Health Services

SCHOOL-QUARANTINE SCREENING RELEASE FORMS | Health Examination Requirements & Forms | Interscholastic Athletics | Working Papers | Immunizations | Medication in School | Health Screening | Attendance | Injury Reports & Insurance | Body Mass Index | Water Testing

The Washingtonville Central School District prioritizes the health, wellness and safety of all students and staff. The goal of school health services is to maintain healthy schools to reduce barriers to learning and enable all students to realize their full potential. Washingtonville health services personnel include school nurses, one registered nurse practitioner and an athletic trainer.

Health examination requirements

New York state law requires a health examination for all students entering the school district for the first time and when entering pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. The examination must be completed on the Required New York State Health Form by a New York state licensed physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner, and provided to the school within 30 days of the students’ first day of school. 

The following screenings are also required for students in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and grades 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11:

• Vision screening for distance and near vision acuity
• Hearing screening within 6 months of admission to school

In addition, scoliosis screenings are required for girls in grades 5 and 7, and boys in grade 9.  

As part of the health examination, please take the time to review your child’s immunization records with their pediatrician to ensure vaccination requirements for their age and grade are up to date (more about Immunization requirements). 

State law permits schools to request an oral health assessment when requesting the health exam. It may be completed by a registered dentist or NYS registered dental hygienist. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child’s school nurse or pediatrician.

FORMS 

• View/download the Required NYS School Health Examination Form 2020 
• Health Information Parental Consent 
• View a chart of NYS Health Screening Requirements
• Visit the NYS Center for School Health website for more information

Interscholastic athletics 

An annual health examination is required for students participating in interscholastic athletics.  Students wishing to try out, practice or participate in a sports team must have a current health examination on file with the school nurse’s office. A current physical is one that has been completed within 12 months of the month when the sport starts. Prior to the start of the sports season, parents must complete registration and  health history form on Family ID.  This needs to be done for each sport your student competes in. Visit the Athletics Information page for more information. 

Sport injuries/Concussions 

Student-athletes who are injured during a sports season must have written clearance from their personal physician before they are allowed to return to regular practices or games.  Students who have been diagnosed with a concussion will need to complete a 5-day return to play protocol administered by the athletic trainer or school nurse prior to return to sport. View the district’s Concussion Management Board Policy #7515. 

Working papers

Students ages 14-17 may obtain working papers for employment.  Parents/guardians must complete an application, and students must have a valid health examination, dated within one year of the application.  Application for Employment Certificate can be obtained in the main office and will need to be signed off by the school health office. Working papers may be obtained in the main office during July and August.

Required Immunizations

As per the NYS Department of Health, all students are required to have up-to-date proof of the following immunizations:

DTP or DTap

• Pre-kindergarten: 4 doses
• K-12: 4-5 doses

Tdap

• Pre-kindergarten: N/A
• K-12: 1 dose at sixth grade

Polio (IPV or OPV)

• Pre-kindergarten: 3 doses
• K-12: 3-5 doses

MMR

• Pre-kindergarten: 1 dose
• K-12: 2 doses

Hepatitis B

• Pre-kindergarten: 3 doses
• K-12: 3 doses

Type B influenza (HIB)

• Pre-kindergarten: 1-4 doses
• K-12: N/A

PCV

• Pre-kindergarten: 1-4 doses
• K-12: N/A

Varicella

• Pre-kindergarten: 1 dose
• K-12: 2 doses

Religious exemptions removed from vaccination law

With the worst outbreak of measles in more than 25 years taking place in the United States and outbreaks in New York state primarily driving the crisis, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on June 13, 2019, signed a bill into law that immediately removed the religious exemption for school vaccination requirements.

Per the amendment to Public Health Law Section 2164, children who attend child daycare or public, private or parochial school who previously had a religious exemption must now receive their first age-appropriate dose in each immunization series by June 28, 2019, in order to remain in daycare or school. All other children who do not have their required immunizations face a deadline of 14 days from the start of school in the fall for their first dose vaccinations. Parents/guardians of these children must show within 30 days of the first day of school that appointments have been made for follow-up doses.

Medication in School

Students may not carry medications on their person on school premises with the exception of life saving medications (e.g., Epi-Pen and inhalers) accompanied by a physician-signed self-carry order. 

Students who require any medication at school--including over-the-counter items such as Tylenol, Advil, creams, or lozenges--must have a permission slip on file signed by their physician and parent.

In order for a school nurse to administer medication during school hours, be it prescription or over the counter, the following are required by the State of New York:

• A written/signed authorization from the student’s physician including name of the medication, dosage and time to be administered;
•  A parent/guardian permission to administer the medication;
• Parents/guardians must assume the responsibility to deliver the medication directly to the school nurse in the original, pharmacy-labeled container.
• All medication shall be safe and securely stored for the exclusive access of authorized personnel.
• No student shall be permitted to possess medication on school premises without appropriate documentation for emergency medications provided by the child’s physician. Please contact your child’s school nurse for the necessary forms. 

