Welcome to Westridge Elementary School

We believe in providing an educationally stimulating, secure, and positive environment which will enhance intellectual, emotional, physical, and social growth of all students, instilling responsibility and commitment to lifelong learning.

In order to equip and prepare students to adapt with confidence to a rapidly changing world, we will:

1. Teach and model learning as an ongoing process.
   
   
2. Provide students with opportunities to take an increasing part in their own assessment and goals.
   
   
3. Encourage each child to strive toward his academic and social potential.
   
   
4. Grow professionally by keeping abreast of effective instructional strategies and curriculum changes that affect children's learning.
   
   
5. Develop an appreciation of diversity in our world and build on individual differences and uniqueness.
   
   
6. Promote learning as a lifelong process through communication and collaboration with school, parents, and community.

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Westridge Health Office Information
The philosophy of the health services of the West Des Moines School District is to assist the student and his/her family to obtain his/her optimum level of wellness.  A healthy child is able to receive the most from his/her education experience.  Each child at Westridge has a unique and individual health status that is recognized.  Westridge has a full time registered nurse at the school Monday through Friday.

HEALTH TESTING
Hearing screenings for all students K-5 are conducted each fall by Heartland Area Education Agency.  Vision will be screened by the nurse in first, third, and fifth grades or if requested by the teacher or parent.  Parents will receive written notification if their child should be referred to your private physician for further testing.

ILLNESS/REPORTING ABSENCES
In order to decrease the chance of spreading illness to others at school, please keep your child home if he/she has:

• had a temperature of 100 degrees or more in the past 24 hours
• vomited in the past 8 hours
• had diarrhea in the past 8 hours
• a bacterial infection (strep throat, pink eye, etc.) that has not been treated with antibiotics for 24 hours
• constant cough that would disturb both your child and the class
• a communicable disease (chicken pox, impetigo, etc.) and has not received written authorization from your doctor or school nurse for readmission to class
• any ailment that would impair your child’s learning

If your child will be absent, please call the school secretary before 9:00 am and provide your child’s name, teacher, and reason for the absence.  If your child is absent and the school has not been notified, the school must contact the parents.  If your child is absent for more than one day, please call the school each day.

MEDICATION POLICY
If it is necessary for your child to take medication at school, please observe the medication policy of the West Des Moines Community School District for all medication (prescription, over the counter, throat sprays or cough drops):

• Must have written authorization from the parent.  Please provide child’s name, name of the medication, dose to be given, and the time it is to be given along with parent’s signature.
• Must be in the original container (no pills plastic bags or envelopes).  The pharmacy will provide a second container for “school use” for prescription medication at no charge.
• Directions on the container must match the parent authorization.
• All medications (prescription, over the counter, inhalers, cough drops, etc.) must be kept in the Health Office at all times.

HEALTH RECORDS
By keeping a health history on each student we are better able to evaluate, understand, and be responsive to your child’s individual needs.  Please send a note or call the school nurse at 633-5423 regarding any developments concerning your child’s health (hospitalizations, medications, allergies, injuries, surgeries and other medical conditions) which would be pertinent to your child’s performance and attendance.  Please keep the Health Office notified of any changes with home, work, and cell phone numbers.  All kindergarten students are required to have a physical prior to entering school. 

IMMUNIZATIONS
By Iowa law, all children must meet the following minimum standards for immunization prior to the beginning of the school year and submit written proof of:

1. DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) – at least 3 doses with one dose given on or after the age of 4 years if born on or before September 15, 2000.  If born after September 15, 2000, need at least 4 doses with one dose given on or after the age of 4 years
2. OPV/IPV (Polio) – at least 3 doses with one dose given on or after the age of 4 years.
3. MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) – 2 doses; the first dose must be given on or after the age of 12 months, and the second dose given at least 28 days after.
4. Hepatitis B – 3 doses for children born on or after July 1, 1994.
5. Varicella – children born on or after September 15, 1997 shall receive at least one dose of Varicella vaccine or have a reliable history of natural disease.  This dose shall have been received on or after at 12 months of age.

The immunization record must contain the following information:

• Date of immunization (month, day, year)
• Signature of doctor or health official

Kindergarten students must submit proof of immunization status prior to or on the first day of school.
Students not submitting this information will be excluded from school until written immunization status is received.