Health Issues

• Immunizations:  IMMUNIZATION REQUIRED of all students entering or attending school:

  1. Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine:  Every child born on or after January 1, 1986, shall have received a minimum of four doses of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine (DTP), or any vaccine combination containing DTP, such as DTP/Hib, one dose of which shall have been given on or after the child's fourth birthday.

  2. Poliovirus vaccine:  Every child born on or after January 1, 1986, shall have received a minimum of three doses of live, trivalent, oral poliovirus (OPV), or inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) if medically appropriate, either separately or in combination, one dose of which shall have been given on or after the child's fourth birthday.

  3. Measles virus vaccine:  Every child born on or after January 1, 1990, shall have received two doses of a live measles-containing vaccine, or any vaccine combination containing live measles vaccine, such as the preferred measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, prior to school entrance for the first time into kindergarten, grade 1, or a comparable age entry level special education program with an unassigned grade.  The first dose shall have been administered on or after the child's first birthday, and the second dose shall have been administered no less than one month after the first dose.

  4. Rubella vaccine:  Every child shall have received one dose of live rubella virus vaccine, or any vaccine combination containing live rubella virus vaccine, administered on or after the child's first birthday.

  5. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine:  Every child shall have received at least one age-appropriate dose of a separate or a combination Hib conjugate vaccine.

  6. Hepatitis B:  Series of three (3) shots, for children entering Kindergarten and sixth grade.

• Health Services:  Health Maintenance

  1. All fifth grade students must have a physical examination done by their family doctor.  The completed physical form must be returned to school.

  2. All students transferring into Knowlton School must have a recent doctor's physical.

  3. Screenings:  including height, weight, vision, hearing and blood pressure are done in all grades every year.

  4. Strep testing:  The school will continue to provide strep tests at a nominal cost to parents.  The school nurse will take a throat culture from your child, and will call you if the results are positive.  If the culture is positive for strep, call your family doctor and arrange for a prescription.  As per Board of Education policy, your child may return to school after being on the antibiotic for 48 hours.

  5. Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine.  It is important to detect in its early stages so that appropriate measures can be taken to correct it.  A scoliosis screening program is conducted by the school nurse, who is specially trained to spot early abnormalities.  All 5th and 6th grade students are checked and parents are notified of any unusual results for referral to the family physician.

  6. A child, who has been ill, may return to school after 24 hours of being fever free.

  7. A child, who has been ill, may return to school after 24 hours of being free from vomiting and/or diarrhea.

  8. After a child has had pediculosis [head lice], she/he must be driven to school by the parent and must be checked by the school nurse.  The child must be nit-free to return to school.

  9. Communicable and Infectious Diseases:  All children with any signs or symptoms of illness will be excluded from school.  Also, all children with a suspicious rash or possible communicable or infectious disease will be excluded.  Please refer to the School Health Services Booklet for specifics.

• Guidelines for the administration of medication in school:  The administration of medication in school is an all-important process which is regulated through guidelines established by the New Jersey State Department of Education.  Some children with chronic illnesses and specific disabilities often require medication during the regular school day.  When the administration of any medication in school is necessary, the following guidelines are to be followed:

  1. The parent or guardian should provide a written request for the administration of the medication at school.

  2. Written orders are to be provided to the school from the private physician, detailing the diagnosis or type of illness involved, the name of the drug, dosage, time of administration, and the side effects.

  3. The medication should be brought to the school in the original container, appropriately labeled by pharmacy or physician.

  4. The school physician should review and approve, in writing, the orders of the private physician.

  5. The certified school nurse or parent/guardian is the only one permitted to administer medication in the schools.  However, with a physician's note and a parent permission form, a student may self-medicate.  This rule primarily pertains to children with allergies who require the use of inhalers.  Contact the school nurse for further details.

• Health Program:  The purpose of a school health program is to help each child reach a full, happy and purposeful way of life.  Therefore the school must provide a healthy environment, health services, and health education for each student.  A complete school health program consists of two broad areas:  health services and health education.

  1. Health education is offered to all grades, Kindergarten through sixth.  The program consists of ten units.  Each unit is taught to each grade, with the concept intensifying as the child grows.

  2. Health services include, but are not limited to, annual screenings and referrals, throat cultures, dispensing medication, and dealing with contagious illnesses.

  3. Health Services Booklet:  This will explain our policies and procedures and hopefully answer all your questions.  This booklet is available at school, upon your request.  New students are automatically given a booklet upon enrollment.