Health Office

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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