Health & Wellness Information for Students and Families

Posted onAuthorThe Journey School

In The Journey School (TJS), our goal is to assist students to be self-sufficient in managing their health care within age-appropriate and developmental expectations, thereby preparing all students for life.

Our staff work closely with families, teachers and school teams to:

  • Promote student health and wellness
  • Manage school health related care for students (medications, health procedures, chronic condition management, etc.)
  • Provide first aid and emergency care for illnesses and injuries
  • Teach students skills to manage their health, as developmentally appropriate
  • Work with local and state health officials around community health issues

If your child has a health condition that affects learning, requires medication at school, or may lead to a medical emergency, please contact the school’s office as soon as possible.

While health staff support confidentiality around your child’s health condition(s), health information may be shared with TJS teachers and/or other school staff on a need-to-know basis to support student learning, health and safety using the Health Information Form.

This is in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy (FERPA) Act.

Illness/Absence

Student Attendance

Showing up to school every day is critical for children’s well-being, engagement and learning. Make sure to send children to school if they are:

  • Generally healthy and well
  • Participating in usual day-to-day activities

Children can even go to school if they:

  • Have a mild cold, which may include a runny nose and/or cough
  • Have occasional eye drainage without fever, eye pain or eyelid redness
  • Have a mild stomach ache
  • Have a mild rash with no other symptoms
  • Haven’t had a fever in 24 hours and have not taken fever reducing medicine during that time

Children might avoid school due to anxiety (symptoms may include decreased appetite, feeling tired, stomachache, headache etc). If you are worried that your child may be suffering from anxiety, talk with your teacher or TJS staff to discuss the challenge and identify what can help your child stay in school.

If your child has a compromised immune system or is at high risk for complications from common illnesses, please talk to TJS staff about developing a plan with you and your child’s health-care provider to keep your child healthy and safe while attending school.

When to Keep Your Child Home

They have had a temperature of 100 degrees or higher in the past 24 hours. The student may return to school when they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication

  • They have an undiagnosed rash with symptoms of illness
  • They have vomited 2 or more times within the past 24 hours
  • They have uncontrolled diarrhea and need to use the bathroom frequently
  • They have an uncontrolled cough or shortness of breath, not responding to medication
  • They feel too ill to remain in class and benefit from attending school
  • They have been advised by a healthcare provider to stay home from school

Student Absence

It is important to report your child’s absence each day your child misses school. Please call the school or use the form on the TJS website and report your child’s:

  • Name
  • Grade
  • Reason for absence
  • If your child has symptoms of, or has been diagnosed with, any communicable diseases (such as influenza, chicken pox, strep throat, COVID-19, etc) please provide that information to the school office

Illness at School

If your child becomes ill at school and needs to go home, the office staff will contact a parent/guardian.

  • It is important for parents/guardians to provide current contact information and update the school with any changes
  • It is important for parents/guardians to provide 1-2 emergency contacts that are will be called in the event parents/guardians cannot be reached
  • If staff are unable to reach parents/guardians and determine that the student must go home, the emergency contacts will then be called
  • Your child will not be allowed to leave with any person who is not listed as an emergency contact unless verbal permission is obtained by a parent/guardian to allow an alternate person to pick up your student

Illness Notifications

TJS takes guidance from Saint Paul Ramsey County Public Health, Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), and follows guidelines for disease prevention and control.

If school staff become aware of three or more cases of potentially contagious illness or health conditions within a classroom over the course of a month, a notification will be sent to the classroom.

Diseases and/or health conditions for which notifications will be sent by the school nurse based on the three or more known cases in a classroom include, but are not limited to, the following:

If your child has any of the above illnesses, please contact the school office to determine next steps which may include exclusion information.

There are other less common communicable diseases that are nurses are required to report to the MN Department of Health. For more information, please see the Infectious Diseases in Childcare Settings and Schools Manual from MDE (PDF).

Healthcare Management at School

Healthcare for Students During the School Day

Specialized care cannot be performed without written order from a prescribing healthcare provider as well as written consent from the parent/guardian

  • Healthcare provider orders must be renewed annually or whenever there is a change of service
  • The supplies and equipment needed should be provided by the parent/guardian
  • Many of today’s students have special dietary needs. When students need modifications or substitutions to the school meal, families are asked to complete a Special Diet Statement, that must be signed by a licensed healthcare provider. Families are also reminded to communicate diet needs and accommodation information to school office staff
  • If your student has an emergency care plan (seizure, anaphylaxis, asthma, diabetes etc.) provide a copy to the school office

Emergency Medical Services/911

In an emergency, school staff will call 911 right away. When in doubt, we don’t delay. Staff stay on the line with the dispatcher, follow instructions, and make sure first responders can quickly reach the student.

