Student Health Services

Credentialed School Nurses

Nurse Coordinator: Oversees the District Nurses and Site Nurses and helps to coordinate services and care for all students in CUSD.

• Megan Bustle, DNP, MPH, RN, PHN, NCSN

District Nurses: District Nurses are specialized in ensuring students with health conditions have their health needs met, while also promoting equitable access to learning. District Nurses collaborate with healthcare providers to create Individualized Health Plans, 504s, and IEPs for students with health needs. District Nurses also provide information and training to unlicensed school staff members as appropriate to ensure the health and safety of students.

• Yaya Alimi, MSN, RN, PHN, CSN
• Sarah Brown, BSN, RN, PHN, CSN
• Catherine MacDougall, BSN, RN, PHN, CSN
• Thanh "Katie" Tran, BSN, RN, PHN, CSN
• Allison Nguyen, BSN, RN, PHN, CSN
• Thelma Floresca, MBA, RN, PHN, CSN

Site Nurses

Site Nurses: School site nurses implement the plan that is created by the District Nurse. School site nurses also manage medications and provide daily care/first aid in health offices.

• Sunshine Adona, LVN
• Cheryl Apodaca, LVN
• Jeremy Cerda, LVN
• Shyno George, LVN
• Julie Low, RN
• Margaret Torcuato, LVN
• Suja Varughese, LVN
• Alejandra Canton, LVN
• Khay Escote, LVN
• Itzel Mendoza, LVN
• Vanessa Laconico, LVN

Health Clerks

Health Clerks: Health Clerks are our organizational superstars, gathering and organizing data regarding immunizations, health screenings, and student health conditions that require the attention of the Nurses. Health Clerks can be contacted at healthclerks@cusdk8.org

• Guadalupe De Almanza: Cupertino, Kennedy, Lawson, De Vargas, Stevens Creek, Stocklmeir, West Valley
• Lydia Burnham: Hyde, Miller, Lincoln, John Muir, Eaton, Garden Gate, Sedgwick, YCC
• Krishna Voleti: Collins, Nimitz, Dilworth, Eishenhower, Faria, Montclaire, Blue Hills, Murdock-Portal, McAuliffe

CDPH Illness Guidelines for School

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Schools/SymptomGuidance.aspx 

The decision to keep your child home is not an easy one to make. Keeping ill children home from school is intended to protect not only the ill child, but also classmates and instructional staff. This note outlines the criteria for keeping students home when they are ill and for sending children home when they appear to be suffering from a contagious or infectious disease (Ed.Code section 48211, 48212).

Use the sign/symptom guidance table ONLY if:

1. The child can participate meaningfully in child care or school activities; AND
2. The staff can provide appropriate care without compromising the health and safety of other children.

If these criteria are not met, the child should be sent home.

A child’s parent/guardian should be notified if their child has any of the signs or symptoms in the table below. 

Special attention to handwashing is recommended.
Warrants immediate medical attention.
Consider masking for respiratory illness.

If you do not have health insurance, the Children’s Health Initiative of Santa Clara County will help your family obtain free and low-cost health, dental and vision insurance. There are three insurance programs: Medi-Cal, Healthy Families and Healthy Kids. Please call 1-888-244-5222 to speak to an intake worker (many languages are spoken) who will help you find a program for your child.

District School Nurses

Please note:

• All medications must be supplied by the student's parent or legal guardian.
• Each medication, whether prescription or OTC, must be accompanied by a signed doctor's order (see student medication authorization form)
• Each prescription medication should bear a pharmacy label. The label must match the doctor's order.
• All medications should be in the original box/container. OTCs must be sealed/unopened and unexpired.
• The Student Medication Authorization Form must be completed, front and back, and signed by both the physician and the student's parent or legal guardian. EACH prescribed and/or OTC medication must be listed on the Authorization Form.
• For anaphylactic allergy medications, including EpiPens, the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Action Plan protocol must be completed.
• Students may self-carry and self-administer rescue medications (EpiPens, rescue inhalers, and insulin only) if their medical provider confirms they are competent to do so and the Self-Administration Form has been completed and signed by both the student's healthcare provider and a parent or legal guardian. The School Nurse reserves the right to contact the prescribing healthcare provider if a student's competency regarding self-administration of their medications is questionable. No other medications or supplements may be carried by students.
• All medication orders must be dated no earlier than one year before the last day of the upcoming school year.
• All forms and medication need to be placed in a gallon-size Ziplock bag and labeled with the student's name and grade on the outside.
• Families submitting controlled substances (e.g., certain ADHD medications) must schedule an appointment with a licensed CUSD nurse and deliver the medication in person.

See Asthma Action Plan.

Rules for Assisted Devices at School

1. Specific orders are needed from your healthcare provider to use assistive devices, and they must be provided by the student’s family. The school district does not provide assistive devices.

2. Students may attend school using assistive devices, but must have been taught proper use of the device(s) before returning to school. This information may be included in the doctor’s note.

3. School Nurses do not teach students how to use assistive devices, but may observe the student to determine that they can safely navigate the school grounds.

4. It is unsafe to use assistive devices on stairways. Please discuss with administration if this is an issue at your student’s school site.

5. Students who cannot do all of the above, will be sent home until such time as they are properly trained to perform these skills.

