Health Services/School Nurse

Students are not allowed to transport medication to and from school. This includes prescription and over the counter medications, including but not limited to: Ibuprofen, Tylenol, etc. Parents/Guardians need to bring those medications to the Clinic in the original, unopened container.

Once the Huffman ISD Medication Administration form is completed and submitted, arrangements can be made to dispense the medication during school hours. Prescription medication must have the pharmacy label on the medication with the child’s name and dosing information. Over the counter medication must have your child’s age group/weight in the dosing information.

 Some medications follow the schedule below:

Once day, medications are given at home before or after school

Twice a day, medications are given at home before and after school.

Three times a day, medications are given at home before school, after school, and at bedtime.

Four times a day, medications are given at home before school, one time at school after lunch, at home after school, and at bedtime. (Please have the pharmacist give 2 bottles; one for school and one for home.)

When medications are to be given for prolonged periods of time, it is the parent’s responsibility to maintain an adequate supply of medication and to inform the school of changes in dosage or frequency in administration or if medication is discontinued.

Any unused medications must be picked up by the parent, guardian or an adult. No medication will be sent home with the student. Medications left in the clinic at the end of the school year will be destroyed on the last day of school.

 

Huffman ISD Health Services Medication Administration Form

A complete list of immunization requirements can be found at: Immunization Schedules | Texas DSHS

If you are providing an exemption form, an original form must be submitted. Requirements can be found at: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/immunize/school/exemptions.aspx  

In situations where vaccinations have been started late or are more than one month behind schedule, information on catch up schedules can be found at: Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule for ages 18 years or younger

 

Huffman Middle School Students

All incoming 7th grade students are required to turn in an updated immunization record that shows proof of recent Tdap and Meningococcal (MCV4):

For 7th grade: 1 dose of Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (Tdap) is required if at least 5 years have passed since the last dose of tetanus-containing vaccine.

 For 7^th – 12^th grade: 1 dose of quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine is required on or after the student’s 11th birthday. Note: If a student received the vaccine at 10 years of age, this will satisfy the requirement.

Vision and Hearing Screenings

Occur in pre-K, kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th grades and for newly enrolled students.

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/vision-hearing-screening

Acanthosis Nigricans (AN)

Is screened in 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th grades.

The 77th Texas Legislature passed legislation requiring school districts to screen students in 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th grades for Acanthosis Nigricans (AN).  AN is a skin marker which may indicate pre-diabetes. AN is a light brown or black, velvety, rough, or thickened area or "marker" on the surface of the skin (usually on the neck). The presence of AN may signal high insulin levels, which puts a person at risk for stroke, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

https://rfes.utrgv.edu/resources/TRAT2DC%20UTRGV%20Brochure.pdf

Spinal Screening:

In compliance with Health and Safety Code, Chapter 37, all children shall undergo screening for abnormal spinal curvature in accordance with the following schedule:

Girls will be screened two times, once at age 10 (or fall semester of grade 5) and again at age 12 (or fall semester of grade 7).

Boys will be screened one time at age 13 or 14 (or fall semester of grade 8).

Campus nurses will check your child for signs of spinal problems like scoliosis.

Catching a spinal problem early can make the treatment much easier. Not treating spinal problems can lead to serious health problems. 

The screening is simple.  Campus nurses will look at your child's back while he or she stands and bends forward. 

Boys and girls will be screened separately.

The school will send you a letter if your child does not pass the screening.  The letter will advise you to follow up with a doctor. 

This screening is not a medical exam. Your child still needs to see a doctor for checkups. 

If you do not wish to have your child screened for religious reasons, you must submit an exemption to the school. 

Affidavit of Religious Exemption for Spinal Screening

*Parents are notified of screening results only if follow-up is required. For more information on Huffman ISD's screening program, contact the clinic at your child's school.

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/vision-hearing-screening/spinal-screening-program

Huffman ISD Health Screening Program follows Texas law.

If your child has a chronic condition that will be managed in the school setting, school health service staff must be provided with physician and parent guidelines for individualized health care of the student.

The following forms are available for you to take to your child's medical provider. The form should be filled out by the medical provider and signed and dated by both the physician and the parent every new school year and as your child's condition changes.

Seizure Forms

• Seizure Management and Treatment Plan-English
• SeizureQuestionnaireforParentsEnglish
• Seizure Management and Treatment Plan-Spanish
• SeizureQuestionnaireforParentsSpanish

Food Allergy/Diet Modification Forms

• Medical Statement for Student Requiring Special Meals
• FARE Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan English
• FARE Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan Spanish

Asthma Forms

• Medication - Asthma self administer form
• Asthma-action-plan-for-home-school-english.pdf
• Asthma-action-plan-home-school-spanish.pdf

Medication

• Medication Administration Form English

Athletic Physical Forms

• 2026-2027 Physical Forms

Puberty Education

Fifth grade boys and girls will be taught about body changes during puberty and hygiene utilizing the "Always Changing and Growing-Up" program available through P&G School Programs.

