Children with Special Concerns
If you have special concerns regarding your child's health status, please
contact the nurse's office at the beginning of the school year or promptly after
detection of health concerns.
Attendance Pointers
- Please don't send your child to school if they are 'sick'. Students who are
running an elevated temperature, have an undiagnosed (by physician) rash,
persistent cough, vomiting or diarrhea would fall into this category. Students
who have been running a high temperature should not return to school until they
have been 'fever free' for at least 24 hours.
For children experiencing symptoms of a cold or other minor ailment, its a
parent's judgment call. You are the best judge of determining your child's
health in consideration of the demands of a school day.
- Please call the school to report your child's absence. When your child returns
to school, they should bring a note to the nurse's office explaining the reason
for their absence.
- If your child is absent as a result of a contagious disease such as chicken pox
or head lice they need to report directly to the nurse's office before returning
to their classroom.
School Physicals & Eye /Vision Screenings
Health physicals and screenings performed by school personnel provide a simple
baseline measure of a student's wellness and sensory functions. These
evaluations are NOT equal in scope or intensity to evaluations performed by
hospital or clinic based medical personnel. Students should have regular
pediatric and dental care to assure that 'all is well' and remains as such.
If you are new to the area or cannot afford a private physician or need help
acquiring affordable dental services, please contact your school nurse's office.
She can offer you assistance in locating local resources.
When Your Child is Sent or Requests Permission to Nurse's Office
The school nurse will assess your child's presenting complaint(s) and contact
you if necessary. For young children, often a short rest, Kleenex and kindness
remedies minor complaints and concerns. If a child demonstrates any unusual
physical symptoms, or shows a pattern of self-referral to the nurse's office
with repeating complaints (e.g. "my stomach hurts, my headaches") parents will
be contacted.
At times students may need to change their clothing at school because of a
health related concern, or accident at school. Parents may send in clothing to
be kept in the Nurse's Office for this purpose.
THE EMERGENCY FORM
It is very important to fill out a new Emergency Form (form available
for download above!) each year so that we can quickly contact you in the event
of your child becoming ill or requiring emergency medical treatment. This
information is extremely important and must be accurate, updated, and complete!
In your absence, your child will not be permitted to leave school with other
persons in matters of illness or other circumstances (e.g. bomb scare) unless
you have identified such person on your child's Emergency Form .
Student Injury At School
When a student is injured at school, the school nurse assesses immediate medical
needs, and responds accordingly. Parents are contacted and an appropriate level
of medical assistance is secured. (e.g. ambulance)
If your child is injured at school and requires medical treatment, the district
insurance provides coverage of those costs. Insurance forms are available
through the school nurse's office. Parents should note that if you have private
insurance, school district insurance is applicable only after your insurer has
paid their maximum benefit.
Medications At School
If your child will be taking
over-the-counter or prescription
medications at school, the Administration of Medication Form must be completed
and returned to the school nurse. Medications cannot be administered at school
until we receive this form. Please note: this form
must be completed by
your health care provider .
Per
New York State regulations all medications- prescription
and over-the-counter provided at school MUST be administered by the School
Nurse. (Students of appropriate age who suffer from severe asthma or carry an
Epipen@ are excepted from the administration procedural rule- but the form
itself must still be completed!)
Parents who wish their children to have routine access to pain relievers or
other OTC medications must provide the school with written permission and a
doctor's standing order. "Standing orders" must be renewed annually.
An important note: All medications- prescription and OTC- must
be supplied by the parent in the original container. Medications should be
brought to school and delivered to the nurse's office
by parents
. Please make sure that your child's name is visible and readable on
the container.