Welcome to School Health Services!

Our goal at Winona ISD Health Services is to keep each child healthy, safe and ready to learn! We partner with parents, staff and the community to promote student wellness through prevention, intervention, teaching, and emergency preparedness.

Each campus has a licensed nurse on site to provide direct care to our students, perform health screenings, track immunizations and communicable diseases, perform medical procedures and provide emergency care in addition to teaching students about health and wellness.

If you have any questions or health needs please get in touch with your campus nurse. We are here to support your students while on campus. Below are several 'hot topics' that may arise throughout your child’s school year and help answer some frequently asked questions.

Thank you for allowing us to provide care and wellness for your child and remember, hand washing can prevent the spread of illness.

Angela Middlebrooks, BSN, RN -District Nurse- High School Campus

Laura Kennedy, LVN - Middle School Campus

Kayla Lee, LVN- Elementary Campus

FAQS:

EMERGENCIES: It is critical that we have parents’/guardian’s updated phone numbers. Please contact the school immediately with any changes in phone numbers.

GENERAL ILLNESS:

1. Students with a fever of 100.0 (per Texas Administrative Code §97.7(b)) or higher, persistent cough, or other COVID symptoms will be sent home from school in order to prevent the spread of illnesses to other students as mandated by the Texas State Health Services.

2. Students who are ill with vomiting or diarrhea should stay home from school and return only when these symptoms have resolved without medications. Exclusion periods will be decided on a case-by-case basis by the campus nurse, with direction from DSHS.

3. If your child is not feeling well, please keep them home. While we want students in school, we also must help prevent the spread of common childhood illnesses, so let's work together to make school a safe, healthy place for all.

MEASLES OUTBREAK: Health staff are monitoring the outbreaks in Texas and will follow CDC and local health department regulations as needed. Immunization is the best protection to prevent measles. Measles Outbreak 2025 Info

CONTAGIOUS ILLNESS: If a parent suspects that his or her child has a contagious disease, the parent should contact the school nurse so that other students who might have been exposed to the disease can be alerted. Schools are required to report certain contagious (communicable) diseases and illnesses to the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) or our local/regional health authority. For a complete list of Communicable Diseases, please see the Communicable Disease Chart for Schools from the Texas Department of State Health.

VISION & HEARING SCREENING: We screen vision and hearing in Pre-K, K, 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th grades as mandated by the state. If your child fails one of the screenings you will receive a letter of referral home. If your child is not in the above grade and you would like them to be screened contact the nurse and we will be happy to screen them.

SPINAL SCREENING: Spinal screenings are required by the state for female students in 5th and 7th grade and males in 8th grade for early detection and scoliosis awareness . Parents will receive a letter notifying them of the date this will be scheduled. 

FEVER: Students with a temp over 100.0 or above will be sent home. If your child runs a fever through the night or wakes up that morning with a fever, please do not send them to school. Not only are they potentially contagious to their classmates and teachers, but they probably do not feel well and need to rest at home. Fever-free means no fever for 24 hours without the use of medication.

BUMPS AND BRUISES AT SCHOOL:  We try to take care of these at school. If it’s small or minor, you may or may not be notified. For things that will leave a mark or will be sore for a few days, we will inform you with a phone call or will send home a note to you.

MEDICATIONS: If your child needs medications during school hours, these medications need to be dropped off by the parent in the office or clinic, in their original container AND have a parent and physician signature on file. Required paperwork is linked to the left on this page.

PINK EYE: The tale-tell sign that it’s “true pink eye” and not just allergies is that there will be “crusties” around the eye and eyelashes when your child wakes up. The eye may be matted together with yellow/greenish drainage. The drainage caused by allergies is usually clear and watery. If your child comes to school with pink eye symptoms, be prepared to get a call from school to pick them up. For them to return there must be a doctor’s note or the eye must be cleared up. Pink eye is very contagious.

LICE: Lice are parasites. Although they are not overall harmful, they are a nuisance. A lot of lice-killing shampoos are not as effective as they used to be. We have found that prescription lice shampoos do work the best and are often covered completely with insurance. The child must be treated and rechecked in the nurse’s office before returning the next day.

ACCIDENTS: Accidents happen! From spills & “potty” accidents to playground mud puddles. If your child is early elementary or prone to “potty” accidents please leave a change of clothes in their backpack or at school. The school nurses also take clothes donations in youth sizes to keep on hand in case of emergencies!