You may view more information about the program on their website, and more detail/ direct links will be provided when permission slips are sent out prior to the scheduled education day.

This content does not address sex education and boys and girls will only be taught about their own gender. https://www.pgschoolprograms.com/

Always Changing and Growing Up - Girls

Always Changing and Growing Up - Boys

 

Bleeding Control Training

Texas House Bill 496 requires school districts to annually offer instruction on the use of a bleeding control station from a school resource officer or other appropriate district or school personnel who has received the training to students enrolled at the campus in grade 7 or higher. 

The Texas Education Code (TEC), §38.030, as added by HB 496, 86th Texas Legislature, requires the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to approve training for the use of a bleeding control station in the event of an injury to another person.

Stop The Bleed™ training, developed by The American College of Surgeons (ACS), meets all requirements outlined in the statute.

This optional training is offered in two parts for students: 

Completion of the online, interactive course at:  https://www.stopthebleed.org/get-trained/online-course/

Followed by a hands-on skills portion with trained campus staff.

Each junior high and high school campus will provide an opportunity for interested students to access and complete the training during the school year. Stop The Bleed™ training is a valuable skill that can be used anywhere severe traumatic injuries occur.  Please contact your campus nurse if you have any questions. 

Head Lice

Huffman ISD staff does not routinely screen for head lice. If there is a suspected case, the nurse or nurse aide will perform a head check on the student and follow up with a phone call to the parent if live lice are found.  Texas Education Code, Section 38.031 requires all parents of children in an elementary classroom where head lice are discovered to be notified. No personal information will be released.

Head lice is common among school-aged children, does not cause disease and is not a public health hazard.

Head lice are most commonly spread by direct head-to-head contact, and are proven to have low contagion in classrooms (American Academy of Pediatrics). Lice do not fly, and their specially adapted feet make jumping impossible and holding on to smooth surfaces like plastic or metal (i.e. helmets or headphones) very difficult. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the potential spread due to contact with an infested person’s clothing or other personal items (such as hats, scarves, coats, combs, brushes or towels) is very uncommon, and hygiene/cleanliness in the home or school has nothing to do with getting head lice.

Prevention is focused on avoiding head-to-head contact (common during play at home, childcare, school, sports activities, playgrounds, slumber parties and camps) and by prompt treatment of infested persons.

Huffman ISD follows Texas Department of State Health Services guidelines when managing head lice. Mass screenings including individual classroom checks are not conducted.

For more information on how to prevent or treat head lice, please refer to the links below.

Please contact your school clinic with any questions or concerns.

Texas DSHS - Managing Head Lice

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/texas-school-health/skilled-procedures-texas-school-health/managing-head-lice-school

CDC - Head Lice How to exam for headlice

https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/resources/pdf/headliceflyer.pdf

CDC - Head Lice Treatment FAQ's

https://www.cdc.gov/lice/treatment/index.html

 

Bacterial Meningitis

What is Bacterial Meningitis?

Meningitis is an inflammation (swelling) of the covering of the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by viruses, parasites, fungi, and bacteria. Viral meningitis is most common and the least serious. Meningitis caused by bacteria is the most likely form of the disease to cause serious, long-term complications. It is an uncommon disease but requires urgent treatment with antibiotics to prevent permanent damage or death.
Several bacteria can cause meningitis. Leading U.S. causes vary by risk factors and include:

Streptococcus pneumoniae, Group B Streptococcus, Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, Listeria monocytogenes, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis or TB, is a less common cause.

What are the symptoms?

Someone with bacterial meningitis will become very ill. The illness may develop over one or two days, but it can also rapidly progress in a matter of hours. Not everyone with meningitis will have the same symptoms. Common meningitis symptoms include: Fever, Headache, Stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, Photophobia (eyes being more sensitive to light), altered mental status (confusion). The diagnosis of bacterial meningitis is based on a combination of symptoms and laboratory results.

How is Bacterial Meningitis spread?

Fortunately, none of the bacteria that cause meningitis are as contagious as diseases like the common cold or the flu, and they are not spread by simply breathing the air where a person with meningitis has been. The germs live naturally in the back of our noses and throats, but they do not live for long outside the body. They are spread when people exchange saliva (such as by kissing; sharing drinking containers, utensils, or cigarettes) or when people cough or sneeze without covering their mouth and nose.

