Back-to-School Newsletter from the School Nurse

Families with children who have health conditions, medications, or special care needs read the nurse newsletter before almost any other back-to-school communication. They want to know who is in the clinic, what forms they need to submit, and whether the plan that worked last year is still in place. A well-organized nurse newsletter answers all three before school starts.

Introduce yourself and your clinic hours

Give your name, your credentials, the days and hours you are in the building, and what to do when you are not available. If there is a backup plan for when the nurse is absent, name it. "On days I am not in the building, the front office staff are trained to handle minor issues and will contact you if anything requires medical attention."

List the forms that are due before school starts

Create a clear list of every health-related form a family needs to submit, with deadlines. Emergency contact update. Health history form. Medication authorization forms if applicable. Any condition-specific action plans. Include where each form should be submitted and whether they are available online or only in paper form.

Families with children who take daily medications at school need particular attention here. Many schools require original prescription bottles or physician signatures before administering any medication. If that is your policy, state it clearly and early.

Explain the medication drop-off process

If your school has a specific process for dropping off prescription medications at the start of the year, walk families through it step-by-step. Who receives the medication, what labeling is required, what documentation must accompany it, and where it is stored. Families who know the process ahead of time arrive prepared.

Address common back-to-school health questions

Cover two or three common questions you get every August. When to keep a child home from school. How to update emergency contact information. What happens if a child needs an epi-pen. These are predictable questions and answering them proactively reduces calls.

Share your contact information

Close with your direct line and email. If you prefer one over the other for different types of concerns, say so. "For non-urgent health questions, email is best. For same-day concerns during school hours, call the clinic directly."

Families who feel they can reach the nurse easily will contact you before an issue becomes urgent. That is the outcome a clear back-to-school newsletter is designed to create.