Health Office

Kathryn O'Hara, RN, School Nurse kohara@haldaneschool.org

Jennie Shelters, LPN jshelters@haldaneschool.org

Phone: 845-265-9254, ext 125

Fax: 845-265-3579

If you have concerns regarding the health or wellbeing of your child, or would like to notify us of any important changes, please feel free to contact the Health Office.

Student COVID Testing 2022-2023

Haldane is currently offering the option for students to receive COVID-19 testing if symptoms present while in school. If you would like to give consent for the school nurses to test your child, please complete the form below.

Your child will only be tested if the school nurse determines that they are exhibiting COVID symptoms. Prior to testing your child the nurse will call you to discuss symptoms and confirm consent to test.

Please do not send symptomatic children to school to be tested. Haldane has a limited supply of at-home COVID tests available upon request.

Flu News

Fight Flu at Home and School

Special Health Considerations

Please notify the health office of any special health needs your child may have, including:

Bee sting or other allergy as well as any required medication (see policy below)
Any illness that may be contagious
Any illness or condition requiring special care
Any difficulty with vision, hearing, or speech
Need for medication during school hours
Need for special aids such as crutches, wheelchairs, special transportation, etc.

Please review the following signs and symptoms that indicate your child should be kept out of school until symptoms resolve or treated medically

Temperature of 100 degrees or greater (until 24 hours after the temperature returns to normal without the use of medication)
Strep Throat or Scarlet Fever (until treated with antibiotics x 24 hours and fever free)
Bacterial Conjunctivitis (Pinkeye) (until treated with antibiotic eye drops x 24 hours)
Impetigo (until treated with antibiotics x 24 hours)
Untreated Pediculosis (lice)
Severe cold symptoms – excessive sneezing, coughing, runny nose, etc.
Nausea, Vomiting, or Diarrhea
Rash or open lesions on any body part
Severe Earache, Toothache, or Headache
Pain or limitation of movement from an injury

NY State Department of Health BMI Opt-Out Form

NY State Department of Health BMI Opt-Out Form - Spanish

Illness During School Hours

If your child becomes ill during the school day, we will manage the illness here in the health office and assist him/her in returning to class if possible. However, if your child has a temperature of 100.0 or higher, he/she will not be allowed to return to the classroom. A parent or guardian will be contacted. Please allow at least 24 hours after a fever before bringing your child back to school. This is important for the health of your child, as well as the safety and wellbeing of other children, faculty, and staff.

School Injuries & Health Emergencies

You will be notified of any serious injury or health emergency that occurs during the school day. Your child will be given appropriate first aid until you, or someone designated by you, can authorize further treatment. If your child should require transportation by ambulance to an emergency room, an adult designated by the school will accompany your child to the hospital. With the exception of lifesaving measures, no treatment will be given at the emergency room without proper consent from you or your designee.

A student diagnosed with a concussion will be prohibited from returning to PE for at least 7 days as per school policy. In addition, the student must provide written medical clearance from his/her private physician in order to return to PE.

Medication

New York State schools must adhere to very specific education laws pertaining to the administration of medication (including over-the-counter medications) in school. If your child needs to be medicated in school, the following must be provided:

1. Written orders from the health care provider. The Medication Authorization Form must be signed by both the prescribing doctor and the parent/guardian.

2. Written parental permission

3. Medication in its original container, clearly labeled. Please check expiration dates.

Please do not send medication to school with your child unless we have a written doctor’s order on file for him/her to self-carry. NYS law requires a NEW medication order each school year.

Screenings

The following screenings will be performed during the school year:

Vision: grades K, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11

Hearing: grades K, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11

Scoliosis - Girls: grades 5 and 7

Scoliosis - Boys: grade 9

Parents/guardians will be notified in writing of any results which are not within normal guidelines as provided by the New York State Education Department. Education Law requires that schools check each student in grades five through nine for scoliosis (curvature of the spine). This screening is performed by the school nurse in the privacy of the health office. The purpose of the school scoliosis screening is early discovery and treatment of any spinal abnormalities. If a child's health care provider notifies us in writing (e.g. notation made on physical form) that a check for scoliosis has been performed, the screening will not have to be repeated in the health office.

Physical Examinations

Per New York State, physicals are mandated for all NEW students and those in grades K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. Exams performed within one year prior of the first day of school are acceptable. If for some reason a physical cannot be performed by the child’s own doctor, a school physical can be arranged. However, a private physical is recommended and a form is attached for that purpose. Please have the form completed at the time of the visit and return it to this office. If your child’s private physician provides a copy of the physical, there is no need to complete the attached form.

Any student in grades 7-12 who plans to participate in interscholastic sports is required to have a physical exam each year. A physical performed within 1 year of the first official day that sport begins will qualify unless there has been a recent injury or prolonged illness.

The height and weight measurements from the physical examinations are used to determine the student’s body mass index or “BMI”. The BMI lets the physician know if the student’s weight status is in the healthy range or is too high or too low. New York State is now requiring that BMI and weight status be included as part of the student’s physical. A sample of school districts will be selected to take part in a survey by the NYS Department of Health. If our school is selected to be part of the survey, we will be reporting information about our students’ weight status groups. No names or information about individual students are sent. However, if you do not wish for your child’s weight status to be included in this survey, please notify us in the Health Office in writing.