All of our buildings (except the Early Childhood Center) have a nurse on-site during the school day to provide support and care to our students and staff.
Our school nurses are happy to be a part of the Knight family and look forward to helping keep all students and staff at Kenowa Hills safe and healthy!
Nurse Contact Information:
Alpine Elementary
Ashely Beene RN
abeene@khps.org
Office: 616-784-0884 ext 8293
Nurse Cell: 616-258-9875
Central Elementary
Michelle Sikkema BSN, RN
msikkema@khps.org
Office: 616-453-6351 ext 6202
Nurse Cell: 616-265-6419
Zinser Elementary
Courtney Ellens BSN, RN
cellens@khps.org
Office: 616-453-2461 ext 4340
Nurse Cell: 616-286-1359
Middle School
Trent VanWagoner BSN, RN
tvanwagoner@khps.org
Office: 616-965-4267
Nurse Cell: 616-260-4410
High School
Trent VanWagoner BSN, RN
tvanwagoner@khps.org
Office: 616-965-4267
Nurse Cell: 616-260-4410
When should I keep my student home from school?
Please keep your student home from school if he/she/they have or are suffering from the following symptoms.
Your student is ready to return to school if he/she/they are:
Kenowa Hills Public Schools district is committed to the well-being of students and staff. We recognize the importance of caring for the whole child and by extension, the whole family. In honoring that commitment, Kenowa Hills has continued their valuable partnership with Pine Rest to provide mental health support to all its stakeholders.
Pine Rest understands the importance of mental health support during difficult times and that the top reason for not pursuing necessary treatment is cost. The Pine Rest Student Assistance Program (SAP), also known as the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), is designed to support the health, energy, focus, and well-being of students, teachers, and staff so they can succeed in and outside of the classroom. SAP/EAP offers comprehensive and tailored packages, with services provided by local experts, including 24/7 counseling hotline, online & in-person counseling, legal services, financial consultation, elder care consultation, leadership training, and critical incident response services.
Your SAP Benefits Include:
Please follow the instructions below to access the Student Assistance Program:
What if I need Immediate Support?
If you or a loved one are in crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts, please visit a hospital ER or Pine Rest Psychiatric Urgent Care Center.*
Access in-the-moment support by calling 800.442.0809 (press 1 and follow the prompts).
*ER and Psychiatric Urgent Care are not included in the SAP benefits.
Kenowa Hills is committed to holding the health and safety of every student in the highest regard.
Medical Action Plans are required for students that have any medical conditions and/or will need to receive medications while at school. Medical conditions such as Diabetes, Asthma, Seizures, and Anaphylaxis can be very serious and may require emergency treatment. We need to have up-to-date information from your physician prescribing the medical care for your child while they are at school. Medical Action Plans are required at the start of every school year and expire on the last day of school. The plan is required for us to provide medications to your student as well as treat emergency conditions. It requires a signature from your physician as well as the parent/guardian. Without a plan in place, there are only 5 things that can be provided to a student: Soap, Water, Bandages, Ice, and Comfort.
For medications to be administered at school, either a Medical Action Plan or a Medication Consent Form must be completed. This includes over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol and Motrin. All medication must be brought to school in the current original container as dispensed by the physician or pharmacist. The bottle must be labeled with the student’s name, medication name, dosage, and frequency to dispense instructions. Please contact your student’s building main office or the nurse to create a Medical Action Plan.
If your child has a food allergy, we will provide substitutions with a written order from a medical authority. Please contact Food Service at 616-784-0175.
The Kent County Health Department provides information on an array of medical issues. They are listed and linked below and can also be accessed from the Kent County website.