As a school nurse I care for students with acute illness or injury that occur at school as well as care for students with chronic health conditions such as diabetes, asthma and mental health conditions. I also take an active role in educating students regarding nutrition, hygiene and disease prevention. Additionally, I care for students by administering medications, performing procedures, monitoring and providing support when needed. Please feel free to contact me at 717.957.6042 with any questions and comments. If I do not respond to a phone message or email to an urgent concern in a timely manner, please do not hesitate to call the main office and ask for a message to be taken over to the nurse, as I am frequently taking care of children and may not get to my messages in a timely manner. Feel free to contact me via email.
Tips from the School Nurse
- If your child has vomited during the night, please do not send him/her to school.
- If your child has a temperature of 100.0 F or above please keep him/her at home. Giving Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen may reduce a fever, however, your child will still be contagious. Please be considerate of other students and keep your child at home. A student must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school.
- An extra set of clothing for all students, kept in the bookbag, is essential for accidents (cafeteria, mud or bathroom). Remember, these incidents occur kindergarten through 4th grade.
- Do not send any medication on the bus! All medication must be brought into the building with a responsible adult. (Exceptions include inhalers; if there is only one available, eye drops and ointments, which must be given directly to the school nurse upon arrival to school)
- Physical examinations are required for original entry into school, Kindergarten or 1st grade(if that is the first year of public school entry), or if a student moves to the district from out of state. (please provide any updated immunization dates from the Medical Doctor after each physical, even if a physical examination form is not required for that year) Forms can be downloaded from this web page.
- Dental exams are due in kindergarten and 3rd grade. Forms can be downloaded from my web page. If you forget your form when you arrive at the dentist, just have the staff write a note acknowledging that your child has been seen and preventative dental care has been performed. Be sure to identify your child's room number.
- Have your child wear appropriate clothing for the weather. All children will go out to recess if the temperature and wind chill are above 25 degrees F unless there is a physician order to remain inside.
- Please notify the school nurse if your child sustains an injury requiring an excuse from gym or the use of the elevator. An excuse from the Medical Doctor providing care will be required.
School Health Requirements
Attention Parents of Incoming KIndergarten Students!
- A completed physical examination form is required upon original entry to school in kindergarten or 1st grade, 6th and 11th grades. Forms can be found on the Health Forms section of this web page. ( forms can be accepted if they are dated up to one year before the start date of the stated grade level)
- A dental examination form is required in kindergarten, 3rd and 7th grade. ( forms can be accepted dated up to one year before the start date of the preceding grade levels.)
- New Immunization Requirements:
- 4 doses of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis(one dose on or after the 4th birthday)
- 4 doses of polio(4th must be on or after the 4th birthday and at least 6 months after the previous dose given)
- 2 doses of measles, mumps and rubella ( usually given as MMR)
- 3 doses of hepatitis B ( 3rd dose must be after 164 days of age)2 doses of varicella ( chickenpox) or evidence provided by MD of immunity
ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN, unless your child has a medical or religious/philosophical exemption, a child must have had at least one dose of the above vaccines or risk exclusion.
- If a child does not have all of the doses listed above, needs additional doses, and the next dose is medically appropriate, the child must receive that dose within the first 5 days of school.
- If your child does not have all of the doses listed above, needs additional doses, and the next dose is not medically appropriate, you must provide a medical certificate (PA Department of Health red and white card provided by the school nurse ) within the first 5 days of school or risk exclusion.
- THe dates on the medical plan must be followed or your child will be excluded from school.
- The medical plan can be obtained from your school nurse.