Health Services
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Our school nurses provide an essential resource to our students, families, and staff. What do they do each day? The list is long, but here are a few highlights:
- Speak with families about positive COVID-19 cases or close contacts.
- Perform contact tracing and answer questions.
- Track COVID-19 data in Infinite Campus and send data to the Polk County Department of Health.
- Assess student health symptoms and determine if a student should remain at school, go home, and/or be seen by a physician.
- Manage students' medication.
- Provide health screenings and referrals to family health care providers.
- Track student immunization requirements and coordinate other state health requirements.
- Educate students on disease prevention and other general health topics.
View COVID-19 Exposure Guidelines
Request COVID-19 Test Kit for Student
Human Growth and DevelopmentParent/guardians may review human growth and development materials by contacting the school principal. Additionally, they may have their children removed from human growth and development instruction by providing a written request to the school principal.
- Speak with families about positive COVID-19 cases or close contacts.
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School Nurses
- Clive Learning Academy — Jennifer Rubino, 633-5806
- Crestview School of Inquiry — Jennifer Anderson, 633-5704
- Crossroads Park Elementary — Heather Strang, 633-5615
- Fairmeadows Elementary — Stacie Walther, 633-6505
- Hillside Elementary — Allison Line, 633-6241; Emily Boettcher, 633-6241
- Jordan Creek Elementary — Shelby Benge, 633-5223
- Learning Resource Center (PK) —Jenn Andrew, 633-6404
- Western Hills Elementary — Patty Bohlender, 633-5907; Tammy Wihlm, 633-5907
- Westridge Elementary — Anna Shull, 633-5423; Julie Galloway
- Indian Hills Junior High — Mary MacAlpine, 633-4714
- Stilwell Junior High — Liz Horn, 633-6013
- Valley Southwoods Freshman High School — Jackie Dewater, 633-4521
- Valley High School — Bridget Jacobson, 633-4007; Roberta Malloy
- Walnut Creek Campus — Jenn Raymond, 633-6404
Laura Mears, Manager of Blank Nurses at WDMCSCOVID-19 Response Line: 515-633-5990
- For Parents: Include your name, student's name, school, and phone number
- For Staff: Include your name, building, role, and phone number
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Illness at School and When to Keep Your Child At Home
School nurses play a critical role in maintaining the health and safety of schools. West Des Moines Community Schools (WDMCS) collaborates with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), Polk County Public Health Department (PCHD), and local health care professionals to provide guidelines that identify when it is safe for children to attend school.
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When to Stay or Go Home
Stay or go home if you have one or more of these symptoms:
- fever over 100.4
- headache
- new cough
- muscle aches/body aches
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- new loss of taste or smell
- fatigue
- sore throat
- runny nose
- vomiting
- diarrhea
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COVID-19 Guidelines
All individuals, including students, staff, and visitors, are encouraged to follow CDC guidance regarding face masks.
If your student/family has a confirmed COVID-19 case or possible COVID-19 exposure:
- Contact your school nurse for guidance.
Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 have two options:
- Individuals may isolate for 10 days; OR
- Individuals may return after 5 days, if:
- they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications;
- their symptoms improving; and
- they wear a mask for days 6-10 when around other people.
- Contact your school nurse for guidance.
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General Illness Guidelines
If your student is ill, contact your school nurse prior to returning to school. Further guidance or clearance from a health care provider may be necessary before they can return to the classroom.
Students with a diagnosed illness other than COVID-19 may return to school:
- After 24 hours without fever with no fever-reducing medications AND
- Other symptoms are improving.
Students with the following symptoms must remain home or be sent home from school:
- Fever, vomiting, or diarrhea in the last 24 hours.
- Persistent nasal congestion, reddened eyes, sore throat, persistent cough, or headaches.
- Unexplained and/or undiagnosed skin rashes.
- Any other health condition that may impact the health and well-being of the student and others, as determined by the school nurse.
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Communicating About Illness
To minimize the spread of illness, report contagious diseases to the school nurse.
- Contagious diseases: COVID-19, influenza, measles, whooping cough, hepatitis A, tuberculosis, chickenpox, etc.
The school nurse or another school representative will contact you if your child becomes ill or seriously injured at school.
- It is very important to provide an emergency contact and keep it updated throughout the year. If a parent/guardian cannot be reached, other individuals listed on the emergency form will be contacted.
- Students must be picked up within one hour after being contacted unless arrangements have been made with the school nurse or administrator.
- Contagious diseases: COVID-19, influenza, measles, whooping cough, hepatitis A, tuberculosis, chickenpox, etc.
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Health Forms
WDMCS requests examinations and medical reports annually of all preschoolers, kindergartners, third-graders, sixth-graders, and all new students. Health Services should also be notified if any student has a known health problem.
Many of these forms are provided by the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH).
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Asthma Consent Form
wdmcs-asthma-self-administration-consent-form-2021-fillable.pdf 234.79 KB (Last Modified on December 22, 2020) -
Daily Medication Sheet
wdmcs-medication-administration-form-2021-fillable.pdf 130.11 KB (Last Modified on December 22, 2020) -
IDPH Certificate of Immunization Exemption: Medical Reasons
Certificate-of-Immunization-Exemption-Medical-12-21-16-Final-1.pdf 229.97 KB (Last Modified on December 22, 2020) -
IDPH Certificate of Immunization Exemption: Religous Reasons
Certificate-of-Immunization-Exemption-Religious-June-2015.pdf 196.22 KB (Last Modified on December 22, 2020) -
Ley de Iowa sobre la evaluación de la visión de los niños
2020 Spanish Vision Screening Certificate w Letter to Parents.pdf 498.47 KB (Last Modified on March 12, 2021) -
PRN Asthma and Nebulizer Administration
wdmcs-prn-asthma-nebulizer-administration-form-2021-fillable.pdf 286.33 KB (Last Modified on December 22, 2020) -
PRN Short-term Medication Form
wdmcs-prn-medication-administration-form-2021-fillable.pdf 306.02 KB (Last Modified on December 22, 2020)
Health Screenings
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Blood Lead Screening
Iowa law now requires that children enrolling in kindergarten provide proof of having been tested for blood lead levels before they are 6 years old. There are exemptions to the law in cases of religious exemption or in cases where the Iowa Department of Public Health determines the child is at an extremely low risk of lead exposure. Exemptions must be approved by the Iowa Department of Public Health. If you have questions or need assistance, contact the Iowa Department of Public Health’s blood lead bureau at 1-800-972-2026. Learn more from IDPH.
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Dental Screening
Iowa law requires all students entering kindergarten and ninth grade complete a dental screening. It can be completed by a licensed doctor, advanced registered nurse practitioner, physician assistant, nurse, dental hygienist, or a dentist.
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Hearing Screening
Heartland Area Education Agency (AEA) will conduct an annual Hearing Conservation Program at each elementary school during the school year. All students in grades K-5 will receive a hearing screening. Students who do not pass this screening may receive individual hearing tests by an audiologist and consultation with school personnel. Parents will be notified about the results of the hearing tests only if their child does not pass the test.
This is a screening process only, and does not identify all hearing or ear problems. If your child has had hearing or ear problems recently, feel free to send this information to the school nurse for the audiologist. If you do not want your child to participate in the screening program and follow-up assessments by an audiologist, please notify your school. If there are any questions about the hearing testing program in your school, please contact the school nurse or principal.
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Vision Screening
The State of Iowa requires all incoming kindergarten and third-grade students to have a vision screening prior to the first day of school. This exam can be completed by a licensed eye doctor or optometrist, your child’s health care provider at the time of his or her school physical, a free clinic, or a county health department.