Health Office/Attendance

Ashlyn Hopkins, R.N.
ashlyn.hopkins@palmaccsd.org
Primary School Nurse
315-597-3400
Fax: 315-597-3898

Justine Ramos, LPN
Justine.Ramos@palmaccsd.org
LPN/Attendance
315-597-6609

 

What the School Nurse Does...
 

• Provides emergency first aid, and appropriate medical assistance as needed.
• Conducts health screenings for vision, hearing, dental, scoliosis, height and weight and other concerns as needed. 
• Evaluates and monitors communicable and nuisance diseases.
• Implements and monitors students' compliance with state immunization laws
• Makes referral to appropriate community agencies
• Evaluates and assesses student health needs, provides health counseling and conducts health-related classroom presentations
• Serves as a liaison between home and school regarding health concerns; makes home visits, takes health histories and assesses long-term illnesses
• Works with Committee on Special Education to develop objectives for the students' Individualized Educational Plan
• Serves as a resource person for faculty and staff and community agencies.

 

Guidelines for Keeping Your Child Home

• A fever (temperature) higher than 100 degrees in the past 24 hours. Children should be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications (such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen) before returning to school
• Vomiting in the past 24 hours
• Diarrhea in the the past 24 hours
• A suspicious rash
• Chills
• A headache lasting a day or two, or reoccurs
• A bad cough or cold symptoms (very runny nose or bad cough, especially if it has kept the child awake at night)
• A sore throat that persists for 24 hours especially if accompanied by a fever, rash, and/or nausea.
• Redness of an eye, especially if accompanied by itching or draining

 

When your child is absent or tardy from school, please call or email the health office. Please remember to send in a written note of explanation when your child returns.  

For health related absences and/or appointments, parents are encouraged to provide a written excuse from the health care provider.  

Over the Counter Medications (OTC)
An over the counter medication is any medication that does NOT require a prescription for you to obtain it. (Examples are acetaminophen or ibuprofen.) However, in order for the school nurse to give ANY OTC'S, a written order from your child's medical provider‘s office must be on file each school year in addition to your signature. For a copy of this form visit the related file section below.
 
Prescription Medications
Any prescription medication that your child will need to be administered to them during the school year, requires an order from the prescribing medical provider. Please see our policy and form in the related file section below.

Physicals
As of July 1, 2018 New York State law requires a health examination for all students entering the school district for the first time and when entering Pre-K or K, and 1st grade. The examination must be completed by a New York State licensed physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner and on the approved NYSED Student Health Examination Form for School.
 
If you have not had your child's required  physical done by their own primary care provider yet, but are planning to do so, please let the health office know the date of the appointment.
 
Students that have not received a new entrant, Pre-K/K or 1st grade physical by their medical provider will be provided one at NO charge by the district's school physician or nurse practitioner.  
 
Please have your child’s medical care provider  complete the health appraisal form at their annual physical. A copy below is in our related file section.
 
Dental Health Certificates
A dental certificate which states your child has been seen by a dentist or dental hygienist is also asked for (not mandated)  if your child is a new entrant or entering grades Pre-K or 1. For a list of dentists and registered dental hygienists who offer dental services on a free or reduced cost basis please visit our related file section.
 

Immunization Requirements for PRIMARY SCHOOL:
New York State Law Section 2164 requires certain immunizations (shots) to enter and attend school. Please check with your health care provider as soon as possible to make sure that your child has all the needed immunizations.  They are listed below.*

Required Immunizations for Pre-Kindergarten/UPK

Required Immunizations for Students in Grade K, 1, and 2

*In addition to the above doses all vaccines must be given  in according to the  Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) guidelines.*

 

---

 

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 health care provider 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 mandatory survey by the New York State Department of Health.  If our school is selected to be part of the 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 contact the health office by January 2nd.

 

---

Wayne County Public Health Immunization Clinic for children:

Third Wednesday of every month from 1:00-4:00 pm by appointment only. Bring copy of your child’s immunization record with you. Call 315-946-5749 to schedule an appointment.

---

 

Related Files: