TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Authorization to use medications in school
BMI/weight status category reporting
Contact numbers/emails/fax for school nurses
COVID-19
Coxsackievirus
Health examination forms (physical, dental, medical certificate for physical limitations)
Immunizations
Meningitis vaccine (Grades 7 and 12)
MRSA and staph infections
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV)
Seasonal flu
Too sick for school
Contact Scotia-Glenville’s nurses
Senior High School: (518) 347-3600 ext. 6191; fax: (518) 386-4379
Caitlin Cerny, RN (ccerny@sgcsd.net)
Middle School: 347-3600 ext. 5291; fax: (518) 386-4228
Lyndsey Gannon, RN, BSN (lgannon@sgcsd.net)
Glendaal Elementary School: (518) 347-3600 ext. 1291; fax: (518) 347-3614
Betsy Williams, RN (BWilliams@sgcsd.net)
Glen-Worden Elementary School: (518) 347-3600 ext. 2291; fax: (518) 347-3615
Lori DeSio, RN (LDesio@sgcsd.net)
Lincoln Elementary School: (518) 347-3600 ext. 3291; fax: (518) 347-3616
Kim Mastroianni, RN (KMastroianni@sgcsd.net)
Sacandaga Elementary School: (518) 347-3600 ext. 4291; fax: (518) 347-3617
Nicole Stuart, RN (NStuart@sgcsd.net)
Float Nurse
Bonnie Lange, RN (BLange@sgcsd.net)
Immunization requirements
Click here for the 2023-2024 Immunization requirements.
Incoming grades 7 and 12 students must be immunized against meningitis
Meningitis can be life threatening and require immediate medical attention. Vaccines are available to protect against some kinds of bacterial meningitis. For more information please see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Health examinations and required forms
All New York State public school students must have a health exam when they enter school as a new entrant and in Pre-K or Kindergarten and grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. These examinations must be completed on the approved NYSED Student Health Examination Form (2023) for School. To read a letter from Superintendent Swartz, click here.
Physical Form
The exam is considered valid if the date of the exam is within ONE YEAR prior to the start of the school year in which the physical exam is required.
- This form is to be completed by a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant.
Dental Certificate
New York State requires districts to request a dental health certificate from parents as part of the general health assessment (Chapter 281 of the Laws of 2007) for children entering kindergarten and grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11.
- This form is the dental health certificate.
Medical Certificate of Physical Limitations
Should a student be temporarily or permanently unable to participate in the regular program of physical education, a program must be developed to meet the needs of that student. A certified adaptive physical education teacher is on staff.
- This form should be filled out by your medical provider to communicate your student’s needs.
Authorization to Use Medications/Receive Treatments at School
Written authorization from a medical provider is required for any medication that is to be given in school.
- This form is to be completed by a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant.
The following requirements for administration of medication must be met in order for the medication to be given. These requirements apply to both prescription and non-prescription (“over the counter”) medications.
- The nurse must have a written order signed by a physician.
- The order must include the name of the medication, the dosage, and the frequency for administering it.
- The nurse must also have written permission from the parent or guardian authorizing school personnel to administer the medication as specified by the physician.
- The parent or guardian must bring the medication to school in the pharmacy container or the original store container. Students should NOT transport medications!
- Any medication to be given at school must be kept in the Health Office. A child should not keep a medication on his/her person, in the desk, lunch box or locker.
- Medications not picked up at the end of the year will be discarded. A reminder notice will be sent home before the last day of school in June.
When is your child too sick for school?
Keep in mind that while your school nurse is willing to share their experience and expertise, they are not able to diagnose. The best way to limit the spread of germs and the diseases they cause is to wash your hands thoroughly and often. Additionally, make sure you are well hydrated and get plenty of rest!
Students should stay home if there is:
Fever (temperature over 100 degrees)
Often following an illness, children will wake up in the morning without a fever, only to have it return by noontime. For that reason, it is recommended that students remain at home until they are fever-free without fever-reducing medication for 24 hours.
Vomiting
Children should remain at home until they are no longer vomiting for 24 hours and are able to tolerate a regular diet.
Eye infection (conjunctivitis) with thick drainage/crusting
Children should remain at home until condition has been treated for 24 hours with medication prescribed by your provider or the drainage is gone.
