Student Health Services

The mission of the chemical health program is to empower students to make healthy choices that lead to academic success, social well-being, and emotional health.

Please see the following files for additional information on chemical health issues:

• Chemical Health Assessments
• What a drug problem may look like
• Resource Guide for Parents
• How can you tell if your child is using drugs?
• If you suspect your child is using drugs
• Proactive Approach to Adolescent Suicide Prevention

Contact Information
Ann Collins, LADC, Chemical Health Specialist
952-226-8783

Tips for Parents

Few health conditions are as closely related to learning as concussions. Please alert the School Nurse should your student sustain a concussion, as there are often educational implications subsequent to a concussion.

Prior Lake Savage Area Schools require a doctor’s note (preferably from a health care professional experienced in evaluating concussions), the same as for other injuries and illnesses, for us to make school accommodations. To assist in planning for any possible accommodations, we ask that the child's health care provider complete the Acute Concussion Evaluation Care Plan.  All students should follow their doctor’s recommendations regarding cognitive rest and limiting screen time.

Please review the CDC fact sheet about concussions — including symptoms and danger signs.

To view COVID-19 information and the PLSAS Safe Learning Plan, click here. 

If your student has a chronic, potentially life-threatening health condition (i.e., asthma, severe allergy, bee sting allergy, diabetes, seizures) please fill out an Emergency Action Plan and give it to the health office at your child's school. Call the school nurse prior to school starting or anytime your child’s health condition changes to ensure that appropriate health/safety measures are developed and implemented for your student.

• EAP Anaphylaxis
• EAP Asthma/Reactive Airway
• EAP Diabetes
• EAP Seizure

Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools will notify the parent/guardian of the affected student upon discovery of infestation and request permission to check siblings in district. We will request a note/call regarding treatment when student returns and recheck student upon return and recheck again after one week.

At the beginning of the year, teachers are given prevention strategies to discuss with students. Parents are encouraged to check their children periodically at home. Health services staff can do head checks if requested and as necessary to assist with difficult cases. Our goals are to contain infestation, provide appropriate health information for treatment and prevention, prevent overexposure to potentially hazardous chemicals, and minimize school absence.

For more information, please review the FAQs.

The School Nurses, Health Support Personnel, and numerous volunteers are screening students during the school year checking vision and hearing. Effective screening programs are intended to identify health problems that otherwise would not be identified until a later date, when treatment is less effective or more costly.

Early detection of vision or hearing deficits is essential to optimize learning capabilities. Approximately 7.5% of school-age children have vision problems and 3-5% of children experience hearing deficits.

Vision screening will be done for 1st , 4th and 7th grade; hearing screening for 1st and 4th grade.

Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools adheres to a No Shots (or proof of exemption), No School policy. This means that all students must meet the state immunization requirements prior to enrollment or the beginning of a new school year. For more information, contact your student's health office. Click here for the immunization form.

If your child does not have a regular clinic, or is unable to get an appointment to update immunizations, your child will be able to get shots at a No Shots No School clinic. For more information about accessing that resource, please visit Park Nicollet Foundation: Community Connectivity or print the Barrier-Free Immunization Form.

Talking Points for Partners

Information about Measles:
English
Somali
Spanish
Hmong

Students are permitted to take medication, (including over-the-counter), in school only when:

• The frequency of dosage makes it necessary for a dose or treatment to be given during school hours.
• A written medication or treatment order from a licensed prescriber is on file for the student.
• A written parent/guardian authorization for the school nurse or her delegate to administer the medication or treatment is on file for the student.
• Written licensed prescriber’s orders are required for all changes in medications, or dosages being given in school, including dosages forgotten at home, nicotine patches and gum for tobacco cessation, and must be renewed annually at the beginning of the school year.
• The medication is supplied by the family in a fully-labeled original container.

Inhalers, epi-pens, and glucometers may be carried and used by the student after permission forms are completed in the health office and the student has demonstrated the ability to independently administer his/her medication to him/herself and has signed a contract in the health office.

Due to nursing licensure, when the Health Office is asked to give a medication or perform a medical treatment in school, we will require written parent’s permission to access the licensed prescriber regarding the order given. Nurses must work under a licensed prescriber’s guidance.

For safety reasons, we would appreciate all medications being delivered to the health office by a parent or designated adult during school hours. The Health Support Person will count all controlled medications brought into the Health Office at the time of delivery.

If you have any questions, please call the Health Support or Licensed School Nurse at your student’s building.

Minnesota State Law requires schools to maintain a permanent health record for every child registered in the district showing immunizations and health conditions. Health information pertinent to the student’s safety and ability to learn in school is requested upon entrance into Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools and updates are requested annually. Parents are encouraged to notify the school of health problems, updated vaccines, or diagnosis of infectious disease. Information is considered confidential and shared with school personnel only as needed, and only with parent/guardian permission or where required by law.

We ask that all students/parents complete an annual update through Infinite Campus. Current students are encouraged to keep the school informed of any changes to phone numbers, addresses, emergency contact information, etc.