Student Health and Well-Being

Health & Wellness

HCPSS promotes the mental health and wellness of each of our students to develop their unique strengths, abilities, and characteristics towards success and well-being. Staff consider the variety of factors that impact a student’s functioning such as age, cultural background, social emotional skills, academic outcomes, and access to resources.

More information on supporting mental health and wellness is available online.

School Health Services

The Health Services program supports academic achievement by bridging the gap between health, wellness and learning. Health Services staff enhance student health and well-being by providing disease prevention and health promotion activities that deter the spread of illness and decrease the incidence of injury, providing emergency care, administering medication, promoting positive health practices, and maintaining a safe and healthy school environment. They help students, parents/guardians, and staff identify and secure appropriate and available health services and resources. School health services are provided in accordance with state and local guidelines, regulations and laws.

Immunizations

All children must have the required State of Maryland immunizations in order to attend school. Parents are responsible for providing proof of immunization to the school prior to the student attending or proof of an appointment for necessary immunizations within 20 calendar days of the first day of school. More information on immunizations, including requirements and forms, is available online.

Medication

Any medications required during school hours including prescription, “over-the-counter” (OTC) and homeopathic/herbal medications require a medication order signed by an approved health care provider and are subject to the HCPSS medication policy and procedure. Full details on student medications are available online. Additional information regarding medicine for students with allergies or diabetes also is available online.

In accordance with state regulations, every HCPSS school is equipped with two emergency medications: Epinephrine for emergent anaphylactic reactions for an unknown allergic reaction, and Naloxone for emergent response to an opioid overdose in the school building.

Optional Student Accident Insurance Protection

The school system does not carry medical insurance for accidents that occur at school, including non-sport related injuries, such as trips and falls, physical education injuries, and recess/playground injuries.

Parents are encouraged to consider enrolling their child in the voluntary student accident insurance program to cover medical expenses for accidents. All students are eligible, and details are available on each school’s website under the “Services” tab. Online enrollment is available at www.bobmccloskey.com/K12Voluntary.

Even if a student is already covered by a private health insurance plan, this supplemental insurance may help cover expenses not reimbursed, such as denied claims, copayments, or other out-of-pocket medical costs.

For more information, contact the Office of Risk Management at 410-313-6824.

Home and Hospital Teaching Program

The Home and Hospital Teaching Program is designed to provide short-term instructional continuity to students who are unable to attend their regular school of enrollment due to a physical crisis, emotional crisis, pregnancy, or chronic health impairment that requires a student to be absent from school on an intermittent basis (emotional or physical). Details on Home and Hospital are available online. For more information or to arrange for services, contact the school counselor or school nurse at your child’s school.

Wellness Through Nutrition and Physical Activity (BOE Policy 9090)

HCPSS policy promotes health and wellness as essential contributors toward student and staff achievement and well-being. Policy 9090 Wellness Through Physical Activity and Nutrition, strengthens the system’s commitment to student and staff wellness through nutrition education, physical education, physical activity and the selection of healthy foods.

HCPSS was among the first public school systems to adopt the Institute of Medicine Nutritional Standards. Other provisions include breakfast in all schools, incorporation of “brain breaks” throughout the instructional day, and healthier options for school meals and snacks. In addition, the policy prohibits withholding recess as a punishment unless the safety of students is in question, regulates the use of food for school celebrations, and governs food and beverage offerings in school vending machines.

Yearly, each school principal will ensure that a School Wellness Team is formed to spearhead health and wellness initiatives at the school that are in alignment with Policy 9090. The School Wellness Team may include parents/guardians, physical education teachers, classroom teachers, school nurses/assistants, students, school administrators, and community health and wellness partners.

Educational Programs for Pregnant and Parenting Students (BOE Policy 9100)

To support pregnant and parenting students in continuing their education, HCPSS offers two distinct programs: the Teen Parenting Childcare Program and the Outreach Program, both coordinated by an HCPSS School Social Worker. Pregnant students remain in their home school and receive support through the outreach component of the program until they deliver their baby and complete home and hospital teaching. Parenting students may elect to remain in their regular neighborhood school and receive support through the outreach component of the program, or apply for the childcare component of the program, based at Wilde Lake High School (WLHS).

