HEALTH OFFICE CONTACTS:
- Jade Fernandez, District Nurse, x5760
- Letty Gamino, Health Technician, x5753
- BJ Castaniaga, LVN, x5759
The Health Office is open from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 and from 1:00
p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Our registered nurse, LVN and health
technician assist students who become ill or are injured during the
school day. The personnel in the health office will contact
parents of a student regarding any health issues, will oversee
students who take prescription medication, and will coordinate care
with other medical professionals and staff.
By law, all prescription and non-prescription medication
be left with the Health Technician.
Students are to report to the Health Office to take prescribed
doses. A form must be filled out by a physician and the
parent/guardian before medication is taken. These forms may be
obtained in the Health Office and must be updated once a
year. The medication must be in the original labeled
container and accompany the form to be stored and dispensed in the
Health Office. Medication taken during the school day is
given by the Health Technician, or other designated school
personnel, under the supervision of the School Nurse. It is
the student's responsibility to come to the Health Office to take
their medication. Some students may carry emergency
medications (i.e., insulin, glucagons, Epi-pen and inhalers) with
approval of the parents, physician and School
Nurse. All medications must be taken home at
the end of the school year. Please direct any questions to
the Health Technician.
What to do when a student is ill and needs to go home
during the school day.
Students must report to the Health Office when they need to go
home because of illness. Students are not to contact their
parents to pick them up before reporting to the Health
Office. The student must obtain a hall pass from their
teacher before they will be admitted to the Health Office.
Contact will be made with the parent or guardian. When
permission is obtained from the parent or guardian for the student
to leave campus, a pass will be given to leave school.
Students will need to go the Attendance Office for assistance if
they need prompt attention and can't go back to class when the
health office is closed for lunch break.
The student will be allowed to leave ONLY with permission
from the people listed on the student's Emergency Card. It is
imperative that you have an updated emergency card on file and you
list a trusted relative or friend, in the event we are not able to
reach you during a medical situation.
What if it's necessary for a student to leave campus for
a medical appointment?
When it is necessary for a student to leave campus for medical
or dental appointments, they must first check out through the
Attendance Office. The parent or guardian may call the
Attendance Office in advance for medical or dental
appointments. Students must bring in notes from their parents
or doctor.
What happens if a student is kept in the Health Office
for a class period or more?
If students need to be in the Health Office for any length of
time, they will be put on an "excused absence list", designating
the number of periods to be excused. The original pass is
returned to the teacher. Important note: At
the end of every school day, a list of the students who have been
in the Health Office, who left the campus for an appointment, or
who have gone home ill, will be given to the Attendance
Office. Parents do not need to call the Attendance Office to
clear such absences.
What happens if a student has a doctor's note not to
participate in PE or has an injury that prevents normal mobility on
the campus?
If a student has a doctor's note not to participate in PE or has
an injury that requires access to an elevator or more time to reach
classes, the student needs to bring the original doctor's note to
the Health Office staff. The Health Office will notify
teachers and other PVHS staff who will need to be aware of the
situation. A PVHS staff member may contact the doctor's
office for clarification of the injury or situation. Accident
reports are also prepared in the Health Office.
All students in 10th grade, and students with
Triennial IEP's, will have a vision and hearing screening. If
the student does not have vision insurance for follow up care, the
school nurse may be able to help obtain vision care and
glasses.
The CHC clinic on the Santa Maria High School campus is
open to all students in our district. Siblings of our
students who are 12 and over can also be seen. The clinic
will accept Medi-Cal, Healthy Families and private insurance, with
no co-pay charged. Free medical care will be provided for
students who do not any insurance.
