The following is general health information for your reference. The same information is available in the school district calendar.

Internal Medication

The School Nurse CANNOT diagnose, prescribe medications, or treat without a doctor’s order. If it is necessary for a child to receive medications during school hours, the following procedures must be followed:

1. A written order from the physician prescribing the medication, including all over the counter medications, must state:
     a. Name of medication
     b. Dosage
     c. Time and frequency to be given
     d. Effect of medication
2. The nurse must receive written permission from the parent/guardian to give the medication.
3. The parent must bring medication to the school nurse in the original container or prescription bottle.
4. Medications cannot be brought to school, or returned home, with the child.
5. Children are not allowed to carry medications to school, or on the bus.
6. Forms to be completed by your doctor are available in the school Health Office.

Please contact the Health Office at your child’s school if: he/she is on medication at home which may have possible side effects; or if he/she has a newly diagnosed health problem.

Immunizations and Communicable Diseases

Communicable diseases affect the entire community. They must be controlled at home. Immunization is the best method of control against some communicable diseases. It should be given early in life and periodically thereafter. New York State requires an annual survey of the immunization records of all school children in the state. It also requires that all students, new entrants (this includes students beginning kindergarten OR any student entering Maine-Endwell Schools for the first time at any grade level) and current attendees meet the NY State immunization requirements which are:

1. Minimum of three doses of Polio vaccine (OPV or IPV).
2. Minimum of three DPT or DT or TD vaccines.
3. Measles, mumps and rubella (K-12) -  two doses of measles containing vaccine and one dose each of mumps and rubella (preferably as MMR)
Pre-K -  one dose of measles, mumps and rubella.
4. Three Hepatitis B shots are required for every students in grades K-12.
5. Chicken Pox vaccine (Varicella) for children in grades K-12 born on or after 1/1/98, or born on or after 1/1/94 and enrolling in 6th grade - one dose. Pre-K children born on or after 1/1/2000 - one dose.
6. PVC-7 for children in Universal Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten.

Please note: An official physician copy of varicella vaccine is required, or history of varicella disease as documented by a health care provider.

IN ADDITION:
Special Information for children 11 years old, or entering 6th Grade:
Effective Sept. 1, 2007:

•   Students who are entering 6th grade or a comparable age-level special education school, or program on or after 9/1/07, and who are 11 years of age or older must receive an immunization containing tetanus toxoids, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap).

•   If a student has received a Td, DT, or DTap vaccination within the last two years, the student’s Tdap vaccination should be deferred (with rare exceptions) until a period of two years has elapsed.

•   10 year old students who are entering 6th grade will not be required to receive a Tdap vaccine and will not be excluded from school, but they must be flagged, tracked and immunized when they turn 11 years old. There are two options available regarding 10 year old children who are entering 6th grade: 1) vaccinate those children using Boostrix, which is licensed for persons age 10-18 years, or 2) delay vaccination until those children are 11 years old.

 Annual Medical Examination

An annual physical examination by the family physician is recommended since it is important to detect any physical impairments and to provide early treatment of the same. The New York State Education Department requires a physical examination for the following children:
Those children entering the M-E district from another state, and those entering Universal Pre-Kindergarten, Early Kindergarten or Kindergarten.
•     Those children in grades 2, 4, 7 and 10.
•     Sports physicals are required for all students in grades 6-12 who participate in after-school sports programs. Students should check with their school’s health office prior to their sport season to verify if they need a sports physical. Fall sports physicals are done the preceding June.

Student Weight Status Report

The NYS Department of Health requests that schools report student weight status category information for the 2011-2012 school year. This includes pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and grades 2, 4, 7, and 10.
 
Each student’s health examination is required to include Body Mass Index (BMI) and determination of weight status. However, if a parent requests that this information not be included, then it will be excluded from the report. The BMI helps the provider know if the students’ weight is a healthy range or is to high or low. Only summary information is sent. No names and no information about individual students are sent. The information sent to NYS Department of Health will help officials develop programs that make it easier for children to be healthier.