Orville A. Todd Middle School:
Health Office

 

As required by NYS Education Law (Article 19), the new Commissioner’s regulations for vision screening recommends distance visual acuity once within six months of admission to school, in Kindergarten, grades 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 10. Additionally, the guidelines state that near visual acuity, color perception and plus lens (hyperopia) should be done once within six months of admission to school. Hearing screening must be administered to all students within six months of admission to school, in Kindergarten, grades 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10. Scoliosis screening is to be done at least once each school year to all students in grades 5 through 9. Screenings may also be done at other times as deemed necessary by school personnel. The minimum requirement for heights and weights are on the years that health appraisals are completed. The goal of the requirement is to assess each student’s status, identify problems that may impede learning, create a parent contact list for referrals, if necessary, and notify teachers when appropriate.

Screenings are conducted by the school nurse in each building as an integral part of the total school health program. Early detection will provide a child more opportunity for educational success. The earlier impairments are diagnosed and treated the more favorable the outlook for correction or improvement of the child’s well-being.

Mandated health appraisals (physical examinations) are now required for new entrants, Kindergarten, grades 2, 4, 7 and 10. Parents are encouraged to have their children examined by their family physician. Results of the examination must be noted on health forms signed by a physician and returned to the appropriate school health office. Students who do not present a signed form by the family physician will have a medical examination by the school physician. Those students wishing to participate in any interscholastic sports in middle school or high school are also required to have a physical exam by the school physician. Any health conditions which seem to require more complete diagnosis or treatment will be referred to the parents for appropriate medical follow-up.

If you have any further questions please call your school nurse.

 

The Health Office is located next to the Guidance Office and is staffed by one full-time registered nurse.  Among the services provided by the Health Office are as follows:

• Providing first-aid care to students who are injured or ill while under school supervision.
• Conducting yearly screening for height, weight, vision, hearing, and scoliosis.
• Maintaining health records for each student.
• Assisting doctors in the administration of health examination.

Medication in School

If it is necessary for students to have medication during the school day, the nurse will cooperate with the physicians and parents; however, certain procedures must be followed:

• The nurse cannot administer medication unless there is a written order from a doctor and a written request from a parent.  The written order, signed by the doctor, should contain the following information:
  • Name of student/patient
  • Name of medicine
  • Reason for giving the medicine
  • Dosage/time
  • Number of days
  • Doctor contact information
• The medication must be placed in a pharmacy container and brought to the health office by an adult. 

Additional Health Information

1. Mandated health appraisals (physcial examinations) are now required for new entrants, Kindergarten, grades 2, 4, 7 and 10. Parents are encouraged to have their children examined by their family physician. Results of the examination must be noted on health forms signed by aphysician and returned to the appropriate school health office. Students who do not present a signed form by the family physician will have a medical examination by the school physician. Those students wishing to partifcipate in any interscholastic sports in middle school or high school are also required to have a physical exam by the school physican. Any health conditions which seem to require more complete diagnosis or tretment will be referred to the parents for appropriate medical follow-up. If you have any questions, please call your school nurse.
2. Students who attend school in New York State must be immunized against polio, mumps, diphtheria, whooping cough, measles, rubella and hepatitis B.  No student will be admitted to school without appropriate certification of immunization.  Exemption to the immunization law is allowed for medical or religious reasons.  A physician must certify a medical exemption in writing.  If a student belongs to a bona fide, recognized religious organization that does not hold with immunization, he/she may also be excused from the immunization requirement.
3. Any students coming to school on crutches, with canes, in casts, or after serious injuries must report to the health office before going to homeroom.
4. Either the school physician or family physician may do physical examinations for working papers.  Examinations must be completed no longer than 12 months before the date of employment.  Forms are available in the guidance office for this purpose.
5. Students wishing to participate in interscholastic sports must have a sports physical performed by the school physician.  [See the sports physical section]
6. Students who are unable to participate in physical education classes must bring a note from home to the health office before homeroom.  Any extended period of time out of physical education will require a physician’s note. 

Emergency Numbers Card

Emergencies such as illness, injuries, etc. are certain to arise during the course of the school year.  It is important for the welfare of the students that the school by able to contact some person who is responsible for a particular pupil at all times.  Please complete and return the Emergency Cards to the health office as soon as possible.   There are two identical cards so that we can keep one in the nurse’s office and one in the main office.

 ** Please submit in writing all changes in telephone number, address and employment to the nurse’s office as soon as the change occurs so that the emergency cards can be updated.

 If a student has an accident, they are to inform the teacher who is supervising then immediately.  The nurse will then be contacted to assist the student and parents notified. 

Feeling sick in school

If a student feels ill during class, they should get a pass from their classroom teacher and report to the health office.  In the event that the student is so ill that they must go home, the nurse will contact the parent/guardian to come and pick the student up.