Health Reminders For The Start Of A New Year

“You can’t educate a child who isn’t healthy, and you can’t keep children healthy if they aren’t educated,” stated former US Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders, MD.

Newtown school health officials would like to remind parents that the state law requires a physical examination prior to school entrance (if coming from out of state) as well as in sixth and tenth grade. All physicals must be performed by a qualified practitioner of medicine and should include an immunization record.

State and local law require the following immunizations before entry into school:

Polio — Three doses, the last dose given after the fourth birthday.

Diptheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (DTP) — Four doses, the last dose given after the fourth birthday.

Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) — One dose given after the 12 months of age and a second dose before entering seventh grade. Effective August 2000 all students entering kindergarten must show proof of a second dose before entry.

HIB — Verification of immunization on entry to kindergarten, exempt if passed his/her fifth birthday.

Hepatitis B (HBV) — Students born after January 1, 1994, three doses as follows: two doses given at least four weeks apart followed by a third dose at least four months after the second. Effective August 2000, students entering the seventh grade must show proof of one dose with the completion of the series before entering eighth grade.

Varicella (chicken pox) — Students born after January 1, 1997 must show proof of immunity to Varicella for entry into preschool programs and/or kindergarten. All other students must show proof of immunity before entering seventh grade. Proof of immunity includes: 1) verification of immunization; 2) serologic evidence of past infection; or 3) a statement signed and dated by a physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse indicating that the child has had chicken pox based on family and/or medical history.

Tuberculin Test — This applies only to foreign-born students and students entering from a high risk country. A physician’s verification of a tuberculin test (Mantoux) given in the United States including the date given and the results. Exemptions: Religious or medical exemptions are honored with the appropriate documentation.

Please be advised that parents are required to call the school in the morning to report their child’s absence. Please report all contagious diseases at that time. Parents are responsible for reporting any special health problems or allergies to the school nurse. Children who have had an illness or injury that requires modification of their physical education (PE) classes must have a doctor’s note stating how long they will be excused from PE.

A reminder to parents to complete and return the emergency health information/Tylenol permission form as soon as possible at the beginning of the school year. Tylenol will only be given to a child with the written permission of the parent or guardian. It is the parent’s responsibility to notify the school nurse of any changes in a child’s health throughout the school year.

School personnel may only administer medications during school hours with the permission of the parent and the written order of a physician. This includes over-the-counter medication. Medication forms can be obtained from the school nurse. Medication should never be sent in with a student or placed in a backpack or lunch box. Students who need to carry asthma inhalers need to have the above documentation on file in the health office with the doctor and parents consent to self-administer the medication.

The following health screenings are required by Connecticut State Law and will be done by the school nurse. Vision will be screened in grades K–6 and 9; hearing in grades K–3, 5 and 8; scoliosis in grades 5–9. If the screenings are done and documented during a physical they will not be repeated.

For more information contact the health office of the school your child will be attending.