Health Services

Parkland students holding hands in a circle

Mission Statement

We are committed to meet the health demands, as well as to advance the well-being, academic success, and life-long achievement of our students. To that end, Health Services facilitates positive student responses to normal human development; promotes health and safety in the school environment; intervenes with actual and potential conditions; provides case management services; and actively collaborates with other district disciplines to build student and family capacity for adaptation, self-management, self-advocacy, and learning.

Healthful Hints:

Kindergarten and 6th grade students, along with all new students from out of state, are required to have a physical examination with completed health history and an up to date immunization record submitted on the first day of school.

Please refer to the resources below. You may also contact your school nurse for assistance.

Health & Immunization Requirements

McHenry District 15 requests parents of students entering pre-school, kindergarten and sixth grade to present documentation that their child has had a physical examination and received required immunizations PRIOR to the opening of the new school year in August.

Students entering pre-school, kindergarten, sixth grade or those entering school at any grade for the first time in Illinois, are required by Illinois School Code to present evidence of a completed physical examination by a licensed physician or a certified nurse practitioner or physician assistant who has been delegated the performance of health examinations by a supervising physician. Additionally, these students must also present evidence of having received immunizations against preventable communicable diseases as required by the Illinois Department of Public Health. In the event that students cannot demonstrate that they have had a physical examination or met the immunization requirements, Illinois School Code requires school districts to exclude students from attending school.

All physicals are required to have the parent section completed, including a parent signature.

District 15 Health Requirements by Grade Level:

Pre-K

Completed physical examination (upon entry and every 2 years of pre-school and must be completed within one year prior to entry in to the grade)
DPT/DTaP immunizations (with last dose given by the 2nd birthday)
1 MMR immunization (given after the 1st birthday)
3 Polio immunizations (with last dose given on or after the 4th birthday)
Lead Screening Assessment (if not previously completed)
Hepatitis B series (a series of three immunizations given at appropriate intervals)
3-4 HIB immunizations
Varicella immunization (given on or after the 1st birthday) OR doctor-verified evidence of disease with date
3-4 Pneumococcal Vaccines

Kindergarten

Completed physical examination (must be completed within one year prior to entry in to the grade)
Eye Examination Report
Dental Examination Form
Lead Screening Assessment (if not previously completed)
DPT/DTaP immunizations (with last dose given on or after the 4th birthday)
2 MMR immunizations (with first dose given after the 1st birthday)
4 Polio immunizations (with last dose given on or after the 4th birthday)
2 Varicella immunizations (with first dose given on or after the 1st birthday) OR doctor-verified evidence of disease with date

Grade 1

3 or more DPT/DTaP immunizations (with last dose given on or after the 4th birthday)
2 MMR immunizations (with first dose given after the 1st birthday)
3 Polio immunizations (with last dose given on or after the 4th birthday)
2 Varicella immunizations (given on or after the 1st birthday) OR doctor-verified evidence of disease with date

Grade 2

Dental Examination Form
3 or more DPT/DTaP immunizations (with last dose given on or after the 4th birthday)
2 MMR immunizations (with first dose given after the 1st birthday)
3 Polio immunizations (with last dose given on or after the 4th birthday)
2 Varicella immunizations (given on or after the 1st birthday) OR doctor-verified evidence of disease with date

Grade 3

3 or more DPT/DTaP immunizations (with last dose given on or after the 4th birthday)
2 MMR immunizations (with first dose given after the 1st birthday)
4 Polio immunizations (with last dose given on or after the 4th birthday)
2 Varicella immunizations (given on or after the 1st birthday) OR doctor-verified evidence of disease with date

Grade 4

3 or more DPT/DTaP immunizations (with last dose given on or after the 4th birthday)
2 MMR immunizations (with first dose given after the 1st birthday)
4 Polio immunizations (with last dose given on or after the 4th birthday)
Varicella immunization (given on or after the 1st birthday) OR doctor-verified evidence of disease with date

Grade 5

3 or more DPT/DTaP immunizations (with last dose given on or after the 4th birthday)
2 MMR immunizations (with first dose given after the 1st birthday)
4 Polio immunizations (with last dose given on or after the 4th birthday)
Varicella immunization (given on or after the 1st birthday) OR doctor-verified evidence of disease with date

Grade 6

Completed physical examination (must be completed within one year prior to entry in to the grade)
Dental Examination Form
One dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine on or after the 11th birthday
One dose of Tdap immunization on or after their 11th birthday
3 or more DPT/DTaP immunizations (with last dose given on or after the 4th birthday)
2 MMR immunizations (with first dose given after the 1st birthday)
4 Polio immunizations (with last dose given on or after the 4th birthday)
2 Varicella immunizations (with first dose given on or after the 1st birthday) OR doctor-verified evidence of disease with date
Hepatitis B Series (a series of three immunizations given at appropriate intervals)

