School Health
Optimal learning requires good health.
Employee Wellness
The Employee Wellness Program of Valparaiso Community Schools serves to improve and/or maintain the physical, mental, and social health of employees by providing a variety of quality wellness programs.
Employees are provided with information and experiences designed to promote an understanding of wellness and a commitment to its benefits. Seeking to provide positive role models for children, the wellness program establishes a school environment that reinforces healthy habits and safe work performances of employees.
Health Services
The Valparaiso Community Schools’ Health Services Department provides Healthy Environments which Assist Learning, Teaching, and Harmony (H.E.A.L.T.H.) among students, staff, family and the community. To fulfill this mission, registered nurses and support staff provide emergency care to students and staff who experience sudden illness or require first aid. Each school has an Emergency Response Team with trained CPR volunteers who respond to life-threatening emergencies until community emergency services arrive. Five Valparaiso High School students completed training in the Students Emergency Response Team, the first such student unit to be certified in Indiana.
School nurses perform screenings for vision, hearing, scoliosis, blood pressure, growth and development, dental needs, health problems, and behavioral concerns. In an effort to control communicable diseases, the nursing staff implements immunization laws, disseminates appropriate exposure notices, and provides health education within the school district. For students with chronic health conditions or special needs, the nurses develop and monitor school health care plans in collaboration with other school professionals, parents, and community health care professionals or agencies.
Social Service
School social workers are a part of the total educational team of a school. The social workers assist colleagues from other disciplines to provide the best possible learning environment for all students. The Valparaiso Community Schools’ Social Services Department focuses on early intervention, prevention, and education of children in dealing with today’s social concerns. Through the use of assessment, counseling, consultation, and coordination of services, social workers provide unique services for students, parents, staff, and the community. The staff offers a variety of programs and services for students and families, and empowers them with the skills to deal more successfully with life’s challenges.
Student Assistance
The Student Assistance Program at Valparaiso High School works hand-in-hand with other Valparaiso resources, both public and private. Administration and staff recognize their responsibility to provide early identification and intervention for students who exhibit behaviors which interfere with their education. The program identifies, screens, refers, and assists students who may be experiencing problems. Confidentiality is a priority which is always maintained.