Families are notified as soon as possible and may not prevent staff from contacting 911 during an emergency.

Once EMS arrives, they take over medical care. Staff share any important student and/or health information needed to keep the student safe. During these situations, privacy laws such as HIPAA and FERPA do not limit sharing essential details with emergency responders. Minnesota law also allows necessary medical treatment for minors in urgent, life‑threatening situations without parent or guardian consent.

Medication and Medical Procedures Needed at School

Medication or Treatments During the School Day

Due to a health condition, your student may need to take medication or have a medical procedure administered during the school day

  • Written parental/guardian authorization is required for any medication given during the school day
  • In cases where medication is prescribed for short-term use and required to be administered 3 times daily, students are encouraged not to bring the medication to school but to instead take their dose upon returning home in the afternoon
  • Healthcare provider authorization is required for prescription medication intended to be taken for more than 2 weeks and/or if the medication is controlled
  • Medication to be given in school must be supplied in the original container or prescription bottle
  • TJS does not supply ‘stock’ over-the-counter medication such as Tylenol or Advil to students

Self Carrying Medication at School

  • State law permits select medications to be self-carried and administered by the student at school (i.e. insulin, inhaler, pain relievers) with written parent/guardian permission, and in some cases, healthcare provider authorization as well
  • If a student requests to self-administer medication, office staff will assess the student’s ability to administer the medication accurately and appropriately
  • Students of any age with demonstrated competency can carry an inhaler (asthma medications), Epi-Pen, or insulin. However, only secondary students, grades 6-12 are allowed to carry over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers (e.g. Tylenol, Advil, and ibuprofen)
  • The privilege to self-medicate can be revoked at any time if unsafe use of medication is observed

Medication & Treatment Permission Forms

If your child has anaphylaxis, asthma, diabetes, and/or seizures, please contact your healthcare provider to obtain a copy of your child’s action plan. A new plan is needed each calendar year or when there are any changes. Share the plan with the health office at your child’s school. You must also complete the Authorization for the Administration of Medication/Treatment in order to allow the school to follow the healthcare provider’s action plan.

Immunizations Needed for School

Immunization Information

Vaccinations given on time throughout childhood are essential to helping provide immunity to children before they are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases. Vaccines are tested to ensure that they are safe and effective for children. We follow the Minnesota Department of Health’s guidance for immunization compliance.

Students are required by law to receive certain vaccines for school or submit an exemption. This requirement applies for all public, private, online, and home schools in Minnesota including early childhood programs.

To see how many total doses of each vaccine your child needs for their grade, view this form:
Grades K-12: Minnesota K-12 Immunization Law Requirements from MDH (PDF)

The back side of this form can be used to document an exemption for medical reasons or if you are opting for a non-medical exemption due to personal beliefs. Non-medical exemption forms must be notarized.

Influenza (flu), COVID-19, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Meningococcal B (MenB) and other vaccines are recommended, but not required for children to ensure they are fully protected. Talk to your health care provider about when your child should receive these immunizations.

Make sure your child has received all of the required immunizations before their first day of school or submit an exemption. Submit a copy of your child’s immunization record to their school. You can get a copy of their record from the clinic or find their record on Find My Immunization Record.

Minnesota has two programs that help ensure children and adults are vaccinated on time by preventing cost from being a barrier to access. The Minnesota Vaccines for Children (MnVFC) program offers free or low-cost vaccines to children who are eligible and 18 years of age and younger. The Uninsured and Underinsured Adult Vaccine (UUAV) Program offers free or low-cost vaccines for eligible adults 19 years of age and older. Link to find: MnVFC and UUAV locations

TJS participates in the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/immunize/miic/index.html).

Sports Physicals

Participating in Athletics

Students participating in sports are required to have a physical exam on file that was performed within the last three years. Sports physical eligibility forms are available on The Journey School website: https://www.thejourneyschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2026-2027-sports-physical-form.pdf

Vision/Hearing Screening

Impaired vision and/or hearing can drastically impact a child’s ability to learn. At TJS, school health office staff are trained to identify vision and hearing issues and to work with families to find solutions. We routinely screen students onsite at school.

  • TJS works in collaboration with community partners for students in grades K, 1, 3, 5, and 9 (when resources are available)
  • Additional vision or hearing screening may be requested by teacher, parent, or student, or when a student is referred and/or evaluated for specialized services
  • Parent/Guardian will be notified of students who do not pass screening. They will receive a referral form that should be completed by a healthcare provider and then returned to the school health office