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Health Office

Laura Kubasiewicz, R.N.
laura.kubasiewicz@palmaccsd.org
School Nurse
315-597-3400
Fax: 315-597-3898

Nancy Kepler
Nurse's Aide/Attendance
315-597-3424

 

What the School Nurse Does...

  • Provides emergency first aid, and appropriate medical assistance as needed.
  • Conducts health screenings for vision, hearing, and scoliosis at the state mandated grade levels, and as needed.  
  • Evaluates and monitors communicable and nuisance diseases
  • Implements and monitors students' compliance with state immunization laws
  • Makes referral to appropriate community agencies
  • Evaluates and assesses student health needs, provides health counseling and conducts health-related classroom presentations
  • Serves as a liaison between home and school regarding health concerns; takes health histories and assesses long-term illnesses
  • Works with Committee on Special Education to develop objectives for the students' Individualized Educational Plan
  • Serves as a resource person for faculty and staff and community agencies.

 

Guidelines for Keeping Your Child Home

  • A fever (temperature) higher than 100 degrees in the past 24 hours. Children should be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications (such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen) before returning to school
  • Vomiting in the past 24 hours
  • Diarrhea in the the past 24 hours
  • A suspicious rash
  • Chills
  • A headache lasting a day or two, or reoccurs
  • A bad cough or cold symptoms (very runny nose or bad cough, especially if it has kept the child awake at night)
  • A sore throat that persists for 24 hours especially if accompanied by a fever, rash, and/or nausea.
  • Redness of an eye, especially if accompanied by itching or draining

 

When your child is absent or tardy from school, please call or email the health office. Please remember to send in a written note of explanation when your child returns.  

For health related absences and/or appointments, parents are encouraged to provide a written excuse from the health care provider.

Over the Counter Medications (OTC)

An over the counter medication is any medication that does NOT require a prescription for you to obtain it. (Examples are acetaminophen or ibuprofen.) However, in order for the school nurse to give ANY OTC'S, a written order from your child's medical provider‘s office must be on file each school year in addition to your signature. For a copy of this form visit the related file section below.

Prescription Medications

Any prescription medication that your child will need to be administered to them during the school year, requires an order from the prescribing medical provider. Please see our policy and form in the related file section below.

Physicals

As of July 1, 2018 New York State law requires a health examination for all students entering the school district for the first time and when entering Pre-K or K, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th , and 11th grade. The examination must be completed by a New York State licensed physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner and on the approved NYSED Student Health Examination Form for School.
 
If you have not had your child's required  physical done by their own primary care provider yet, but are planning to do so, please let the health office know the date of the appointment.
 
Students that have not received a new entrant, 9th or 11th grade physical by their medical provider will be provided one at NO charge by the district's school physician or nurse practitioner.  
 
Health appraisals (physicals) are due annually for students participating in sports or needing a work permit. 
 
Please have your child’s medical care provider complete the health appraisal form at their annual physical. A copy below is in our related file section. 

Dental Health Certificates

A dental certificate which states your child has been seen by a dentist or dental hygienist is also asked for (not mandated) if your child is a new entrant or entering grades 9 or 11. For a list of dentists and registered dental hygienists who offer dental services on a free or reduced cost basis please visit our related file section.

Immunization Requirements for High School:

New York State Law Section 2164 requires certain immunizations (shots) to enter and attend school. Please check with your health care provider as soon as possible to make sure that your child has all the needed immunizations.  They are listed below.

 

Required Immunizations for Students in Grades 9, 10 & 11*

 

Immunization

Number of Doses

DTaP/DTP

3 doses

Tdap

1 dose

 Polio

 4 doses
or 3 doses
if the 3rd dose was received at age 4 or older 

MMR

2 doses

Hepatitis B

3 doses
or 2 doses
of adult hepatitis B Vaccine (Recombivax)
who started series after age 11 years but before 15 years

Varicella (chickenpox)

2 doses

Meningococcal conjugate
(MenACWY)

1 dose

 

 Required Immunizations for Students in Grades 12*
 

Immunization

Number of Doses

DTaP/DTP

3 doses

Tdap

1 dose

 Polio

3 doses

MMR

2 doses

Hepatitis B

3 doses 
or 2 doses
of adult hepatitis B Vaccine (Recombivax)

Varicella (chickenpox)

1 dose

Meningococcal conjugate

(MenACWY)

2 doses or
1 dose if the dose was received at age 16 or older

 

*In addition to the above doses all vaccines must be given  in according to the  Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) guidelines.*

 

Wayne County Public Health Immunization Clinic for children:

Third Wednesday of every month from 1:00-4:00 pm by appointment only. Bring copy of your child’s immunization record with you. Call 315-946-5749 to schedule an appointment. 

 

Related Files: