Back-to-School Health: What Parents Should Know About Pediatric Wellness

Written by Kristy Beard, MSN, APRN, FNP-C — Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Founder of Elevate Health and Wellness, serving patients across the Gulf Coast in Gautier, MS and Foley, AL.

Back-to-School Is a Health Checkpoint

The start of a new school year is one of the most important health checkpoints in a child's annual calendar — and one of the most consistently underutilized. Sports physicals, vaccination records, vision and hearing screening, mental health check-ins, and management of chronic conditions like asthma and ADHD all deserve attention before the school year begins. At Elevate Health and Wellness, Kristy Beard, MSN, APRN, FNP-C provides family-centered primary care that prepares children and adolescents for a healthy, successful school year.

Sports Physicals: More Than a Checkbox

Most Mississippi and Alabama schools require a pre-participation physical evaluation (PPE) for student athletes before each sports season. But a well-done sports physical is far more than a bureaucratic requirement — it is an opportunity to screen for cardiac abnormalities that could cause sudden cardiac death in young athletes, identify musculoskeletal conditions that increase injury risk, review vaccination status, assess nutritional status and growth patterns, and address any chronic conditions that may affect athletic participation. At Elevate, sports physicals are conducted with the thoroughness that a young athlete's health deserves.

Vaccination Updates for the New School Year

School entry requirements in Mississippi and Alabama mandate specific vaccinations that must be documented before the school year begins. Beyond minimum requirements, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual influenza vaccination for all children 6 months and older, meningococcal vaccination at age 11 to 12 with a booster at 16, HPV vaccination beginning at age 11 to 12, and Tdap booster at age 11 to 12. Kristy reviews each child's vaccination history and ensures they are fully protected and compliant with school requirements.

Preparing for Classroom Illness Season

The return to school reliably brings an increase in respiratory infections, strep throat, ear infections, and gastrointestinal illness as children gather in enclosed spaces after a summer of lower transmission risk. Parents can reduce illness burden by ensuring children are up to date on flu vaccination, supporting immune function with adequate sleep, nutrition, and vitamin D, teaching consistent handwashing habits, and knowing when symptoms warrant a same-day visit to Elevate versus rest and fluids at home.

Mental Health and the New School Year

Back-to-school anxiety is real — and it affects children and adolescents at every age. Kristy incorporates brief mental health screening into pediatric wellness visits and takes seriously any parental or patient concerns about mood, anxiety, social difficulties, or behavioral changes. When mental health support beyond primary care is indicated, she provides appropriate referrals while continuing to manage the child's physical health as part of a coordinated care approach.

Ready to schedule your child's back-to-school visit? Learn more about primary care at Elevate in Gautier, MS and Foley, AL.

Sources: CDC. Childhood Vaccination Schedule. cdc.gov. | American Academy of Pediatrics. PPE Guidelines. aap.org.

This article is written by Kristy Beard, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and founder of Elevate Health and Wellness. Information provided is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a licensed healthcare provider for personalized care.