As we approach the end of another school year, we look ahead to warmer weather and long summer days. Summer schedules are a great time to schedule your student’s Well Child Checkup. You may ask, my child is healthy, why would they need a checkup? Well Child Checkups do so many important things for your child's well being, such as tracking milestones, identifying potential concerns, and your provider can provide guidance on their growth and development or any concerns you may have. Checkups additionally are a great time to get any vaccinations your child needs, discuss illness and injury prevention as well as healthy habits such as nutrition, hygiene, exercise and good sleep habits. Lastly, regular checkups with your provider can help build a strong relationship with your child so if a concern arises in the future, your child is comfortable with their provider. This promotes a better experience for your child, and it gives you the opportunity to address any concerns you may already have.
Vaccinations are an important part of your child's health and wellness. Additionally, students are required to receive certain vaccines for school or submit an exemption. This requirement applies for all public, private, online, and home schools in Minnesota. Proof of immunization is required prior to the first day of school or an exemption must be filed. Immunization records should be provided to the Health Office if your child is entering Kindergarten, 7th grade or 12th grade. Records are needed at these times due to age appropriate vaccinations being administered. If you are submitting an exemption, you must indicate which vaccinations you are exempting and the form must be notarized. If it is a medical exemption, you must provide documentation from your child's provider with their signature. Lastly, exemptions can not be made for immunizations your child is not old enough to receive. For example, your kindergarten age child can not be exempt from their 7th or 12th grade immunizations. An additional exemption form will need to be completed at that age. A complete vaccination schedule, as well as exemption form can be found on MCC’s website under the Health Office, Immunization page under “Are your kids ready”. If you need assistance in receiving a copy of your child’s immunization records, from Minnesota or South Dakota, please contact the Health Office and I'd be happy to look up their records for you. If your child is vaccinated in Minnesota, you can sign up for Docket, and get access to their records. You can also contact your provider's clinic and receive a copy from them. If you have questions or concerns about vaccinations, please have a talk with your healthcare provider.
Summer is also a good time to get those sports physicals completed if your child will be participating in school sports. These physicals are required every 3 years and must be submitted to the Athletic Department prior to the start of the sports season. These can be filed in the fall at the start of the school year even if your child's sports season won't be until the winter or spring. Be on the lookout for MCMC’s annual sports physical day! 2025-2026 MN State High School League Physical Forms are posted on MCC’s Extra Curricular page when available, often in mid May.
This last month of school will be busy, filled with excitement for all of our students and staff, and will be over before we know it! Please note the Health Office is not staffed during the summer months. Emails and voice messages will be returned when we return in August. Enjoy your summer break!
In health,
Desirée Haupert CCMA
Health Services Coordinator
Wellness Coordinator
MCC Schools