6. Students must be able to be responsible for not participating in restricted activities during recess and throughout the school day. Optional activities include bringing a book to read during recess. If a student cannot be responsible for not participating while out on the playground, other arrangements must be discussed with the site administrator.

7. For the safety of all of the students, the above practices will be followed by all CUSD schools regardless of grade level.

8. A note from a medical provider must be submitted to the school to clear the student for participation in physical activities once the assistive device(s) are no longer needed.

9. Should the student require activity restrictions after they are no longer in need of assistive devices, parents must submit a Physical Activity Recommendation form from their child’s healthcare provider. Alternatively, a comparable doctor’s note will suffice.

Eighth grade students attending the Yosemite trip must have a medical form completed by their healthcare provider in order to use any medication on the trip, including prescriptions, over the counter (OTC) medications, vitamins, and supplements. Medication forms will only be accepted from providers licensed to practice and prescribe in the state of California.

Please Note:

• Nature Bridge offers first aid services, including several OTC medications. Please review the Nature Bridge permission form to determine whether your child needs additional medications.
• Students are discouraged from bringing non-essential medications, such as multivitamins, on the Yosemite trip.
• Forms must contain the students name, date of birth, medication name, dosage, time, frequency, and route of administration.
  • Example of a correct order: Zyrtec 10mg by mouth once a day at 0800 as needed for seasonal allergies; Methylphenidate 40mg by mouth 30 minutes before breakfast every day.
  • Example of incorrect orders: Zyrtec OTC once a day for allergies; Synthroid 25mcg in the morning; 
• If the student requires an Epi-Pen, Albuterol inhaler, or Insulin, we strongly encourage families to work with their child and their California healthcare provider to have the student carry and administer these medications on their own.
  • Self-Carry Medication Form (for Epi-Pen, Albuterol inhaler, and/or insulin ONLY)
• For all other prescriptions, over the counter (OTC) medications, vitamins, and supplements, including OTC medicated creams and lotions, a California MD, DO, NP, or PA must complete the standard Medication Form.
• Students who have already submitted medication forms to store their medications at school for the current school year do NOT need to resubmit the medication forms unless they are transitioning to self-carry for Epi-Pen, Albuterol inhaler, or insulin.

Please review our Frequently Asked Questions and direct all other healthcare related questions to Health_Yosemite-group@cusdk8.org

All students attending the middle school music trips must have a medical form completed by their healthcare provider in order to use any medication on the trip, including prescriptions, over the counter (OTC) medications, vitamins, and supplements. Medication forms will only be accepted from providers licensed to practice and prescribe in the state of California.

Please Note:

• Students are discouraged from bringing non-essential medications, such as multivitamins, on the overnight trip.
• Regardless of whether your child uses prescription medication, all students are encouraged to submit an Over The Counter permission form.
  • If you wish for your child to be able to take some/any of the OTC medications on the form, please have their California healthcare provider complete and sign the form.
  • If you do NOT wish for your child to be able to take OTC medications on the form, please write your child's name at the top, strike through the page in pen, and return it to the school.
• For all other prescriptions, over the counter (OTC) medications, vitamins, and supplements, including OTC medicated creams and lotions, a California MD, DO, NP, or PA must complete the standard Medication Form.
• Forms must contain the students name, date of birth, medication name, dosage, time, frequency, and route of administration. Forms that are missing information will be returned for corrections. 
• If the student requires an Epi-Pen, Albuterol inhaler, or Insulin, we strongly encourage families to work with their child and their California healthcare provider to have the student carry and administer these medications on their own.
  • Self-Carry Medication Form (for Epi-Pen, Albuterol inhaler, and/or insulin ONLY)
• Students who have already submitted medication forms to store their medications at school for the current school year do NOT need to resubmit the medication forms unless they are transitioning to self-carry for Epi-Pen, Albuterol inhaler, or insulin.

Please direct all healthcare related questions to Health_Disney-group@cusdk8.org

All students attending an overnight trip with Christa McAuliffe School must have a medical form completed by their healthcare provider in order to use any medication on the trip, including prescriptions, over the counter (OTC) medications, vitamins, and supplements. Medication forms will only be accepted from providers licensed to practice and prescribe in the state of California.

Please Note:

• Regardless of whether your child uses prescription medication, all students are encouraged turn in an Over The Counter permission form.
  • If you wish for your child to be able to take some/any of the OTC medications on the form, please have their California healthcare provider complete and sign the form.
  • If you do NOT wish for your child to be able to take OTC medications on the form, please write your child's name at the top, strike through the page in pen, and return it to the school.
• For all other prescriptions, over the counter (OTC) medications, vitamins, and supplements, including OTC medicated creams and lotions, a California MD, DO, NP, or PA must complete the standard Medication Form.
• Forms must contain the students name, date of birth, medication name, dosage, time, frequency, and route of administration. Forms that are missing information will be returned for corrections.
• Students who have been designated by their provider as a person who may self-administer an Epi-Pen, Albuterol Inhaler, or Insulin may submit a Self-Carry Medication Form to be able to carry these on their person. No other medications may be self-carried.
• Students who have already submitted medication forms to store their medications at school for the current school year do NOT need to resubmit the medication forms unless they are transitioning to self-carry for Epi-Pen, Albuterol inhaler, or insulin.
• Students are discouraged from bringing non-essential medications, such as multivitamins, on the trips.