Dear Parents:
IMPORTANT HEALTH OFFICE INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
As you are aware, the New York State Law requires an annual physical
examination for new entrants to school and routinely at grades K, 2, 4, 7 and
10. Recent changes to the NYS Education Law require that BMI and weight
status group be included as part of the student’s health examination. The
physical exam and BMI forms can be downloaded from the Brookside Health
Office website. YCSD may be called upon to participate in a NYSDOH survey
regarding students’ BMI. Further info can be found on the health office
website where opt-out forms are available to download.
If your child has already received a physical examination from your family
physician over the summer, would you be kind enough to have a report sent or
brought to the School Nurse when school reopens. If no report has been
received by October 1st, your child will be scheduled for a physical
examination by Dr. Deanna Sandor, the School Physician. An annual dental exam
is also recommended for all students. The form is available on the health
office website.
Students in all grades will be screened for vision and hearing according to
State Law. Students in the fifth grade are screened for scoliosis. Parents
will be informed of any abnormal findings. If you have any questions
regarding these procedures, please contact me in the Health Office when
school reopens.
The importance of current emergency numbers must be stressed. More and more
parents are away from home during the day and it is essential, for the
protection of our students, to be able to reach someone in case of an
emergency. Please complete and return the TWO enclosed Emergency Cards on
Wednesday, September 2nd, the first day of school. It is important that you
press firmly when completing the cards in order for the impression to be
legible on all copies. If any of the information should change during the
school year, please inform the Health Office immediately.
Written parental information is required for all absences. It is important
for you to notify the Health Office on the first day your child is absent
from school. It is the policy of Brookside to call your home to determine the
reason for an absence if we have not received a call from you by 8:45AM. You
may leave a message on the answering machine or e-mail the office (egoodwin @
yorktown.org) when school is closed. A note is also required when your child
is late. Your child must report to the Health Office to sign in and receive
a late pass to be admitted to class.
If your child must leave early for a dental appointment, doctor appointment,
etc., a note must be brought to the Health Office in the morning. You must
meet your child in the Main Office and sign him/her out. Your child will not
be permitted to leave school unless attended by a parent or authorized
individual.
If your son/daughter requires medication during the school day, please submit
a completed form, which can be obtained from the Health Office or downloaded
from the health office website before medication is brought to school. A new
form must be filled out for each change of medication and renewed each school
year. Administration of medication during the school day is permitted only
with written directions from the physician and parent. PLEASE NOTE: THIS
INCLUDES ALL TYPES OF MEDICATION: OVER THE COUNTER DRUGS ( ASPIRIN, TYLENOL,
AND COUGH SYRUP) AS WELL AS PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION. The medication must
be in the original container, or a duplicate professionally labeled by the
pharmacist for this purpose. Students are at no time allowed to carry
medication of any kind on their person or to take medication without official
written direction or to take medication without supervision unless
arrangements are made with the school nurse. Students are permitted to carry
and self-administer metered dose inhalers with the permission of their
physician, parent/guardian, and submission of written permission to the
nurse.
Our school district will be participating in “The Pediatric Asthma Management
Program for Schools,” and recommend all students with a history of asthma
complete an “Asthma Action Card”. If your child has a history of asthma and
you wish to participate in this program, please contact Mrs. Goodwin at 243-
8135 to discuss the program.
In the event of a radiological emergency and the State or County department
of Health recommends the distribution of KI (Potassium Iodide), your child
will receive a dose of KI unless you have completed the refusal (opt-out)
form and submitted it to the nurse. Forms are available in the health office
and/or can be downloaded from the health office website.
I am grateful for your cooperation and look forward to working with you to
make your child’s school year a positive experience.
Sincerely,
Elaine Goodwin BSN, RN
