GROWTH SCREENING/BMI

The school nurse performs a growth screening for every student every school year. This includes measuring the student's height, and weight, and then configuring the student's body mass index (BMI). Your child’s health care provider is the best person to evaluate whether or not his/her measurements are within a healthy range. Keeping in mind that this is only a health screening, please share the results with your child’s health care provider, who may suggest changes in eating or physical activity or may have other suggestions. Being either overweight or underweight can put a person at risk for certain health problems. A student who is overweight has an increased risk of developing serious conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and certain cancers. A student who is underweight has an increased risk for heart problems, loss of bone mass, and anemia. Underweight may also be a sign of an underlying eating disorder. Many factors, including sports participation or family history, can influence height and weight in children and adolescents. BMI should be considered a screening tool and not a definitive measure of overweight and obesity as the indicator does have limitations. For example, athletes, dancers and other physically active students may have a high BMI due to their increased muscle mass, which weighs more than fat mass.

HEARING

The purpose of the school hearing program is to identify children with hearing impairments. Such a program is part of a total hearing conservation and rehabilitation effort and aids in the teaching of the prevention of hearing loss, planning for medical treatment and educational programs for the child with significant hearing loss. Regulations require that each year, pupils in kindergarten; Grades 1,2,3,7 and 11; and those in special ungraded classes be given a hearing test. Any student failing the hearing exam will be referred to their primary care provider.

VISION SCREENING

The purpose of a school vision program is to identify students with visual impairments who are in need of professional eye services. Vision screening and eye examination are vital for the detection of conditions that distort or suppress the normal visual images which may lead to inadequate school performance. Early detection or treatment of vision disorders gives children a better opportunity to develop educationally, socially, emotionally and physically. All students in grade K-12 are screened yearly. Referrals are made to eye specialists and financial assistance is available through the Lions Club. Please see your school nurse for more information.

SCOLIOSIS SCREENING

A Scoliosis screening is completed by the Nurse for all 7th grade students. If your child is found to have any irregularity, a letter will be sent home to request that you have further evaluation by your family health care provider or by Shriner's Hospital for Children. Grade 6 students will have the Scoliosis screening completed by their health care provider as part of the 6th grade physical exam requirement.