Pregnant and parenting teens must be allowed to participate in all aspects of the educational program, including all academic, physical, and social components, and must have access to a range of specific activities and policies that govern activities both in and outside of the classroom. These activities include, but are not limited to, excused absences, make-up work, accommodations for instruction, lactation, and designated support staff in the school. Student Services staff care is available to support students.

Details on Teen Parenting Childcare and Outreach Programs are available online.

Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (BOE Policy 1030)

The law requires any HCPSS employee or service provider to immediately report suspected cases of physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect of a student. Child abuse is any physical or mental injury of a child by anyone who has permanent or temporary care, custody or responsibility for a child, which harms the child’s health or welfare, or puts the child at substantial risk of being harmed. The person making an oral report of abuse or neglect must submit a written report within 48 hours after the contact disclosed the existence of possible abuse and/or neglect.

It is the responsibility of the principal to make certain that the oral report is made immediately to the proper authorities. The principal permits the Department of Social Services (DSS) Protective Service Workers and the Howard County Police Department (HCPD) to interview the child on school premises in connection with an investigation of a case involving suspected child abuse, sexual abuse, mental injury or neglect, whether the child is the alleged victim or witness, and whether or not the child has been previously interviewed by the police or Social Services.

The principal will determine, after consultation with the individual(s) from DSS or HCPD, whether a school official should be present during questioning.The school official should be selected, with input from the victim, on a case-by-case basis for the purpose of providing support and comfort to the student who will be questioned. All questioning of the victim or the non-victim witness must be done by the police HCPD or a representative of DSS.

Decisions as to who will notify parents of a report or interview and when that notification will occur will be made by the principal/designee in consultation with DSS, or the HCPD.

To report suspected child abuse or neglect, call Howard County’s Child Protective Services at 1-800-91Prevent (1-800-917-7383).To report after hours (after 4:30 pm., weekends, holidays), call HCPD Communications at 410-313-2200.

Weather Guidelines / Recess

Exercise outdoors is healthy and is strongly encouraged. It provides a break from the regular school routine, a chance to get some outside air, and an opportunity to burn off excess energy. If conditions preclude the full recess time, even a five-minute break can revitalize children and prepare them for more sitting and academic learning. Children are expected to wear clothing appropriate for forecasted conditions when participating in recess or outside activities.

The decision to go out or stay in for recess is the decision of the administrator at individual schools. On rare occasions due to extreme weather, a decision may be made at the school system level. The following factors are considered in determining if recess is to be held outside:

• Temperature and humidity
• Wind chill
• Heat index and air quality
• Age of students
• Length of time outdoors
• Adequacy of the children’s clothing
• Condition of the playground
• Falling precipitation (more than a sprinkle or mist)
• Thunder and lightning

Generally, students will be outside for recess when the temperature combined with the wind chill is not less than 20 degrees Fahrenheit or the heat index reading is less than 95 degrees. Children with certain health conditions may need special accommodations during extremely hot or cold weather. Parents of those children should provide medical documentation and may be consulted to determine if other arrangements are necessary.

Physical Education

To ensure student safety and quality motor learning, HCPSS physical education students must adhere to the following safety protocols:

• Wear tennis shoes or sneakers that remain tied or strapped for proper execution of skills.
• Remove all jewelry except stud earrings and medical ID bracelets and necklaces.
• Remove dangling clothing, scarves and lanyards prior to the beginning of class. (Exceptions should be made for religious garments)
• Remove sharp objects from pockets and hair.
• Pull long hair away from face, depending on activity.
• Wear attire that allows for free and safe movement and that is conducive to physical activity in Grades 6–12.
• Wear play clothes in Grades K–5.

Asbestos Management

The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act requires school systems to inspect their facilities for building materials containing asbestos, develop asbestos management plans, and implement appropriate response actions. The Howard County Public School System’s program for fulfilling these responsibilities is outlined in the asbestos management plan for each building. These plans contain information on the initial inspections, re-inspections, periodic surveillance, response actions, and post-response action activities and are located in each school’s administrative office.
A copy of each plan is also located at the Department of Education and is available for public review during regular business hours. The plans may not be taken from the building.

