Welcome to the Black Rock School Health Room. Your nurse is Mrs. Doreen French, R.N. This page is designed to educate you about the services offered, state mandated requirements to enter school, and health and safety education. I appreciate any medical updates with your child to keep us better informed. Please call me with any questions or concerns you may have. You can reach me at:

        860-283-3040, ext 111, or             

       dfrench@thomastonschools.org            

SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES

Optimal learning requires good emotional and physical health.  As part of the education team, we have many roles as the school nurse:

·                                 Provide health care for ill and injured students.

·                                 Leaders of the emergency response team to assure efficient and expert handling of emergency and crisis medical situations.

·                                 Conduct health screenings.  (Yearly vision, audiometry, and tympanometry)

·                                 Monitor student immunization and physical exam status.

·                                 Medical resource for faculty, parents and students.

·                                 Provide safe and healthy school environment.

·                                 Health education.

·                                 Identification and solution of students’ health and education problems.  (Participate in PPT, 504 and Strategy meetings)

It is our hope that by improving the health status and health knowledge of students, we have helped to strengthen the education process.

PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT

In accordance with Connecticut State Law and Thomaston Board of Education, a health assessment is required prior to public school enrollment.

Preschool students

Pre-kindergarten students entering preschool must have a health assessment documented on the yellow State of Connecticut Early Childhood Health Assessment Record. The health assessment must be dated no earlier than 365 days prior to school entrance. For the 2008-09 school year, the physical must not be dated prior to September 2, 2007.

http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/PDF/deps/student/health/EC_HAR.pdf

Kindergarten students

All students entering kindergarten must have a health assessment documented on the blue State of Connecticut Department of Education Health Assessment Record (form HAR-3) prior to school entry per Connecticut State Law C.G. S. Secs. 10-204a and 10-206. The health assessment must meet the mandated screening/test requirements of Connecticut State Law C.G. S. Sec 10-206. These areas are asterisked (*) on the blue health form.

Mandated Screening/Test under Connecticut State Law C.G.S. Sec 10-206

·         Height, weight and blood pressure*

·         Hematocrit or hemoglobin test*

·         Gross dental and postural screenings*

·         Vision and auditory screening*

·         Chronic Disease Assessment*

·         Documentation of complete up to date immunization at the time of entry into Black Rock School in accordance with state law C G S 10-204a and the State of CT Department of Public Health Immunization Requirements for Students in Connecticut public schools*.

*These are mandated screening/test under Connecticut State Law and must be completed in order for your child to begin school on the first day. Incomplete forms will be returned, thus, delaying your child’s entry.

The health assessment must be dated no earlier than 365 days prior to school entrance. For the 2008-09 school year, the physical must not be dated prior to September 2, 2007.

http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/PDF/deps/student/health/HAR.pdf

Transfer students

If transferring from another school in Connecticut, the student may submit a health assessment done 365 days prior to school entrance or a health assessment dated during the year the child entered kindergarten.

If transferring from out of state, the student must submit a health assessment documented on the blue State of Connecticut Department of Education Health Assessment Record (form HAR-3), and dated within the last 365 days prior to entrance. If the student is from another country, the physical and immunization information must be completed by a CT licensed health care provider.

http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/PDF/deps/student/health/HAR.pdf

**Forms will not be accepted unless they are in full compliance with all requirements**

**No student will be admitted into Black Rock School until the school nurse has reviewed the new entrant’s completed health assessment and immunization records. **

IMMUNIZATIONS                                 

Immunizations required for Preschool are as follows:

DtaP/DTP: 4 doses

Polio: 3 doses

MMR:  1 dose on or after the 1^st birthday

Hib: 1 dose on or after the 1^st birthday

Hep B: 3 doses

Varicella: 1 dose on or after the 1^st birthday

Immunizations required for Kindergarten are as follows:

DtaP/DTP: At least 4 doses. The last dose must be given on or after the 4^th birthday.

Polio: At least 3 doses. The last dose must be given on or after the 4^th birthday.

MMR: 1 dose on or after the 1^st birthday.

Measles: 2^nd dose of measles vaccine (or MMR), given at least 4 weeks after the first dose.

Hib:  Children less than 5 years of age need 1 dose at 12 months or older

         Children ages 5 and older do not need proof of Hib vaccination.

Hep B: 3 doses

Varicella: 1 dose on or after the 1^st birthday.

School Policies

Medical Alert Notification

In order to best meet your child’s health and education needs in school please inform the school nurse of any health related issues or any current medications. The school staff working with your child will be notified in a confidential manner and adequate allowances will be made. It is very important that the school be notified of any change in emergency numbers.

Medication Administration In School

Every effort should be made to have any medications given at home.  If this is not possible, remember that ALL medications, including over-the-counter non-prescription medications (Tylenol and Advil), require written authorization from a doctor and parent.  State law and regulations pertaining to administration of medications in school requires an Authorization Of Medication By School Personnel form to be completed by a doctor, dentist, or an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. The form must also be signed by a parent/guardian. Medication must be brought to the nurse in the original labeled container with no more than a 45-day supply.  Children may not transport medication to and from school as this us unsafe practice.

Medication will be destroyed if not picked up within one week following termination of the order or the last day of school, whichever comes first.

                                    **If needed, print out Medication Authorization Form below.

Ill Child Policy

Regular school attendance is necessary for optimal learning. However, a mere presence at school does not ensure effective learning. A child must be feeling well in order to maximize the learning experience. In addition, a child who is sick and comes to school may spread the illness to other students and staff. It is recommended that a child remain home if any of the following conditions are present:

·      Fever.  The child should remain at home with a fever greater than 100 degrees.  The child can return to school after he/she has been fever free for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medicine such as Tylenol or Motrin).

·      Diarrhea/Vomiting.  A child with diarrhea and/or vomiting should stay at home and return to school only after being symptom-free for 24 hours. A child who has been ill during the night may feel slightly better in the morning and even ask to go to school. However, the child will likely experience symptoms of illness later, will also be tired from loss of sleep, and will still be contagious to other children.

·      Conjunctivitis.  Following a diagnosis of conjunctivitis (pink-eye), the child may return to school 24 hours after the first dose of prescribed medication.

·    Rashes.  Common infectious diseases with rashes are most contagious in the early stages.  A child with a suspicious rash should return to school only after a health care provider has made a diagnosis and authorized the child’s return to school.

·     Colds.  Consider keeping your child at home if he/she is experiences excessive nose blowing and coughing.

A child who has started antibiotics needs to be on the medication for 24 hours before considered non-contagious and able to return to school.   When a child returns to school, he/she should be able to participate in all school activities including physical education.  Remember, it is an extremely long day for a child who is sent to school ill.  Not only is it difficult to concentrate and learn if repeatedly coughing or blowing your nose, but also it creates disruption in the classroom and affects the concentration and learning of your child’s classmates. 

Please do not send your child to school with instructions for the school nurse to determine if they are sick or injured.  As a parent, you are the best judge of your own child’s wellness and medical needs. You know your children best. If they don't seem well, they probably aren't. If necessary, keep them home and consult a health care professional.

**Thank you for helping make Black Rock School a healthy place to learn**

This website is strictly for educational and informational purposes and is NOT intended to be a substitute for a health care

 provider's consultation.