School Nurse: Kimberly Whelan, BSN, RN
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Registered Nurse
(518) 862-4962
Fax: (518) 437-8677
kwhelan@techvalleyhigh.org
The mission of the School Health Services Program at TVHS is to enhance the educational process through the promotion, protection, maintenance and improvement of the health status of students, faculty and staff. This requires the mobilization of home, school and community resources to assure the well-being of students and staff, to create a healthy school environment, and to assist all students to function at their highest level of physical, emotional, social, and intellectual health in order to obtain the maximum benefit from their educational opportunities.
Health Resources:
The following information pertains to New York State regulations and policies governing School Health Services.
Health Appraisals
Education Law (Section 903) and Regulations of the Commissioner of Education require physical examinations of children when they:
- Enter a school district for the first time
- Are in grades 9 and 11
- Participate in interscholastic sports
- Need working papers
- Are referred to the Committee on Special Education
- Require an appraisal deemed necessary by school authorities to determine an appropriate educational program for the individual.
Examinations must be completed by a NYS licensed physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner.
As of July 1, 2018 the only form that may be used to document health evaluations is the approved form titled NYSED (New York State Education Department) Student Health Examination Form.
If your child has had a physical in the past year or you plan to have your child examined by his/her doctor, please have a physical form filled out by the doctor and returned to school (access the NYSED Student Health Examination Form here).
If a current physical and immunization summary is not on file in the health office prior to September 31, per New York State policy, your child cannot attend school until this has been provided. A school physical can also be scheduled at your child’s home school. The physical appraisal must be dated no more than 12 months prior to the start of the school year in which the examination is required.
Additionally, a law was recently enacted that expands health screenings to include the dental health of students in New York State. Each district will now require a dental certificate as well as a health physical. You do not need to schedule a dental exam if your child has been seen within the past 12 months.
Please return all completed paperwork to the school as soon as it’s completed.
Dental Certificates
Amendments to Education Law (Section 903) and Regulations of the Commissioner of Education require school districts to request dental certificates for children when they enter school for the first time and in grades 9 and 11. Dental health certificates must contain a report of a comprehensive dental examination and be signed by a dentist licensed to practice in New York State.
Medication
School personnel are often asked to give medicine to students during school hours. Many medicines can be taken effectively outside school hours. If your doctor feels it is necessary for medication to be administered in school, contact the School Health Office to obtain a “Medication Permission” form. To administer medication to students in school the following steps must be taken for both prescription and over the counter medications.
1. Submit a written order to administer medication in school from your child’s physician. The pharmacy label does not constitute a written order and cannot be used in lieu of a written order from a licensed physician. Faxed orders from licensed physicians are acceptable. Verbal permissions from the physician to administer medication are not acceptable.
2. Submit your written request that medication be administered to your child in school as ordered by his/her physician.
3. Deliver your child’s medication directly to the Health Office in the original, properly labeled container. Medications should not be transported daily to and from school. Parents/guardians should ask the pharmacist for two containers, one to remain at home and one at school. Medications must not be transported to school by students on school buses. This presents a danger to all students.
Medical Excuse – Physical Education
It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to keep the school informed of any health condition that would affect their child’s safety, school performance, or toleration of physical activity. If for any reason a child is unable to participate in the physical education program, the parent/guardian must provide appropriate documentation from the attending physician indicating the problem, the specific limitations and the duration of those limitations as soon as possible. Medical excuses from a parent must be followed up with a doctor’s note by the next scheduled gym day. If a child is to be excused from the regular physical education program for more than two weeks, the parent/guardian must obtain information from the attending physician regarding the student’s ability to participate in an adaptive physical education program.
Health Problems
It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to inform the school of any contagious diseases or unusual health problems that the child may have. In this way the school can plan for the child’s safety and special needs in order to maximize the child’s educational experience.
Screening
Vision and Hearing screening is provided for students in grades 9 and 11.
Body Mass Index (BMI) Survey
Each year, a sample of schools in New York State are required to participate in a Department of Health survey to collect data on BMI and students’ weight status category. Only summary information is included in the survey. No names or identifying information about individual students are shared. Parents/guardians must notify the School Nurse in the school their child attends if they choose to have their child’s BMI information excluded from the survey report.
Emergency Contact
In the event a child is sick or injured in school, it is essential that the school have telephone numbers where a parent or responsible adult can be contacted. If the emergency contacts should change during the school year, parents/guardians MUST notify the school immediately and provide accurate, working phone numbers where a responsible party may be reached.