Dear Spartan Families,

We are very excited and look forward to serving you and your children during this upcoming school year!  As this will be a unique year due to the current pandemic, we will need your help to best serve your children.  Please read this entire document carefully as it contains four important and distinctive sections:

1) COVID-19 Acknowledgement of Risks
2) Health guidance and daily self-assessment acknowledgment
3) Changes to medical policies as a result of COVID-19
4) Immunization information

In order for your child to attend St. Peter’s School this year, it is necessary for you to read and complete this form with appropriate names and signatures.  If you would prefer to receive a paper copy, please contact the school office.

1) COVID-19 Acknowledgement of Risks

We, the undersigned parent(s) and student acknowledge and agree that, as a student at St. Peter's School and as parent(s) of that student, entering in the school or being on the premises, having personal contact with teachers, classmates, and other St. Peter's School staff, involves a certain degree of risk, namely of parent(s) and/or student acquiring a communicable disease, including COVID-19, and then potentially passing it on to others, including family members.  Due to the highly contagious nature of COVID-19, there is an elevated risk of student contracting the disease simply by being in on the premises, or at any St. Peter's School function.    

 After carefully considering the COVID-19-related risks involved, and having the opportunity to discuss these risks with any healthcare professional(s) of our choosing, we voluntarily accept those risks and acknowledge that returning to in-person classes and other in-person St. Peter's School functions is the choice of each family, including ours.  If student or parent(s) who visit St. Peter's School have underlying health concerns which may place them at greater risk of contracting any communicable disease, including COVID-19, we agree that we will consult with a health care professional before student or parent(s) return to St. Peter's School, attend any St. Peter's School function, or visit St. Peter's School.  Moreover, we acknowledge that while adherence to safety and precautionary measures (e.g., social distancing guidelines, facemasks, handwashing, etc.) may reduce possible exposure to the risk of contracting a communicable disease, the possibility of serious illness and death remains.  We do hereby accept and assume sole responsibility for any illness acquired by student or parent(s) while at St. Peter's School or any St. Peter's School function, including possible infection with COVID-19.  We hereby release St. Peter's School and the Diocese and their employees and agents from liability for any injury, loss, or claim arising out of an illness contracted by student or parent(s) while at St. Peter's School, and further agree to defend and indemnify them against claims or suits arising out of such an illness.

We further accept that we have obligations to the school and parish, its employees/staff members, students, and others to take certain precautions and make certain disclosures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as outlined by the State of Ohio and the applicable local public health department.  Additionally, we agree that neither student nor parent(s) will come to St. Peter's School or any St. Peter's School function if in the last 14 days, student or parent(s) has had prolonged (more than 15 minutes) close contact (within 6 feet) with anyone, including a family member, diagnosed with or suspected of having COVID-19.

2) Health Guidance and Daily Self-Assessment Acknowledgement

In everything we do, the safety of our students and staff is our top concern. At St. Peter’s School, we are continuously monitoring and taking direction from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and the Richland County Public Health Department (RCPH) regarding mitigation procedures related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

We need every child to follow illness preventive recommendations from the CDC, ODH, and RCPH.  These include:

-Wearing an appropriate face mask

-Maintaining a distance of 6 feet or more from others at school whenever possible

-Washing hands frequently

-Staying home when sick

In addition, it is essential every student and staff member do a daily health assessment prior to coming to school. If you have one or more of these symptoms associated with COVID-19:

COVID-19 Symptoms:

Fever (100 degrees, or greater) or chills
Cough 
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing 
Fatigue/weakness/exhaustion
Muscle or body aches 
Headache 
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea

Then questions regarding potential exposure should be determined as follows:  

Have you been in close contact (within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes) with a person who has confirmed COVID-19 or under quarantine by a health department for possible exposure to COVID-19?
Have you traveled to an area where local or state health departments are reporting large numbers of COVID-19 cases as described in the Ohio COVID-19 Travel Advisory of states with higher than 15% positive COVID-19 testing?
Do you live inside an area of high community transmissions such as Level 3/Red or Level 4/Purple on the Ohio Public Health Advisory System?

Based on these questions, if COVID-19 is suspected, students and staff should seek medical advice from their doctor for further testing and diagnosis.  Students will still be able to participate in the learning process by availing themselves of the online learning option.  

Parents and staff are also encouraged to report any confirmed cases of the flu to help us track viral infections and to better target our sanitizing efforts.  If we do experience COVID-19 cases at school, we will take our direction from RCPH regarding potential quarantine, school closings, or other necessary actions.

