BLS Nurse Blog
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THERE ARE ONLY 3 MONDAYS LEFT!!!!!!
CAMPS
DEI
From Kinsey – Office of Policy, Advocacy, and Equity
Summer groceries/food access
Need help with buying groceries for your family? The state of Oregon offers a program that can help families with school-age children who need help with access to food while school is out for summer. For details and to apply, see flyer:
¿Necesita ayuda con alimentos para su familia? El estado de Oregón ofrece un programa que ayuda a las familias con niños de edad escolar a comprar alimentos durante las vacaciones de verano. Para más detalles y para aplicar, véase este volante:
Family engagement staff
Staffing: Curious who your school’s Advocate, Liaison, or Language Specialist will be next year? The goal is to keep these positions as stable and consistent as possible year to year, as this is key for relationships and trust with families, colleagues, and students. Until/unless you hear otherwise, assume these roles will be filled by the same people you currently have assigned.
IMMUNIZATION RULES UPDATE
Change #1
Exclusion Day has been moved from the 3rd Wednesday in February to the 4th Wednesday in February.
- Why: This will give families one more week to get records updated and give a buffer for issues with mail delivery and weather that may arise.
- Resources: A list of future reporting and Exclusion Day deadlines.
Change #2
Physicians will be required to fill out a form rather than write a letter for a medical exemption.*
- Why: This will help ensure all the required information is collected for local health department review.
- Resources: Exemptions and Immunity Documentation website
Change #3
Students who have a history of varicella (chickenpox) disease will need health care provider verification or lab test instead of parent verification.*
- Why: This aligns with the requirements for immunity documentation of the other vaccines.
- Resources: If you need help finding a health care provider, 211Info is a good place to start. 211Info specializes in health and social service assistance, and can be reached at [email protected] or by dialing 2-1-1. Language interpreters are available.
Note
*These changes apply to documentation received by the school on or after August 1, 2025. Documentation on file at the school prior to August 1, 2025, continues to be acceptable and new documentation is not needed for these students.
For more information, see the frequently asked questions or contact [email protected]
IMMUNIZATION RATES
2024-25 School Year
Non-Medical Exemptions
Finalized rates of non-medical exemptions (in the state of Oregon) from the 2024-25 school year. In short: we went from a rate of 8.8% non-medical exemptions amongst kindergartners to a new state record of 9.7%.
Kindergarten Immunization Rates (in the state of Oregon)
86.3% of kindergarteners were fully vaccinated with all required immunizations for the 24/25 school year.
86.4% of kindergarteners were fully vaccinated with all required immunizations for the 23/24 school year.
MENTAL HEALTH
Healthier You Challenge
SAFETY
Oregon Overdose Deaths are Down
SYNERGY
Health Conditions
When adding new information in the health conditions comment column, please put your initials and date after your comment. This will help future nurses know how current the information is.
VOMITING
Return to School Update
BLS Health and Wellness website updated to align with OHA vomiting exclusion. (Please note, BLS added language “or at the discretion of the school nurse” regarding when a student can return to school following episodes of vomiting.
VOMITING
At least 2 episodes that are unexplained.
MAY RETURN AFTER 24 hours after last episode of vomiting OR after seen and cleared by a health care professional or at the discretion of the school nurse.
CALENDAR
| DATE | TIME | EVENT | INFO |
| 5/26/25 | Memorial Day | NO SCHOOL!! | |
| 5/28 | 215-3 | Medicaid Billing | Virtual (MANDATORY for all regular nursing staff only) |
| 6/1 | ACUITY INFORMATION DUE TO ERICA |
LINKS
Link to Links