Nassau Health Office

Welcome to the new school year! For many of you, this is your first experience sending your child off to school full time! As the school nurse here at Nassau, I am looking forward to a wonderful year ahead for all of us. Here you’ll find some important tips and information. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me at 845-463-6390 or [email protected]. Fax number is 845 463-2738.

Nora Bergstraser, MSN, RN



When to Keep a Child Home


A child who is sick will not be able to perform well in school and is likely to spread illness to other children and staff. If your child is exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19, please test the child with a home antigen test prior to arrival at school. If you are in need of a test kit, please contact the health office at your child’s school.

Please do not send your child to school if he/she:

  • has tested positive for Covid-19 (Notify Building Nurse for return to school date and end of face masking date) or tested positive for the Flu or RSV;
  • had a temperature of 100 degrees or greater in the past 24 hours. They should be fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication;
  • has been vomiting in the past 24 hours;
  • had diarrhea in the past 24 hours;
  • has been diagnosed with Strep Throat (must have been taking an antibiotic for at least 24 hours before returning to school);
  • has upper respiratory symptoms, such as a bad cough or a very runny nose, especially if it has kept the child awake at night;
  • has been diagnosed with Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) – must be on prescribed eye drops for at least 24 hours before returning to school;
  • has an unexplained rash.

If your child becomes ill at school and the school nurse feels that the child is too sick to remain in school or is contagious to other children, you will be called to come and take him/her home. It is essential that we have an up-to-date phone number where you can be contacted during the day and a local emergency contact phone number in the event you cannot be reached. Please be sure that arrangements can be made to pick up your child from school within 30 minutes in case of illness. If your daytime or emergency phone number changes during the year, please notify us immediately.

When your child returns to school after an absence, a note regarding the child’s absence must be submitted to the Main Office. The nurse also reads absence notes, so please include information that would help us track clusters of illnesses in a class, grade level or building.

Please call if you have any questions, concerns or if you are unsure whether or not your child should attend school

Elizabeth Giancaspro, BSN, RN
Spackenkill High School Nurse
463-2043

Alyssa Karcz, RN
Todd Middle School Nurse
463-6527 

Sharon Dooley-Russo, RN 
Hagan Elementary School Nurse 
463-8398 

Nora Bergstraser, MSN, RN
Nassau Elementary School Nurse
463-6390


Allergies/Medical Conditions

Please notify the health office if your child has any allergies and/or medical conditions so a detailed history can be obtained.

Emergency Contact Information

Emergencies such as illness, injuries, etc. are certain to arise during the course of the school year. It is important for the welfare of the students that the school be able to contact some person who is available and responsible for a particular student at all times. Please make sure your emergency contact information is up to date. Updates can be made through your Parent Portal or by submitting a written request to the main office.

Health Screenings

Screenings are conducted by the school nurse in each building as an integral part of the total school health program. Early detection will provide a child more opportunity for educational success. The earlier impairments are diagnosed and treated the more favorable the outlook for correction or improvement of the child’s well being.

As required by NYS Education Law, The required screenings are: 
  • Scoliosis screening for girls in grades 5 & 7 and boys in grades 9.
  • Vision screening for distance, near vision acuity & color perception required for all new students; distance & near vision acuity in grades Pre K or K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, and at any other time deemed necessary.
  • Hearing screening to all new students within six months of admission to the school and in grades Kindergarten, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11, and at any other time deemed necessary.
Health Examinations
  

Required for all new entrants and in grades Pre-K or K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 within 30 days of the start of school.

Parents are encouraged to have their children examined by their family physician. Health examinations must be completed by a New York State physician, NP, or PA and recorded on the New York State Health Examination Form(see link below). Students who do not submit a completed health examination form will have a medical examination by the school physician. Any health conditions which seem to require more complete diagnosis or treatment will be referred to the parents for appropriate medical follow-up.

http://www.p12.nysed.gov/sss/documents/health-exam-form.pdf

Immunization Requirements

As per New York State Public Health Law 2164, proof of having received all mandated immunizations must be received within the first 14 days of school.

Click here for New York State Immunization Requirements for School Entrance

Medication Policy

If it is necessary for students to have medication during the school day, please contact the health office for further direction. The nurse cannot administer medication unless there is a written order from a doctor and a written permission from a parent. The written order, signed by the doctor, must contain the following information:

Name of student/patient

Name of medicine

Reason for giving the medicine

Dosage/time

Number of days

Doctor contact information

The medication must be placed in its original pharmacy container and brought to the health office by an adult. For safety purposes, medications cannot be transported to or from school in a child’s backpack.

 

Over the Counter Medications

Over the counter (OTC) medications may be given by the school nurse if there is a prescription or OTC medication form signed by the physician as well as written parental consent. The medication must be in the original package and must be brought to the health office by an adult.

Head Lice

Head lice are a common community problem.  An estimated 6 to 12 million infestations occur each year in the United States, most commonly among children ages 3 to 11 years old.  hough a head lice infestation is often spotted in school, it is usually acquired through direct head-to-head contact elsewhere, such as at sleepovers or camp. Head lice are not dangerous, and they do not transmit disease. Additionally, despite what you might have heard, head lice often infest people with good hygiene and grooming habits. Your family, friends, or community may experience head lice.  It’s important to know some basics, including how to recognize symptoms and what to do if faced with an infestation. Please see the attached information sheets.

Head Lice 101 English Version

Head Lice Spanish Version

If you have any further questions please call the Health Office 845-463-6390.

Health Office Documents:

https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2370.pdf