Absences:
To report your child absent, please call the attendance line and leave a detailed message. You must report your child absent each morning that they will not be in school.
For medical concerns regarding a student’s absence, please call the health office. All communicable diseases must be reported to the health office promptly (i.e., Covid, Flu, Mononucleosis, Coxsackievirus, etc.) Please keep your child home from school if they are ill.
Returning to School After an Illness:
Students must be fever free (under 100 degrees F) for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication in order to return to school. Please keep your child home if they are not feeling well. Do not send your child to school if they have a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, severe congestion and coughing, or have a new rash.
Covid Guidelines – Quarantine for 5 days (day of first symptoms is considered day 0), return to activities and school with a mask and social distancing for days 6 – 10, and masking is no longer required starting day 11. A negative test is not required to return to school.
Sports Physicals:
All students interested in playing a sport must have the Pre-Participation Evaluation Form completed by their doctor prior to being allowed to try-out or play. All sections of the form must be completed and signed by the doctor, parent, and student. Incomplete, scanned, copied, or emailed physicals will not be accepted, as we only accept original documents only. Please make sure physical forms are turned in by the deadlines for each sport. For any athlete that haves an allergy, asthma, a seizure disorder, or diabetes, please ensure the Emergency Treatment Plan Forms are completed and turned in. Your child’s safety is our top priority.
Medication:
Students are not allowed to carry any medication on them (with exception for Emergency Epi-Pens, Inhalers, and Diabetic Medications with a doctor’s note). All medication is to be held in the health office and administered by the school nurse only. The Medication Administration and Permission Form can be found in the forms section. This must be filled out completely and returned to the health office with the prescribed medication. For prescription medications, please bring in the original bottle with label from the pharmacy. For over-the-counter medications such as Advil or Tylenol, please bring in a new, unopened bottle of the medication labeled with your child’s name and student ID number. Medication orders are only valid for the current school year and a new order will be needed each year.
Emergency Treatment Plans:
If your child has an allergy, asthma, seizure disorder, or diabetes, an emergency treatment plan from their doctor is required in order to play sports or attend school trips. All plans must be completed by your child’s doctor, signed by a parent, and returned to the health office with associated emergency medications. Plans are valid for 1 school year and new forms are required to be submitted every year. Please call the health office to report any new medical conditions. It is encouraged that you send in your child’s Epi-Pens, inhalers, emergency seizure medications, and diabetic medications/supplies to be stored in the health office.
Annual Screenings:
All students participate in Wellness Day at the beginning of every school year. Additional screenings are conducted during PE class periods. The screenings include height, weight, blood pressure, vision, hearing and scoliosis. Referrals are sent home to students who do not pass a screening. If your child has a valid physical from their doctor, screenings by the school nurse are not required. If you would like to exempt your child from any of the screenings, please request the declination form and return it to the health office.
Accidents and Injuries:
If your child has sustained an injury at school, please notify the school nurse or athletic trainer as soon as possible. Insurance forms and instructions will be sent to your home address by mail and are to be completed and submitted by the parent/guardian.
Gym Excuses:
Parent Excuse - Parents can excuse students from PE class up to 3 times per marking period. For anything longer, a doctor’s note is required. To excuse your child from PE class, please call the health office directly.
Doctor’s Excuse – All doctor’s notes can be sent to the health office. Please make sure notes are detailed with start and end dates, follow up appointment dates, and any accommodations that may be needed. If your child requires use of a medical device such as crutches, brace, boot, etc., please make sure that is explained in the doctor’s note.
The school nurse is not permitted to excuse a student from physical education due to an illness or injury without a physician’s order or parent’s consent.
Crutches/Medical Devices:
Students who require the use of assistive medical devices (crutches, braces, boots, casts, etc.) require a doctor’s note. Please make sure notes are detailed with start and end dates, follow up appointment dates, and any accommodations required (extra time for passing in hallways, assistance carrying books, no PE or sports, etc.) Students must use the elevator and not take the stairs for their own safety. During a drill or evacuation, the student is not permitted to use the elevator and will be assisted down the stairs by a staff member.
Working Papers:
The school nurse may sign the physician portion of your child’s working papers if the top portions are completed by parent and employer and a current physical is on file in the health office. Without a valid physical, working papers will not be signed.
New Enrollment Students:
Entrance requirements for newly enrolled students are to be completed prior to the student’s start date.
New Students Transferring from a NJ School – Please submit a copy of the student’s immunization records. A physical is not required, but encouraged.
New Students Transferring from Out of State/Out of Country - A current physical from a doctor in NJ, immunization records, and any pertinent medical information is to be sent directly to the health office. Depending which country the student is coming from, a Tuberculosis test may also be required.
Immunizations:
Please visit the NJ Department of Health website for the most up to date immunization requirements for students in school. Summary of NJ School Immunization Requirements
Teens–N–Tots:
A valid physical and up to date immunization records are to be sent to the health office prior to your tot starting school, along with any emergency medical plans if applicable (i.e. Asthma, Allergy, Seizure, Diabetes). All Pre-K students are required to have an annual Flu vaccine by December 31st. Without documentation of your child’s Flu vaccine, they will not be permitted back to school after the holiday break. You may call the health office to discuss any medical concerns.