Health Services

Director of Health, Phys. Ed., & Athletics
John Valente
631-754-5375

School Nurse

The school nurse is available for first aid and health emergencies and acts as a liaison between the home, the school, and the family physician when necessary. The nurse also maintains students’ health records and supervises general health screening, including vision, hearing, and scoliosis.

Student Health Form (PDF)

Physical Exams


New York State requires that each child receive a physical examination upon entry, yearly if receiving special education services and in second, fourth, seventh and tenth grades. The Board of Education requests that this examination be made by the family physician whenever possible, but if a medical report has not been returned to the school nurse by October 15, the examination will be conducted in school by the school physician.
 

Immunizations

In order to protect all the children who attend our schools against communicable diseases, New York State Public Health Law 2164 mandates that a principal or person in charge of a school shall not permit a child to be admitted to such school unless a person in parental relation to the child furnishes the school with either A, B or C listed below:
A. A certificate of immunization (prepared by a physician or other authorized person who administers the immunizing agents, specifying the products administered and dates of administration) which shows that the child has received the following required immunizations:
 

1. Three (3) doses of diphtheria (New York City requires four doses) and three (3) doses of polio vaccine for entry into kindergarten and for any student entering a school in New York State for the first time.
2. Three (3) doses of enhanced inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine (commonly known as IPV, the only polio vaccine currently in the United States) administered to meet New York State immunization requirements for school entry.
3. Three (3) doses of hepatitis B (K-12 students born on or after 1/1/93 and children born on or after 1/1/95 beginning with their enrollment in any school).
4. Two (2) or three (3) dose series of hepatitis B vaccine is required for all students who are entering the 7th grade on or after September 1, 2000.
5. One (1) dose of live virus measles, one (1) dose of mumps, and one (1) dose of rubella vaccine may be administered no more than four days prior to a child’s first birthday and a second dose of live virus measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine administered no less than 28 days after the first dose.
6. Three (3) doses of haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine for all children less than five years of age or older; it is acceptable to have received a single dose of haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine at or after the age of 15 months. (Pre-school children only.)
7. One (1) dose of live varicella vaccine (commonly known as chickenpox) administered no more than four days prior to a child’s first birthday or a history of varicella disease as documented by a health care provider. Specifically, students born on or after January 1, 1994 and who enroll in the 6th grade at the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year must be immunized against varicella.
8. Children born on or after January 1, 2005 must be immunized against pertussis (commonly known as whooping cough) and tetanus as requirement for school entry and attendance.

B. A certificate from a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state that one or more of the required immunizations may be detrimental to the child’s health. This certificate must specify which immunizations may be detrimental and the reason why.

C. A written and signed statement from parent or guardian to the effect that they hold genuine and sincere religious beliefs which are contrary to the practices of immunization herein required. The Board of Education may require further documentation.

In the absence of any of the above, the Harborfields Central School District will accept an immunizations transfer card or a transcript of your child’s cumulative health record from the school previously attended demonstrating that New York State requirements have been met. For disease history of measles and/or mumps, documentation by a physician is required.
A current, though not necessarily complete immunization record must be submitted as part of the registration process. Your child’s completed and updated record can be submitted along with the mandated physical examination for all new entrants within fifteen days of the student’s entry. Your child’s immunization record must be in the school office before your child enters the classroom on the opening day of school in September.

Medication

According to state law, if any internal medication is to be given, it must be administered by the school nurse and only upon receipt of a written request from the family doctor, giving frequency and dosage and describing the condition for which it has been prescribed. In addition, a note from the parent, requesting that the medicine be given according to doctor’s instructions, is required. Medication must be given directly to the school nurse by the parent and must be in its original container from the pharmacy. Students may not carry medicine (including over-the-counter or prescription medication) in school at any time.

Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases

Parents are encouraged to keep children at home when illness is suspected and to notify the attendance office when a child is absent due to illness. When the illness is due to a communicable disease, the school nurse should also be notified.

Health Records

In case of a medical emergency, it is imperative that the school is able to reach a parent, guardian, or neighbor. Cards for every student are on file in each school’s health office, and the phone numbers on these cards should be kept up-to-date.