Phone Number

703-207-4010

Hours and Location

The clinic is open daily from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and is located between student services and student activities (behind the main office). In the event the clinic is closed, students are to report to the student services office.

Staff

Fabiola Candia Aranibar
School Health Aide
703-207-4010

Katherine Estrada, BSN, RN
Public Health Nurse
703-207-4010

Health Information for Falls Church HS

The Health Information Form is to be completed by the parent or guardian at the start of each school year. The completed form is to be returned to the school clinic.

Prescription Medications

Children who need to take medication during school hours must have a signed Medication Authorization, Release, and Indemnification Form. Prescription medications require the signature of both the parent and the physician. Inhalers and EpiPens require authorization forms.

• Medication Authorization Form

• Epinephrine (EpiPen) Authorization Form 

• Inhaler Authorization Form

Over-the-counter Medications

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are drugs that can be purchased without a doctor's prescription and are used for the relief of symptoms on a temporary basis. With parent and physician authorization, OTC medications may be given on an "as needed" basis throughout the school year. Parents may authorize limited use for 10 consecutive days with a completed Medication Authorization Form. Examples include antihistamines for allergic reactions.

With parent permission using the Medication Authorization Form, certain OTC medications may be given on an "as needed" basis throughout the school year only as a pain reliever for headaches, muscle aches, menstrual cramps, or orthodontic pain. The medication must be supplied by the parent in its original container. Examples include Tylenol, Advil, Pamprin, and aspirin.

Transport of Medications to and from School

Parents or guardians must transport medications to and from the school. With parent or guardian approval, a high school student may carry an unopened over-the-counter (OTC) medication to and from the school health room.

Scheduling Medical Appointments

Please make every effort to schedule appointments outside of school hours. When this is not possible, please send a note to the school on the morning of the appointment stating the time the child will be picked up. Children should bring appointment notes to the attendance secretary before homeroom. The student's name will then be shown on an early dismissal list so teachers will know the student is not cutting class. For safety reasons, parents must sign out children in the office.

Release of Student from School

Only those individuals designated on the Emergency Care Information form will be contacted either to excuse or take your student home. If the clinic contacts you to excuse your student from school, the clinic must have voice contact with the responsible adult to dismiss the student from school grounds. In an emergency, 911 will be called prior to contacting the parent.

OPENING SCHOOL LETTER

Dear Parent or Guardian:

The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) School Health Division’s primary goal is to promote the overall health and well-being of school-aged children.  The School Health Division consists of Public Health Nurses (PHNs) and School Health Aides (SHAs) who provide a variety of services to accomplish this goal.  PHNs develop individualized health care/action plans for students with complex health conditions and provide health training to school staff to support students’ health needs during the school day. Meanwhile, SHAs deliver direct care to sick and injured students by following standardized protocols or individualized health care/action plans. They are also responsible for administering medications and conducting vision and hearing screenings.

School Health Room Services Include:

1. Care of sick and injured students in accordance with the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) School Health Emergency Temporary Care Guidelines and students’ individualized health care/action plans, if applicable.
2. Administration of medication provided by parents/guardians with proper authorization completed by their health care provider.
3. Coordination of care for students with chronic health conditions during the school day.
4. Hearing and vision screening (grades K, 3, 7, 10, new to FCPS, and those students referred by teachers and parents/guardians).

How can you help your school health room provide the best possible care?

• Keep your student home when they are sick.  Refer to FCPS Document- Can My Child Go To School
• Complete the Health Information form on paper or electronically in SIS ParentVUE Online Verification/Update Packet annually.
• Throughout the school year, advise and update the SHA or PHN of any changes to your student’s health condition that will impact their school day.
• Provide current home, work, and alternate telephone numbers in SIS ParentVUE Online Verification/Update Packet or Emergency Care Card on paper. 
• Immediately notify the physical education (PE) teacher if your child has any PE restrictions and provide the PE teacher with a FCPS Physician Referral for Participation in Physical Education Form (SS/SE-200) completed by your healthcare provider.
• If medication must be administered during the school day, please follow the guidelines established in the current version of FCPS Regulation 2102.

1. Complete and submit the FCPS medication authorization forms annually, as applicable: 

• Medication Authorization (SS/SE-63)
• Authorization for Anaphylaxis Action Plan(SS/SE-64) (updated4/24) for epinephrine
• Authorization for Virginia Asthma Action Plan (SS/SE-65) (updated 4/24) for asthma rescue medication.

1. Provide the school with properly labeled containers (your pharmacist will usually provide an extra container if requested). Only a 30-day supply of prescription medication should be brought into school at a time. It is the parent/guardian's responsibility to bring additional refills, if needed, to the school.
2. Medications must be transported to and from school by a parent/guardian; except, with parent/guardian approval, a high school student may carry over-the-counter (OTC) medications to and from the school health room and pick up the backup medication from the health room with documented parent/guardian permission.
3. Medications must be kept in the school health room or other school-approved location unless approved for the student to carry it during school hours. Students approved to carry their own medication, should have a second dose kept in the school health room.
4. OTC  medication for headache, muscle ache, orthodontic pain, or menstrual cramps may be given as needed throughout the school year with only the parent/ guardian signature on part II of the FCPS Medication Authorization Form. No more than 100 pills/tablets of OTC medication should be brought to school at a time (must be in unopened original container/packaging).
5. OTC medications other than pain relievers may be given up to ten consecutive school days with the parent/guardian signature on the FCPS Medication Authorization form before a health care provider’s authorization is required.
6. Cough drops and throat lozenges may be carried and used by students in kindergarten through grade 12 as needed throughout the school year, provided that they are in the original container or packaging. Students must not share cough drops or throat lozenges under any circumstances.

Thank you for your cooperation and assistance in helping to make this a safe and healthy school year for all FCPS students.

If you have any questions, feel free to call either your School Health Aide, Fabiola Candia-Aranibar at (703)-207-4010 or your school Public Health Nurse, Katherine Estrada, BSN, RN, at (571)-495-0265.