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Health

Health Clerk

The Walnut Health Office is staffed by a Health Clerk who is certified in CPR and First Aid. The Health Clerk provides first aid, responds to health emergencies, administers physician-prescribed medication, notifies families of illnesses or injuries that occur during the school day, and maintains student health records. This includes monitoring immunization compliance and following up on state-mandated vision, hearing, and health screenings.

The Health Office is available to students throughout the school day. When the Health Clerk is unavailable, trained front office staff members assist with students’ immediate health needs.

District Nurse

CVUSD also employs District Nurses. The District Nurses are licensed health care professionals who provide specialized medical services that include medically required personal care; administering vision and hearing screenings; overseeing school infection control standards; communicating with students’ families regarding continuing infectious diseases; assisting families with obtaining outside healthcare services; providing Human Growth & Development classes; and collaborating with parents of students who have special health care needs, and developing individualized plans of care for those students while at school. The credentialed school nurse is uniquely qualified in preventive health assessment and referral procedures.

Sick Child Health Protocols

To help keep our school community healthy, please follow these guidelines:

  • Keep your child home if they are experiencing symptoms of illness. Students with symptoms such as a persistent cough, significant congestion or runny nose, fever, vomiting, or diarrhea may be sent home.

  • CVUSD defines a fever as a temperature of 100.4°F or higher. Students must remain fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil), before returning to school. Please remember that many cold and flu medications also contain fever-reducing ingredients.

    The 24-hour period begins only after the student’s temperature has returned to normal without medication. If the fever returns, the 24-hour period begins again.

    Example: If a student has a fever on Sunday evening, the student must remain home on Monday. If the fever is gone by 7:00 a.m. Monday and does not return for a full 24 hours without medication, the student may return Tuesday morning. If the fever returns at any point on Monday, the student must remain home Tuesday.

  • Wearing a mask at school is optional. Masks are available upon request.

  • Prompt pick-up of a sick child is required to protect the health and safety of students and staff. Please make sure your emergency contacts and their phone numbers are current with the Front Office.

  • Please review the complete Sick Child Information Sheet for additional information regarding CVUSD health protocols.

Picking Up a Sick Child

If you are contacted to pick up your child from school:

  1. Bring a valid photo ID.

  2. Park and come into the Front Office to sign your child out. Our Health Clerk will review the relevant information with you.

Health Screenings

Oral Health Assessment

California Education Code Section 49452.8 requires students to receive a dental assessment during kindergarten or first grade, whichever is their first year enrolled in public school. An assessment completed within the 12 months before the student entered school also meets this requirement. The assessment must be completed by a licensed dentist or another licensed or registered dental health professional.

Download the Oral Health Assessment form.

Vision and Hearing Screenings

Students in kindergarten, second grade, and fifth grade will receive hearing and vision screenings from CVUSD-certified health professionals. Families will be notified if a student is identified as needing additional evaluation by a licensed healthcare professional.

Medication at School

Students who need medication administered during the school day, at school activities, or on field trips must have an Authorization for Medications Taken During School Hours, School Activities, and Field Trips form completed and signed by both a parent or guardian and the student’s physician. Please review the School Medication Guidelines and Procedures for additional information.

Students with asthma, food or insect-sting allergies, cardiac conditions, diabetes, seizures, or shunts may also need an Individualized Health Care Plan completed by their physician. These forms are available through the Quick Links section of this webpage.

Temporary Disability or Injury

California requires all students to participate in physical education. If a temporary illness or physical injury prevents a student from participating fully, a physician must complete the Readmission to School of Student with Temporary Disability form. A parent or guardian must also sign the form.

Please do not send a student to school with a medical device—such as a wrap, brace, sling, walking boot, or crutches—without the completed form. This information helps staff provide appropriate accommodations, support safe participation, and prevent further injury.

For a minor injury or illness that does not require medical care, parents or guardians must notify both the Front Office and the student’s teacher in writing if temporary restrictions from physical activity are needed. Students restricted from physical education will also be restricted from participating in recess activities. Without a physician’s note or completed temporary-disability form, a student may sit out of physical education and recess for only a few days.