Your signature is required below indicating you have read and agree to comply with these instructions.

3) Changes to medical policies as a result of COVID-19

Many children throughout our campus live with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, seizures, migraine headaches, and ADHD.  We can help you and your children manage these conditions during the school day.  However, there will be some changes this year to how we will care for these conditions due to the on-going threat of COVID-19 in our community.

For children with asthma: We will not be able to provide nebulizer treatments in the school setting. Many asthma experts agree an inhaler (puffer) used with a spacer or chamber is just as effective as a nebulizer. Please help us by sending your child’s healthcare provider forms before school starts so they can be sent to the school nurse.  These forms should include the following:  

Provider Order & Asthma Action Plan
Permission to Medicate At School
Permission to Self-Carry, as applicable
It is recommended to have an inhaler and spacer for both home and school this year. This also applies to students who self-carry an inhaler during the school day. All forms must accompany the medication to school no later than the first day of classes.  

For children requiring prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications while at school: A written order from your healthcare provider and signed by you is required by law in the State of Ohio for any medication given at school. Due to COVID-19 and the masking of symptoms by OTC medication, the school will no longer be able to give Tylenol or Motrin to students. If your student has a need for OTC pain relievers on a regular basis, please schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider to obtain a signed order and provide the school nurse with the signed order and the OTC medication bottle. ADHD medications are controlled substances. They must be brought to school by the child’s parent/guardian. These pills are then counted with the school nurse or staff member and an inventory form will be signed by both.  Remember, your child’s medication must be accompanied with the following forms:

Provider Order 
Permission to Medicate At School
All forms must accompany the medication to school no later than the first day of classes.

For students with life threatening allergies needing an Epi-Pen: Please contact the school nurse by e-mail to discuss the allergy and action plan for your child.  If your student has food allergies and substitutions to school-provided meals are needed, a letter from your child’s healthcare provider is required. A student may self-carry an Epi-Pen provided another Epi-Pen is in the school office.  Please provide the school nurse with the following forms prior to the first day of school:

Provider Order & Allergy Action Plan
Permission to Medicate At School
Permission to Self-Carry, as applicable
All forms must accompany the medication to school no later than the first day of classes.

For students with Diabetes:  Please contact the school nurse by e-mail before school starts to discuss your child’s needs while at school. Please provide the school nurse with the Diabetes Management Plan for your child signed by the healthcare provider. 

For students with seizure disorders:  Please contact your school nurse by e-mail before school starts to discuss your child’s needs while at school. Please provide the following forms prior to the start of the school year:

Provider Order & Seizure Action Plan
Permission to Medicate At School
Permission to Self-Carry, as applicable
All forms must accompany the medication to school no later than the first day of classes.

For other chronic health conditions/healthcare needs at school:  Please contact the school nurse by e-mail before school starts to discuss a plan of care. If any procedure or medication will be required during the school day, please schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider for signed orders and bring them to the school no later than the first day of classes.  Also, the Permission to Medicate At School form must accompany any medication needed while at school no later than the first day of classes.

SHOULD YOUR CHILD’S CONDITION OR MEDICATION CHANGE AT ANYTIME DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, PLEASE NOTIFY THE SCHOOL NURSE WITH THE UPDATE IMMEDIATELY.  

*All school-related medical forms are located on our website and are also available in the school office.  Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

4. Immunization information

Ohio Revised Code 3313.617 requires immunizations for all students by the 14th day of the school year.  Here is a quick list of required immunizations if your student is current and not in need of any make-up vaccinations.  

NEW REQUIRED VACCINATIONS FOR THOSE CAUGHT-UP ON VACCINES: 

Kindergarten Students - Booster dose of Dtap, Polio, MMR, Chickenpox, completed series of    Hepatitis B vaccine

Incoming 7th Graders - Tdap and Meningococcal vaccine

Incoming 12th graders - Meningococcal vaccine

If your student is not current with any of these vaccines, please schedule an appointment with your student’s healthcare provider now or visit the following locations to receive these vaccinations before the 14th day after the start of the school year. 

 

Richland Public Health - beginning Monday, August 3, 2020, the Health Department will offer vaccinations for children up to age 18. Call 419-774-4700 to schedule an appointment. More information can be found at Richlandhealth.org

Third Street Family Health Services: Your child does not have to be an established patient to receive vaccinations. Call 419-522-6191 to schedule an appointment.

*Please provide a copy of your child’s updated immunization record for the school nurse no later than the 14th day of the school year.  

*The full vaccine schedule is located on the school website.