School Nurse Kelly Ingham, RN BSN, wants you to know the following about GMU Health Office requirements for the 2021-2022 school year. For more information about anything listed below or that otherwise affects the health of the GMU community, email
[email protected] or call the Health Office at 607-783-2207, ext. 108.
Physicals
School physicals are required for students in grades Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11, as well as for new students in any grade. If you chose to take your child to your own physician, a copy of the physical must be submitted to the health office within 30 days on a NY State School Physical Exam form.
All Middle and High School students participating in sports must have an athletic physical prior to starting the sport.
Immunizations for Grades K-7
Immunization for Grades 7 and 12
According to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), beginning September 2016, students entering grades 7 and 12 in New York State public, private and parochial schools will be required to be fully vaccinated against meningococcal disease. In anticipation of the upcoming school year’s requirement, please work with your healthcare provider to ensure all adolescents are fully vaccinated against meningococcal disease. The complete adolescent meningococcal vaccine series includes a first dose at age 11 or 12 and a second (booster) dose at age 16.
Medications
New York State law requires that:
- Parents/guardians must personally deliver all medications to the school health office (unless a self-carry order form is signed by parent and physician). All controlled medications must be brought by an adult.
- All medications must remain in properly labeled pharmacy containers or original over-the-counter (OTC) containers.
- A new prescription/medication form signed by the medical provider is required at the beginning of every school year.
- Parents/guardians must sign a medication permission form.
- Permission forms for medication administered must be filled out completely, meaning both parent/guardian and provider need to fill in their designated areas. Should we receive a form that is not fully completed, the form will be considered null and void. We are not responsible for obtaining signed permission from your provider; it is your responsibility as a parent/guardian.
Mandatory Screenings
- Vision: All students in grades Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11, as well as new entrants and others as deemed necessary, will be screened for distance acuity (far vision).
- Hearing: A hearing screening will be done on all students in grades Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11, as well as all new entrants and others deemed as necessary.
- Scoliosis: Scoliosis screenings will be done on male students in Grade 9 and female students in Grades 5 and 7. If the nurse suspects a problem, the student will be re-screened before a referral is made.
Reporting Absences
If your child is absent from school, please provide a specific reason for the absence when notifying our Attendance Office via phone or written note. This helps us keep track of illnesses at GMU, which may prevent them from spreading.
Is your child sick?
A child with one or more of the following COVID-19 symptoms will be sent home from school: fever (temperature greater than 100.0), chills, body aches, cold symptoms (nasal congestion/runny nose, coughing), sore throat, loss of taste or smell, stomachache/nausea, headache, vomiting or diarrhea.
For the health of your child, classmates and staff members, sick students should stay home from school. Thank you for understanding these guidelines. They are meant to serve the best interests of all students and staff.
NYSED: Tips to beat the flu
The New York State Education Department has shared these general recommendations for preventing the flu and/or reducing its chances to spread in the GMU community.
- Wash your hands with soap and warm water or use hand sanitizer often.
- Stay home if you are sick.
- Cough and sneeze into tissues or your elbow/upper-sleeve.
- Use a no-touch trash receptacle to dispose of tissues.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Regularly clean shared items such as phone receivers, keyboards, steering wheels, etc.
Cold Weather Precautions
Please talk to your child about how to stay warm and safe during cold/extreme weather. Regardless of a student’s age, it is important to check your child’s outerwear every day. Winter jackets, hats, scarves, boots and an extra pair of dry gloves are recommended to help prevent frostbite and/or illness when cold weather strikes.
Be sure to develop an emergency cold-weather plan with your child, too, so they know when to ask for help, where to find safe shelter, how to identify danger signs (body numbness, burning sensation, pain) and what to wear for protection from the elements. This is particularly important for kids who may be early or late to a bus stop, especially if any of their outerwear is cold and/or wet.
Posted 10/19/2021