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News From The School Health Office
Margaret Bartell, RNDear Parent/Guardian:
An important change has taken place in the immunization requirements for students entering 6th grade. Any child born on or after 1/1/94, and entering 6th grade on or after September 1, 2007, will be required to show proof of a booster immunization containing diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and an acellular pertussis vaccine, which is commonly known as Tdap or Adacel. Click on Tdap or Adacel for more information.
Link for information on
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If a student is injured and unable to participate in gym class, a note from a doctor must be presented to the nurse. If the student is out until further notice, the note must be updated every month.
If a child cannot participate in gym, he/she cannot take part in recess either.
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The Education Law and the Commissioner of Education require physical examinations of children when they are in Pre-School, Pre-K, K, Grade 2, 4, 7 and 10 and new enrollees. Parents must provide the school with a copy of the physical report from their own Health Care Provider or have the exam completed by the school doctor or nurse practitioner; school physical date to be determined. Dental certificates are also requested on the same years physicals are required. Please note that dental certificates are recommended, however they are not required.
If your child received a sports physical, this is acceptable for the required grade physical.
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A well child physical does not count as a sports physical. Sign ups take place with Coach Skibitski about two weeks before the sports physicals take place. Sports Physicals are held after school at either Strough or RFA. A white medical history form obtained from the nurse must be filled out by the parent and returned to the nurse as soon as possible to qualify for a physical. All physicals are done by Rome Medical. If you choose to have your own doctor complete the physical, you must obtain the standard forms from the nurse beforehand.
Please note that if your child wears glasses, he/she will need to bring them to the sports physical.
In addition, if it has been ten years since your child’s last tetanus shot, he/she must receive a tetanus booster before practice starts for the current sport year.
Once all of the above requirements have been met, a pink slip of clearance will be issued from the nurse. Please note that students are not able to participate in sports (including practices) until the clearance has been obtained.
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Health assessment screenings (scoliosis check, weight, height, blood pressure, vision, and hearing) will be completed during the school year by the school nurse.
The goal of the screening procedure is to identify potential problems that may affect your child's ability to learn and be academically successful. If a screening referral is sent home, please consult your private Health Care Provider and return the bottom of the initial referral notice to the health office. Thank you for your cooperation. If you need further assistance, please call the health office at 336-6190 ext. 2229.
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NYS Public Health Law mandates that all students entering Pre-School are required to obtain proof of lead screening. Please provide the school with documentation of this testing. Consult your health care provider for screening. (A student lacking proof of lead testing will not be excluded from school).
Lead is an element that has no useful purpose in the body and is known to cause harmful effects. The likelihood of harmful effects and the nature of the effects are related to the extent and duration of exposure.
Risk Factors:
Exposure to contaminated dust, soil and water
Living in housing built prior to 1950
Poverty, race and ethnicity
Occupational exposure of the parent (refinishing furniture, welding, battery recycling, construction and pottery making)
Exposure to parental hobbies that use lead products (Loading ammunition, stained glass, fishing sinkers, etc.)
Lead Poisoning Prevention Tips:
Use unleaded paints in the home, on furniture and children’s toys
Wash your hands frequently. Dirt tracked into the home may contain lead. Young children do a lot of hand to mouth activity and will decrease exposure with clean hands.
Encourage a diet adequate in calcium, iron, and vitamin C. Lead is less likely to be absorbed if the intake of these vitamins and minerals is adequate.
Know your child’s blood lead level.
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December 1, 2010
To Parents/Guardians:
We are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all of the children in our school.
Several of our students have severe food allergies; especially to nuts. While some allergic reactions can be mild, many students with severe food allergies experience serious, potentially life-threatening symptoms to eating (and in some cases touching and smelling) the food that they are allergic to. With the holiday season fast approaching, please be careful not to send in any food items for the classroom that contain nuts (all varieties).
We also have several students with latex allergies and respectfully request that no latex balloons be sent to the classroom.
For your reference, please find link below for information on Seasonal Flu. A child who is sick will not be able to perform well in school and is likely to spread the illness to other children and staff. We suggest making a plan for childcare ahead of time so you will not be caught without a comforting place for your child to stay if he/she is ill. It is essential that the nurse has a phone number where you can be contacted during the day and an emergency number in the event you cannot be reached.
Please call the school’s Health Office if you have any questions or concerns. Have a happy and healthy holiday season!
Margaret Bartell, RN
Rome Catholic School Nurse
336-6190 ext. 2229
http://nyhealth.gov/diseases/communicable/influenza/seasonal/