Coordinated School Health

Burnham Wood Charter School District is committed to promoting and maintaining the health and wellness of your child. We use the CDC’s Model for Coordinated School Health to help guide our communication. Information and forms for parents are divided into the categories listed below.

1. PHYSICAL EDUCATION – Our Physical Education curriculum aims to help improve the health, fitness, and quality of life of our student, We currently exceed the Healthy People 2020 objectives by providing cardiovascular fitness every day of the week (students K-8) for at least 30 minutes or more. Students spend more than 50% of the time in their daily PE classes being physically active. Supervised team sports are offered to students every day, including soccer, basketball, volleyball, football, flag tag, kick ball, dodge ball, soccer, basketball, tennis, football, scoops, and jump rope. After school sports are available at all campuses.
   • It is important to note PE is a state-required credit. Students with a restriction for physical activity should provide the school office with a written note from a physician excusing them from those activities.
   • American Heart Association Jump Rope for Heart – each year we strive to support the AHA’s mission to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke by participating in the Jump Rope for Heart/Hoops for Heart Events.
2. HEALTH EDUCATION
   • CPR training for Staff, Parents, and Volunteers
   • BWCSD also participates with other organizations in promoting wellness, such as the National Dairy Council, NFL Play 60, Nestle Pure Life, and Subway Fitness Challenge. Many of our students also participate in city, county, and other organized sports leagues ranging from soccer and swimming to gymnastics, ice skating and taekwondo.
3. HEALTH SERVICES – It is important to note that Charter schools are not required to staff a nurse by Texas Law. In the event that a full-time nurse is unavailable, please ensure you communicate health concerns to the front office and your child’s teacher as soon as possible.
   • Students are not allowed to carry ANY medications during school hours. Please make arrangements with the front office at your campus if you feel your child needs medication during the school day.
   • IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR Students with EpiPENS, Asthma, and life threatening allergies
     1. School policy requires life-saving medications to be available on our campus prior to the start of school. Please arrange a conference with your child’s principal and teacher.
     2. An up-to-date Medication Permit must be on file at the school. A new permit is required for each school year.
   • Bacterial Meningitis information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
   • Flu Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
   • We highly recommend everyone receive a seasonal flu vaccine to help prevent the spread of the flu here at school. We do not offer vaccine clinics here at school for students. However, there are many no-cost or low-cost vaccine options available locally. Options include:
     • The city’s public health department
     • Immunize El Paso
     • Your child’s regular physician’s office
   • Annual Preventative Screenings – our certified screeners follow the state requirements and screen students annually for vision and hearing. Students may also be checked for scoliosis and have their risk for Type 2 Diabetes assessed.
     • Information about the purpose of vision and hearing screenings is available from the Texas Department of State Health Services. These screenings take place in grades K, 1, 3, 5, and 7. Exemptions are only granted on the basis of religious and/or medical reasons. To claim an exemption for religious reasons return a notarized Affidavit for Religious Exemption to your school’s office. To claim an exemption for medical reasons return a signed statement from your child’s health care provider with the most recent examination results. Those results must be dated within the current school year.
     • Information about the purpose of scoliosis screenings is available from the Texas Department of State Health Services. Exemptions are only granted on the basis of religious reasons and/or if the student is already being treated for scoliosis. To claim an exemption for religious reasons, bring a signed affidavit for Religious Exemption to your school’s office or nurse. To claim an exemption for a student undergoing treatment, bring a signed and dated statement from your child’s health care provider indicating your child is undergoing active, ongoing medical care for scoliosis.
     • Information about the purpose of Type 2 Diabetes risk assessments is available from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Border Health Office. These screenings take place in grades 1, 3, 5, and 7. Exemptions are only granted on the basis of religious reasons and/or if the student has already undergone a screening at their own health care provider. To claim an exemption for religious reasons, bring a signed affidavit for Religious Exemption to your school’s office or nurse. To claim an exemption for a student who has already undergone a screening, bring a signed and dated statement from your child’s health care provider indicating your child has already been screened with the results to your school’s office or nurse.
   • Immunization Requirements and Forms: Texas Law states that admission to any school is not allowed until records are produced showing that (1) the child has been immunized in accordance with the rules; (2) the child has an exemption affidavit from immunization requirements on file with the school in accordance with the rules; or (3) that the child is entitled to provisional enrollment and working towards completing the required immunizations. Please check your child’s immunization records against the immunization requirements..
     • For more information about immunizations and the requirements, see the immunization section of the Texas State Department of Health Services website.
