The Health Office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. during the school year. The school nurse, Mrs. Ester Ackerman, BSN, RN can be reached at 202-544-1618 x 150.
For your child’s safety, we request complete health information on the Student Health/Emergency Card in TADS, including any conditions and medications. As changes occur during the school year, please notify the school nurse. This information is confidential but may only be shared with other school personnel if relevant to safety or education.
Please refer to the Parent-Student Handbook 22-23 or click here for important updated information regarding COVID-19 Health and safety schoool policy and guidelines. This includes daily health screening, sick policies and non-coronavirus-related illness.
All students must be completely immunized in accordance with the immunization requirements set by the 
Per DC Health/DC Department of Health, all students should receive an annual flu vaccine and, when eligible by age, should also receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Beginning in the 2022-23 school year, the COVID-19 vaccine is required for school enrollment and attendance in the District of Columbia for all students who are of an age for which there is a COVID-19 vaccination fully approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As of July 8, 2022, there is a fully approved COVID-19 vaccine for individuals ages 12 and older.
School Health Legislation
Under the Healthy Schools Act of 2010, DC law requires all students attending Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 in public, public charter, private or parochial schools in the District of Columbia to have an annual physical and to submit a DC Universal Health Certificate, completed and signed by a physician or advanced practice nurse, to the school. The health certificate is valid for 365 days.
Therefore, complete physicals with up-to-date immunization records are required every school year for every grade. Your child's physical exam can be scheduled at any time during the year, particularly near his/her birth date, but must be performed each year within 365 days of the previous exam. If your child is required to have specific immunizations for a particular age group or grade, we must have documentation that he/she has received the vaccine(s) by the first day of school or on file in TADS. If your child is not compliant with required immunizations by the 20th school day, he/she will not be allowed to attend in-person classes.
Dental exams are recommended every six months or annually for all grades. The DC Oral Health Assessment Form must be submitted once per school year.
These forms are listed below at the end of this page.
Student Absence or Tardy Protocol
On days when students are absent or significantly tardy, parents MUST call the school office (202-544-1618) no later than 8:45 a.m. on the day of the occurrence. They are to give the student’s name, grade and the reason for the absence or tardy. If the office does not hear from the parent, a call will be made to ascertain where the child is. When an email is sent to the student’s teacher regarding an absence, tardy or early dismissal, please include attendance@stpeterschooldc.org to notify the school nurse, principal, and front office staff. A student must present a written note of explanation, signed by the parent, upon returning to school after an absence. For all health appointments, a note from a licensed healthcare provider’s office must be submitted for an excused tardy, early dismissal or absence. A student is considered absent if not present for four (4) hours of the day. This also includes half days.
Food Allergies
Numerous St. Peter School students have allergies to certain foods, particularly peanuts and tree nuts. For these students, an allergic reaction can be serious and sometimes life-threatening. Please keep this in mind as you prepare your child's snack and lunch and avoid sending in food or other products containing peanuts, peanut butter, or nuts/tree nuts. Tree nuts include, but are not limited to, walnut, almond, hazelnut, cashew, pistachio, and Brazil nuts. These are not to be confused or grouped together with peanut, which is a legume, or seeds such as sunflower or sesame (FARE – Food Allergy Research & Education). When shopping for food, read the ingredients label to ensure the item does not contain peanuts or tree nuts. Students must not share or trade food.
Student Medication
Students may not have possession of any type of medication, prescription or over-the-counter (OTC). Only students requiring emergency medications (e.g., epinephrine, inhaler, or insulin) will be allowed to self-carry if a written order has been issued by the licensed healthcare provider (LHCP). St. Peter School assumes no responsibility for any medication administered by the student to him/herself.
Students requiring medication to be taken or available at school must have a Student Medication Authorization Form and/or Inhaled Medication Authorization Form on file at the beginning of each school year. Students requiring medication(s) available for allergic reactions must have an Allergy Agreement & Action Plan on file at the beginning of each school year. Medications for severe allergic reactions will be ordered on this plan and therefore the Student Medication Authorization Form does not additionally need to be submitted. Students requiring over-the-counter medications to be administered during the school day must have the Student Medication Authorization Form completed and signed by the parent/guardian AND a licensed healthcare provider.
These forms are listed below. Please refer to the Student Medication Policy in the Parent-Student Handbook for complete details.
