News/Updates

Parents of 5th and 11th grade students,

Valparaiso Community Schools is partnering with the Porter County Health Department to provide a convenient opportunity to complete needed vaccinations required for next years school attendance. These clinics will be held during th school day at each school.

April 19th Valparaiso High School 9 am - 2 pm

VHS information VHS Consent Form

May 10th Elementary School Locations (time based on # of students participating)

Grade 5 Information Grade 5 Consent Form

Feel free to contact your building Nurse or Joy Sunday BSN, RN Director of Health Services. 219/531/1447 or [email protected]

IMMUNIZATION UPDATE:

HPV has been added as a recommendation for grades 6-12.
Meningococcal Serogroup B (MenB) has remained a recommendation for grade 12.

Meningococcal B is an admissions requirement for many Indiana Colleges.

Indiana State Department of Health

2023-24 Required and Recommended School Immunizations

REQUIRED
3 yrs -Pre K	• 3 Hepatitis B • 4 DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus & Pertussis) • 3 Polio	• 1 Varicella (Chickenpox) • 1 MMR (Measles Mumps & Rubella	RECOMMENDED • Annual Influenza
K-5th grade	• 3 Hepatitis B • 5 DTaP • 4 Polio	• 2 MMR • 2 Varicella • 2 Hepatitis A	RECOMMENDED • Annual Influenza

6th-11th grade	• 3 Hepatitis B • 5 DTaP • 4 Polio • 2 MMR	• 2 Varicella • 2 Hepatitis A • 1 MCV4 (Meningococcal) • 1 Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis)	RECOMMENDED • Annual Influenza • 2 HPV (Human Papillomavirus)

12th grade	• 3 Hepatitis B • 5 DTaP • 4 Polio • 2 MMR	• 2 Varicella • 2 Hepatitis A • 2 MCV4 • 1 Tdap	RECOMMENDED • Annual Influenza • 2 MenB (Meningococcal) • 2/3 HPV

Preventing the Spread of Flu

As you are probably aware, Flu season has officially started in Indiana, with emergency departments and outpatient provider clinics reporting influenza-like illness in their patients. There are many strains of influenza that are currently present during this time of year.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring developments around an outbreak of a respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus. While the CDC considers this a very serious public health threat, based on current information, the immediate health risk to the general American public and Porter County is considered low at this time. We will continue to work closely with the Indiana State Department of Health and the Indiana Department of Education will share information with the school community if the risk level increases.

In an effort to prevent the spread of any illness or flu, please remember to:

Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer;
Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth;
Avoid close contact with those who are already sick;
Get plenty of sleep;
Eat healthy food and drink plenty of fluids;
Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing with a tissue or into the crook of your arm. Then throw the tissue in the trash;
Clean commonly touched surfaces; and
Stay home if ill for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone. (fever free without any fever reducing medications)

Contact the school if your child will not be in attendance. Please inform them of symptoms or diagnosis of your child. This way we can track attendance related to illness within buildings.

Thanks for all you do to help keep your child healthy and ready to learn.