Shorecrest Preparatory School

Student Health

View updated Health and Safety information regarding COVID-19 here.

As part of our mission to focus on the physical well-being of our students, Shorecrest's student health program includes a counselor for all grade levels, health and ethics courses, and a Health Clinic on campus with a full time R.N. available.

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Lower & Middle School Counseling

As the school counselor for the Lower and Middle Schools, Ms. Fierce advocates for the social and emotional development of students. She regularly consults with teachers and parents on issues related to social-emotional development and behavior. Ms. Fierce regularly meets with Lower and Middle School students individually, as needed. She also teaches weekly lessons in kindergarten and biweekly lessons in grades 1-4. These lessons are focused on topics related to social-emotional learning: resiliency, conflict resolution, leadership skills and so on. Additionally, Ms Fierce leads faculty learning opportunities related to the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, Responsive Classroom and Teaching with Love and Logic.

Ms. Fierce received a B.A. in Psychology from Cornell University and a M.S.Ed in Psychological Services from the University of Pennsylvania. She joined the Shorecrest faculty in 2012, after seven years at New Eagle Elementary in Tredyffrin-Easttown School District, a nationally-ranked suburban public school system outside of Philadelphia.

Log in to Ms. Fierce's PowerSchool pages for Lower School Social Emotional Learning lessons from home, including songs stories, meditation and much more.
Upper School Counseling

As Upper School Counselor, Courtney Ellis '02 works closely with students, families, faculty and community professionals to ensure the emotional health and well-being of Shorecrest students. She adheres to a preventative, psychoeducational approach and thus emphasizes proactive and developmentally appropriate interventions. She maintains an open door policy for both students and their parents; and addresses issues that range from typical adolescent issues of social conflict, test anxiety, and relationships to the more acute issues of family conflict, mood disorders and chronic health concerns.

As a member of our outstanding faculty, Mrs. Ellis teaches AP Psychology in Upper School as well.

Clinic

Shorecrest has a full-time nurse on staff in the Clinic, located on the Lower School campus. Our Clinic:

Provides health assessments, first aid, and emergency care
Insures that all students have proper immunizations and physical exams as required by the State of Florida
Administers medication as prescribed by your child’s physician
Communicates with parents if a student is ill or seriously injured
Monitors immunization compliance and communicable diseases

For the safety of our community, parents/guardians will be contacted to pick up their child if, in the professional opinion of the nurse, he/she is unable to participate in school activities or may put other students and staff at risk of an illness.

Absences / Sick Notes

Restrictions related to Physical Education: If your child cannot participate in more than three consecutive physical education classes, a letter must be completed by the child’s doctor and brought to school. If the letter does not include a return to full activity date, then the child will need a release note from the doctor in order for him/her to return to physical education classes.

Please keep your child home if they:

have had a fever of 100.4 or higher for the past 24 hours.

For example, if your child has a temperature of 99 because you have given Tylenol to bring the temperature down, you must start counting the 24 hours after the Tylenol has worn off, 4-6 hours later. We believe this will help to prevent the spread of illness. Be aware that if your child returns to school the next day after being sent home the day before with a fever, we will notify you to pick up your child immediately.

are sent home because of vomiting and/or diarrhea.

It is important that you wait at least 24 hours after the last episode before returning him/her to school except for isolated cases of vomiting or a single episode of loose stool.

have conjunctivitis (red/pink eyes, itching, crusty or purulent discharge to the eye(s).

You will be asked to bring your child to his/her pediatrician for diagnosis and treatment. He/she may return to school after receiving a full 24 hours of antibiotic treatment.

have cold symptoms that cause discomfort to your child and/or risk of contagion to others, including excessive coughing, runny noses with colored discharge.

have Strep throat.

Students may return to school after receiving a full 24 hours of antibiotic treatment - and if they have been fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications.

have active head lice.

Students must be treated and be cleared by the school nurse before returning to school.

have a rash, contagious or of unknown origin.

Children must have a doctor’s note to return.

Medications at School

The clinic has the following over the counter medications available to students with the parent’s written consent: acetaminophen, ibuprofen, tums, oral and topical benadryl, hydrocortisone cream, clear eye drops and cough drops.

Other medications may be administered at school by the nurse with a written order from a licensed health care provider, with parent written permission. All medications must be in their original prescribed labeled containers. An administration of medication form must be filled out by the parent EVERY school year. Students are allowed to self-carry medications (inhaler, epinephrine auto-injector, pancreatic enzymes) providing that a self-carry administration form is completed and signed by both parent and student, with the approval of the school nurse.

Life threatening allergies:

A severe allergy health history form must be completed and signed by the parent every year. Parents are expected to provide their child’s epinephrine auto-injector (with its original prescription label) to the nurse by the first day of school.

Health & Guidance News

EMOTIONAL WELLBEING DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC

by: Courtney Ellis & Kate Fierce, Shorecrest Counselors

Our daily lives have changed in ways that might have been unimaginable even a week ago. We are all feeling a wide range of emotions as a result of the changes in our lives due to COVID-19: anxiety, sadness, anger, loss, loneliness, frustration, maybe even irritation. These emotions are, of course, very normal human reactions to such an extraordinary circumstance. Furthermore, we know that children can be very influenced by the emotional states of the adults who are caring for them. With that in mind, we can help both ourselves and our children by identifying ways to manage our stress and build resiliency during these trying times.
Read More
COVID-19 Update

by: Donna Conroy, RN, School Nurse

The Florida Department of Health has announced there are two presumptive positive cases of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Florida, one in Hillsborough County, the other in Manatee. Both individuals remain in isolation at this time. Despite these cases in our state, the Florida Department of Health reports that overall immediate threat to the public remains low.
Read More
Guidelines to help prevent the spread of illnesses

by: Donna Conroy RN, School Nurse

Like families and school leaders across the country, the Shorecrest administration is carefully monitoring the spread of coronavirus, now known as COVID-19. To date, there are no reported cases of coronavirus in the State of Florida. We are in contact with the Florida Department of Health to ensure that we have the most up to date and accurate information about our immediate community.
Read More
February is National Dental Health Month

by: Donna Conroy, School Nurse

Lifelong habits begin at home. Attitudes and habits established at an early age are critical in maintaining good oral health throughout life. Make dental health a part of your daily routine and share these reminders with your whole family...
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Flu Season Reminders - Cold vs. Flu

by: Donna Conroy, School Nurse

With cold and flu season upon us, here are a few reminders to help decrease the spread of germs in our school community. Please teach and review with your children good health habits to protect themselves and others.
Read More

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Required Health Forms

Health physical forms are required each year for every student to start school. Parents fill out page 1 and doctors fill out page 2. Updated immunization forms are required from new students, kindergarteners and seventh graders. Please turn in a new form to the nurse every year after a physical exam is completed by a pediatrician.
Florida Health Physical
Immunization / Shot Record (sample)
As-Needed Health Forms

- Administration of Medication (also for overnight field trips)
- Severe allergy health history
- Seizure health history
- Asthma health history
- Permission for student possession and self-administration of Medication
Athletic Forms

All forms required to participate in athletics may be found on the Athletic Forms page under Athletics > Athletic Forms

Did You Know?

A Sports physical is not the same as a Health physical.
Even if you visited your doctor before school started, you may still need to have more forms completed before beginning practice with a Shorecrest Athletic Team. Please see the Athletic Forms page for more information.