Health Services
Healthy students are successful students
Our school staff provide a variety of services that support a healthy learning community. We are committed to providing students with health conditions access to their education by facilitating their independence and creating a community of support by working collaboratively with the student, their family and district staff. School nurses promote optimal student health for optimal learning.
Establish healthy habits early to ensure your child’s success
Instilling healthy habits and routines (adequate sleep/nutrition) and consistent attendance ensures a student’s success in school even as early as kindergarten. We know that too many absences/tardies, for whatever reason, can cause children to fall behind both academically and socially.
To help ensure healthy habits consult with your health care provider regarding well-visits and immunizations, as well as maintain good hygiene.
Are your children up-to-date on their vaccines?
Students entering Kindergarten, 7th Grade, and 12th Grade have new vaccine requirements.
District 196 is partnering with local health agencies to offer families easy, stress-free vaccine clinics. The following clinics are available during summer and fall of 2025:
- July 8, 3-5 p.m., Northview Elementary**
- August 14, 3-5 p.m., Falcon Ridge Middle School**
- August 21, 4:30-7:30 p.m., Apple Valley High School
- August 28, 3-6 p.m., Oak Ridge Elementary
- September 9, 3-5 p.m. Apple Valley High School**
- September 23, 3-6 p.m., Valley Middle School**
**Clinics marked with asterisks are hosted by Dakota County Public Health, vaccine eligibility restrictions apply.
Act now. Skip the summer rush and set your child up for a smooth start to the school year. State law requires up-to-date immunization records or a valid exemption. Without them, students may be excluded from school and related activities.
For questions about immunizations during the summer (June 6 - August 20), please email immunizations@district196.org
Health Resources
Medications
With your signed permission, your child may self-carry and self-administer non-prescription medications. For prescription medication, the student may self-carry if they have a signed doctor order to self-carry. If your child would like to keep non-prescription medications in the nurse's office, medication must be in the original labeled bottle with a parent note.
Any prescription medication sent for the nurse to administer must be in a pharmacy labeled bottle, have a doctor's order and signed medication authorization by a parent. Most pharmacies will provide a small bottle for school use at no extra charge.
Beginning of each school year
All students who have medication in the health office must get new doctor orders and new action plans. All medications orders and action plans are good for one school year only.
Immunizations
All incoming 7th graders need two additional immunizations prior to the first day of school:
- Tdap
- Meningitis (meningococcal)
We need the month, day, and year of all vaccines. Also the law provides for exemptions from vaccines if your child has a medical condition that prevents immunizations or if immunizations are against your beliefs. Call the office for information about necessary forms, which need to be submitted for this type of exemption.