Dear Families,
As noted in our
Family Handbook, the State of Texas requires that we conduct hearing and vision screenings for all students new to Great Hearts Irving, as well as all 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders. This year, to ensure that all our distance learners receive these important, mandatory screenings, we have created a
Sign Up Genius. All parents of distance learners should sign up for an appointment to bring their child to school to be screened. Please sign up for a separate appointment for each of your children. Parents should park and walk up to the Green Door. We will meet you and your child at the door. Please be sure to leave any siblings or other family members at home.
All visitors to campus are required to wear a mask at all times and will be asked to answer a number of health-related questions prior to entry. Those presenting with symptoms of respiratory illness or who were recently in close contact with positive individuals will be asked to leave and make another appointment.
If your child does not pass either screening, he/she will need to be re-screened approximately two weeks later. For those students who do not pass the second screening, a referral letter will be sent home recommending they be seen by a specialist. In order to ensure a proper screening, please be sure your child is wearing any prescribed eyewear (glasses or contacts) and that their ears are cleaned and free of wax build up if needed. We appreciate your assistance in getting the best results for our students during these screenings.
We will also be conducting the State-mandated Acanthosis nigricans (AN) screenings for our 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders. The AN screening is a Texas Risk Assessment that is performed in order to identify children who may be at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Students who are identified with the marker following an assessment of the back of the neck will also have their weight, height, and blood pressure assessed. Risk assessments with referrals are issued to the parents of these children, alerting them of their child's risk factors and recommending further evaluation from a health professional.
Lastly, our female fifth grade scholars will also be screened for abnormal spinal curvature during their appointment. Catching a spinal problem early can make treatment much easier. Not treating spinal problems can lead to other, more serious health issues. The screening is simple. I will check your child for signs of spinal problems like scoliosis by looking at your child's back while she stands and bends forward.
Recommendations for Fifth Grade Girls
- Students should wear a thin t-shirt, sports bra, or two-piece swimsuit top underneath their uniform polo on exam day.
- If girls are wearing an undershirt, sports bra, or two-piece swimsuit top underneath their uniform short, it will be recommended they remove their shirt for the screening.
- All screenings take place one at a time.
This screening is not a medical exam. If a potential spinal issue is identified you will be notified via letter. The letter will include instructions on how to follow up with a doctor. Please consult with your child's doctor for all regular check-ups or any medical advice. If you do not wish to have your child screened for religious reasons, you may submit a signed
waiver form prior to the screening.
