Health & Wellness
Westonka Schools wants to help you and your child stay healthy. Our goal is to promote healthy lifestyles that support learning.
Main Contact
Joy Beimert
Westonka Middle School Health Specialist
beimertj@westonka.k12.mn.us
P: (952) 491-8304
F: (952) 491-8303
Illness
Keeping a child home from school
Your child should be kept home if:
- they have a temperature of 100° or greater,
- they have respiratory virus symptoms that aren't better explained by another cause, or
- they are experiencing vomiting or diarrhea.
If your child has had a fever of 100° or greater, they should not return to school until 24 hours after the fever has left and you no longer need to use medication to keep the temperature down.
Similarly, if your child has respiratory virus symptoms that aren't better explained by another cause (e.g., seasonal allergies), they should stay home and away from others (including people they live with who are not sick) until their symptoms are improving for 24 hours. These symptoms can include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache, among others.
The 24-hour guideline applies to vomiting and diarrhea. For example, if your child vomits in the morning at breakfast time, do not send them to school in the afternoon, even if there is no vomiting at lunch. Wait until the following breakfast time, with no vomiting or diarrhea during the day or night. If there has been no further vomiting or diarrhea, you can send your child to school.
Your child may need extra sleep, fluids or medication to get rid of their symptoms. Otherwise, they are more likely to stay sick longer.
Sending an ill child to school exposes other children to your child's illness. Children easily pass germs through their play and close contact with each other. Please send your child back to school when they are fully recovered. Then everyone will have the opportunity to experience the best from the school day.
To check a specific illness or disease, visit the Hennepin County Health Department website.
Please contact your child's school when your child is staying home due to illness. If your child is not well enough to attend school but well enough to do school work at home, you may request homework according to your school's homework policy.
Prolonged Absence & Injury
Certain illnesses may cause prolonged absences from school. If that happens, we need a doctor’s note stating the reason your child cannot attend school and the anticipated length of time your child will not be in school.
If your child has an injury that affects their participation in Physical Education class, a doctor’s note is needed including the date of return to P.E. The note should state the nature of the injury, what activities are to be avoided and which activities your child can safely do. This will facilitate an easier transition to an alternative activity. If an alternative activity cannot be done, extra credit make up will be required once the injury has healed and full participation is allowed.
If your child cannot participate in P.E. class for only a day or two, we need a note from the parent. The student will then be required to sign up for a make-up/extra credit class that will be held after school to receive credit for the classes that are missed. Extra credit classes can be attended by all students in PE and those points banked to improve the overall grade in the class. In all cases, the student should try to dress according to the requirements of the P.E. class. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate any needs they may have with the teacher.
Report an Absence
The preferred method of absence reporting is through Skyward Family Access. Alternately, you can report a student absence via the email or phone. Please include the student’s name, grade, a brief reason for absence or tardy, and the length of absence (if known).
Attendance Email: wmsattendance@westonka.k12.mn.us
Attendance Phone: (952) 491-8305
Quick Links
Common Illness
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More Wellness Resources
Immunizations
Immunization Requirements
According to Minnesota Statute 121.A15, students need immunizations for enrollment in schools. Updated immunizations are required upon entering Kindergarten and Grade 7. Other non-required immunizations may be given during the appropriate age level.
No student is required to receive an immunization which is contrary to the conscientiously held beliefs of the parent or guardian. To receive an exemption, complete the exemption portion of the immunization form, have it notarized, and return it to school.
Got Your Shots? The Minnesota Department of Health website provides up-to-date information about immunizations and school requirements, or check out the Health Partners No Shots, No School Program, making immunizations more accessible for school-age children.
If your children do not have insurance, contact WeCan at (952) 472-0742. They will assist you in obtaining insurance for children who qualify.
Quick Links
Fact Sheets for Parents of Preteens and Teens
Medications at School
Medication will be administered during school hours when necessary. Medication includes both prescription and non-prescription (OTC over-the-counter) medication.
Administration of Prescription Medication During the School Day
If your child requires prescription medication during the school day, please note that the medication can be administered only when a release form (signed by both the parent and the health care provider) is on file in the school office.
All prescription medications should come to school in the original container. Prescription medications are not to be carried during the day by the student; rather, they must be left in the health office. There are exceptions to this requirement, depending on the student's age and ability to safely self-administer the medication; those exceptions may include prescription asthma medication inhalers and epi-pens used for allergic reactions. In these cases, the self-medication portion of the form must be completed and kept on file in the health office. Prescription medications are not to be shared with other students. Consequences for sharing prescription medications can range from detention to suspension to expulsion, and law enforcement will be notified of any violation.
Administration of Non-Prescription Medication During the School Day
All over-the-counter medications and the signed parent release must be retained in the health office. Exceptions may be allowed, depending on the individual situation and after a conference with parent and school nurse.