INFORMING SCHOOL PERSONNEL - TIPS FOR PARENTS

Tips for Parents

1. Contact the principal or counselor at your child's school to inform them about the specific diagnosis and estimated date when your child hopes to return to school.

2. Request a meeting with your child's teacher(s), principal, counselor, and school nurse. Include your child in this meeting if s(he) wants to be present. If there is a school liaison at the hospital where your child is treated, try to include that person in your meeting with the school staff.

3. Write down any questions you have or points you want to make before you meet with the staff.

4. At this first meeting, explain what is happening medically with your child, how the disease and treatment might affect school attendance and performance, and what potential side effects the teacher might expect.

5. Be as specific as possible about the treatment plan and the days you know your child will be absent from school.

6. Suggest that the teacher modify the workload during times when there will be several days or more of absence.

7. If it looks like your child will have difficulty keeping up with school work, request a homebound tutor on an intermittent basis.

8. Assure the teacher and school nurse that the medical staff at the hospital is carefully monitoring your child's health. This will help to reduce the teacher's anxiety about being responsible for overseeing the care of your child.

9. Maintain regular contact with the teacher throughout the school year.

10. Be sure to inform the teachers of any of your child's siblings who are in school. The impact on the family affects them as well and may affect their school work.

From: http://webbugs.wustl.edu/backtoschool/sb.htm

Under construction. Last update 12/9/05