Grade 7

One Dose of Tdap immunization
3 or more DPT/DTaP immunizations (with last dose given on or after the 4th birthday)
2 MMR immunizations (with first dose given after the 1st birthday)
4 Polio immunizations (with last dose given on or after the 4th birthday)
2 Varicella immunizations (with first dose given on or after the 1st birthday) OR doctor-verified evidence of disease with date
Hepatitis B Series (a series of three immunizations given at appropriate intervals)

Grade 8

One Dose of Tdap immunization
3 or more DPT/DTaP immunizations (with last dose given on or after the 4th birthday)
2 MMR immunizations (with first dose given after the 1st birthday)
4 Polio immunizations (with last dose given on or after the 4th birthday)
2 Varicella immunizations (given on or after the 1st birthday) OR doctor-verified evidence of disease with date
Hepatitis B Series (a series of three immunizations given at appropriate intervals)

Community Health Resources

Immunization

Immunizations, also known as vaccines, are one of our greatest defenses against many serious illnesses. Vaccines are responsible for eradicating diseases such as small pox and polio, as well as reducing cases of measles, diphtheria and pertussis. Illinois state law requires certain immunizations for children and adults enrolled in child care, school, or college.

Immunization (IDPH)

Need to Find Free Vaccines for Your Child?

The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program provides vaccines to eligible children at no cost. This program provides free vaccines to children who are Medicaid-eligible, uninsured, underinsured, or American Indian/Alaska Native. Check out the program’s requirements and talk to your child’s doctor or nurse to see if they are a VFC provider. You can also find a VFC provider by calling your state or local health department.

Other resources:

Diabetes

Learn more about Type 1 diabetes, a chronic autoimmune condition in which the body doesn’t produce insulin—a hormone needed to turn sugar (glucose) from food into energy—and discover essential information for parents and guardians on recognizing symptoms, understanding how it’s managed, and supporting a child’s health and daily care. This brochure provides clear, practical guidance on what Type 1 diabetes is, common warning signs to watch for, and how insulin therapy, blood glucose monitoring, balanced nutrition, and regular activity play a role in effective management, helping families feel informed and prepared.

Understanding Diabetes (ISBE)

Influenza

Learn more about influenza (flu), a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs, with clear, reliable guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This resource explains what the flu is, how it spreads, common symptoms, and how serious it can be, as well as prevention tips, including the importance of getting an annual flu vaccine, and other practical information to help you protect yourself and your community each flu season.

Flu Facts (NFID) About Influenza (CDC)

Lice

Learn more about lice, the small parasitic insects that can live on people’s heads and bodies, including the scalp and hair, and find trusted guidance straight from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC’s comprehensive resource offers clear information on what lice are, how they spread, how to identify an infestation, and the most effective treatment and care options available for head, body, and pubic lice. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, educator, or healthcare provider, this guide can help you understand lice and take practical steps to manage and treat infestations safely and effectively.

Lice Facts (CDC)

Meningococcal Disease

Learn more about meningococcal disease, a rare but serious bacterial infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis that can lead to meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord membranes) or bloodstream infections, and discover important information on how it spreads, common symptoms, prevention strategies, and the role of vaccination in protection. This brochure highlights key facts students and parents should know—such as maintaining good hygiene, getting recommended vaccines, understanding signs of illness, and when to seek medical care—to help reduce the risk of infection and support health on campus and in the community.

Meningococcal Disease (IDPH)

Strep Throat

Common symptoms of strep throat may include:

Sudden onset of a sore throat with pain when swallowing
Fever
Red, swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
Tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth
Swollen lymph nodes at the front of the neck

How to Reduce Strep Throat Infections at School

IDPH and the CDC are observing an increase in strep throat -- specifically invasive group

A streptococcus (iGAS) -- infections among children. ISBE is joining IDPH and and the CDC in stressing the importance of early recognition, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment of these diseases in children and adults.

What Schools Should Do to Reduce Infections

Group A streptococcus bacteria are very contagious. The bacteria that causes strep throat travels in respiratory droplets that are created when an infected person coughs or sneezes. To help reduce strep throat infections, schools and early childhood settings should:

Notify parents and provide information on symptoms and encourage parents to promptly communicate with their health care providers when symptoms develop. Share this parent fact sheet.
Encourage students and staff to stay home if ill.
Encourage parents to bring their children to the doctor to get tested for strep so they can be prescribed the appropriate course of antibiotics and return to school quickly and safely in 24 hours.
Educate staff and students on the importance of good hand hygiene (wash hands frequently, especially after coughing, sneezing, eating or preparing food) and cough etiquette. Educate children and staff to avoid touching their hands to their mouths and eyes before handwashing.
High touch areas (in classrooms, play areas, cafeterias) should undergo at least daily disinfection in schools seeing cases of strep throat.

