Health & Wellness

• Immunizations
• Vision, Hearing & Scoliosis Screenings
• Medications
• Health Department Survey – BMI/Weight Status

Immunizations

Children attending daycare and pre-K to Grade 12 in New York State must receive all required doses of vaccines on the recommended schedule in order to attend or remain in school. This is true unless they have a valid medical exemption to immunization. This includes all public, private, and religious schools. A medical exemption is allowed when a child has a medical condition that prevents them from receiving a vaccine.

There are no non-medical exemptions to school vaccine requirements in NYS.

• Immunization Requirements for Schools (23-24)

Learn more about NYS School Immunization Requirements.

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Vision, Hearing & Scoliosis Screenings

• Vision screening is required within 6 months of admission to school and in grades Pre-K or K, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11.
• Hearing screening is required within 6 months of admission to school and in grades Pre-K or K, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11.
• Scoliosis screening is required for girls in grades 5 and 7 and for boys in grade 9.

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Medications

The school’s nursing personnel may administer medication to a student during school hours under certain conditions. (For the purpose of this policy “medication” includes prescription and non-prescription). Per New York State Education Department (NYSED) requirements, the school must receive the following before medication is given to a student:

• The original written order from the student’s physician stating the name of the medication, precise dosage, frequency and time of administration;
• A written, signed consent from the student’s parent or legal guardian requesting the administration of the medication, as prescribed by the physician, to the student in school; and
• The medication, properly labeled in its original container, must be delivered to the School Health Office by the student’s parent or legal guardian. (The term “properly labeled” in the context of this policy means that the container must include the following information: the student’s name, name of medication, dosage, frequency and prescribing physician).

A student is not permitted to carry any medication on his/her person in school, or on the school bus, or keep any medication in his/her school locker(s). An exception to this policy may apply for a student’s asthma inhaler or epi-pen which a student may carry and use under certain conditions. Please contact the School Health Office for more information.

Board Policy 7513 – Medication and Personal Care Items

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Health Department Survey – BMI/Weight Status

As part of a required school health examination, a student is weighed and his/her height is measured. These numbers are used to figure out the student’s body mass index or “BMI.” The BMI helps the doctor or nurse know if the student’s weight is in a healthy range or is too high or too low. Recent changes to the New York State Education Law require that BMI and weight status group be included as part of the student’s school health examination. A sample of school districts will be selected to take part in a survey by the New York State Department of Health. If our school is selected to be part of this survey, we will be reporting to New York State Department of Health information about our students’ weight status groups. Only summary information is sent. No names and no information about individual students are sent. However, you may choose to have your child’s information excluded from this survey report.

The information sent to the New York State Department of Health will help Health officials develop programs that make it easier for children to be healthier.

If you do not wish to have your child’s weight status group information included as part of the Health Department’s survey this year, please complete this opt-out letter and return it to the main office at your child’s school building.

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More Information

• Child Abuse Hotline