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Health Office Updates:
The end of the school year is quickly approaching! All unused medications must be picked up by the end of the school year. Unless your child has current permission to self-carry their medication, the school cannot allow your child to bring the medication home themselves. If you need to make special arrangements to pick up medication, please call to make arrangements. Medications not picked up, will be discarded on June 27th.
Important Information to keep in mind for next school year:
• New medication forms for both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications must be signed every year by a health care provider and parent/guardian.
• Medication must remain in the properly labeled pharmacy or original OTC container.
• The parent/guardian is responsible to have the medication delivered directly to the school in a properly labeled original container by an adult.
• If your child has rescue medications for respiratory conditions, epinephrine auto-injector, or insulin, glucagon, and related diabetes supplies, there must be a provider written permission which includes an attestation that the student has demonstrated the ability to self-administer and written parent/guardian consent. For other conditions, your child may be able to self-carry and self-administer, but will need written permission from both you and your provider.
Medication forms are available under forms or may be obtained from the school health office. Your healthcare provider may use their own form if desired.
Health & Wellness:
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME WITH ILLNESS
It can be hard to know when to send children to school if they tell you that they do not feel well. Usually, the best place for them is in school, but there are some times when keeping them home to rest or call for an appointment with your health care provider is recommended.
Please keep your child home and/or contact your child’s doctor for:
-Fever greater than 100.4° (taken by mouth)
-Vomiting and/or diarrhea within the last 24 hours
-Severe sore throat along with fever and feeling ill for more than 48 hours, or after exposure to Strep throat infection
-Honey-crusted sores around the nose or mouth or rash on other body parts
-Large amounts of mucous (liquid) from their nose, with face pain or headache
-Severe ear pain or fluid coming from the ear
-Severe headache, especially with fever
If your child has had a fever, please follow the 24-hour fever-free rule in order for them to return to school. Your child must be 24-hours fever-free without assistance from medication before they can return to school. This is for your child's safety and to help stop the spread of disease.
Please understand that we do not call for every health office visit your child makes. Your child will be evaluated by a nurse, and if it is determined that your child needs to go home, or you need to know about the injury or illness before your child goes home, you will be notified. If your child is feeling unwell that morning and you would like a call if they come to the health office, please let the nurse know by phone or email. Stomachaches and headaches are often triggered by events happening at school and can settle down with rest (students will often be encouraged to try class again after resting and asked to return to the health office if their symptoms persist).
In order to promote a productive learning environment, your child is expected to have their cell phone turned off and in their locker or backpack (or with the Dean of Students, Mr. Ryan) during school hours. If your child texts or calls you from their cell phone stating they are unwell, please remind them of this policy and encourage them to see the nurse. Students who engage in cell phone use during the day will be required to hand in their device until the end of the school day.
Health Exam Requirements:
-New York State law requires a health examination* for all new entrants and students in grades Pre-K or K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 & 11;
-Every year for students participating in athletics (sports);
-For working papers as needed; or
-When required by the Committee on Special Education (CSE) or Committee on Pre-School Special Education (CPSE).
*A dental exam form is also requested at the same time a grade-level health examination is required.
Immunization Requirements:
New York State law requires all students entering or attending (including remotely) any New York State school (public, nonpublic, and charter schools) must receive all doses of immunizations required for their grade level in order to attend school. The immunization requirements for each grade level are as outlined below:
-Tdap for all students entering into 6th grade and;
-MCV4 (Menactra) for all students entering into 7th grade.
**A request for a medical exemption to an immunization must be completed annually on this form: Medical Exemption Statement for Children 0-18 Years of Age (ny.gov).
Note: As of June 13, 2019, the state no longer allows for non-medical exemptions for immunizations for children.
Visit the New York Department of Health website for immunization requirements.
Screenings:
In accordance with New York State Education Law, the school nurses will conduct vision, hearing, and scoliosis screenings on the required grade levels.
Vision
-Distance and near acuity for all newly entering students and students in Pre-K or Kindergarten, Grades 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11.
Color perception screening for all newly entering students.
Hearing
-Hearing screening for all newly entering students and students in Pre-K or Kindergarten, Grades 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11.
Scoliosis
-Scoliosis (spinal curvature) screening for all girls in grades 5 and 7, and boys in grade 9.
A letter will be sent home if your student needs follow-up with your health care provider. For vision screenings only, parents will be notified of all results. Please call the school’s Health Office if you have any questions or concerns.
Medications at School:
To administer medication to students in school, the following steps must be taken for both prescriptions and over-the-counter medications.
Obtain written order from your child's physician. The pharmacy label does not constitute a written order. Faxed requests from licensed physicians are acceptable. Verbal permissions from a physician to administer medication are not acceptable.
Submit your written request that medication be administered to your child in school as ordered by his/her physician.
Deliver your child's medication directly to the Health Office in the original, properly labeled container. (Parents/guardians can ask the pharmacist for two containers, one to remain at home and one at school. Medications cannot be carried by students on school buses or on their person during the school day.) It is important to note that if you would like your child to carry their Epipen or Inhaler, your doctor must complete the Attestation, as well as the Medication Order.
Insect repellants can be effective at reducing bites from ticks and insects, they are not without health risks. Children wear appropriate clothing (i.e. light-colored, long sleeves, pants) for the activity, to minimize the need for insect repellant. Whenever possible, apply insect repellant at home before sending your child to school.
-Students may use insect repellents at school and school-sponsored events with written parent/guardian permission. If a student cannot apply tick repellents themselves, a staff member may assist them.
It is important to follow product directions and wash your hands after applying insect repellent.
To reduce the possible overexposure to sun NYS Education Law allows students who can apply or direct school staff members to apply FDA approved sunscreen products to carry and use them at school/school sponsored events with written parent/guardian consent.
If student CANNOT apply or direct an adult to apply sunscreen for them, whether his/her own sunscreen or school provided sunscreen, a licensed health professional must apply it. A provider order and written parent/guardian consent is needed.
Allergies:
When a student has a known life-threatening allergy reported on their health form or if the district has been informed by the parent of the presence of a life-threatening allergy, the school nurse will collaborate with teachers and administrators to create and implement an individualized health care plan. This plan is maintained by the school nurse each school year. The plan will guide prevention and response. If the student is eligible for accommodations based upon the IDEA, Section 504, or the Americans with Disabilities Act, the appropriate procedures will be followed regarding identification, evaluation, and implementation of accommodations.
Body Mass Index (BMI) Information:
Height, weight and body mass index screening. New York state law requires school districts to measure the height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and determine weight status categories for students when they provided for new entrants (pre-K or kindergarten) and in students in grades 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11.
The purpose of this screening is to detect previously undiagnosed health problems related to growth and development that may, by early intervention, be more readily corrected. School districts also are required to take part in a survey by the New York State Department of Health. Districts will report information about weight status categories gathered from private physicals or school screenings.
Only summary information is included in the survey. No names or identifying information about individual students is shared. Information on any child whose parent/guardian has objected to the survey will be excluded from the reported survey data.
Parents who wish to exclude their child’s data should contact the child’s school nurse.
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