Alyssa Karcz, RN
845-463-6527
Dear Parent/Guardian:
The district’s School Health Services program supports your student’s academic success by promoting health in the school setting. One way that we provide care for your student is by performing the health screenings as mandated by the State of New York.
During this school year, the following screenings will be required or completed at school:
Vision
Distance acuity for all newly entering students and students in Kindergarten, Grades 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 10.
Near vision acuity and color perception screening for all newly entering students.
Hearing
Hearing screening for all newly entering students and students in Kindergarten, Grades 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10.
Scoliosis
Scoliosis (spinal curvature) screening for all students in Grades 5 – 9.
Health Appraisals
A physical examination including Body Mass Index and Weight Status Category Information is required for all newly entering students and students in Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten, Grades 2, 4, 7 and 10.
Dental Certificates
A dental certificate is requested for all newly entering students and students in Kindergarten, Grades 2, 4, 7 and 10.
A letter will be sent home if there are any findings on the screening done at school that would cause concern or need medical follow-up. Please call the school’s Health Office if you have any questions or concerns.
Office Location
The Health Office is located next to the Guidance Office and is staffed by one full-time registered nurse. Among the services provided by the Health Office are as follows:
- Providing first-aid care to students who are injured or ill while under school supervision.
- Conducting yearly screening for height, weight, vision, hearing, and scoliosis.
- Maintaining health records for each student.
- Assisting doctors in the administration of health examination.
Medication in School
If it is necessary for students to have medication during the school day, the nurse will cooperate with the physicians and parents; however, certain procedures must be followed:
- The nurse cannot administer medication unless there is a written order from a doctor and a written request from a parent. The written order, signed by the doctor, should 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 a pharmacy container and brought to the health office by an adult.
Additional Health Information
- Mandated health appraisals (physcial examinations) are now required for new entrants, Kindergarten, grades 2, 4, 7 and 10. Parents are encouraged to have their children examined by their family physician. Results of the examination must be noted on health forms signed by aphysician and returned to the appropriate school health office. Students who do not present a signed form by the family physician will have a medical examination by the school physician. Those students wishing to partifcipate in any interscholastic sports in middle school or high school are also required to have a physical exam by the school physican. Any health conditions which seem to require more complete diagnosis or tretment will be referred to the parents for appropriate medical follow-up. If you have any questions, please call your school nurse.
- Students who attend school in New York State must be immunized against polio, mumps, diphtheria, whooping cough, measles, rubella and hepatitis B. No student will be admitted to school without appropriate certification of immunization. Exemption to the immunization law is allowed for medical or religious reasons. A physician must certify a medical exemption in writing. If a student belongs to a bona fide, recognized religious organization that does not hold with immunization, he/she may also be excused from the immunization requirement.
- Any students coming to school on crutches, with canes, in casts, or after serious injuries must report to the health office before going to homeroom.
- Either the school physician or family physician may do physical examinations for working papers. Examinations must be completed no longer than 12 months before the date of employment. Forms are available in the guidance office for this purpose.
- Students wishing to participate in interscholastic sports must have a sports physical performed by the school physician. [See the sports physical section]
- Students who are unable to participate in physical education classes must bring a note from home to the health office before homeroom. Any extended period of time out of physical education will require a physician’s note.
- When to Keep a Child Home
Emergency Numbers Card
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 by able to contact some person who is responsible for a particular pupil at all times. Please complete and return the Emergency Cards to the health office as soon as possible. There are two identical cards so that we can keep one in the nurse’s office and one in the main office.
** Please submit in writing all changes in telephone number, address and employment to the nurse’s office as soon as the change occurs so that the emergency cards can be updated.
If a student has an accident, they are to inform the teacher who is supervising then immediately. The nurse will then be contacted to assist the student and parents notified.
Feeling sick in school
If a student feels ill during class, they should get a pass from their classroom teacher and report to the health office. In the event that the student is so ill that they must go home, the nurse will contact the parent/guardian to come and pick the student up.