It can be hard to know when to send children to school if they tell you that they do not feel well. Usually, the best place for them is in school, but there are some times when keeping them home to rest or calling for an appointment with your health care provider is necessary.
Please keep your child home and/or contact your child’s health care provider for:
- Fever greater than 100.4° OR 100° if your child is not able to focus in class
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea within the last 24 hours
- Severe sore throat along with fever and feeling ill for more than 48 hours, or after exposure to Strep throat infection
- Honey-crusted sores around the nose or mouth or rash on other body parts
- Large amounts of mucous (liquid) from their nose, with face pain or headache
- Severe ear pain or fluid coming from the ear
- Severe headache, especially with fever
If your child has a fever, it is not a good idea to give them medicine like Tylenol or Advil and send them to school because, as soon as the medicine wears off, the fever may return and you will be called to come and pick up your child.
RSV and influenza (flu) are both respiratory viruses that usually circulate during the winter and generally affect younger children. Symptoms include:
- Runny nose
- Decrease in appetite
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Fever
- Wheezing
Routine annual flu vaccination is recommended for all people six months of age and older who do not have contraindications. Flu vaccination is the best way to prevent flu.
Please keep children home when they have a fever OR are ill with any RSV/Flu like symptoms. They should remain home for 24 hours after the fever ends.
Back-to-school student health requirements
Please note the following health requirements for back-to-school:
- Incoming 12th graders who have not had their second meningococcal vaccine have until Sept. 15 to receive it in order to attend school.
- Incoming 6th graders who have turned 11 require a Tdap vaccine by Sept. 15 in order to attend school. Students who have not yet turned age 11 when entering sixth grade have 14 days from their birthday to get vaccinated.
- Incoming 7th graders who have not had their meningococcal vaccine have until Sept. 15 in order to attend school.
- All students in grades K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 require a physical, dated from 9/1/2023 to present, as mandated by NYS. This is required within the first 30 days of school or by Oct. 13. If you have an appointment scheduled after Oct. 13, please email the health office with that date. Please send this in to your child’s respective school health office.
- If your health provider is unable to fit in your child for a vaccine, please schedule a nursing visit. Uninsured families can call the Orange County Department of Health at 845-291-2330 for assistance. Questions should be sent to your child’s school nurse.
Health Letter for Back To School
Immunization requirements
Students must have an up-to-date immunization record, which complies with New York State Department of Health requirements. Vaccinations for the following are due within the first 14 days of school. Students cannot attend school without them.
- 6th grade: Tdap vaccine (due upon entering 6th grade if age 11, or within 14 days of their birthday if turning 11 during the school year)
- 7th and 12th grade: Meningococcal vaccine
If you have questions, please contact your child’s school nurse and/or healthcare provider.
Orange County Board of Health Immunization Clinics
Physical exam requirements
Education Law requires a physical exam for new entrants and students in Grades Pre-K or K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11; annually for interscholastic sports and working papers as needed; or as required by the Committee on Special Education (CSE) or Committee on Preschool Special education (CPSE).
As per New York State Educational Law, physicals MUST comply with the following criteria:
- Completed on the Required NYS Health Examination Form
- Physical is dated with the date of the examination
- Completed in its entirely (if an area is not assessed, indicate Not Done)
- Signed by the health care provider
Physicals not meeting the above requirements will not be accepted.
Read more about physical exam requirements here.
Health certificates (examination performed by your private health care provider) are required to be submitted within 30 days of the start of the school year. Let this serve as notice that if the parent/guardian has not submitted one to the school within the 30-day time frame, the school’s intent is to provide a physical examination by health appraisal of their child at the school by the district medical director or the district’s nurse practitioner if the parent/guardian does not provide the school with a health certificate by Nov 1, 2024.
Oral Health Assessment
New York State law (Chapter 281) permits schools to request an oral health assessment at the same time a health examination is required. Your child may have a dental check-up during this school year to assess his/her fitness to attend school.
New York State Screenings
All new students enrolling in the district for the first time — along with children entering pre-Kindergarten, kindergarten, and grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 in the fall — are required to have a health exam.
Students are screened in school for vision, hearing and scoliosis according the New York State mandates. Parents/guardians will be notified of any findings on the screening that would require medical follow-up by their family doctor. The state mandates are:
- Vision screening – All new students of any age plus grades pre-K, K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11
- Hearing screening – All new students of any age plus grades pre-K, K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11
- Scoliosis screening – Girls grades 5 and 7, and boys in grade 9
Medications in school
Parents and guardians may drop off medication beginning on the first day of school or thereafter, at any time during school hours. All medications must be in each student’s own original containers and properly labeled. The nurse will store all medications and dispense from the Health Office as needed.
New York State law allows student with asthma, allergies and/ or diabetes the right to independently carry and use their rescue inhaler, Epipen, insulin and other related diabetic medications/supplies.
Students must have a prescription from the doctor filed in the Health Office giving administration advisory and permission to carry. All other medications including prescription, over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, Advil, Midol, sinus medications, eye drops, allergy medicine, etc., must have a doctor’s note and be kept in the Health Office.
Medical exemption from physical education classes
Students are required by the State Education Department to participate in physical education classes. If not able to participate, a doctor’s note with the specific restriction and expected time period of restriction must be clearly stated. Students who have had a medical exemption from PE may not participate in recess or sports. Students must have a written clearance to return to participation in their PE class/recess/sports.
Casts, splints, braces, slings, and other orthopedic devices
To ensure the safety of all students while in school, any student wearing a cast, splint, sling, brace or other orthopedic device is required to provide the school nurse with a note from a healthcare provider. The note should include the expected time period and any restrictions, precautions or accommodations that must be taken in school.
Attendance Matters
The district is an active partner with students and caretakers in the task of ensuring that all students meet or exceed the New York State Learning Standards. Consistent school attendance, academic success, and school completion have a positive correlation. The district has developed a Comprehensive Student Attendance Policy to help guide students to achieve their most positive outcome.
In addition, the district has created a page on its website, Attendance Matters, with useful information for caretakers. It explains the importance of good attendance and includes some tactics on how to help your students make school a priority.
Dress Code
Students are expected to dress appropriately for school and school functions. The dress code is part of the district’s code of conduct. Click here to view the code of conduct.