As we settle into a new school year, it is a great time to remember something that can sometimes get lost in the hustle and bustle of homework, activities, sports, and busy schedules: our health matters.
As a school nurse, one of the things I love most about my role is being able to support students not only when they are sick or injured, but also in staying healthy, feeling their best, and being ready to learn each day.
There is a simple connection that I believe is worth remembering:
Be healthy to be educated, and be educated to be healthy.
When students feel well, they are better able to focus, participate, learn, and enjoy their school experience. At the same time, helping young people understand their own health gives them the knowledge and confidence to make healthy choices now and throughout their lives.
Routine Health Visits Matter
School health is only one piece of the puzzle. Regular visits with your child’s healthcare providers are an important part of keeping them healthy.
Routine physicals give healthcare providers an opportunity to monitor growth and development, discuss concerns, review medications, and make sure students are meeting important health milestones. These visits can also help identify concerns early—sometimes before a student or family even realizes there is an issue.
Eye exams are important, too. Good vision is directly connected to learning. Reading the board, working on a computer, reading textbooks, completing assignments, and participating in classroom activities all require students to see clearly. A student may not always realize that headaches, difficulty concentrating, squinting, or avoiding reading could be related to their vision.
And then there are vaccines. Keeping vaccinations up to date helps protect individual students while also helping protect classmates, teachers, families, and our larger school community. Your healthcare provider can help you determine which vaccines your student needs based on their age, health history, and current recommendations.
Think of routine healthcare visits as maintenance for the most important thing we have—our health!
A Healthy Student Is a Ready-to-Learn Student
There is so much more to being "ready for school" than having a backpack filled with pencils.
Getting enough sleep, eating nourishing foods, staying active, drinking plenty of water, managing stress, taking care of mental well-being, and keeping up with routine healthcare all contribute to a student's ability to learn and thrive.
Health and education really do go hand in hand.
When we teach students why their health matters, we give them something more valuable than a list of rules—we give them the tools to take ownership of their health.
October Health Reminders
We have a couple of important health events coming up this fall:
👂 Hearing Screenings — October 9, 2026
Hearing screenings will be provided for sophomores and new transfer students. Hearing plays an important role in communication and classroom learning, so these screenings help us identify students who may need additional evaluation or support.
💉 Flu Mist Clinic — October 27, 2026
Our Flu Mist Clinic will be held on October 27. More information regarding participation and clinic details will be shared with families as we get closer to the date.
As always, if you have questions about your student's health at school, please don't hesitate to reach out to the school nurse. Sometimes a small question can lead to an important conversation.
Here's to a school year filled with healthy choices, healthy habits, and healthy students who are ready to learn, ready to grow, and ready to thrive!
Because when we are healthy, we are better prepared to learn—and when we are
educated about our health, we are better prepared to take care of ourselves.
— Mrs. Oberlin