Health Office Information Sheet for Parents Page 2
MEDFORD TOWNSHIP PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Department of Pupil Personnel Services
HEALTH OFFICE INFORMATION SHEET FOR PARENTS
(please keep for future reference)
SCHOOL ABSENCE:
Parents are required to notify their child’s school EACH DAY that the child is absent. Please call as early in the day as is possible. Each school has a voice mail option for reporting absences.
POLICY ON MEDICATIONS:
The following steps must be taken in order for your child to receive any prescription or any other over the counter medication besides acetaminophen, ibuprofen, antacids, and cough drops while at school:
1. Written permission stating the name of the medication, time of administration and reason for the medication must be submitted by the doctor each year.
2. A note from the parent/guardian directing the school nurse to administer the medication at school must accompany the doctor’s written permission.
3. All medication must be in the original container clearly marked with the child’s name.
4. DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS, STUDENTS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO TRANSPORT THEIR OWN MEDICATION TO SCHOOL. Parents or a designated adult must bring the medication to school and hand it to a staff person. At the end of the school year, any unused medication must be picked up by a parent. Any unused medication not picked up by the last day of school will be discarded.
5. Any child diagnosed with a life threatening illness or condition that requires self-medication parent should contact the school nurse.
6. Our school physician has written orders for acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil) for students. We must also have written permission signed by a parent/guardian to administer these medications. The Student Demographic form includes check boxes for you to indicate your preference regarding the administration of acetaminophen/ibuprofen, cough drops, and antacids.
CRUTCHES:
The school nurse must be notified, and a doctor’s note provided, if your child will be using crutches for any period of time while in school. Students are not permitted to ride their regular school bus when using crutches.
OVER à
SCHOOL PHYSICALS:
Physical examinations will no longer be conducted at your child’s school. Recent revisions to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.2 mandates that medical examinations be conducted at the medical home (family
physician/pediatrician) of the student and a full report sent to the school. This regulation is supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Written proof of a physical examination is required of each child upon entering school in the district. Following this initial examination, it is important for children to be examined at least one time during each developmental stage including early childhood (preschool-grade 3), pre-adolescence (grades 4-6), and adolescence (grades 7-12). If your child does not have a physician or you are new to the area, please contact your child’s school nurse.
SCREENINGS:
Each child is measured for height, weight, and blood pressure annually. Screening for visual acuity shall be conducted biennially for students in kindergarten through grade eight. Screening for auditory acuity shall be conducted annually for students in kindergarten through grade three, and in grade seven. Screening for scoliosis shall be conducted biennially for students starting in grade five, at age ten. Any deviation from normal is reported to parents for possible follow-up. School nurses may elect to complete these screenings more frequently than described above, depending on student needs and available time.
STUDENT DEMOGRAPHIC FORM:
Please complete and sign the Student Demographic Form. Your emergency contact should be someone who lives locally (no more than 20 minutes away), and is available to pick up your child. If you cannot pick up your child, a note will be required on each occasion giving permission for us to release your child to a designated person. The note of permission must include this person’s name and relationship to your child, and must be signed and dated by the parent/guardian. If your emergency contact and/or work numbers change during the school year, please notify the school nurse immediately.
IMMUNIZATIONS:
If your child has had any recent immunizations, please send a copy of the physician’s certificate to the school nurse so she may update your child’s health record.
Parents are encouraged to share pertinent information regarding your child’s medical and emotional needs with the Nurse or Counselor at the school your child attends, as they are a part of a collaborative team. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of the following school nurses:
Allen School Mrs. Kathleen Gigantiello, RN 609-654-4203, ext. 6275
Chairville School Mrs. Sharon Conway, RN 609-654-9610, ext. 3008
Cranberry Pines School Mrs. Karyn Reilly, RN 856-983-2861, ext. 4560
Kirby’s Mill School Ms. Leah Johnson, RN 609-953-7014, ext. 3208
Taunton Forge School Mrs. Kathie Chinn, RN 609-654-6723, ext. 5240
Haines 6th Grade Center Mrs. Elaine Lipnitz, RN 609-654-4056, ext. 8534
Memorial School Mrs. Cecilia Pinard, RN 609-654-7707, ext. 8316
Revised 07/25/13-bjj (back/back pink) PPS-HEALTH OFFICE INFORMATION SHEET