The School’s Health Office is staffed by a licensed school nurse.

The school nurse is on campus Monday–Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The dorm nurse is available in the residence hall Thursday–Sunday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

When a nurse is not on duty, trained residence hall staff are available to assist students with first aid, routine health concerns, and emergencies according to established school procedures.

Authorized staff may assist with medications according to the student’s current medication authorization and Perpich medication procedures.

Parents/Guardians and students should review the Perpich Student/Parent Handbook and become familiar with school attendance requirements and procedures for absences due to illness.

If a student becomes ill at home and will not be attending school, the parent/guardian should follow the school’s attendance procedures to report the absence.

For a resident student who becomes ill while at home, the parent/guardian must notify both the residence hall and the school that the student will not be attending school.

When a student becomes ill at school, the student must obtain a pass from their teacher or the teacher must notify the nurse.

The student must then report directly to the School Health Office for evaluation.

Students who leave class or school due to illness without obtaining a pass or direct permission from their teacher and/or without reporting to the nurse will be marked absent according to the school’s attendance procedures.

Resident students who are too sick to attend class must be evaluated by the school nurse.

To request an excused absence due to illness, the student must be evaluated before their first class of the day. Only the school nurse or the nurse’s designee may excuse a resident student from class due to illness.

Students who are excused due to illness, such as a fever of 100.4°F or higher or a contagious condition, will need to go home. Resident students cannot remain in the residence hall while sick.

Families of resident students should have a plan in place to pick up their student if the student becomes ill and needs to leave campus.

If a student has frequent or extended absences related to illness, injury, or another health condition, the school may request documentation from the student’s health care provider.

Parents/Guardians are encouraged to communicate with the Student Health Office and appropriate school staff when a health condition is affecting their student’s regular attendance.

Students who require long-term medical care resulting in an extended absence from school may request medical leave in accordance with Perpich policy.

Medical verification from a health care professional may be required. The school will work with the student and family regarding coursework and other appropriate supports during the student’s medical leave.

Before returning from an extended medical leave, a re-entry meeting with the student, parent/guardian, appropriate student support staff, and faculty may be required. Updated documentation from the student’s health care provider may also be requested when necessary to support the student’s safe return to school.

The school nurse and school administration work with local and state public health officials when appropriate and follow current public health requirements and recommendations regarding communicable diseases.

Parents/Guardians should notify the Student Health Office if their student is diagnosed with a communicable illness that may affect school attendance or require additional precautions at school or in the residence hall.

The Student Health Office follows current public health guidance regarding illness exclusion, return to school, and reporting of communicable diseases.

Parents/Guardians must complete the appropriate Authorization for Medication Administration Form before medication can be administered, stored, or managed through the School or Dorm Health Office.

Prescription medications must have appropriate parent/guardian authorization and health care provider orders as required.

Medications must be provided in their original, properly labeled container. Prescription medication must be provided in the original pharmacy-labeled container.

If a prescription medication will be taken both at home and at school, families are encouraged to ask their pharmacy to provide two appropriately labeled containers when possible—one for home and one for school.

Medication authorizations should be updated whenever there is a change in the medication, dosage, administration instructions, or health care provider’s orders.

Students may not share prescription or over-the-counter medications with other students. Misuse or unauthorized possession or distribution of medication may result in disciplinary action according to Perpich policy.

Some students may be permitted to carry and self-administer certain medications when appropriate and when required authorization and health plans are in place.

Students and parents/guardians should contact the School or Dorm Health Office regarding requirements for self-carry and self-administration of prescription, over-the-counter, and emergency medications.

Students with asthma, severe allergies, or other medical conditions requiring emergency medication should have appropriate medication and an emergency health plan available at school.

Students who are authorized to self-carry emergency medications, such as a rescue inhaler or prescribed epinephrine, should keep the medication readily available as directed by their health care plan.

Parents/Guardians should contact the School’s or Dorm Health Office to ensure that current medication authorization, emergency medications, and health plans are in place.

The school nurse can provide or coordinate specialized health services for students who require health-related procedures during the school day or while residing in the dorm.

Services may include, but are not limited to:

• Tube feeding
• Nebulizer treatments
• Tracheostomy care
• Specialized respiratory treatments
• Health-related mobility assistance
• Other health procedures requiring nursing care or supervision

Medical orders, parent/guardian authorization, and an individualized health plan may be required depending on the student’s health needs.

Student health information is confidential and is maintained in accordance with applicable privacy requirements.

Health information may be shared with appropriate school staff on a need-to-know basis when necessary to support the student’s health, safety, education, or emergency care and as permitted by law.

Student visits to the Health Office are documented and handled with appropriate discretion to protect student privacy.

Symptoms of COVID-19 may include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, new loss of taste or smell, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.

Symptoms can range from mild to severe and may vary from person to person.

COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It spreads mainly through infectious respiratory particles released when an infected person breathes, talks, coughs, or sneezes. A person may spread the virus even if they have mild symptoms or no symptoms.

Students, staff, and families can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses by:

• Staying home when sick.
• Washing hands regularly with soap and water.
• Using hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
• Covering coughs and sneezes.
• Avoiding touching the eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Improving indoor air quality and ventilation when possible.
• Staying up to date with recommended immunizations.
• Using additional prevention strategies, such as wearing a well-fitting mask, physical distancing, or testing, when appropriate.

A fever is not the only reason a person may need to stay home.

Students and staff should stay home when symptoms of illness would prevent them from participating comfortably in normal school activities or when there is a risk of spreading illness to others.

Individuals should monitor their symptoms and contact a health care provider if symptoms are severe, worsening, or concerning.

Stay home and away from others while you are sick.

You may return to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours:

• Your symptoms have been improving overall; and
• You have been fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medication.

After returning to normal activities, consider taking additional precautions for the next 5 days to help reduce the spread of illness. These may include practicing good hygiene, improving indoor air quality, wearing a well-fitting mask, physical distancing, and/or testing.

A specific 10-day isolation period is no longer routinely recommended, and household members are not routinely required to quarantine following an exposure.

Anyone can become infected with COVID-19; however, some people have a greater risk of developing severe illness.

Risk generally increases with age and is highest among older adults. People with certain underlying medical conditions or weakened immune systems may also have an increased risk of severe illness.

Individuals who are at increased risk should consult their health care provider regarding appropriate prevention, testing, and treatment recommendations.

This information is based on current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Public health recommendations may change as new information becomes available.