Schools constructed after October 1988 are not to contain asbestos-containing building materials. In older schools, floor tiles often contained asbestos and a few facilities have asbestos-containing thermal insulation on piping located in crawl spaces inaccessible to building occupants.

The majority of asbestos removal is completed in conjunction with school renovation projects. Asbestos removal projects are scheduled when the school facility is closed, such as summer and spring break, although deviations from this can occur due to logistical issues. For additional information, contact the Office of the Environment at 410–313‑6699.

Testing for Lead in Drinking Water

For information regarding HCPSS’ lead testing program visit: https://ieq.hcpss.org/water-quality-reports.

Integrated Pest Management

The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program employed by HCPSS is a proactive monitoring-based approach to insect, rodent, nuisance wildlife, and weed problems. Our program follows the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) regulations for IPM in schools, and our IPM plan is approved by and submitted to the MDA. HCPSS facilities are monitored at least once a month to determine the need for pest control and the proper identification of any pest problem. The grounds are monitored on a regular basis by staff during routine maintenance.

If it is determined that control of an identified pest is necessary, the first methods used are alternatives to pesticide applications. The exterior landscape IPM program relies on proactive practices such as proper plant selection, pruning, certified seed use, and proper mowing and irrigation techniques. The urban/facilities program relies on non-chemical methods such as exclusion, trapping and sanitation to manage pest problems and reduce the need for pesticides. After non-chemical means are exhausted, or in the event an infestation requires emergency treatment for the safety and/or health of students, staff, visitors, or the educational environment, pesticide use should be approved for use as a last resort.

Whenever pesticides are used, the least-toxic effective pesticide is applied. In addition, applications are made in places and at times that limit the chance for human exposure to any pesticide material. No pesticide application will be made without prior identification of a pest and pest problem, the meeting of some threshold, and the determination that non-chemical means have been exhausted.

Parent Notification

The HCPSS will, 24 hours prior to any scheduled pesticide application, notify parents/guardians of all students at all grade levels if a pesticide application is deemed necessary in the school that their child attends, as well as staff in any HCPSS facility in which they are assigned. Emergency applications of pesticides (primarily in response to large stinging insect nests near student occupied areas) may be made and, per regulation, notices will be sent home within 24 hours of the application. Parents of elementary students will receive a paper notice; middle and high school parents/guardians will receive an email notification through the school’s front office.

Maryland state regulations require that the school system allow parents of middle or high school students to request to be included on a notification list for pesticide applications at their child’s school. (Note: Because HCPSS sends out notices universally, a request to be included on the middle and high school notification list will not provide additional notification.)

To be placed on this year’s notification list, or to receive a paper copy instead, parents of middle or high school students must send a request including the parent’s name, address, telephone number, the student’s name, the school attending, and an email address (optional but preferred) to the following address. The requests, as well as any questions concerning the IPM program should be sent to: Marcie Hardin, Safety and Regulatory Affairs, Howard County Public School System, 9020 Mendenhall Ct., Columbia, MD 21045 mhardin@hcpss.org ; phone: 410–313–7180

Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for each pesticide or bait that may be used on HCPSS property are maintained centrally and in an IPM notebook located in the custodial office of each facility. The notebooks are available for review by parents and visitors by requesting access through the front office of each school. Some IPM data and information may be on the school’s Work Orders which custodial staff can readily access.

The following list identifies the trade name, common name, and EPA registration number of all pesticide materials that are likely to be used in one or more Howard County public school buildings or on school grounds following determination of need, exhausting non-chemical options, and approval and notification as detailed above.

Interior/Structural/Exterior Urban Use

Exterior/Grounds Use

NOTE: For an exterior application of a pesticide, Maryland State regulations allow a postponement no longer than 14 days after notice is sent home due to weather conditions or other extenuating circumstances. If postponed longer than that, a written notice will be re-issued with the new date of application.

(Please note: per Maryland state law, this list may be amended with pesticides registered for use with the State Chemists Office, as needed and approved by the Safety and IPM coordinators of the HCPSS.)