OESJ Central School District > Departments > Health Services

Health Services

All districts must provide and maintain a continuous program of health services which includes, but is not limited to:

  • Providing medical examinations and health screenings designed to determine the health status of the student
  • Informing parents or other persons in parental relation to the student, pupils and teachers of the individual student’s health condition subject to federal and state confidentiality laws. The district will provide this notice in writing if the district becomes aware that the student has defective sight or hearing or a physical disability, including sickle cell anemia, or other condition which may require professional attention with regard to health.
  • Guiding parents, students and teachers in procedures for preventing and correcting defects and diseases and for the general improvement of the health of students
  • Instructing school personnel in procedures to take in case of accident or illness
  • Maintaining a program of education to inform school personnel, parents, non-school health agencies, welfare agencies and the general public regarding school health conditions, services and factors relating to the health of students
  • Providing inspections and supervision of the health and safety aspects of the school facilities
  • Providing health examinations before participation in strenuous physical activity and periodically throughout the season as necessary
  • Providing health examinations necessary for the issuance of employment certificates, vacation work permits, newspaper carrier certificates and street trades badges
  • Surveying and making necessary recommendations concerning the health and safety aspects of school facilities and the provision of health information

Health Screenings

OESJ’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.

During the school year, the following screenings will be required or completed at school:

  • Health Appraisal/Physical: New York State law requires a health examination for all students entering the school district for the first time and when entering Pre-K or K, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th , 9th  and 11th grade. The examination must be completed by a New York State licensed physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner. A copy of the health examination must be provided to the school within 30 days from when your child first starts at the school, and when your child starts Pre-K or K, 1st,3rd , 5th, 7th , 9th  and 11th grades. If a copy is not given to the school within 30 days, the school will contact you. If your child has an appointment for an exam during this school year that is after the first 30 days of school, please notify the Health Office with the date. Download the form from the forms page.
  • Scoliosis Screening: At least once each school year for all students in grades 5-9.
  • Vision Screening: To all students who enroll in a school of this state including at a minimum color perception, distance acuity, near vision within six months of  admission to the school; in addition, all students shall be screened for distance  acuity in grades Kindergarten, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 10 and at any other time deemed necessary.
  • Hearing Screening: To all students within six months of admission to the school and in grades Kindergarten, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10, and at any other time deemed necessary.
  • Dental Certificate: Stating your child has been seen by a dentist or dental hygienist is also asked for at the same time. New York State requires districts to request a dental health certificate from parents as part of the general health assessment (Chapter 281 of the Laws of 2007) for children entering kindergarten and grades 2, 4, 7, and 10. The school will provide you with a list of dentists and registered dental hygienists who offer dental services on a free or reduced cost basis if you ask for it.

Immunization of Students

Every child entering or attending a district school must present proof of immunization or proof of immunity by serology (blood test) if applicable unless:

  • A New York State licensed physician certifies that such immunization is detrimental to the child’s health. The requirement for that immunization is waived until such immunization is no longer detrimental to the child’s health.
  • The student’s parent, parents, or persons in parental relation hold genuine and sincere religious beliefs which are contrary to the requirement. In such cases, the building principal will make a case-by-case determination as to whether to grant the exemption after receiving a written and signed statement from the parent(s) or persons in parental relation to the child. New York State Law does not recognize exemptions based on a parent(s) or guardian(s) personal or philosophical beliefs.

Except for the above two exemptions, the district may not permit a student lacking evidence of immunization to remain in school for more than 14 days, or more than 30 days for an out-of-state or out-of-country transferee who can show a good faith effort to get the necessary certification or other evidence of immunization. 

Here are the required immunizations.

Any time your child has a new immunization, please give the school nurse a copy for your child’s official record.

Students who get sick at school

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.

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.

Administration of Medication

The school’s registered professional nurse may administer medication to a student during the school day under certain conditions. For the purpose of this policy, the term “medication” includes both prescription and non-prescription medications. The school must receive the following before medication will be administered to a student:

  • The original written order from the student’s provider stating the name of the medication, precise dosage, frequency, and time of administration
  • A written, signed consent from the student’s parent or person in parental relation requesting the administration of the medication, as prescribed by the physician, to the student in school
  • The medication, properly labeled in its original container, must be delivered to the school health office by the student’s parent or person in parental relation

A student is not permitted to carry any medication on his or her person in school, or on the school bus, or keep any medication in his or her school locker(s). Exceptions may apply, however, for students diagnosed with asthma or other respiratory illnesses, diabetes, or allergies who will be permitted to carry and self-administer medication under certain conditions.

All medication orders must be reviewed annually by school health office personnel or whenever there is a change in dosage.

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 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. All athletes require a parent/guardian signed Health History Update Form at the beginning of each sport season. The physical and health history forms can be found on the Forms page of this website.

Automatic External Defibrillators

Public schools districts are required to have Automated External Defibrillators in each instructional school building and at athletic events.

First Aid/Emergencies

In emergencies, the school nurse will follow established first aid procedures. These procedures include the following requirements:

  • No medical treatment except first aid is permitted in school
  • A master first aid kit shall be kept and properly maintained in the school and on each school bus
  • No drugs shall be administered by school personnel unless authorized by a physician
  • Parents are asked to sign and submit an emergency medical authorization that shall indicate the procedure they wish the school to follow in the event of a medical emergency involving their child
  • In all cases where the nature of an illness or an injury appears serious, the parent will be contacted if possible, and the instructions on the child’s emergency card followed. In extreme emergencies, arrangements may be made for the child’s immediate hospitalization whether or not the parent can be reached.