Nurses & Health Services

According to the California Department of Public Health, children in California are required by law, to receive certain immunizations in order to attend public and private elementary and secondary schools. Schools are required to enforce immunization requirements, maintain immunization records of all children enrolled, and submit reports. California schools are required to check immunization records for all new student admissions, before entry. Parents are responsible for submitting up-to date immunization records to the Nurse’s Office.

To enter into Santa Margarita Catholic High School, incoming freshmen and transfer students must have immunizations that meet the California School Immunization Law, Health and Safety Code Sections 120325-120380. Your student’s immunization record (yellow CA immunization card, MD immunization record or previous school immunization record) may be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to SMCHS/Nurse’s Office. Incomplete or missing records will delay the admission process.

Click here for immunization requirements

SHOTS FOR SCHOOL

Students are not allowed to carry or store medication of any kind on themselves, in their backpacks, lockers or cars. Tylenol, Advil, Tums, Clartin, sinus decongestants and Midol can only be given to students with parental consent obtained through online registration. All prescription and over-the-counter medications must be taken and stored in the Nurse's Office. 

• If your student needs to take a prescription medicine at school, it must be in pharmacy-labeled medication container (labeled with the student's name, medication name, dosage, and frequency). In addition, a DIOCESE OF ORANGE PARENT/HEALTHCARE PROVIDER REQUEST FOR MEDICINE FORM needs to be completed by the student's parent and physician, and returned to the Nurse's Office by the parent when bringing in the medication.
• Over-the-counter medicines must be in their sealed original labeled container along with a DIOCESE OF ORANGE PARENT/HEALTHCARE PROVIDER REQUEST FOR MEDICINE FORM signed by the parent (a physician's signature is not required).
• Medication must be delivered to the school by the parent/guardian. 
• All liquid medications must be accompanied by an appropriate measuring device. 
• Any tablets requiring partial does (1/2 or 1/4) must be sent to the school already cut.
• Students with asthma/allergies (provided proper documentation is completed in the Nursing Office) may carry an Inhaler or Epipen with them but it is also highly recommended to keep an extra Inhaler/Epipen in the Nursing Office in case of an emergency.
• Students taking prescription medications at home for ADD/ADHD, depression or other mental health diagnosis are advised to report these medications on their admissions health history form or directly to the Nurse’s Office. Some medications may cause a positive test result during random drug testing
• Overnight field Trips/Retreats: For specific instructions regarding student health and medication for overnight field trips/retreats, please review page 31 of the parent/student handbook.
  
  Medication at School Release Form:
  CLICK HERE

Reporting Injuries
All student injuries and accidents that are school related should be reported to the Nurse’s Office. Sports team injuries are reported to the Coach and Athletic Trainer. All student accident insurance claims are processed by the Nurse’s Office.

Foot Injuries
Students are not allowed to wear flip-flops or slippers under any conditions. In the event of a student injuring a foot or toe please use either a medical shoe on the affected foot, or a sandal with a back strap on the affected foot and a regular shoe on the unaffected foot.

Elevator Key
Any student needing an elevator key due to a disability/injury may have one issued to them. A physician’s note is not required. The disabled student may have one student accompany them in the elevator for assistance if necessary. The student will pick up their elevator key each morning in the Nurse’s Office and return it at the end of each school day. If he/she fails to return their key, an overdue notice will be sent to the student. After three notices a “Discipline Referral” will be issued through the Dean’s Office. Lost keys are subject to a $20.00 replacement fee

It should be noted that the student's family health insurance plan is the primary coverage for school-related illness and injuries. All students at SMCHS have secondary accident insurance with Meyer-Stevens & Toohey. This coverage also includes accidents, which occur one hour before or after school (while directly en route to or from school), all school sponsored events, and sports activities. Football students pay an additional premium.

SMCHS is committed to the safety of our students, faculty, staff and community. The school continues to monitor the ever-changing situation with the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The school receives guidance from the CDC, CDPH, the Orange County Health Care Agency, the Orange County Department of Education, and our Diocese. This guidance is used to increase the safety of our students as we provide educational instruction.

View the guidelines. 

Students diagnosed with chronic medical conditions that affect their school day or may require medical attention while at school, should have a parent/guardian contact the Nurse’s Office. Students with asthma or life-threatening allergies may carry an inhaler and/or EpiPen. A Diocese Parent/Guardian and Physician Request for Medication Administration Form must be submitted. In case of an emergency, keeping an extra inhaler or EpiPen in the Nurse’s Office is highly recommended.

Students with diabetes are required to submit an Individual Diabetes Plan signed by their physician before attending school. During school hours, diabetic students will test blood glucose levels, administer insulin and/or other diabetic medication as specified in the student’s Individual Diabetes Plan. If the student feels their blood glucose level may be high/low, or if symptoms of high/low blood glucose are observed, the student is to report to the Nurse’s Office. The goal of the Nurse’s Office is to encourage independence while providing the education and services needed to maintain blood glucose levels within the student’s target range, and to respond to levels outside of this range.

Students should feel well enough to participate in all classroom activities when coming to school. If he/she is suffering from an active illness, they are advised to stay home in order to protect other students and staff from possible disease transmission. If your student develops a fever or is sent home from school with a temperature of 99.9° or higher, he/she must be free of fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine before returning to school. (During Covid-19 pandemic conditions SMCHS will follow OCHCA guidelines. View guidelines.) Students should remain at home until their illness has resolved, even if examinations will be missed as a result of illness. Students should not come to school simply to complete an examination with the intention of leaving early due to illness.

If a student is absent for three consecutive days, a physician’s note indicating that the student has been seen and is safe to return to school may be requested. This will allow the student to take the absences as excused and more importantly, reassure the school community that we are making every effort to minimize the transmission of treatable contagious diseases.

Parents are requested to report all confirmed or suspected contagious diseases to the Nurse’s Office at (949) 766-6029. Early Dismissals (not due to illness) and all Absences are reported to the Attendance Office at (949) 766-6020.

Early Dismissal Due to Illness
If a student is too ill to remain in school, he/she must go to the Nurses Office and the nurse will notify the student’s parents. If the parent is unavailable, the persons designated on the student’s emergency card will be called. Once the nurse has called and obtained permission from the parents or emergency contact for the student to go home, a call slip will be issued. Leaving campus without a call slip will be considered truancy. Students are not allowed to use ride sharing services such as Uber/Lyft.

Emergency contacts are relatives/friends/neighbors whom you have authorized to pick up your student at school (in case of illness, injury or disaster) if you were unable to be reached. It is important that all emergency contacts be kept current for the protection of the student.

A yearly sports physical is required to tryout and participate in all SMCHS athletic programs. Pre-participation physical exam forms and further instructions can be found on school's sports medicine website. For further questions contact the SMCHS Certified Athletic Trainers at ext. 2212.