Health Screening Results Are In
If you're the parent of a Kindergartener, 3rd grader or 7th grader, and consented for their vision and hearing screenings in our partnership with the Lions Club last week, the results are posted in Magnus. Please note results are only visible if your child is referred for follow up on either their hearing or vision screening. If you do not see a note for their health screening it is because their results were within normal limits. If your child was referred for follow up, your primary care provider may have a list of preferred providers for your child to see for more assessment.
Covid Vaccines Available for Kids 5 and Up
In keeping with our plans to follow Virginia Department of Health (VDH) guidance, we are encouraging parents of eligible students at St. Thomas More to pursue vaccination against Covid-19. Vaccines are now available in a number of settings, including retail pharmacies, children's hospitals, some private pediatric practices, and county departments of health. Several STM students have already had their first in the two part series of the Pfizer vaccine approved by the FDA/CDC for children 5-18! Here are a few things to keep in mind about the vaccine for students:
- The Covid vaccine in children 5-11 was found to be 90% effective in preventing contracting Covid-19
- The Pfizer vaccine requires two doses approximately 21 days apart, plus a waiting period of two weeks after the second dose before the most complete level of protection is achieved
- Parents should upload a copy of their child's vaccine record or vaccine card into Magnus (under "immunization record" found under Student Health Tracker) as each vaccine is completed (adding new records does not replace the existing files, it adds to them)
- Teachers are aware many students will be coming and going from school with some frequency over the next few weeks as many families "take what they can get" in terms of appointment dates and times, but we ask that you schedule around major academic events wherever possible
- Few children seem to mount the uncomfortable immune response from the first dose that many of us experienced as adults (especially after our second doses!)
- Under current VDH guidelines and state orders, students and adults in educational settings are required to wear masks, regardless of vaccine status. Under STM policy, shaped by VDH guidelines, students who are appropriately masked and maintain three feet of social distancing from peers are not considered close contacts of one another in the event of an outbreak of Covid-19
- Covid-19 vaccines are NOT REQUIRED of students, and vaccine status of students AND staff is treated as confidential information