over a week.

You may send an email if that is more convenient to:

Kristen.Ramsey@dvusd.org

Use the Links below to access useful forms.

Here are some additional links that you may find helpful:

Community Resource Packet

Epi-Pen Assistance Program

Find out more   

Emotional Health

National PTA website: Emotional health

This site contains a list of several additional resources

Grief

Billy’s Place

623-335-1101
Billy's Place website

New Song

480-951-8985

New Song website

Stepping Stones of Hope

602-264-7520

Stepping Stones of Hope website 

Illness or Injury

Poison, Drugs, Stings
(Free professional help by phone 24 hours/day)

Banner Poison Control

1-800-222-1222

SYMPTOMS OF ILLNESS AT HOME OR SCHOOL

First-aid and medical care provided by the school nurse is primarily for illnesses or injuries that occur at school during the school day.  The Health Office is not a primary care facility like a doctor's office or urgent care facility. While I am qualified to make a medical assessment of your child's condition, the nurse does not make medical diagnoses, prescribe treatments or medications.  I can provide treatments and medications as prescribed by a physician. 

Please DO NOT send a sick child to school for the school nurse to decide whether she/he should be in school.  If in doubt, call your family physician.  School nurses can assess and refer, but we do not diagnose, and will always refer to your physician if in doubt.

Do not send your children to school if your child has:

    -had a fever (temperature over 100.0) within the past 24 hours

    -have vomited within the last 24 hours

    -have any diarrhea in the last 24 hours

Children should be free of fever for 24 hours or one full school day before returning to school, regardless of how they feel.  If your child has been diagnosed with a communicable disease such as strep throat or pink eye, s/he must have been on antibiotic treatment (and free of fever) for 24 hours prior to returning to school.  Also, please notify the school office or school nurse of any diagnosed communicable disease so that other parents can be notified.

SIGNS/SYMPTOMS OF ILLNESS:

        - Fever (oral temp of 100.0 or more)

        - Diarrhea, any loose stools

        - Red, watery eyes, pus in corners

        - Constant sneezing and/or deep cough, constant runny nose

        - Unexplained rash

        - Headache

        - Nausea or vomiting

        - Swelling of the neck or face

        - Flushed face or paleness

        - Very sore thro

        - Painful earache

If your child has a temperature in the health office of 100 degrees or greater, she/he will be sent home.   Any child with a rash will be sent home and should remain out of school until all symptoms are gone, or a physician verifies (with a written note) that the child is not contagious and is well enough to return to school.  

• HEARING AND VISION SCREENING

   

  HEARING AND VISION SCREENING IS DONE FOR ALL P-K, 1st,3rd & 5th GRADE STUDENTS, FOR ALL NEW (TO DISTRICT) STUDENTS, AND ALL STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE SERVICES THROUGH THE SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. PARENTS/ GUARDIANS AND TEACHERS CAN REQUEST A SCREENING FOR ANY STUDENT AT ANY TIME WHEN A CONCERN ARISES.

  YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED IF THE STUDENT HAS DIFFICULTIES WITH ANY PORTION OF THE VISION SCREENING. 

  • STUDENTS WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH AN INITIAL HEARING SCREENING WILL BE TESTED AGAIN IN 10-30 SCHOOL DAYS.
  • PARENTS WILL BE NOTIFIED IF THEY ARE STILL HAVING DIFFICULTY HEARING ANY OF THE FREQUENCIES TESTED, THEY WILL BE REFERRED TO AN AUDIOLOGIST FOR FURTHER EVALUATION.
  • DVUSD HAS AN AUDIOLOGIST WHO IS ABLE TO FURTHER EVALUATE YOUR CHILD AT NO CHARGE. PARENTS MAY ALSO SEEK A PRIVATE CONSULT FROM A PRIVATE AUDIOLOGIST.

  If your child has a known hearing or vision deficiency, please let me know as soon as possible regarding any necessary classroom accommodations. If you have any questions regarding the screening process, please contact me. 

  SCOLIOSIS SCREENING

  5th and 6th grade students may also be screened for scoliosis with parental consent.