Frequently Asked Questions
The Health Team answers...
The health and safety of the children of Commerce ISD are the primary concern of the school faculty and staff. Frequently asked questions are:
How do I know if my child has head lice?
Head lice are tiny insects passed from human to human that live on the scalp. They lay eggs (nits) that are cemented to the hair shaft and cannot be easily removed. The adult lice are grayish white and are 1/16 to 1/8 inch in length. Lice cannot hop, jump or fly. What to watch for: Your child may scratch their head repeatedly. Watch for skin redness at the nape of the neck and over the ears. Inspect the scalp for the nits and adult crawling lice. Part the hair and inspect small sections. Use a good light. a. The eggs are found 1/4 inch from the scalp, are cemented to the hair shaft, and will not wash off. b. The most common place to find eggs and lice are the crown, nape of the neck, and over the ears. What to do if you find eggs or lice: Safe medications are available over the counter at most pharmacies. Follow all label directions. Treat all combs and brushes with medication. Wash all clothing and bed linens used during the last 2 days. Wash in water that is at least 120 degrees. Dry cleaning will also kill lice. Vacuuming the carpet, couches and chairs is sufficient. If you have questions about lice, please feel free to contact the school nurse.
What happens if my child should get sick at school?
Parents/guardians will be contacted when it is determined that a student should be sent home as a result of illness or injury. Students can only be released to the designated persons listed on the student emergency card.
Should I keep my child home from school because of illness?
Illness can affect your child's ability to learn and pose health risk to others. It is important for parents to keep children at home for the following reasons: A temperature of 100 degrees or above. Parents are requested to keep their children at home until they have been free of fever for 24 hours without medication. Has vomited during the night or in the morning. Has persistent diarrhea during the night or into the morning. To protect children from contagious illness, students infected with certain diseases are not allowed to come to school while contagious. Parents of a student with a communicable or contagious disease should phone the school nurse or principal so that other students who have been exposed to the disease can be alerted. These diseases include:
- Chickenpox
- Measles
- Common cold with fever
- Meningitis
- Fifth Disease
- Mumps
- Gastroenteritis
- Viral Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis)
- Head Lice
- Rubella (German Measles)
- Hepatitis (specify type)
- Scabies
- Impetigo
- Streptococcal disease
- Infectious Mononucleosis
- Tuberculosis
- Influenza
- Covid-19
If a communicable disease develops, children should stay at home until recovery is complete. Contact the campus health office for guidance on when your child may return to school. If your child has a special medical need, please call the office so a conference can be set up with his/her teacher(s). We need to be aware of the correct procedures for your child if she/he experiences seizures, severe allergies, etc.
What type of health screenings can I expect my child to receive while in school?
The Tiger Health Team conducts vision and hearing screenings on all new students, and all children in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first, third, fifth and seventh and grades. We also conduct screenings if a parent or teacher requests the procedure. Once a child is identified as having a problem, a referral letter will be mailed to the parent. If is important to remember that by definition a screening will not detect all vision and hearing problems nor identify all child with hearing/vision difficulties. Spinal screenings on young people during the high-risk years seems to be the best way to detect spinal deformities. Without screening, referral and treatment, mild curves may progress into severe scoliosis, sideways twisting of the spine. All students in fifth and eighth grades will have a scoliosis screening. Parents will receive a notification letter one month to two weeks prior to the screening. Parents will be notified in writing if a professional evaluation is recommended.
What if my child needs to be excused from physical education because of an injury or health problem?
A written doctor's statement is necessary to excuse a child from participating in physical education class.