Hello!! I started at Carpenter Hill Elementary in the Spring semester last year, and am excited to be coming back again as your School Nurse! I have been a nurse for almost 19 years, with 6.5 of those years in school nursing. My background in nursing also includes Adult Intermediate Care, Infection Prevention, and Occupational Health. I have 2 degrees - one from UT-Austin, and my nursing degree from UT Medical Branch in Galveston. My husband and I live here in Buda, with our 2 children (also students in Hays CISD), and our two dogs. I am excited to serve this community of Carpenter Hill students and their families, as well as get to know all of you! Please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss your student's health needs or if you have any questions. I am here to partner with you and assist in any way I can to have a successful and healthy rest of the school year!

School nursing is a professional registered nursing specialty that involves identification, assessment, prevention, and intervention to remedy or modify students' health needs. The nurses' goal is to promote the optimum health of students and the students' abilities to achieve their individual educational goals by keeping students in school.  Nurses monitor required immunizations, perform mandated health screenings, track communicable diseases, plan for emergencies and provide direct care to students. Please see the main Student Health Services page to learn more about the Hays CISD District Health Services.

We would like to assure you that medical information about your child is treated as confidential by the nurses and all school staff.  We do not share information about your child with outside parties nor can we discuss health concerns of any other student with you. 

Tips for a Healthy School Year

• Encourage frequent and thorough hand washing.

• Send your student with a re-fillable water bottle and encourage your student to hydrate throughout the day and particularly after physical activity.

• Ensure that your child gets 8 – 10 hours of sleep each night.

• Have your student start their day with a healthy breakfast. Breakfast can also be bought in the cafeteria daily for those that arrive early enough.

• Encourage physical activity.

• Keep your child home if they are ill. Students must be kept home if they have a fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, are vomiting, having diarrhea, undiagnosed rash, reddened eyes with thick drainage/crusting, or a draining wound that cannot be covered/contained. 

• Please do not send your child to school after giving them fever-reducing or anti-diarrheal medications. These medications may cause resolution of symptoms in the short-term, but your child is likely still contagious to others.

• Please make sure that the front office has current phone numbers and contact information for you. It is critical that we are able to contact you if your child is ill or there is an emergency.

• Send an extra change of clothing in a labeled Ziploc bag in your student’s backpack. I have limited clothing in my office to give out.

• Keep your student’s teacher or myself informed of situations at home. Anxiety in children often presents as frequent stomachaches.

Medications at School  

Please remember not to send medications with students. For safety reasons, all medications should be delivered directly to the school nurse. You can find the district’s medication guidelines here: Link to district page.  Thank you for helping us ensure the safety of all students.

All medication (including over the counter and prescription) must be in the originally marked labeled container and must be provided by the parent or guardian.  All medications must be kept in the nurse’s office unless the student is cleared by both the physician and school nurse to self-carry. All narcotics/controlled medication must be kept in the nurse’s office at all times. All medication to be administered by District staff shall be provided according to the Medication Policy FFAC. First doses of medications shall not be given at school. Expired Medications will not be given. No more than a 30 day supply of medications may be kept on campus.  

New this year – FDA-approved over the counter medications may be given with parent permission for only 5 consecutive school days. If the medication is needed for longer than that, an order from your child’s medical provider will be needed.

Clothing Donations Needed

Accidents can happen at any age, whether from spilled food, nosebleeds, or bathroom mishaps, and students often need a change of clothes. To help them get back to class quickly, we keep a variety of sizes on hand in our Clothing Closet in the clinic. We’re currently in need of gently used pants and shorts with elastic waistbands, as they are easier for students to manage. Donations are always appreciated and welcome. Thank you for your support! 

Marika Veregge, RN
Carpenter Hill Elementary School
(512) 268-8509 ext. 42605
Email Marika Veregge