     • Vaccine exemption affidavits can be obtained from the Texas State Department of Health Services.
     • Each parent or guardian who signs a vaccine exemption affidavit form also is acknowledging they understand that their child may be excluded from school attendance in times of emergency or epidemic declared by the Texas Commissioner of Health.
   • Chronic Health Conditions – BWCSD will not discriminate on its admission policy on the basis of sex, national origin, ethnicity, religion, disability, academic, artistic or athletic ability, or the district the child would otherwise attend in accordance with the Texas Education Code. If a full-time nurse is not available, please schedule a meeting with the campus principal as soon as possible to discuss any special health care needs your child may have and how we can provide them with an optimal learning environment. Information that you may want to discuss includes:
     • Medications at School
     • Recommended Length of Absence for Illness
4. NUTRITION SERVICES – The BWCSD follows the Texas Department of Agriculture’s policies regarding school meals and guidelines regarding snacks, birthday parties, pizza parties, fast food, candy, and fundraising activities.
   • Students with dietary restrictions will need to submit a physician’s order to the school office.
   • In accordance with Federal regulations, BWCSD does not allow Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value to be sold or given away during meal periods where school meals are served and/or consumed. Such foods include: hard candy, jellies, gums, marshmallow candies, fondant, licorice, spun candy, sodas, caffeinated drinks, power drinks, coffee, coffee drinks, chili sauce, candy-coated popcorn (chocolate), potato chips, chewing gum, soda water, cookies, cakes, cupcakes, pudding, ice cream, and frozen desserts. Students will be asked to throw these items away if brought on campus unless it meets the USDA Smart Snacks standards.
   • Elementary School Classroom Snacks: All snacks (homemade and prepackaged) may not contain any of the items described above or consist of candy or dessert type items (cookies, cakes, cupcakes, pudding, ice cream or frozen desserts, etc. unless it meets the USDA Smart Snacks standards). The School District has stricter policies than the Department of Agriculture; therefore this policy also applies to snacks students bring from home for their own consumption.
   • Birthday Parties or Class celebrations: Foods otherwise restricted by our nutrition policies are not permitted at student birthday parties. Celebrations can only be held on the last Friday of the month at the end of the day and should not take more than one-half hour. All birthdays for the month are celebrated on that Friday. Teachers must be notified at least two weeks in advance if parents wish to celebrate a birthday on the last Friday of the month.
   • Vending machines on each campus are limited to serving items after school in compliance with Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value (FMNV) Policy.
   • Soft drinks are not served to students and are not sold in vending machines on any campus. Carbonated beverages are not allowed on campus unless it meets the USDA Smart Snacks standards.
   • BWFCS strongly discourages fast-food brought for meals or snacks by students. The School District has stricter policies than the Department of Agriculture; therefore, students whose parents bring fast-food items for lunch will be seated in a separate location from other students eating their cafeteria lunch. During lunch time, the child nutrition department offers a la carte smart snacks that meet the USDA Smart Snacks standards.
5. HEALTHY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT
   • Tobacco-Free Campus Policy – Please see the Parent-Student Handbook for information about policies and penalties for tobacco use or possession on campus.
   • Environmental Services – Our environmental services cleans and services classrooms throughout the school day to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment. Soap and paper towels are provided in each restroom for student and staff use.
6. FAMILY AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
   • Community Service Projects/Student Council Projects
   • Fundraisers
   • After School Day Care/Enrichment Programs
   • Our school attains its social and character development by offering fine dining principles during lunch, following Dr. Glasser’s precepts about Making Good Choices as our discipline standard, adhering to a school-wide dress code, and following school-wide rules that emphasize mutual respect.
   • Our school attains a sense of family and community by inviting parents to volunteer a minimum of 10 hours per year and offering educational workshops to parents and teachers throughout the year.
7. COUNSELING, PSYCHOLOGICAL, and SOCIAL SERVICES
   • Anti-Bullying Policies
   • Guidance and Counseling Services are necessary to the success of all students. They include academic, social and emotional services. These services are available and administered to all students as needed unless otherwise noted by parents.
   • Free and Reduced Breakfast and Lunch Program for those who qualify
   • Special Education Services – The School offers a full continuum of Special Education services, instructional arrangements and related services as required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to those enrolled students who qualify.
8. HEALTH PROMOTIONS FOR STAFF
   • Flu Vaccine Clinics for Teachers and Staff
   • Blood Pressure and Diabetes