Health Services

The Health Center staff at each school includes nurses who work closely with administrators and other Student Services staff.

Transportation home: If a student is sent home due to illness or injury, the Health Center will call a parent, guardian, or emergency contact in the student’s record  to arrange for transportation. Guardian consent is required even if the student can provide their own transportation.

Services of the Health Center are:

• Keeping cumulative medical records of all students; reviewing all medical examination records for special needs; and making necessary adjustments such as extra time between classes, rest time following surgery, severe illness or accident, preferential seating for vision or hearing loss, adaptations in the Physical Education program.
• Interpreting special health needs of students to faculty members, and participating in conferences concerning students whenever appropriate.
• Carrying out vision and hearing screening. Vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor. Your child is not required to undergo the vision screening if an optometrist or ophthalmologist has completed and signed a report form indicating that an eye examination has been administered in the previous 12 months.
• Providing emergency care of ill or injured students.
• Administering prescribed or over-the-counter medications such as Advil, Tylenol and Midol, as authorized on the Medication Authorization Form (Adm. Procedure 7:270-E1) or subsequent physician's authorization. Students may not give other students any medications (prescribed or over-the-counter).

STUDENTS VISITING THE HEALTH CENTER DURING A SCHEDULED CLASS MUST OBTAIN A PASS FROM THE TEACHER.

Students who have been absent for illness or injury three or more days in a row must obtain a re-admission slip from the Health Center before returning to class. A note from the physician is required indicating that a student may return to school following (1) surgery or other hospitalizations, (2) a communicable disease including strep throat, (3) homebound instruction, and (4) all absences of six days or more. Limitations on physical activity and recommendations for rest periods should also be noted.

Students returning to school following a psychiatric hospitalization must bring a note to the Health Center from the psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, or clinical social worker.

Students with casts and/or crutches should also bring a note from the physician relative to limitations. The Health Center will issue an Early Pass to a student requiring additional passing time.

The school nurses are always available to students and their parents/guardians for conferences and referral for additional services.

Elevator use:  A pass is required to use the elevator.

Administering Medicines to Students [See Board Policy 7:270]

Medical Authorization Form [See Board Policy 7:270-E1]

Medical Authorization Form [See Adm. Procedure 7:270-E1]

Health Examinations and Immunizations [See Board Policy 7:100]

Note: Immunization data reported to the State Board of Education (ISBE) can be accessed through the ISBE website.

Notification to Staff and Parents/Guardians of CPR and AED Video

Administrative Procedure – Checklist for District Supply of Undesignated Epinephrine Auto-Injectors and/or Opioid Antagonists [See Board Policy 7:270-AP2]

Illinois State Law (Illinois School Code 122, 27-8:1) requires proof that the required health exams and immunizations for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis, and hepatitis B be completed.

A student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) shall present proof that the student was examined by a licensed physician and received the immunizations against and screenings for preventable communicable diseases, as required by the Department of Public Health:

• When entering the ninth grade; and
• When a student enrolls for the first time at a D219 school, regardless of the student's grade.

Parent(s)/guardian(s) are encouraged to have their child undergo a dental and vision examination whenever health examinations are required. As required by the Illinois Department of Public Health, a diabetes screening must be included as a required part of each health examination; diabetes testing is not required.

Unless the student is homeless, or transferring from out-of-state, failure to comply with the above requirements by the first day of the current school year will result in the student's exclusion from school until the required health forms are presented to the District. If a medical reason prevents a student from receiving a required immunization by the first day of school, the student must present, by the first day of school, an immunization schedule and a statement of the medical reasons causing the delay. The schedule and statement of medical reasons must be signed by the physician, registered nurse, or local health department responsible for administering the immunizations. All transferring students may be given up to 30 days following registration to comply with the health examination and immunization regulations. If the School Nurse has reason to suspect health problems that may cause harm to the student or to others, the Nurse may delay enrollment in school or in selected classes.

A student may be exempted from this policy's requirements on religious or medical grounds if the student's parent(s)/guardian(s) present to the Associate Principal for Student Services a signed statement explaining the objection. A student may be exempted from the health examination or immunizations on medical grounds if a physician provides written verification.

Any homeless child shall be immediately admitted, even if the child or child's parent/guardian is unable to produce immunization and health records normally required for enrollment. Board policy 6:140, Education of Homeless Children, governs the enrollment of homeless children.

Homebound Instruction Program

The Homebound Program, according to State guidelines, is designed to serve students physically unable to attend regular school programs, and therefore, must be served in home or hospital settings.

The child must be physically handicapped to a degree which necessitates a special program. This assumes the presence of one of the following:

• Congenital handicapping condition.
• A chronic long-term illness.
• A convalescent phase of an acute illness which is at least 10 school days in estimated duration.
• The confined period following a traumatic episode or surgical procedure which requires at least 10 school days.

