Warsaw Community Schools Welcome Center’s Tracey Akers stands with the welcome banner for the new student registration event.

Text and Photos
By Madison Hart
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Warsaw Community Schools’ Welcome Center staff held a new student registration event at the Health Services Pavilion conference room Tuesday, July 30.

The new student registration offered a chance for students grades 1-12, with the help of their parents, to fill out health histories, register for school lunches, ensure immunizations are up-to-date, receive hearing and vision screenings, and connect with other services that can assist with medical needs.

Tracey Akers of the Welcome Center said, “We’re trying to catch the kiddos early before they go to school, so we can help connect them with a doctor and get them glasses before school starts. And we have funding if they don’t have insurance. We have ways to help.”

One of the organizations represented was brightpoint, a service that offers insurance and Medicaid enrollment help from trained navigators.

The Help Center was also present. This organization provides help to access medication, dental assistance, and other medical expenses for Kosciusko County residents in need.

Warsaw Community Schools’ meal services representatives were present to see if children qualify for free or reduced lunches. They also provided forms to fill out for children with dietary restrictions.

WCS Nurse Coordinator Kennedy Wagner sat at the health history booth and said, “We’re going through with parents to see if students have any chronic medical conditions that they’d need something like an asthma action plan, emergency allergy plans, seizure plan, if they’re a diabetic student they have paperwork to do within the school system.”

The Welcome Center’s Akers will be present at the Tools For School event at Lakeview Middle School from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 31.

Warsaw Community Schools Welcome Center is funded by Health First Kosciusko.