Health
IMPORTANT IMMUNIZATION INFORMATION 2023-2024 School Year
Colorado law requires all students attending Colorado schools and licensed child cares to be vaccinated against certain diseases, unless an exemption is filed. Below are the vaccines required for students attending Colorado licensed child cares and schools.
Vaccines required to enter school (K-12)
- Hepatitis B.
- Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTap).*
- Inactivated poliovirus (IPV).*
- Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR).*
- Varicella (chicken pox).*
- Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap).**
*Students 4 through 6 years of age are required to have their final doses of DTaP, IPV, MMR and Varicella prior to kindergarten entry.
**Students are required to have Tdap prior to entry into 6th grade. One dose of Tdap is required for 6th through 12th grades.
If you choose not to have your student vaccinated according to the current recommended schedule because of personal or religious reasons, you must submit a Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption to AVA when school begins in August.
Nonmedical exemptions must be submitted annually, which means parents must submit the certificate every new school year. (The school year begins on July 1 and runs through June 30 of the following year.) There are two ways to file a nonmedical exemption:
- File the Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption WITH a signature from an immunizing provider, OR
- File the Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption received upon the completion of the online education module.
Downloadable certificates and the online education module are available at
For additional information: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/schoolrequiredvaccines
HEALTH PROTOCOLS
Many communicable diseases are as contagious before the symptoms appear. For this reason, AVA asks parents to keep children at home whenever they appear to be ill, even with a common cold. Parents are urged to consult a family physician for professional advice in such matters.
In order to ensure the safety of students, please notify the Main Office, Health Assistant, and your child’s teacher of any significant medical conditions that may need special consideration or additional attention during the school day.
The school’s Health Clinic is staffed by a Health Assistant who works in conjunction with a RN to address the needs of students who come to the clinic.
ILLNESS
Please do not send your child to school if your child has vomited or experiences diarrhea in the last 48 hours, your child has a contagious illness or condition, your child has had a fever of 100 degrees or higher in the last 24 hours, or if your child has any contagious illness (i.e., chicken pox, pink eye, strep, measles, upper respiratory infection, or impetigo).
Your child will be sent home if they vomit, have diarrhea, have a fever of over 100 degrees, or other symptoms that interfere with the learning environment.
When as student becomes ill at school:
- The parents will be notified that their child must be picked up.
- If a parent cannot be reached, the emergency contact person listed on the emergency card will be called.
- In case of a more serious injury or illness, “911” will be called for medical assistance and the parents notified immediately. Emergency personnel will determine if the child should be transported to the closest hospital.
- Please be sure to keep your emergency contact information up to date in case we need to contact them to pick up your child.
COVID
AVA does not have specific Covid guidelines this year. If you have questions, please refer to the CDC guidelines.
INJURY
Most injuries that occur at school require minimal assistance administered in the school’s Health Clinic by the school’s designated Health Assistant.
Most injuries that occur at school require minimal assistance administered in the school’s Health Clinic by the school’s designated Health Assistant.
In the event of more serious illness or accidents, we will first attempt to reach parent(s)/guardian(s) at home or work. If we are unable to reach you, we will call the emergency numbers listed on your child’s enrollment form. If neither you nor your emergency contacts can be reached within a reasonable amount of time, school authorities will take the necessary steps to ensure the welfare of your child. In the most serious instances, school staff may contact emergency medical personnel prior to calling parents or emergency contacts.
HEALTH FORMS
MEDICINE
Prescription medication will be administered to students at school only on the specific written request of the student’s parent or guardian AND with the written authorization of the student’s physician. The parent or guardian must execute a full release of the district and its personnel from claims arising out of the administration of the medication. The required authorization and release are encompassed in the Request to Administer Medication at School and Release Agreement and Physician’s Signed Order, which must be completed by the parent or guardian, for each medication or change of medication the parent wishes to have administered to the student.
If a student must receive prescription medication during school hours, the parent or guardian shall furnish the medication in the original pharmacy labeled container. The label shall state the student’s name, medication, dosage, number and/or time(s) of dosages per day and name of the prescribing physician. Medication will be administered by the Health Assistant, only in accordance with the instructions on the physician’s order.
A parent or guardian may deliver medication to the school during school hours. Medications that are brought by the student must be in the original pharmacy (or pharmaceutical) bottle and sealed in an envelope. If the medication is not in a sealed envelope, the parent or guardian will be contacted.
Medication may not be carried during the school day by elementary school students unless there is an extreme need that is documented by the student’s physician.
SELF-ADMINISTER MEDICATIONS
Sixth through eighth grade students may assume responsibility for bringing to school and administering their own medication providing they carry only enough for one day and have completed the Contract to Carry / Self-Administer Medications and the Permission to Carry / Self-Administer Medications form on file in the school office. Students using poor judgment in carrying and taking their own medication will have such medication confiscated by school personnel and parents or guardian will be notified. A structured plan will then be developed for the administration of the medication. Any parent or guardian who chooses not to sign the permission to carry medication form may request that a structured plan be devised for his or her student.
Sixth through eighth grade students may assume responsibility for bringing to school and administering their own medication providing they carry only enough for one day and have completed the Contract to Carry / Self-Administer Medications and the Permission to Carry / Self-Administer Medications form on file in the school office. Students using poor judgment in carrying and taking their own medication will have such medication confiscated by school personnel and parents or guardian will be notified. A structured plan will then be developed for the administration of the medication. Any parent or guardian who chooses not to sign the permission to carry medication form may request that a structured plan be devised for his or her student.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS – ASTHMA AND ANAPHYLAXIS
Notwithstanding the above, any student with Asthma, severe allergies, or another related, life-threatening condition may possess and self-administer medication as provided in an approved treatment plan developed in accordance with the Colorado Schoolchildren’s Asthma and Anaphylaxis Health Management Act.
Notwithstanding the above, any student with Asthma, severe allergies, or another related, life-threatening condition may possess and self-administer medication as provided in an approved treatment plan developed in accordance with the Colorado Schoolchildren’s Asthma and Anaphylaxis Health Management Act.
Students who carry their own emergency medication for life-threatening health conditions should report to the Main Office that they carry such medication if an emergency renders them unable to respond as planned. The school’s Health Assistant will contact such students to work out an emergency plan for the administration of this medication.