Chicken Pox
Children should remain at home until all lesions are scabbed or for 1 week.
Strep Throat
The signs and symptoms of strep throat are:
- headache
- fever
- sore throat, heavily coated tongue
- vomiting
The CDC recommends:
Treatment with an appropriate antibiotic for 12 hours or longer generally eliminates a person’s ability to transmit group A strep. People with group A strep pharyngitis or scarlet fever should stay home from work, school, or daycare until:
- They are fever free for 24 hours (without the use of fever reducing medications). AND
- 12 hours after starting appropriate antibiotic therapy.
Seasonal flu information
As seasonal flu season draws closer, officials are again recommending that everyone receive a flu vaccine to limit the spread. For more information about the flu, visit http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/influenza/seasonal/
COVID-19
Scotia-Glenville School District follows the guidance from the New York State Department of Health regarding COVID-19. You can track cases on a county level through this link: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/positive-tests-over-time-region-and-county
The following actions can help reduce the chances of getting sick
Routine cleaning in our school buildings continues to be an important strategy for the district. High-risk areas such as health offices, classrooms, lunchrooms, athletic rooms, bathrooms and high-traffic areas are cleaned daily. High-touch surfaces such as lunch tables, desks, chairs, light switches, and handrails are also cleaned throughout the day.
Free At-Home Tests Available
If you need a home COVID test:
- Households can use this link to get up to two free COVID test kits (with four tests in each kit).
Illness/Positive COVID-19 Test
As with any infectious illness, students and staff who test positive for COVID-19, or who show symptoms, are asked to stay home from school and follow the Centers for Disease Control’s Isolation Guidance.
The updated CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance, released March 1, 2024, utilizes a unified approach to addressing risks from common respiratory viral illnesses, such as COVID-19, flu, and RSV. The recommendations were updated because of decreased hospitalizations and deaths associated with COVID-19. There are no changes to respiratory virus guidance for healthcare settings.
CDC recommends people stay home and away from others when sick with a respiratory virus and suggests returning to normal activities when symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours, and fever free without antipyretics. Once resuming normal activities, people are encouraged to take additional steps for the next five days to curb spread, such as wearing a well-fitting mask, keeping a distance from others and enhancing hygiene practices.
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) recommends that schools follow the updated CDC guidance for COVID-19 prevention and work with their Local Health Department if local cases are high.
Masks
Masks are not mandated, but any student or staff member may wear a mask while at school to prevent the spread of illness. Mask-wearing is recommended for at least 10 days following a positive COVID test, or COVID illness.
Vaccinations
COVID-19 vaccinations are not required to attend school. Children ages 6 months and older are all eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Children older than 5 are eligible for a booster.
To find vaccination sites, go to this link – ny.gov/vaxtoschool.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV)
RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious. Infants and older adults are more likely to develop severe RSV and need hospitalization. Vaccines are available to protect older adults from severe RSV. Monoclonal antibody products are available to protect infants and young children from severe RSV.
The Scotia-Glenville Central School District is providing information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the New York State Department of Health (DOH) to help parents and community members become better informed about the virus and to help stop the spread.
Here is information about Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV)
MRSA and staph infections
It is important to note that staph infections can be prevented by simple measures such as washing hands thoroughly and cleaning and covering all cuts and scrapes until they are healed. Staph infects a person through skin-to-skin contact; the bacteria must get under the skin through openings such as cuts or abrasions.
This state Health Department link will further explain what this staph infection is and how to treat with it. Please contact your health care provider if you have any questions or concerns.
Information about Coxsackievirus
In most cases, coxsackievirus infections cause mild flu-like symptoms and go away without treatment. Read more about Coxsackievirus from the NYS Health Department https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/hand_foot_mouth/fact_sheet.htm
BMI/Weight Status Category Reporting
New York state requires schools to track each student’s body mass index (BMI) and weight status category as part of school health examinations. Every year, the New York State Department of Health surveys some schools for the number of students in each weight status category. If Scotia-Glenville CSD is surveyed by the state, the district will share summary group data only and will not share summary group calculations. In order to opt out of the sharing of this data, parents/guardians must submit this form to their school building nurse.