district health News
Important Health Notice For Parents of Fifth Graders
Posted on march 11, 2013
New York State law requires all incoming sixth graders for the 2013-14 school year get a Tdap shot no later than September 20, 2013. More information (pdf)
Albany County Health Department Fall Newsletter
Posted on november 14, 2012
To view the Albany County Health Department's fall newsletter, click here (pdf).
A Season Flu Guide For Parents - Fall 2012 - Provided by NYS Health Dept
Posted on september 26, 2012
Flu season is right around the corner. With that in mind, the New York State Department of Health provides this seasonal flu guide for parents, click here (pdf).
Why Johnny Won't Go To School: From This Week's U.S. News and World Report Health Issues
Posted on October 14, 2011
The symptoms aren't often alarming: headache, stomachache, fatigue. But they tend to come on weekdays, specifically when your child should be heading off to school. Psychologists call it school avoidance, and it can take different forms in many age groups. Exact numbers are hard to come by, but school avoidance remains a serious problem. full story
Please Update Your Child's Medical Records Today
The South Colonie health office is in the process of updating its student medical records. Please view this form (pdf) and update your information today.
Flu Information: What the Experts Are Saying
What are health professionals telling us about this flu season? For the most recent information and updates visit Flu.gov and the CDC web site http://www.cdc.gov/flu.
Information about MRSA
Learn more about the MRSA bacteria and steps to avoid infection.
Information about the 'Bird Flu'
Learn the facts about the Bird Flu (pdf).
What Does District Health Services Provide?
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Screening of students’ vision, hearing and scoliosis.
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Assistance to students with physical and emotional disabilities.
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First aid for accidents and illness.
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Record maintenance of immunizations for each student.
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Middle School and High School nurses provide clearance for interscholastic sports participation.
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If you do not have a physician, your child may have a physical for sports, working papers or the mandated grades (Pre-K, Kindergarten, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 10th) required by New York State at Access Health in Latham. Please call 782-2200 to set up an appointment. However, it is always preferable that your own physician examine your child, as he/she knows your child best.
BMI reporting to New York State
Because New York State is interested in data about children's health, schools are required to keep height and weight data and to calculate students' Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is a way of checking for underweight or overweight youngsters based on their height and weight. Some schools will be surveyed by the state Department of Health each year and asked to share the number of pupils they have in each of six possible BMI categories based on students' age and sex. If our district is surveyed by the state, we will only share group data (for instance, the number of second grade boys whose BMI is below the fifth percentile), not individual data. However, if parents wish their child's data to be excluded from such group calculations, they may do so by contacting their school nurse.
Health Screenings
South Colonie's Health Services program supports student academic success by promoting health in the school setting. One way that we provide care for your student is by performing health screenings that are mandated by the State of New York. All new students and students entering Kindergarten, 2nd, 4th, 7th, and 10th, are required by law to present a copy of a current physical (done within the last 12 months) to the school nurse, within 30 days of their first day of school. LEARN MORE
Illness
Students who get sick during the school day need to report to the school nurse before calling or texting a parent to come get them or leaving school on their own. Any student leaving school due to illness must be released by the school nurse.
Any student who will need to take medication in school, even “over the counter” medication like Tylenol or Advil, must have a written order/prescription from a doctor and written parent permission. This is a New York State law. Students may not have any medication (prescription or over the counter) with them during the school day (i.e., not in pockets, lunch boxes, backpacks, lockers, etc.). The only exceptions are an asthma inhaler or Epi-Pen, which may be carried by the student if they have written permission from their physician and parent(s), along with the approval of the school nurse. Parents must also complete a Medication Authorization Form (pdf).
In order for the school nurse to give a student medications during school hours, the following requirements must be met:
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All medications must be in their original pharmacy containers, which are properly labeled with the student's name, name of medication, dosage and the prescribing doctor's name. Over the counter medications (i.e., Tylenol, Advil, etc.) need to be in their original, unopened containers.
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Accompanying the medication must be an original signed note from the prescribing physician containing the student's name, name of medication, dosage, reason for prescribing the medication and possible adverse reactions.
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A signed note from the parent giving the school nurse permission to administer the medication as prescribed by the doctor
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All medications must be hand-delivered to the school nurse by a parent or other responsible adult.
Sports physicals
To play on a team, or even
practice, students must — by law — have a sports physical on
file with the school nurse. Students who participate in
interscholastic sports, must have a physical every 12 months.
Medical histories (the 40 questions) must be updated and
reviewed by the school nurse before each sport season.
Students injured during a sport season must have written
clearance from their doctor before the school doctor can allow
them to return to play.
If your child needs to have a physical done by the school
doctor, call Access Health at 782-2200. You are not charged a
fee for the physical.
All athletes require a parent/guardian signed Health History Update Form (pdf) at the beginning of each sport season.
Automatic External Defibrillators
Public schools districts are required to have Automated External Defibrillators in each instructional school building and at athletic events. For more information, click here.
South Colonie Offers Choose Sensibly Program
Choose Sensibly is a campaign initiated by the New York State School Food Service Association to provide support to member schools as they seek to change customer buying patterns. By adopting standards for snacks which support the Dietary Guidelines, and identifying those choices for their customers, school food service departments hope to educate students to make wise choices for snacks.
