We are looking forward to a happy and healthy school year! To help us keep your children and other students healthy, please read through the following guidelines that we follow at the health office at PCSST. 

 

• They have persistent cold symptoms: cough, runny or stuffy nose, headaches, congestion
• They have a persistent sore throat
• They have diarrhea. This could indicate a stomach virus. 
• They have a temperature of 100 degrees or greater

• They have been vomiting, vomited the night before, or the morning of school 

• They have a skin rash or sores 

• They wake up with a pink or red eye with sticky or dried, crusty drainage around it

• They have had a recent head injury or concussion.

• They have lice or nits in their hair

• All medication must be brought in by an adult or parent. DO NOT send your child to school with medication unless the school nurse is aware. 
• Any medication brought in must be in the original container or prescription container with the student’s information on it. Please make sure that medications are not expired.
• All medications must be picked up at the end of the school year by a parent or they will be disposed of. Medications may not be sent home with your student. 
• You child may NOT administer or give themselves medication in school unless they have the proper paperwork and documentation from their doctor and parent and only if the school nurse is aware.  
• The school nurse is NOT allowed to administer or apply any medication to or on your child without a doctor’s order or paperwork and your signed permission. A Physician’s Order form and Medication Policy form must be filled out. Please refer to the forms page for more information or to download these forms* 

 

• In order for your child to be able to receive their asthma medication (inhaler or nebulizer) in school an Asthma Action Plan must be completed and signed by your child’s doctor and yourself. For more information on the Asthma Action Plan or to download the form, please refer to the forms page. 
• All asthma medications must be brought in their original prescription container with your child’s label on it. Please make sure that medications are not expired. 
• All asthma medications will be kept in the nurse’s office. Permission must be given from the doctor and yourself in order for your child to carry their asthma medication with them in school.
• All medications must be picked up at the end of the school year by a parent or they will be disposed of. Medications may not be sent home with your student. 
• Should your child possibly need a nebulizer treatment in school, the health office has a nebulizer machine. Please provide the medication, mask, and tubing for your child. 

• Food allergies or insect allergies are serious medical issues and are life threatening.
• Please inform the school nurse and your child’s teachers for any serious allergies. Please make sure to complete and sign the Medical Information Release form. If that form is not signed, the school nurse does not have your permission to share your child’s important medical information with the appropriate staff members. Please refer to the forms page to download the form.
• In order for the school nurse to administer an Epi Pen or allergy medication to your child, a Food Allergy Plan, Physician’s Orders, and Epinephrine Permission Request form must be completed by your doctor and yourself. Please refer to the forms page to download a copy of these necessary forms.
• Please bring in your child’s Epi Pen in the original prescription container with your child’s label on it. If your doctor orders for benadryl for your child, please make sure to bring the benadryl liquid in the original store or prescription container. Please make sure medications are not expired.
• All medications must be picked up at the end of the school year by a parent or they will be disposed of. Medications may not be sent home with your student. 

Immunizations:

• The State of New Jersey mandates that students are in compliance with the mandated vaccinations in order to attend school.
• If your child is not in compliance, they will NOT be able to attend school until the proper documentation from the doctor is received with the doctor’s signature and/or stamp. 
• Please refer to the health forms page for more immunization information.

• One of the job responsibilities of a school nurse is to perform health screenings on all students. 

• The screenings consist of height, weight, blood pressure, vision, and hearing.

• For any abnormal findings, a referral letter will be sent home with your child and a phone call made to you by the school nurse to have a doctor further assess your child.

• Please make sure to return the referral letter back to school to inform the school nurse of the doctor’s findings and recommendations. 

 

To report an absence:

• The number to call to report your child absent is 973 247-0600. There is an answering machine for leaving messages after hours. This is not the number to the nurse’s office. If you have a concern that needs to be discussed with the nurse, please call 973-247-0600 ext 1115.
• If your child is not feeling well and as the parent you decide to keep them home, please always notify the school staff or nurse.

• If your child is absent due to an illness, a doctor’s note must be provided for the absence to be excused.

• Keep in mind only a doctor’s note can excuse an absence (for more detailed information please see the school student handbook).

Thank you for taking the time to read through our health office guidelines and familiarizing yourself with our policies. Thank you for partnering with us to keep our school safe and healthy.