Dear K-1 PCSST Parents, 

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. 

DO NOT send your child to school if: 

• 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*

*DO NOT give your child tylenol (acetaminophen) or motrin (ibuprofen) and then send them to school. They must be fever free (temperature below 100 degrees for 24 hours WITHOUT medicine before coming back to school.

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

*They may return to school after not vomiting for 24 hours.

• They have a skin rash or sores* 

*Please inform the school nurse of any skin rashes or sores. The school may require a doctor’s note in order to return to school.

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

*A doctor’s note is NEEDED in order to return to school to make sure that your child does not have pink eye.

• They have had a recent head injury or concussion.*

*A doctor’s note is NEEDED in order for the student to be cleared by a doctor to return to school and participate in physical education, gym, or recess. 

• They have lice or nits in their hair*

*They may not return to school unless their hair has been treated with medicated shampoo and the lice/nits have been cleaned out. Please refer to the Lice Information page for more information on our school lice policy. 

Please remember that sick children can make other children and staff members sick. The best way for your child to get better is to stay away from germs and other children and get appropriate rest. 

Medications:

• 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* 

*This includes all over the counter medications, such as cough drops, tylenol (acetaminophen), motrin (ibuprofen), seasonal allergy medication, cold or cough syrup, sunscreen, and creams. This also includes prescription antibiotics, cough medicine, and prescription creams. It also includes inhalers or other asthma medication. These are the school orders as mandated by the school doctor. 

Please remember that following these medication guidelines keeps your child and other children in the school safe. Medication that is kept on your child that the school nurse is not aware of poses a serious threat to the safety and well being of all those in the school. 

Asthma medications:

• 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. 

Epi Pen/allergy medications:

• 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. 

ATTENTION PARENTS: Please be mindful of the foods/snacks that are brought to class for any parties or events. Our school has students with peanut allergies and other food allergies. Please make sure to check with your child’s teacher for any prohibited foods in the classroom or bring peanut free snacks. We appreciate your help!

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.

Health screenings:

• One of the job responsibilities of a school nurse is to perform screenings on all students. 
• The screenings consist of height, weight, blood pressure, vision, hearing, and scoliosis screenings for students 10 years of age or older.
• 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 973 333-4729. 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 973-333-4729.
• 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).

Physical education/gym excuses: 

• If your child needs to be excused from physical education, please send him/her with a note explaining why they need to be excused
• Students needing to be excused from physical education longer than one day will need to have a note supplied by their physician.
• Please be advised that if your child is excused from physical education, his/her activities at recess time will be restricted also.

Phone numbers & addresses:

• It is very important that we have current phone numbers, address & emails! If you have a change in address or telephone number please let us know. If you are going away and someone else will be staying with your child, please provide us with that person’s contact information. Without them, the health office will be unable to reach you should your child become sick or an emergency occur. 
• Please provide reliable emergency contacts that may be contacted by the health office and can pick up your child in case you are unavailable. 

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. We can’t do it without you!

Mrs. Kathleen Bewighouse, RN 

School Nurse