HEALTH and MEDICAL SERVICES

Full-Time Registered School Nurses

A full-time school nurse is on staff in each of our district's schools. In addition to caring for children who become ill during the school day, our professional, registered school nurses also conduct vision and hearing tests, maintain student health records, administer tuberculosis tests, as needed and confer with parents/guardians about suspected health problems.

Our school nurses play a vital role in the teaching-learning process. Nurse Patricia Bloxham, Florence M. Burd School, and Nurse Noreen Scully, Long Pond School have teaching responsibilities and act as important resources in the development of a sound program of health education.

Parents/guardians are encouraged to maintain up-to-date information on their child's emergency information card. Updates should be promptly com­municated to your child's principal or nurse.

First Aid

First aid in the case of accident or illness consists of immediate, temporary treatment. Please note the school is responsible only for first aid in the event of an accident occurring on school property during school hours. By State regulations, the school is not responsible for medical expenses when an accident occurs in school.

Medications

All student medications must be administered by the school nurse under the following conditions:

s The medicine must be brought to the nurse in the original pharmacy bottle or container. The label must include the name of the doctor, the name of the medication, dosage, and duration of treatment.

s All medications brought to school must be accompanied by a doctor's prescription.

s Parents/guardians must authorize in writing that the school nurse is permitted to administer the medication and at the specified time(s).

Student Physicals and Screening

s All students are screened annually for height, weight, vision, hearing, and blood pressure by the school nurse.

s Students in grades 4 through 8 are screened biennially by the school nurse for scoliosis (curvature of the spine).

s Students participating in interscholastic athletic programs must have sport physical examinations performed by their own family physician. The exam must be performed within 365 days prior to the first practice session.

s It is highly recommended that all students obtain a physical exam by their own family physician at least once during each of the student's developmental stages: Early childhood (Preschool through grade 3); Pre Adolescence (grade 4 through 6); Adolescence (grade 7 through 12).

Physical Education Excuses

Students may be excused from participation in physical education classes upon receipt of a physician's written note stating the reason for and duration of the excuse. A separate written note from the physician may be required stating the date physical education participation may resume.