In order to qualify for such a program, the student must be free of contagious disease and certified by a medical examiner to be in need of home or hospital services for a period of at least two weeks. Home/hospital instruction can be approved when the medical examiner states that the student will be unable to attend high school classes for a minimum of 10 consecutive school days. When the student returns to school or it is beyond the end of the school year, the homebound program ceases except in special cases which must be approved by the High School Director of Special Education.

Homebound instruction can be applied for through the Student Services Department.

Cafeteria Service

A variety of foods are offered on the menu each school day enabling students and staff to make choices to meet their nutritional requirements. Free and reduced priced meals are available for families meeting Federal Income Guidelines.

A variety of a la carte items (each item priced separately) are available for  breakfast and lunch to students and staff.  Visit the Meals and Menu page for more information.

Information Resource Center (library)

The Information Resource Center is open before, during, and after the school day. Students are expected to maintain the quiet study areas of the library.  (Hours may change. Revised hours will be posted.)

• NORTH: Monday - Thursday, 7:15 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and Friday until 3:30 p.m.
• WEST: Monday - Thursday, 7:30 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. and Friday until 3:45 p.m. 

Students may use either IRC during evening hours. Students may use the facilities for reference work, assignments, or browsing during any of their unassigned periods as well as entry from study halls.

Students use their  ID card to check out media materials. Lost IDs should be reported immediately to the Textbook Center. If a student loses their ID card, they are responsible for any materials checked out on the lost card.

The IRCs subscribe to many fee-based online products that are accessible from computers at home. Stop in your IRC to pick up a bookmark with current logins and passwords.

Students will be charged replacement fees for lost or damaged materials.

Testing Center

• NORTH: 7:10 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
• WEST: 7:10 a.m. - 4:10 p.m.

The Point (North) and the Literacy Center (West)

The Point at Niles North and The Literacy Center at Niles West are places to go if you need help with your academic work. Faculty and trained student tutors assist students in learning and applying strategies for reading, writing, speaking, problem solving and note-taking that can be applied across all curricular areas. You may visit them before school, during lunch, during study hall, or after school.

• The Point is open Monday - Thursday, 7:15 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Friday, 7:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.  
• The Literacy Center is open Monday - Thursday, 7:20 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. and Friday 7:20 a.m. – 3:23 p.m.

Weight Room Hours

The Weight Room is open during the following times (please note preference is given to student athletes):

• NORTH: Monday – Friday, 3:40 p.m. - 5:10 p.m.
• WEST: Monday – Friday, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 

Fitness Center / Cardio Lab Hours

• NORTH: Monday – Thursday, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m, & Friday 6:30-8:00am. 
• WEST: Monday – Friday, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Counselors

Upon entering high school, each student is assigned to a counselor who will assist him/her throughout the high school experience.

Counselors work with their students to help them:

• develop self-awareness, self-understanding and self-acceptance
• build self-confidence
• recognize and make the best use of their abilities
• adjust to the school environment
• work through educational and personal social concerns
• develop problem-solving and decision-making skills

Counselors help students:

• to interpret school policies and programs
• to develop a four-year educational plan
• to make appropriate course selections
• to understand standardized test results
• to research post-high school opportunities
• to develop post-high school plans

College/Career Counselor

Each high school has a college/career counselor who assists students, upon referral from their guidance counselor, in selecting colleges appropriate to their career goals, interests and achievements. The college counselor acts as informational coordinator for both students and faculty on educational trends in higher education and financial aid and scholarships. The college counselor also maintains a college/career resource center where students may obtain information related to college selection, careers, catalogues, tests and financial aid.

Mental Health Services

Resources for Sexual Abuse

Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center Skokie

https://zcenter.org/

What if scenarios to help students and families

DCFS - Tips for Recognizing Abuse & Child Abuse Hotline

https://www2.illinois.gov/dcfs/safekids/prevention/howtotell/Pages/Tips-for-Recognizing-Child-Abuse.aspx

RAINN - Grooming Warning Signs 

https://www.rainn.org/news/grooming-know-warning-signs

Erin’s Law for Parents

https://www.erinslaw.org/for-parents/

Erin’s Law Resources for Children

https://www.erinslaw.org/for-children/

School Psychologist

The school psychologist helps students regarding school and family concerns. In addition, he makes individualized recommendations concerning a program that will enhance the strength and meet the needs of the individual student.

Social Workers

Each high school has two social workers to help students who have difficulty in making good use of their school opportunities. The social workers handle individual cases, deal with the home and home-school relations, and work through community agencies. In addition, they can provide a referral to an outside agency, when needed.

Peer Mediation

Peer Mediation is a program in which disputes between students are resolved through a process of discussion, brainstorming, problem-solving and finally, mutual agreement. Student mediators are specially trained in these skills and facilitate the mediations with minimal adult involvement. Students are encouraged to seek mediation as a means of resolving disputes before such disputes become violent confrontations. For more information, contact an assistant principal or counselor.

Volunteer Services Program – Students

This program offers students an opportunity to serve the school as student aides to teachers, administrators, or the clerical staff. Students assigned to a study hall or students with unscheduled time are eligible to apply. Interested students should contact their counselor.