Health & Wellness

When to Stay Home for Students and Staff of Mason Public Schools & Mason Child Development Services

(Note: The following school health procedures and guidelines support MPS Board policy po8450; po 8453; and all MPS Handbooks.)

Please help us in our efforts to keep everyone in Mason Public School buildings healthy by keeping yourself or your child home if they are ill. A child or staff member should not report to any Mason Public Schools building when they have: 

• A fever >100 degrees; A person MUST be free from a temperature for 24 hours without medication before returning.
• Vomited or had diarrhea in the past 24 hours.
• Severe eye drainage or red swollen eyes. 
• A severe or croup sounding cough. 
• Severe cold symptoms or constant thick nose drainage. 
• Rash of unknown origin. 

Remember, not everyone experiences the same symptoms. If you or your child are sick, be sure to contact your building office to report illnesses and absences and to receive guidance on a date for return to school. Please talk with your pediatrician and ask about getting tested if needed. 

A note about wording in this chart: Though terms like “the common cold,” “the flu,” “colds” and “cold viruses,” are often used interchangeably, remember that there are many viruses that cause respiratory symptoms in children. Even when we aren’t facing a pandemic, the severity of and treatments for these illnesses vary, which is why asking an expert is always recommended.

Be Well! 

Nurse Epling

If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call 911 immediately. 

If you would like to report an immediate mental health concern, please visit OK2Say or call (855) 565-2729.

Mason Public Schools works to provide mental health supports for our school family.  County-wide Resources for families and educators can be found at:

• Ingham ISD Health Support Services.
• Helping children cope: Tips for talking about tragedy
• Tri-County Community Health Guide (Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton)
• Community Mential Health Youth and Family Services

PreK-12 District-Wide Supports Available

Mason Public Schools currently partners with the Ingham ISD to provide Mental Health Specialist services. That specialist and our district team of mental health professionals (school social workers and counselors) provide the following K-12 mental health services:

Mental Health Specialist Services 

Individual Students 

• Time-limited individual therapy
• Case consultation and collaboration
• Triage and referral

Groups of Students

• Group services will be determined by district needs and could include (but are not limited to) the following: 
  • Anxiety, Depression, Social-emotional well being (friendship groups), coping skills

Families & Caregivers

• Skills training/coaching
• Time-limited family therapy
• Consultation & Referral

Staff to Assist Students

• Mental health and emotional wellness, professional development training/counseling
• Long or short-term support

Please contact your student’s building if you would like to coordinate non-emergency mental health support. Numbers are listed at the end of this document. For emergencies, please call 911.

All staff have participated in a Mandatory Reporter training.

All staff are or have engaged in learning about trauma-informed instruction and behavior systems.

Since 1978, Michigan law has required that every student have an up-to-date certificate of immunization at the time of registration (or no later than the first day of school) for entry into kindergarten and 7th grade, and for enrollment into a new school district, grades 1-12. 

Guidance from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services outlines the Michigan Public Health Code which requires a parent or legal guardian to have one of the following on file with the school:

1. A valid, up-to-date immunization record. Acceptable immunization documentation for school includes:

• An immunization record from a provider Electronic Medical Record (EMR). 
• An official Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR) immunization record. 
• A state Immunization Information System record. 

2. A medical doctor’s (MD/DO) signed State of Michigan 2024 Medical Contraindication Form, which states the medical contraindication(s), the vaccines involved, and the time during which the student is not able to get the vaccines. 

3. A current, certified State of Michigan 2024 Nonmedical Immunization Waiver

Locations for Immunization or Waiver Appointments 

Your Primary Care Physician by appointment

Please note that many family physicians and pediatricians have immunization days that are available every week for their patients to walk in or schedule. (If your child's annual well child visit or vaccine next dose date is scheduled after the first day of school you are required to get a letter from your physician, as noted in the memo from the State of Michigan, on the planned date of immunization that is after the first day of school.)

Ingham County Health Department

Located at 5303 S. Cedar Street, Lansing MI 48911; Entrance 3 Second Floor, the Ingham County Health Department has walk-ins immunizations available on a first come, first served basis. ALL are encouraged to make an appointment, please call the number 517.887.4316 and leave a message to schedule. 

Immunization hours

• Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:30 AM - 4 PM
• Wednesdays from 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
• Thursdays from 1 - 4 PM

Walgreens, Meijer and other local pharmacies have immunizations available upon request.

Please contact District Nurse Emily Epling with questions or call the MPS Health Team at (517) 883-8115.

Tick Bite Prevention Fact Sheet

Tick Reporting Information

School policy regarding medication taken at school is designed for the safety of all students.  When a student is required to take medication at school, any and all medications must be delivered to the school office by a parent/guardian or an adult parent representative – not by students. In accordance with current policies and guidelines, any medication transported by a student without prior authorization will be confiscated. 

Whenever possible, please arrange to have medication given at home. Based on condition and severity students will be allowed to carry inhalers and/or emergency medical kits with them while at school, as long as the authorization form is on file at the school. Please contact the main office of your building to coordinate. 

You will need to complete the necessary form(s) below, print them out to obtain the physician's signature and then return the completed form to the school before any medication will be given at school.

If you have any questions, please contact your building main office, the school nurse or call (517) 883-8115.

Forms for medication while at school are also available in your building main office.

Students and families may work with a Counselor, School Psychologist, Social Worker, or Registered Nurse to determine what ongoing health supports are best.

Contact

Laura Billow, Elementary School Counselor

Emily Epling, District Nurse

Students and families may work with a Counselor, School Psychologist, Social Worker, or Registered Nurse to determine what ongoing health supports are best.

Contact

Madeline Gazarek, Social Worker, Alaiedon Elementary

Mindy Wood, Social Worker, Steele Elementary

Janelle Briggs, School Counselor, Alaiedon and Steele Elementary

Kimberly Battjes,  Social Worker, North Aurelius Elementary

Laura Billow, School Counselor, North Aurelius Elementary

Emily Epling, District Nurse

Students and families may work with a Counselor, School Psychologist, Social Worker, or Registered Nurse to determine what ongoing health supports are best.

Contact

Jen Hamers, Counselor, Mason Middle School

Erinna Toodzio-Hook, Social Worker, Mason Middle School

Danielle Ziehmer, Counselor, Mason Middle School

Emily Epling, District Nurse

Students and families may work with a Counselor, School Psychologist, Social Worker, or Registered Nurse to determine what ongoing health supports are best.

Contact

Kim Dickinson, Social Worker, Mason High School

Elizabeth Conroy, Counselor, Mason High School

Katherine Oakes, Counselor, Mason High School

Miles Warren, Counselor, Mason High School

Emily Epling, District Nurse