Kindergarten Health and Immunizations

Immunizations

Children entering Kindergarten need to have the following immunizations:

• 3 Doses of Diphtheria Containing Toxoid (DPT, DT or Td).
• 3 Doses of Oral Polio Virus Vaccine (OPV) or Enhanced Inactivated Polio Virus Vaccine (EIPV).
• 2 Doses of Measles Vaccine, the first administered after 12 months of age and the second one administered at 4-6 years old, but before Kindergarten entry.
• 1 Dose of Mumps Vaccine administered after 12 months of age.
• 1 Dose of Rubella Vaccine administered after 12 months of age.
• 3 Doses of Hepatitis B Vaccine.

In some instances, doctor-verified disease histories (for mumps or measles) or blood titers (for measles, mumps or rubella) are accepted as evidence of immunity. If you are seeking an exemption based for religious or medical reasons, please see the nurse to get the proper documentation procedure.

Please contact your health care provider to get a copy of your child's immunization records. Please bring your child's immunization documentation with you when you register for Kindergarten.

State required immunizations are provided by the Orange County Health Department free of cost. These clinics can get crowded in the summer, so try to go early.

Physicals

New York State Law requires that every school age child have a physical examination by a family or school physician upon entering a new school, and in grades 1, 3, 7, 10 (or age appropriate).

Click on the link to be directed to a web page where you can print the physical form. If you bring your child to the doctor during the summer, please have your doctor complete this form. You can return this form by mail or your child can bring it to school in September. If your child has had a recent physical, please call the school nurse to inquire if she can use that physical. Students who do not have a physical will have one done by the school physician, Dr. Russell Chasin.

Health History Records

It is important that the Health Office know as much as possible about the health of your child. Click on the link to be directed to a web page where you can print the health history form. This record is confidential. Please complete this form and bring it with you at the time of registration.

Pre-Kindergarten Screening

The kindergarten screening team will be assessing developmental skills that are the foundation for academic learning. These include: conceptual development, speech/language skills, fine/gross motor skills and vision and hearing. In addition, your reported observations will provide greater insight and understanding into your child's development. Click on the link to be directed to a web page where you can print the pre-kindergarten screening form and please complete it to the best of your ability.

Medication During School Hours

If it is necessary that a student has to take medicine during the school day, it must be administered by the school nurse. The parent or guardian must submit a written request, accompanied by a written request from the prescribing physician. The doctor's request must include the name of the medication, the dosage, and the frequency that it is to be administered. The parent must provide the school with the medication in a prescription bottle or sealed carton/bottle for over the counter medications. No medication can be administered without following the above procedure, this includes Tylenol, cough medicine or cough drops. Click on the link to be directed to a web page where you can print the medication form. Please do not send your child to school with unlabeled medicine in his/her pocket We can not administer it to him/her.

Emergency Cards

An Emergency Card must be filled out annually by parents or guardians as soon as school starts in September. Remember, if your child is ill or has an accident, we can not help them unless we can reach you immediately. Please give the work numbers for both parents plus the phone numbers of friends or relatives who you feel would be responsible to care for your child in your absence. Click on the link to be directed to a web page where you can print the emergency dismissal form

School Attendance

Cooperation of parents or guardians is very important in keeping absenteeism down.

• If at all possible, please make doctor and dentist appointments after school hours.
• Please call the school nurse when keeping a child home. Please state the reason why the child is not in school. This helps the nurse monitor what illness are in the community.
• When students return to school after being absent, they must give a note, signed by the parent or guardian, to their homeroom teacher stating the reason for being absent. The notes are kept on file by the teacher.
• Vacations are discouraged during the school year.

Child Health Plus

New York State provides insurance coverage for any child who is not covered through a parent's or guardian's health care insurance. Brochures are available in the Health Office.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the Health Office at 351-4643 x 123.