Strep Throat Facts for Parents (IDPH)

Cardiac Emergency Response Plan

This Cardiac Emergency Response Plan outlines the procedures to follow in the event of a cardiac emergency. It provides clear steps for recognizing cardiac distress, activating emergency response systems, and using lifesaving equipment such as an automated external defibrillator (AED). This plan helps ensure a prompt, coordinated response to protect the health and safety of students, staff, and visitors.

Cardiac Emergency Response Plan

Seizure Action Plan

This Acute Seizure Action Plan provides important guidance for responding to a seizure emergency. It outlines specific steps to take during and after a seizure, including when to administer emergency medication and when to seek medical help. This plan helps ensure caregivers, school staff, and families are prepared to respond quickly and safely to support individuals with seizure disorders.

Seizure Action Plan

Sports Physical Requirements

All students are REQUIRED to have a CURRENT sports physical on file at school BEFORE they can try out or participate in any interscholastic sports.

The physical must remain “current” during the entire season of the sport; it must be completed within the past twelve months of the participation dates.

Sports Physical Form

If you are entering 6th grade or are in 8th grade, it would be advised to have the Illinois Certificate of Child Health form filled out by the physician, as it will count for your physical requirement for 6th or 9th grades.

Guidelines for Keeping Students Home From School

Deciding when to keep a sick child home from school can be challenging, especially since the pandemic has changed how we think about illness. In the past, symptoms such as a mild fever, cough, or runny nose were often not a concern, and children returned to school once they felt well enough to participate. While regular school attendance is important—and staying home can create challenges for families—a child who is truly ill needs to remain home under the care of an adult to recover and to help prevent the spread of illness to others.

If your child exhibits any of the following symptoms, they must stay home from school:

Extreme fatigue or need for bed rest (common with flu-like illnesses)
Vomiting or diarrhea (students may return when symptoms have stopped for 24 hours)
Shortness of breath or wheezing
A cough that interferes with normal activities
Pain that distracts from learning, such as an earache, headache, sore throat, or recent injury
Yellow or green discharge from one or both eyes
A rash (please consult your child’s healthcare provider)
Fever of 100.4°F or higher

Students may return to school after being fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication (such as Tylenol or Motrin).

Contagious Illnesses

Children should remain home if they have a contagious illness, which can be spread through close contact with people or shared objects. Examples include chickenpox, influenza, vomiting, diarrhea, colds, strep throat, and conjunctivitis (“pink eye”).

Some illnesses are contagious before symptoms appear, making it difficult to prevent the spread of germs in a school setting. Frequent and thorough handwashing remains one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of illness.

Health Forms

Asthma Action Plan

English

Español

Certificate of Child Health Examination/Physical Exam

Dental Exam

SMILE Free Dental Service Permission Form

English

Español

Diabetic Treatment Plan

Eye Exam Report

Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan

English

Español

Medication Administration & Health Care Treatment Plan

Seizure Action Plan

Sports Physical Form

Transfer Students

An out-of-state or out-of-country transfer student must submit a health examination completed within one year prior to entry into an Illinois school, using a comparable form. Out-of-state health examination forms are accepted only for students enrolling in an Illinois school for the first time and must include all required components listed on the Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination form.

A student is considered to be enrolling for the first time if they have never previously attended an Illinois school, including students transferring from another state or country or those who were homeschooled. These students must provide a physical examination completed within one year of their Illinois school entry date.

Students who previously attended an Illinois school, moved out of state, and later returned to Illinois are required to submit a new physical examination only at the mandated grade levels: Kindergarten, 6th grade, and 9th grade.

Additionally, any student enrolling for the first time in a public, private, or parochial Illinois school must provide proof of an eye examination conducted by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Transfer students are allowed 30 days from the date of enrollment to complete all required health documentation.

District Immunization Summary (Public Act 097-0910)

CPR/AED Training (Public Act 098-0305)

Vision and Hearing Screenings

Vision and Hearing screenings are mandated on an annual basis for the following students:

Vision – pre-school, kindergarten, 2nd, and 8th grades, along with new students and special education students.

Hearing – pre-school, kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades, along with new students and special education students.

Vision and hearing screenings are performed by a certified vision and hearing technician. Vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor. Your child is not required to undergo this vision screening if an optometrist or ophthalmologist has completed and signed a report form indicating that an examination has been administered within the previous twelve months and that evaluation is on file at the school. If a vision or hearing examination report form is not on file at the school for your child, your child in the mandated age/grade/group will be screened.

School	V & H Screenings	Rescreen
Duker	Sept. 25, 2025	Oct. 9, 2025
Edgebrook	Nov. 17-20, 2025	Dec. 5, 2025
Hilltop	Oct. 16-17, 2025	Oct. 30, 2025
MMS	Jan. 24, 2026	Jan. 28, 2026
Parkland	Oct. 22, 2025	Nov. 5, 2025
Riverwood	Dec. 1-3, 2025	Dec. 17, 2025
Valley View	Sept. 17-18, 2025	Oct. 1, 2025

Health Services Staff

Karen Gavers

Health Services Coordinator

School Nurses