Health Center

Hello, I am Nurse Norma. 

I have been with Bellair since 2014. Thank you for the privilege of caring for your children, it has been a Blessing. I have had a variety of jobs but I would have to say this has been the one I have enjoyed the most.

I have worked in the schools as a bilingual/ESL Aide for about 5 years.  I enjoy working with children and that is what interested me when Bellair had a nurse position opening.  We were homeschooling our two younger children just before I went to nursing school.  We had decided to put them in public school and enrolled them at Bellair.  Go figure.

Before working as a Nurse, I cared for our friend Vicki for about 17 years, she was a retired RN.  She is the one who encouraged me and my husband to go to Nursing School.  My intentions were to go back to school to become a RN.  But with her illness and then her passing, it just didn’t happen.  Then with my son graduating in 2018 and going to college, and my daughter right behind him.  I felt the need to give them the opportunity to pursue their career first. 

I speak Spanish, fluent enough, I guess. I have taken classes in Sign language, and Hebrew. Which I will continue as time allows.  Still need help with those languages.

As most of you know my hobbies are crocheting, (Crocheting Club). My grandmother taught me how to crochet when I was 17 years old. I like sewing, and got my first sewing machine when I was 16. Which I still have.   I can play the guitar some.  I like yard work, when It’s not too hot.  I like crafting, painting, music, puzzles and watching YouTube, Lol!

I look forward to continuing caring for your children and ours staff here at our School.

School is a Healthy environment. The nurse promotes a positive wellness environment to give each student the best possible opportunity to learn and reach their potential. The nurse is the consultant for students, parents and educational staff members concerning health issues and problems.  He or she may, at times, suggest further medical follow up when a health problem is suspected.

 The Health Center provides first aide and medical care primarily for illness or injuries that occur during the school day.  It is not a primary care facility like a doctor’s office.  The nurse is, however, qualified to collaborate with you and your child’s physician to provide an educational environment in which your child can learn and thrive.  While the nurse does not make a medical diagnosis or prescribe medication or treatment, medication and treatment prescribed by a physician may be given in the health office.

 Student Illness: If a student feels ill during the school day, they should report their complaint to the classroom teacher for referral to the nurse. Students are not to contact their parents directly via cell phone regarding illness unless prior arrangements have been made with the nurse. Please keep your child home if they have fever, diarrhea, vomiting, deep cough, or a potentially communicable disease.  Children with a fever of 100 degrees or more must be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication before returning to school. If your child has been diagnosed with a contagious illness, please contact the school nurse. Please call your child’s doctor for advice on an ill child. Do not send ill students to school to be evaluated by the nurse.

• Medication Policy

  Any medication, prescription or over the counter, is furnished by the parent/guardian and brought to the nurse by an adult.

  • Prescription medication needs to be in its original pharmacy bottle (pharmacies will provide a second container specifically for school), labeled with the child’s name, prescription number, and identification of medication.
  • A doctor’s order form is also required for Prescription medication.
  • Over-the-counter medication also needs to be in its original container and has been labeled legibly with the child’s name.
  • If the medication is a sample given by the physician, please provide a signed note from the physician telling who the medication if for, the date, and instructions for use.
  • The specific directions for administration such as, date, time and amount to be given, for any of these items must be entered onto the consent for administration form and signed by the parent/guardian.
  • School district personnel will not be responsible or liable for any reaction to medicines given according to those directions.
  • All medication will be kept in a locked cabinet in the nurse’s office and dispensed from there.
  • In the Deer Valley school district, Tums, cough drops and ointments/creams such as Neosporin, are considered medications and need to be kept in the nurse’s office also with a consent form signed.
  • It is the parent responsibility to monitor medication supply and provide additional medication when needed.

  At the end of each school year all remaining medications need to be picked up by the last day of school by parent/guardian, which should be designated on consent form. All medication designated to be destroyed on consent form and all remaining medication not picked up by an adult will be destroyed. The Nurse will contact you to make pick up arrangements.

  If these district wide rules are not followed your child/student may be subject to Drug Paraphernalia Possession consequences.

  Parents please feel free to bring in “as needed” medications, such as cough drops and Tylenol, to keep on hand for your child if you so desire.

  Permission Consent Form, Doctors Order Forms are available for you to print.  Please fill out completely, sign and date.  When completed please give to the Nurse with said medication.

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  Medication Permission slip

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  Doctors Order

It is very important that all students have written proof of all required immunizations, or a valid exemption on file at school. 

When initially enrolling your child, please bring an updated copy of his/her immunizations record to Traditional Academy at Bellair. If you receive a note or message of "Inadequate Immunizations" for your child, please complete these by the date indicated. Failure to complete this in a timely manner is a violation of the law and your child may be excluded from attending school until you comply with the law. 

Below is a link to the Arizona School Immunization Requirements, Kindergarten thru 12th grade.

If your child needs any Immunizations, they are available free of charge through the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.  Category Titled Immunization Clinic within the Health Office Resource Page. I have linked the Maricopa County Immunization Clinics. 

Please feel free to contact the nurse if you have any questions.

• Dear Parents/Guardians,

  Mandates have been set forth by the Arizona Department of Education and Arizona Dept. of Health Services that require the Health Office Nurse to conduct hearing and vision screenings for students that are new to the district within 45 days from the first day of school. All Kindergartners will also be screened during this time.

  Students receiving DVUSD Special Education services, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th grade will also be screened throughout the school year.

  I will continue screening throughout this school year until all student screenings have been completed.

  The screening will be conducted in the Health Center.  

   Physical distancing will be maintained while waiting.

  SCREENING EQUIPMENT WILL BE CLEANED BETWEEN STUDENTS.

  I will take the upmost care to insure safety for your child per CDC and ADHS protocols. 

  Hearing and vision screening is an important factor in your child's education and development.

  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about this requirement or if you need to discuss your child's hearing and vision history with me.

  You can contact me by phone: 602-467-5710 or email me at norma.esquivel@dvusd.org.

  Thank you

  Nurse Norma

   

Safe and Healthy Eating:

Please encourage your student/child/ or children to be seated upright when eating and not to be distracted. 

Encourage them to eat slowly, take small bites,

and fully chew and swallow their food before talking or laughing. 

If you pack a lunch and send it with your child:

 please avoid food items that could be difficult to chew or which could possibly cause choking. 

Encourage them not to eat while walking, running, or engaging in other activities. 

Encourage them to avoid children’s games that involve catching a food item in the mouth or putting large amounts of food into the mouth.

Eating in the cafeteria should be fun and social but eating in the cafeteria is a privilege. 

For those who misbehave or fail to follow these directions, cafeteria privileges may be revoked.

Students requesting to be excused from P.E. must bring a note signed by their parents to the Nurse. The nurse will then write an “excused from P.E.” pass for the student to take to P.E.  Any request for an excuse for three or more PE classes must be accompanied by a physician’s written order. All injuries requiring any type of orthopedic support or device on campus must be reported with a medical explanation and cleared through the Health Center.  

 Chronic Health Conditions: If your child has been diagnosed with a chronic health condition please contact the nurse immediately. He or she will inform you of the DVUSD protocols/procedures necessary to ensure a healthy and safe environment for your child during the school day.