The bacteria do not cause meningitis in most people. Instead, most people become carriers of the bacteria for days, weeks or even months. The bacteria rarely overcome the body’s immune system and cause meningitis or another serious illness.

How can Bacterial Meningitis be prevented?

Bacterial meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis may be prevented through vaccination. The vaccine which protects against Streptococcus pneumoniae is called pneumococcal conjugate vaccine or PCV. This vaccine is recommended by the Advisory Council on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for children in the first year of life. Neisseria meningitidis is prevented through two types of vaccines. The first is a meningococcal conjugate vaccine which protects against four serogroups A, C, W, and Y and is referred to as MCV4. The second is a vaccine against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B and is referred to as MenB. The ACIP recommends MCV4 for children at age 11-12 years, with a booster dose at 16-18 years. In Texas, one dose of MCV4 given at or after age 11 years is required for children in 7th - 12th grades. One dose of MCV4 received in the previous five years is required in Texas for those younger than the age of 22 years and enrolling in college. Teens and young adults (16-23 years of age) may be vaccinated with MenB. This vaccine is not required for school or college enrollment in Texas.

Vaccines to protect against bacterial meningitis are safe and effective. Common side effects include redness and pain at the injection site lasting up to two days. Immunity develops about 1-2 weeks after the vaccines are given and lasts for five years to life depending on vaccine.

Healthy Habits, do not share food, drinks, utensils, toothbrushes, or cigarettes. Wash your hands. Limit the number of persons you kiss. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. Maintaining healthy habits, like getting plenty of rest and not having close contact with people who are sick, also helps.

Who is at risk for Bacterial Meningitis?

Certain groups are at increased risk for bacterial meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis. These risk factors include HIV infection, travel to places where meningococcal disease is common (such as certain countries in Africa and in Saudi Arabia), and college students living in a dormitory. Other risk factors include having a previous viral infection, living in a crowded household, or having an underlying chronic illness.

New Requirement for School Districts to Provide Bacterial Meningitis Information to Students and Parents

In the 86^th Legislature, HB 3884 required DSHS to create procedures for school districts to provide information relating to bacterial meningitis to students and parents. DSHS shall prescribe the form and content of the information. School districts should provide the information below on the district website or provide a link to this page on the district website.

Additional information may also be found at the web sites for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov and the Texas Department of Health: www.dshs.state.tx.us

CDC

https://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/index.html

Texas Department Health and Human Services

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/notifiable-conditions/invasive-and-respiratory-diseases-and-conditions/meningitis/bacterial-meningitis-unspecified

 

When Should I Keep My Child Home From School?

While we want to strive for perfect attendance, we know there are times when students are truly ill and need to stay home.  To minimize the spread of illness to other students and school faculty, please remember:

 If your child becomes sick or develops a fever (100.0 or higher), the school’s policy is that they must remain home until they are fever-free for a full 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.  Students should also remain out of school if they are experiencing vomiting, diarrhea, or if they have any other contagious illnesses.  

School Communicable Disease Chart | Texas DSHS

COMING SOON!

Routine Health-Related Services Provided at Your Child’s Campus:

• Illness and injury assessment/evaluation and support for injuries and illnesses including first aid, comfort measures and minor treatments
• Monitoring and administration of prescribed treatments/procedures related to health conditions (e.g., asthma, diabetes, seizure disorder, etc)
• Administration of prescription and/or over-the-counter medications in accordance with laws, policies and procedures (In Humble ISD, medication administration requires separate written parent authorization and may require MD authorization in addition to this consent.)
• Vision, hearing, scoliosis and acanthosis screenings according to state requirements (Per TDSHS, if opting out, legal guardians must submit the required medical documentation or notarized affidavits referenced in the TAC rules for school screenings that are required by the state.)
• Immunization documentation review
• Untoward behavior assessment
• Coordination of health services

Any additional health-related services that the campus may believe are necessary and appropriate will necessitate separate written consent unless during an emergency or as allowed by law.

Forms, screeners, and other documents that are routinely used in the process of providing health-related services to your child are linked below.

Medication authorization and other chronic health forms can be found on the Huffman ISD Health Services website

 

Screening and Immunization Information can be found at the Texas Department of Health Services School Health Program Website

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/texas-school-health

 

Additional information relating to student welfare, wellness, and health services can be found in the following board policies:

• FFA — Student Welfare: Wellness and Health Services
• FFAA — Wellness and Health Services: Physical Examinations
• FFAB — Wellness and Health Services: Immunizations
• FFAC — Wellness and Health Services: Medical Treatment
• FFAD — Wellness and Health Services: Communicable Diseases
• FFAE — Wellness and Health Services: School-Based Health Centers
• FFAF — Wellness and Health Services: Care Plans