Authorization form for the administration of medication

Health Screening: Should my child come to school today? 

The district has always asked parents to keep students at home if they are not well enough to participate in school activities. In the context of COVID-19, parents are now asked to consider the health of the entire household, not just the child.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the potential risk of exposure to our workforce, the district has implemented a simple, daily self-screen for all students and staff. Parents answering for their children, should answer from the student perspective: Daily COVID-19 Screening Attestation online form

Before returning to in-person learning, affected students must follow established protocols and procedures. For complete information, consult the Health & Safety section of the Reopening Plan FAQ’s. 

School Quarantine Release Protocols (starting March 8, 2021)

The Orange County Department of Health (OCDOH) requires medical clearance for individuals to return to school following a quarantine. 

For individuals who test positive for COVID, and/or those placed in quarantine for an exposure outside of school, a release letter from an outside medical provider is still required to return to school. 

However, under revised guidance from the OCDOH, and the approval of the district’s Medical Director, there is a change in the release protocol for individuals quarantined by the district, following exposure to a positive case in the school setting. This change goes into effect starting March 8, 2021, and does not apply to individuals placed on school quarantine prior to that date. 

Students, faculty and staff placed in quarantine due to a school exposure may continue to submit an outside provider’s release note OR complete a “Screening Release Form from School Quarantine” to be cleared to return to school. By submitting the screening form, individuals attest their compliance with quarantine guidelines and the absence of symptoms.

Screening Release Forms from School Quarantine are school- and/or staff-specific. Please choose the form that applies to you/your child. If you have any questions, please contact the office of your child’s school nurse.

• High School Screening Release Form from School Quarantine
• Middle School Screening Release Form from School Quarantine
• Little Britain Elementary Screening Release Form from School Quarantine
• Round Hill Elementary Screening Release Form from School Quarantine
• Taft Elementary Screening Release Form from School Quarantine
• Employee Screening Release Form from School Quarantine

Attendance

Believing that regular school attendance and student success have a direct correlation, the district strongly encourages students to be present every day. Our goal is to have students participate in their education for the mandated 180 days a year, notwithstanding changes in instructional models, from in-person, to hybrid and remote. 

If a student is going to be absent from school, parents/guardians are asked to call or email the attendance/nurse's office by the start of the school day to report the reason for the absence. Otherwise, the school will make a reasonable attempt to contact the parents regarding the student's absence. 

Please refer to your child’s school Attendance pages for school-specific protocols:  High School Attendance Office / Middle School Attendance Office / Little Britain Health and Attendance Office / Round Hill Attendance and Health / Taft Attendance and Health

For more information, view the Board of Education’s Comprehensive Student Attendance Policy

Injuries, First Aid and Accident Reports

If your child is injured during the school day, basic first aid will be rendered as needed. If the injury is extensive, a paramedic call may be necessary to transport the student for medical attention. The nurse will notify the parents/guardians of the incident that day. An Accident Report of all serious injuries will be kept on file. 

Insurance 

School district accident insurance covers students for accidents that occur during school activities. It is non-duplicating coverage, meaning the family must first file with its own health and accident insurance plan. Forms for medical expenses that are not thus covered may be obtained from the school nurse at the child’s school.

Secondary insurance policy

A limited accident insurance covers students during school hours as well as intramural and interscholastic athletics (also PE programs) and is provided by the Board of Education. This policy only supplements your own health insurance coverage. Please be aware that the school coverage is secondary. If you are injured while in school and have medical expenses, they must be submitted through your insurance. For more information, contact your school nurse.

BMI reporting to New York state

Because New York state is interested in data about children’s health, schools are required to keep height and weight data and calculate students’ Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is a way of checking for underweight or overweight children based on their height and weight. Every year, the state Department of Health surveys some school districts for the number of students in each of six possible weight status categories, based on students’ age and gender. If the state surveys Broadalbin-Perth, the district will only share group data (for instance, the number of second-grade boys whose BMI is below the fifth percentile); the district will not share individual names or information. Parents/guardians who wish their child’s data to be excluded from such group calculations, must contact their child’s school nurse annually by Dec. 15. More information: Student Weight Status Category Reporting

Water Lead Testing

Faucets and drinking fountains at all schools in the State are mandated to be tested for the presence of lead as outlined in a September 6, 2016 law authorized by Governor Andrew Cuomo. New State health regulations mandate that drinking water in schools throughout the State be tested to ensure that lead levels do not exceed the “action level” of 15 parts per billion.

In 2016, the District had lead testing done in all of its schools. The results of the testing can be obtained by contacting Paul Nienstadt at the number (845)-497-4000 ext. 27111.