Our School Reentry Program
| some basics | our school reentry program |
| helpful resources |

After the shock of a diagnosis of cancer, school may not be the first thing on you or your family's minds. But before long, returning to your friends and the normal activities of school will definitely be something your doctors and nurses will start encouraging you to do. We believe it is important to get back to school as soon as possible and we have a special program to help you do this. Even if your treatment plan causes you to be in the hospital frequently and a regular school schedule is not possible, you will be able to keep in touch with your classmates, get home tutoring when you feel up to it, and keep up with your academic schedule with some assistance.

Our school liaison, Marnie Hauff, will assist you with getting back to school. She will meet with you and your family, find out what help you need in getting back to school, contact the school for you, and set up the necessary meetings to inform the staff about your special needs. She will serve as the communication link connecting you and your family, the school staff, and the medical staff.

Our reentry program always includes a meeting with the school staff. Your primary outpatient clinic nurse and the school liaison will set a time to meet with the key members of your education team to explain many different things. You and your parents will be included in this meeting. Following are some of the things considered:

• A brief desciption of the specific cancer and treatment for it
• Discussion of medical concerns, such as central lines, low blood counts, fever, immunizations, medications at school
• Side effects of treatment and impact on appearance, behavior, and absences
• Student's concerns, such as how to keep up with school work, isolation from peers, and reactions of classmates
• Sibling's needs and concerns

We also give classroom presentations if the student requests this. We adapt these presentations to the age level of the classmates and include the patient and family when we plan what is appropriate. For example, in the elementary level we often show a video called "Why, Charlie Brown, Why" which is a favorite with patients as well as students of grades 1 to 6. We try to shape our presentations to the age level and the preferences of our patients.We always include the patient and family and always allow a time for questions and answers in our classroom presentations.

To contact our school liaison call: 314-454-2173