Health Office
Office Fax: (908) 725-0640
The Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District Health Services Department maintains all student health records and conducts State-mandated screenings for vision, hearing, height, weight, blood pressure, scoliosis and tuberculosis. Recommended grade level physicals, required new student physicals and sports participation physicals are processed by Health Services. Evaluation of symptoms of physical complaint, provision of first aid, dispensing of medication, and health counseling are among the other health services provided to students.
- Policy and Procedure
- Health/Medication Forms
- Home Instruction Forms
- Other Important Health Information
Policy and Procedure
- Attendance
- Medications
- Physical Education Excuses
- Routine Physical Requirements
- Sport Physicals
- Screenings
Attendance
Parent/Guardian must report the student's absence/tardy daily, regardless of the reason, whether it be personal, illness, death in the family, religious holiday or vacation. The school must be notified prior to the start of the school day. Upon returning to school, the student must provide a parent note or a physician note verifying the student's absence. A student who has been hospitalized for any period of time must provide a physician's note for readmission to school.
Exclusion Due to Illness
If your child has any of the following, he/she MUST be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to school:
- Temperature of 100.4 or greater
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
If your child has any of the following, he/she MUST be on antibiotics for 24 hours before returning to school:
- Strep Throat
- Pink Eye
If your child has the following, please adhere to statement next to illness:
- Chicken Pox (Varicella) - May return to school after all lesions have crusted.
- Head Lice – Refer to your school nurse for further information.
For a complete list, please contact the health office to discuss your concerns.
Early dismissal related to illness during the school day can only be granted through the health office. The nurse is the only authorized person to medically excuse a student from school.
Medications
All medication, whether prescription or over the counter, must be delivered to the Health Office in the original pharmacy container. In addition a new Medication Administration Form must be completed and submitted to the Health Office each school year per Bridgewater-Raritan School Board Policy and New Jersey State Regulations. The school nurse may not administer any medication unless these guidelines are followed. Students who use Epinephrine Auto Injector or Asthma Inhalers may carry these medications and self-administer provided the proper forms have been completed and submitted to the Health Office. For the safety of all students, please do not send medications to school with students in their backpacks or lunchboxes that have not been cleared by the Health Office. Not only is this practice dangerous, but also the student may be subject to disciplinary action.
At the end of the school year all medication must be picked up by the parent/guardian by the end of the last school day or the medication will be discarded.
Physical Education Excuses
A parent/guardian may write a note excusing a student from physical education for no longer than three days. Students must present a note from their physician to be excused from physical education for three days or longer. All physical education excuses must be presented to the health office at the beginning of the school day. Students may not resume physical education after serious illness or injury without a medical release from their physician.
Routine Physical Requirements
The New Jersey Department of Education strongly recommends that all students be given physical examinations periodically for the protection of their health. The Bridgewater-Raritan School District recommends these examinations be performed on all students in sixth and tenth grades.
Pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and all new entrants into the school system are required to submit proof of a physical examination for registration. The physical form must be submitted to the Health Office within thirty days of registration. A sport physical satisfies this requirement.
Sport Physicals
A sport physical is required for all students enrolled in grades 6 through 12 who participate on either interscholastic or intramural athletic teams or squads.
Any parent/guardian who is unable to obtain a physical for their child by their private physician should contact the Health Office for further instructions.
Contact the student’s health office or athletic office if you have any questions.
Screenings
According to state law (N.J.S.A. 18A:40-4) the following health screenings are performed by Health Services:
- Height, weight and blood pressure are done annually in grade K-12.
- Vision screening is done in grades PreK, Kindergarten, and in grades 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10.
- Hearing screening is done in grades PreK, Kindergarten through grade 3 and in grades 7 and 11.
- Scoliosis screening is performed biennially for students in grades 5 – 12 (grades 5, 7, 9 and 11).
- A student may be excused from the scoliosis screening upon written request of the parent/guardian.
The parent/guardian will be notified when follow up by the primary health care provider is required.
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia website has very informative articles about vaccinations
Health/Medication Forms
Physical Exam Forms
A physical exam is required for all students entering Preschool and Kindergarten as well as any student new to the district. Please consult the School Nurse regarding submission due dates.
Physical Exam Form PreK-K
Physical Exam Form PreK-K (Spanish)
Physical Exam Form Grade 1-12
Physical Exam Form Grade 1-12 (Spanish)
New Jersey Immunization Requirements
Asthma Forms
If your child has asthma and requires medication at school, please complete the Asthma Treatment Plan and return to the School Nurse.
Food Allergies/Anaphylaxis Forms
If your child has a life-threatening allergy which requires the administration of epinephrine, you must submit the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan and the Life-threatening Allergy Accommodation form. In addition, if you wish to authorize a delegated staff member to administer epinephrine in the absence of the School Nurse, you must complete the Delegate Authorization for Epinephrine form.
Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan (must include parent signature, physician signature, and stamp)
Life-threatening Allergy Accommodations Form
Delegate Authorization for Epinephrine
Administration of Medication Forms
If your child requires prescription medication during the school day, the Medication Order Form must be completed by the parent and physician. Medication must be dropped off by the parent to the School Nurse, and it must be in the original pharmacy labeled container.
Medication Order Form (must include parent signature, physician signature, and stamp)
Seizure Forms
If your child has been diagnosed with a seizure disorder, the Seizure Action Plan must be completed by a physician. The form requires a parent signature, physician signature, and stamp. In addition, a Medication Order Form must be completed if your child requires seizure medication at school.
Medication Order Form (must include parent signature, physician signature, and stamp)
Seizure Action Plan (must include parent signature, physician signature, and stamp)