Health

TO SUBMIT COMPLETED MEDICAL FORMS:

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For the 2025-2026 school year, parents are asked to upload required medical forms as indicated below: 

State of Illinois Health Examination:
Kindergarten & Grade 6

Eye Examination:
Kindergarten

Dental Examination:
Kindergarten, Grade 2 & Grade 6

Health Information for Registrants

Below are additional forms to be completed with your medical providers as needed. Please return these to your child’s school nurse office. 

Medication Permit and Student Action Plans

2024-2025 Medication Permit - Required for any student needing prescription or over the counter medication during the school day 
Asthma Parent Letter
Asthma Action Plan
Allergy Parent Letter
Allergy History Form
Anaphylaxis Prevention, Response and Management Program -District Food Allergy Guidelines
Food Allergy Action Plan

District 36 Immunization Information

The Winnetka Public Schools District 36 provides the following immunization information, in compliance with Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/27-8.1). 
Immunization Summary for 2024-2025

Health Guidelines - student illness information

Hearing and Vision Screenings

Vision and hearing screenings are provided annually to District 36 students at the State-mandated grade levels, as designated by the Illinois Department of Public Health. 

Vision and hearing screenings will be conducted by nurses who are certified by the state of Illinois. A vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor.  Any student suspected by a parent, guardian or teacher of having a vision or hearing problem may also be referred for screening.  Please contact the nurse’s office if you have any questions or concerns.

Scheduled intervals for Vision and Hearing screenings are as follows:

• Vision screenings

  • Kindergarten (for students who did not provide proof of a vision exam), 2nd and 8th grades (except those who wear glasses/contacts) 

  • Special Education students (includes students receiving speech services)

  • Transfer students from out of state

•  In lieu of the screening services required, a completed and signed report form, indicating that an eye examination by a doctor specializing in diseases of the eye or a licensed optometrist has been administered within the previous 12 months, is acceptable. 
   

• Hearing screenings

  • Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades (except those who have a known hearing loss)

  • Special Education students (includes students receiving speech services)

  • Transfer students from out of state

•  In lieu of the screening services required, a completed and signed report form, indicating the child had an ear examination by a physician and an audiological evaluation completed by an audiologist within the previous 12 months, is acceptable.

Health & Safety Protocols

The most recent update from the CDC emphasizes the significance of mitigations like vaccination, boosters, and treatments and pulls back on previously recommended mitigations like universal masking and social distancing.

The Winnetka Public Schools have not enforced universal masking since February 7, 2022.

The Winnetka Public Schools eliminated the exclusion of close contacts and contact tracing as of February 7, 2022.

Covid Update (March 2024): Must be reported to school. Students need to stay home for 24 hours until both are true: fever-free without using fever reducing medications and symptoms are improving overall. Upon return and for the next 5 days, CDC recommends enhancing hygiene practices, wearing a well-fitted mask and physical distance from others when indoors as much as possible.

Based on current guidance, masks will not be enforced; however, if a staff member or student chooses to wear one, they certainly may.

Based on current guidance, there will be no exclusion of close contacts nor contact tracing in our schools.

Head Lice Information

• Guiding Principles
• Parent Information

Religious Exemption Requirement

Religious Exemption - requires the filing of a signed statement explaining the objections to physical exam, health screenings, and/or immunizations on religious grounds. General philosophical or moral reluctance will not provide a sufficient basis for exemption. In case of disease outbreak, the student must be excluded from school. One's "physician" must also sign this document.

Absenteeism and Truancy Policy - Section 22-92 of the Illinois School Code

School Districts serving students in any of the grades kindergarten through 12 that receives public funds must submit an absenteeism and truancy policy to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) every two years. The Winnetka Public Schools submitted Policy 7:70 to the State Board of Education January 2023.  Contained within that policy are required components for  an Absenteeism and Truancy Program to be managed by the Superintendent or designee.

District 36 Absenteeism and Truancy Program Overview:

Regular attendance at school is an essential part of the educational program for each student in our schools. Illinois law requests that whoever has custody or control of any child between six (by September 1) and seventeen years of age shall assure that the child attends school in the district in which he/she resides, during the entire time school is in session. Illinois law also requires that whoever has custody or control of a child who is enrolled in the school, regardless of the child’s age, shall ensure that the child attends school during the entire time school is in session.

There are two types of absences: excused and unexcused. The parent/guardian of a student enrolled must authorize all absences from school and notify the school in advance or at the time of the student’s absence. A valid cause for absence includes illness (including mental or behavioral health of the student), observance of a religious holiday, death in the immediate family, family emergency, other situations beyond the control of the student as determined by the Board, other circumstances that cause reasonable concern to the parent/guardian for the student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or safety, or another reason as approved by Superintendent or designee. Students absent for a valid cause may make up missed homework and classroom assignment in a reasonable timeframe

Program Implementation

Regular attendance at school is an essential part of the educational program for each student in District 36. To report your child absent, we request that you utilize the option that is deemed best for your school below. These absence procedures not only help us fulfill the required attendance monitoring obligations but also helps to assure the safety of our students. Whether you call or complete the form, you will be asked the same questions.

Please be ready to report the following symptoms when you report an absence due to illness:

• Fever
• Headache
• GI (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach ache)
• Cold (runny nose, congestion, cough)
• Flu Diagnosis
• Strep Diagnosis
• Sore Throat 

Parents are being asked to report symptoms or diagnosis with the school as we strive to support the health of all students and staff. For reference, here are our District Health Guidelines. 

	We prefer you report your child's absence online, by clicking the link to the right, but if you need to call, please dial our main office line. (847) 446.0353	CI Absence Form
	We prefer you report your child's absence online, by clicking the link to the right, but if you need to call, please dial our main office line. (847) 446.6060	GR Absence Form
	We prefer you report your child's absence online, by clicking the link to the right, but if you need to call, please dial our main office line. (847) 446.0920	HW Absence Form
	We prefer you report your child's absence online, by clicking the link to the right, but if you need to call, please dial our main office line. (847) 441.1750	SK Absence Form
	We prefer you report your child's absence online, by clicking the link to the right, but if you need to call, please dial our main office line and listen for the prompts. (847) 446.5892	CW Absence Form