From The Health Office
General Information
The Role of the School Nurse
The school nurse is an important part of your child’s education team. While teachers focus on learning, the nurse helps make sure students are healthy, safe, and ready to succeed in school.
What the School Nurse Does:
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Promotes Health and Safety: Provides first aid and care for injuries or sudden illness that occur during the school day.
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Manages Chronic Conditions: Supports students with health needs such as asthma, diabetes, allergies, or seizures, ensuring they can participate fully in school.
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Medication Administration: Gives prescribed medications during the school day when proper documentation from a healthcare provider is on file.
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Health Screenings: Conducts state-required screenings such as vision, hearing, height/weight, and scoliosis, and refers students for further evaluation if needed.
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Communicates with Families: Keeps parents informed about their child’s health needs at school and works closely with families, doctors, and staff to support student well-being.
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Prevents the Spread of Illness: Monitors student illnesses and provides guidance on when a child should stay home and when it’s safe to return.
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Promotes Healthy Habits: Encourages good nutrition, exercise, sleep, and hygiene practices to support learning and overall wellness.
Why This Matters:
A healthy child is better able to learn. The school nurse helps reduce absences, manages health concerns that might otherwise interfere with learning, and serves as a resource for both students and families.
Additional Important Information:
Contagious Illness
In order to keep our students safe and healthy, we ask that you inform your school nurse of any contagious illness that your child may have contracted such as but not limited to: head lice, ringworm, strep throat, conjunctivitis (pink eye) and impetigo.
Surgery/Injury
If your child had any type of surgery or injury, please notify the school nurse. If there are any restrictions or limitations placed on the student by the physician, a note is required from the physician stating the nature of the injury and specific limitations. Students with crutches, splints or casts require a physician note in order to return to school.
Medications
If it is necessary for your child to receive medication during school hours, written permission must include the reason for medication, the name of medication, the dosage to be given and the time it is to be administered. The medication must be brought to the health office by a parent/guardian in the original pharmacy container properly labeled along with the physician's written permission. Specific forms are required for asthma, severe allergy, seizure disorder and diabetes.
Immunizations
Students are required to receive immunizations in compliance with the current schedule as indicated by New Jersey Sanitary Code Chapter 14. Proof of these immunizations must be presented to the school. Documentation of "fully immunized " or "series complete" are unacceptable under these regulations.
NJ State Immunization Requirements
Physicals
All new students entering the district are required to submit a physical examination completed by their medical care provider. Parents are encouraged to continue with physical examinations during the developmental stages of your child.
Physical Exam Report
Food Allergies
Food allergy is a growing safety concern. Approximately 2 million school-aged children have a food allergy. For some, even small amounts of the food allergen can cause a reaction. As a school community, we ask that any food sent to school for any classroom activity be accompanied by the food ingredient label. Any food sent without a label may not be sent to the classroom.