Coordinated School Health (CSH) is a health-based program designed to connect health (physical, emotional, and social) with learning. CSH improves children’s health and their capacity to learn through the support of families, communities, and schools working together. Alcoa City Schools' CSH encourages healthy lifestyles and provides needed support to teachers and counselors, as well as to students to help reduce the prevalence of health problems that impair academic success.
The involvement of parents, families, and the community is the glue that binds the CSH. This sense of community is already an integral part of the Alcoa Community. CSH is a continued extension of that connectivity. Full involvement of these interested groups: parents, families, schools, and community groups acting as partners in the educational process of our students provides valuable input and ensures positive educational and health outcomes.
Coordinated School Health is a systematic approach to promoting student health that emphasizes needs assessment; planning based on data, sound science, and analysis of gaps and redundancies in school health programming; and evaluation.
The CSH approach consists of eight major components. By definition, all Coordinated School Health Components work together to improve the lives of students and their families. Although these components are listed separately, it is their composite that allows CSH to have such a positive impact on the lives of our students, staff and community.
The eight components of CSH include:
- Health Education
- Health Services
- Counseling
- Psychological and Social Services
- Nutrition
- Physical Education/Physical Activity
- School Staff Wellness
- Healthy School Environment and Student/Parent/Community Involvement.
COORDINATED SCHOOL HEALTH GOALS
- Goal 1: Alcoa City Schools will increase awareness of healthy lifestyle choices.
- Goal 2: The CSH Coordinator and school counselors will review processes and procedures are effective in addressing suicide prevention and intervention.
- Goal 3: The CSH Coordinator and staff will determine ways to increase knowledge of health education topics and participation in wellness programs.
*School and Community Involvement the CSH program is supported on different levels within the school system.
- District Health Advisory Council
- District Mental Health Task Force
- Healthy School Team
HEALTH SCREENINGS
- Vision Screening - PreK, K, 2, 4, 6, and 8 (has been on hold due to the pandemic)
- Hearing Screening - Pre K, K, 2, 4, 6, and 8 (has been on hold due to the pandemic)
- Blood Pressure - K, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 1 year of high school (typically a wellness class)
- Body Mass Index (BMI) - K,2,4, 8, & 1 year of high school (typically a wellness class)
Health Screening Information:
The State of Tennessee requires various screenings for students in grades PreK, K, 2, 4, 6, 8, and in the Lifetime Wellness Classes at Alcoa High School. Please note that there is no charge for these screenings. The students will be screened for: blood pressure, body mass index, hearing, and vision.
Trained individuals will complete all screenings and strict adherence to confidentiality of each student will be maintained. If you do NOT want your student to participate in these screenings, email your school's nurse by 9/15/22. These are only screenings. They do not provide a diagnosis. Any referrals should be shared with your child’s physician during their yearly check-up. Also, don’t forget that children should also visit their dentist for routine cleaning and check-ups every six months.
The goal of the screenings is to monitor health trends, monitor student growth, and possibly discover a condition that could impair learning. Remember, if an abnormal value is discovered, you will be notified concerning the matter.
Screenings will be conducted via the State of Tennessee Guidelines and an additional screening/physical can be provided, if requested, by Well Child.
ACS Policy on Covid 19:
For the 2022-23 school year, Alcoa City Schools will only conduct lab-based Covid testing when the CDC advises that community levels are "high". CDC community-level guidance can be found at this web address:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/community-levels.html
When community levels for Blount County are recognized as "high", school nurses will ONLY test staff and students who are exhibiting symptoms with a fever of 100.4 or greater.
Home test kits will be made available to staff and students, based on availability for those times in which community levels are not "high" or for staff or students who are exhibiting symptoms with a body temperature of less than 100.4. However, School nurses CAN NOT give return to school dates OR excused absences. This information can be given at a doctor's office along with doctor/excuse notes for not feeling well.
Health Services:
Alcoa City Schools is very fortunate to have nurses stationed in every school.
AES- Ashley Deathrage
AIS- Stephanie Clay
AMS- Ashley Fipps
AHS- Christy Lauderback
Other Health Links/Tips:
Bullying Prevention And Awareness
What you can do to stop bullying.
www.stopbullying.gov
Health - Getting involved with your Community
Alcoa Youth Sports
Maryville-Alcoa Blount Parks & Rec
Body Mass Index
Mental Health Awareness
Suicide Awareness and Prevention
Vaping and E-cigarettes:
Tips and Activities to Promote Mental and Physical Health at Home:
Other CSH Links:
Health Forms:
School Board Policies:
Alcoa City School's Board of Education Policy Manual
