Health & Wellness

Immunizations:

Children attending Pre-K through 12th grade in New York State must receive all required doses of vaccines (immunizations) on the recommended schedule in order to attend or remain in school. There are no nonmedical exemptions to school immunization requirements in New York State. Parents/Guardians are responsible for providing the building School Nurse with proof of up-to-date immunizations. 

Within 14 days of the first day of school or day care, parents must:

Show proof of their child's up-to-date vaccinations, 

OR

Provide a valid medical exemption from vaccination.

In order to attend or remain in school or day care, children who are unvaccinated or overdue must receive at least the first dose of all required vaccines within the first 14 days of school. They also must receive subsequent vaccines in the series within a 14-day period of when they are due to complete the immunization series. Detailed immunization requirements by grade level are available on the NYSDOH website.

Physicals: New York State Education Law requires physical examinations of children:

• When entering the school district for the first time

• In grades Pre K, K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11

• In order to participate in interscholastic sports

• In order to obtain working papers

• When conducting individual evaluation or reevaluation of a student suspected of having a disability or a student with a disability

Each physical needs to include the students body mass index (BMI) and weight status category. To help you meet this state requirement, our school healthcare provider will be conducting physical exams periodically during the school year. If you prefer your own doctor, forms are available here on our website, although many medical offices have the form electronically within their own computer system. Your doctor’s office can fax the required NYS School Health Examination form to the appropriate building. Health examinations must be dated no more than 12 months prior to the start of the school year in which they are required (or the date of entrance to the school for newly enrolled students.)

Dental Exams:

Education Law §903 requires public schools to request a Dental Health Certificate at the same time a health certificate/appraisal is required. This is requested as part of the expanded health screenings in New York State. The dental certificate may be signed by a Dentist or Dental Hygienist. Students will be permitted to attend school regardless of whether or not they have a dental certificate. A copy of the Dental Health Certificate can be found here on our website, although many offices have their own forms which are accepted.

Screenings: Mount Markham Central School's Health Services program supports all students' academic success by promoting health in the school setting.  One way that we provide care for your student is by performing the health screenings as mandated by the State of New York. Screenings will be performed at school by the nurse for the required grades.  A letter will be sent home if your student needs follow-up with your healthcare provider. Please call the school’s Health Office if you have any questions or concerns.

During this school year, the following screenings will be required or completed at school:

Vision

• Distance and near acuity for all newly entering students and students in Pre-K or Kindergarten, Grades 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11.

• Color perception screening for all newly entering students.

Hearing

• Hearing screening for all newly entering students and students in Pre-K or Kindergarten, Grades 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11.

Scoliosis

• Scoliosis (spinal curvature) screening for all girls in grades 5 and 7, and boys in grade 9. Also performed by our school healthcare provider as part of a physical exam if you choose for your child to receive their physical while in school.

  
  

As part of the required school health examinations, we measure the weight and height of students. These measurements are used to calculate the student’s Body Mass Index (BMI), which helps healthcare providers assess whether the student’s weight falls within a healthy range. According to New York State Education Law, BMI and weight status group information must be included in the student’s school health examination.

Pursuant to New York State Education Law Sections 903 and 904, each year a sample of public school districts is selected to participate in Student Weight Status Category Reporting. If Mount Markham School District is selected for this survey, the building nurse will submit information from student health examination forms for students in grades Pre-K, K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 from the previous school year. This information is reported to the New York State Department of Health, but the names and individual details of students will not be included. If you prefer to exclude your child’s information from this survey report, you can do so.

If you do not wish to have your child’s weight status group information included in this year's Health Department survey, please complete the attached form available on our website.
 

New York State law requires that the following procedures be followed when medication must be administered to a student during the school day:

In order for a medication to be given during the school day, the nurse must have:

• A healthcare provider order including the frequency and dosage of the prescribed medication

• Parent/Guardian signature

• Prescription medication in a pharmacy labeled container, labeled with the student’s name

• Over-the-counter medication in the original packaging, labeled with the student’s name

Unless these procedures are followed, medication will not be administered in school. The school nurse is unable to administer medications without ALL of the required information. This includes over-the-counter medications. Please note that the school does not stock any over the counter medication. 

All medications MUST be delivered to school by an adult and cannot be sent with your child on the bus.

If the healthcare provider determines that your middle or high school student can safely carry and use their medication independently, they must provide written confirmation that your child is capable of doing so. Your permission and signature are also required.

NYS regulations require new medication orders for medication administration in school each year. This applies to both prescription and non-prescription medications. Please be aware that some medication dosages are calculated by weight and your child's medication should be reviewed for the next school year.

Medication will need to be picked up by a parent/guardian at the end of the school year.

If your child has a known hypersensitivity or allergy to substances such as food or insects, it is imperative that you alert your school nurse before the first days of school. In severe reactions, children may develop hives, itching,and swelling, which can lead immediately to difficulty in breathing. Prompt recognition and treatment could save your child’s life.

A parent/guardian should bring the child’s prescribed medication(s) to the school nurse with a written order from the healthcare provider. The nurse will coordinate with parents to develop an emergency care plan specifically for your child if the prescriber has not already done so.

Our goal is to provide safe and immediate treatment for your child should the need arise. Communication of these needs is the first step!

There is a form that can be given to your child's healthcare provider to be filled out and provide the school with an Emergency Plan specific to your child should they be exposed to their known allergen.