A Registered Nurse is on staff in each school building in the district to assist students who may become ill or injured during the school day. School nurses are employed by the school district to provide medical coverage for illnesses or accidents that occur during school hours. Please understand that we are not licensed to diagnose. If you have real concerns regarding your child’s health please consult your physician.

• Keeping your children safe—dealing with the flu
• Common health issues – identifying and appropriate treatment

When should I keep my child home?

Our goal is to provide a safe, healthy environment where all students can learn. Sending a child to school with symptoms such a fever, an earache, vomiting, diarrhea, cough or green discharge from the nose needlessly exposes other children to illness. If you question whether your child is too ill for school, please keep him/her home. Other reminders:

• Keep children home until symptoms pass. A child’s temperature should be normal (below 100F) for 24 hours before returning to school.
• Send in a written excuse with your child upon returning to school. Any absences are considered unexcused until the written note is received.
• Absences of five consecutive days or more require a physician’s note in order to return to school.
• If you have any questions, please call the Health Office at your child’s school.

Screening hearing and vision

School must perform vision tests for students in grades K-3, 5, 7 & 10. and hearing tests for students in grades Pre-K or Kindergarten, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11.

• If testing reveals a possible problem, the school nurse will send a referral form for further testing to the parent(s).
• Please have the appropriate physician complete the medical portion of the referral and return the form to the school nurse as soon as possible.

First aid

• Trained, licensed medical professionals will provide general first aide to anyone who requires it. If the injury is extensive, the school will call the parent(s) or individuals listed on the  Emergency Release Notification Form (PDF), if parent(s) are unavailable. In critical cases, the school nurse may arrange for an ambulance to transport your child to the hospital of your choice.
• School staff complete accident reports for all serious injuries.
• If your child requires a doctor’s care as the result of an accident that occurs on school property or on a school-sanctioned trip, the school will provide you with insurance forms. Note: The district’s insurance only covers expenses not covered by your personal health insurance.
• If your child becomes ill in school, the school nurse will contact you as the parent or your designee to pick up your child as soon as possible.
• It is important for you to have an up-to-date Emergency Release Notification Form (PDF) on file with correct emergency phone numbers. Please update this information whenever contact numbers change.
• Be advised that only those listed on this form may pick up your child.

Immunization requirements for students

Effective January 1, 2005 New York State requires that all students be immunized against Varicella (chickenpox), Pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus as requirements for school entry and attendance. See this link of required immunizations by grade level(s).

Public Health Law §2164, as amended by Chapter 35 of the Laws of 2019, requires all students attending school to be vaccinated and removes any removes all religious exemptions. The law defines schools to include any public, private or parochial child-caring center, day nursery, day care agency, nursery school, kindergarten, elementary, intermediate, or secondary school. The NYS Department of Health, Office of Child Services, and State Education Department issued a joint FAQ document to more clearly answer parent questions.

Physicals

New York state requires that all students entering grades PreK or kindergarten, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 have student physicals. Physicals may be performed by the family’s physician or by the school’s Physician Assistant. Athletes are required to have a physical annually to participate in interscholastic sports.

• School nurses at Barringer Road, Fisher and Jarvis provide parents with copies of the Health Affidavit in May prior to students entering these grades to allow parents ample time to arrange their child’s physical over the summer.
• These completed forms must be returned to the nurse by September.
• Children without a completed Health Affidavit on file will be automatically scheduled for a school physical at no cost to the parent/guardian.
• The CVA nurse notifies personally notifies students when they need physicals.
• All new students regardless of grade, must provide proof of a recent physical examination before entrance to school.

• NYS School Health Examination Form - Physician Physical

Restrictions of physical activity

Students who have suffered an illness or injury that prevents them from participating in physical education classes must provide a signed note from the students’ physician stating such.

• A student may not be excused from physical education class with a written note from the parent.
• Parents/guardians may request a limitation form to be completed by the student’s doctor.

Medication requests
All medications, including over-the- counter products such as lotions/creams, cold and cough medications, and analgesics (Tylenol, Advil) require the following:

• A signed doctor’s order with the date, child’s name, name of medication, dosage, route of administration, time given and reason it is given including signature of parent/guardian authorizing the school nurse to administer the medication to the child.
• A completed and signed Medication Request Form (PDF) on file.
• The medication in its original container, properly labeled by the pharmacy.
• All medications be delivered to the nurse by an adult. 

Body Mass Index (BMI) Screening

As part of the required school health exam for students in grades PreK, K, 2, 4, 7 and 10, staff measures each child’s height and weight. These numbers are used to calculate a student’s body mass index (BMI). The district must submit a general summary of this information to the NYS Department of Health on an annual basis. No information about individual students will be included. However, if you do not want your child’s weight status information to be included as part of the general summary, you may opt-out by notifying your child’s school nurse in writing.

Mental Health

Students can suffer when they can longer cope with the pressures of school, social interactions, or home life. Central Valley Central School District is committed to every student's Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). Please consider these mental health resources or contact us if you see signs your child is struggling.

Pediculosis (head lice) protocol

Central Valley Central School District has adopted procedures to provide a consistent protocol to eradicate head lice in the school setting. (more information)