Health Services Newsletter
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Hello, Braves Families!
We've had a wonderful start to the school year, and I want to thank our students, families, and staff for helping make the transition back to school a smooth one. It has been great seeing our classrooms full of learning, laughter, and Tribe Pride!
As we settle into our routines, September is a great time to focus on healthy habits that help students stay in school and ready to learn. Encouraging regular handwashing, getting plenty of sleep, staying hydrated, eating nutritious meals, and keeping up with medical appointments can all contribute to student success.
If your child has a health condition such as asthma, allergies, diabetes, or seizures and you have not yet submitted updated action plans, medication forms, or physician orders, please contact me as soon as possible. Having current health information allows us to provide the best possible care while your child is at school.
As we enter the fall season, please remember to keep your child home if they are experiencing fever, vomiting, or other symptoms that may be contagious. Following school illness guidelines helps protect the health of all students and staff.
Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting the health and well-being of our Braves. Together, we can help ensure every student has a safe, healthy, and successful school year!
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We invite parents, guardians, and community members to be part of our School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) this school year. SHAC is a group that works together to support the health, safety, and well-being of our students. Members provide input on topics such as physical health, mental wellness, nutrition, school safety, and health education programs.
Your voice and perspective are valuable! By joining SHAC, you can help shape programs and initiatives that promote healthy, successful students and strengthen the connection between our schools and community. Whether you are a parent, healthcare professional, business leader, or community member, we welcome your participation.
SHAC meets just four times each school year, making it an easy and meaningful way to get involved. Members may attend meetings in person or via Zoom, providing flexibility for busy schedules.
If you are interested in serving on SHAC or would like to learn more, please join us at our first meeting of the school year. We look forward to working together to support the health and success of all students.
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Date: Tuesday, September 8th
ð Time: 2:00 - 2:40 pm
ð Location: TWISD Board Room or Virtual
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In the coming weeks, Three Way ISD will be conducting required student health screenings in accordance with guidelines established by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the Texas Risk Assessment for Type 2 Diabetes in Children (TRAT2DC) program.
Depending on your child's grade level, screenings may include:
ðïļ Vision Screening â Helps identify potential vision concerns that could impact learning, reading, and classroom participation.
ð Hearing Screening â Helps detect hearing difficulties that may affect communication, language development, and academic success.
ðĶī Spinal Screening â Conducted for certain grade levels to identify possible spinal abnormalities, such as scoliosis, so families can seek medical evaluation if needed.
âĪïļ Acanthosis Nigricans Screening â A simple visual screening of the neck that looks for a skin condition associated with insulin resistance and an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Early identification allows families to discuss concerns with their healthcare provider and take steps to support long-term health.
These screenings are not intended to diagnose medical conditions. Rather, they serve as an important tool for identifying potential concerns early and connecting families with appropriate medical follow-up when needed. If a screening indicates that further evaluation may be beneficial, parents/guardians will be notified.
If you have questions about these screenings or would like to opt your child out of participation, please contact Nurse Allison.
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Flu season is coming up - now is a great time to take steps to protect yourself, your family, and our school community. Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness that can spread quickly in schools and may lead to serious illness, especially for young children and individuals with certain health conditions.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends an annual flu vaccine as the best way to reduce your risk of getting the flu and experiencing severe illness. The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older, unless otherwise advised by their healthcare provider.
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Other tips to protect yourself and others from flu and help stop the spread of germs:
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Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too. Putting physical distance between yourself and others can help lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
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Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you're sick. You can go back to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true: your symptoms are getting better overall, and you have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication
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Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Influenza viruses are thought to spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. Wearing a mask is an additional prevention strategy that you can choose to do to further protect yourself and others. When worn by a person with an infection, masks reduce the spread of the virus to others. Masks can also protect wearers from breathing in infectious particles from people around them.
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Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives Tips on hand washing and using alcohol-based hand sanitizers
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
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Take steps for cleaner air. You can improve air quality by bringing in fresh outside air, purifying indoor air or gathering outdoors. Cleaner air can reduce the risk of exposure to viruses.
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Practice good hygiene and other healthy habits. Cleaning frequently touched surfaces, such as countertops, handrails, and doorknobs regularly can help prevent the spread of some illnesses. Also, get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
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Need a flu shot? Visit the CDC's Vaccine Finder to locate your nearest flu vaccine providers:
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September is Concussion Awareness Month. A concussion is a type of brain injury that can affect a student's learning, memory, balance, mood, sleep, and overall well-being. While many concussions occur during athletic activities, they can also happen during physical education classes, recreational activities, falls, motor vehicle accidents, and everyday play.
At Three Way ISD, student safety is a top priority. We encourage all students, parents, and coaches to learn the signs and symptoms of concussion and to report any suspected head injury immediately. Early recognition and proper management are key to a safe recovery and successful return to the classroom and activities.
To support concussion education, we encourage families to check out these educational resources together:
ðĨ Student Concussion Education Video
ðĨ Parent Concussion Education Video
- CDC Link: Concussion Basics
- The CDC's "Caring for Your Child's Concussion" video provides parents and caregivers with information about recognizing concussion symptoms, supporting recovery, and understanding the return-to-school and return-to-play process.
If your child experiences a head injury or is diagnosed with a concussion, please notify the school nurse as soon as possible so we can provide appropriate support and accommodations during recovery.
When in doubt, sit it out - and get it checked out.
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