Bess and Paul Sigel Hebrew Academy of Greater Hartford

SCHOOL NURSE/SCHOOL HEALTH POLICY

We have a part time Nurse who provides services to our students from our Nursing office. She will follow the rules and regulations outlined by the State of Connecticut.

The ultimate responsibility for receiving the medication lies squarely on the shoulders of the parents and student. The school will cooperate under the following conditions:

1. The State of Connecticut has adopted legislation which severely restricts the administration of medication to students in schools. For prescriptions to be given in school, a written order from a licensed physician/dentist must be received along with written authorization from the student’s parent or legal guardian. The medication must be delivered by the parent to the school nurse in the clearly labeled original container which must indicate the following information:
a. Name of patient
b. Name of medication
c. Name of prescribing physician
d. Name and phone number of dispensing pharmacy

2. The Nurses office has many over-the-counter medications. In order for these medications to be administered to students, we must have the Permission to Administer Over-The Counter Medication form. Please make sure that this form is signed both by a parent or guardian as well as by a physician. All authorizations for administering medications are only good until the end of the school year. A new form must be sent in each September.

3. Self – administration of medication by students is generally not allowed. Any medication found with students including Tylenol or Ibuprofen will be confiscated. Please contact the school nurse if specific arrangements need to be made.

4. Unused medication must be picked up by the parent/guardian. The medication permission slip has a section notifying the parent of the policy which requires that medication that is not picked up within two weeks after the stop order date will be destroyed by the nurse. Lack of response by the parent/guardian shall be construed as permission to destroy remaining medication.

5. If you have any questions relating to these procedures or other medically related problems, please feel free to contact the school nurse. The school nurse will be present during the first month of school from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM and thereafter from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Health Care – A healthy child is an alert child. His/her chances of making steady progress is dependent upon his/her physical well being. May we suggest the following?

1. Pupils should have a complete check-up before school starts. Special considerations such as near or far-sightedness, speech or hearing difficulties, allergies, etc. should be called to our attention in writing. These are contributing factors to the child’s attentiveness.

2. It is the responsibility of each parent to leave his business and personal number, along with two emergency numbers, with the school office so that we may be able to contact you at once when your child is ill. Please update these periodically if there is a change.

3. According to the State of Connecticut, all health forms must be submitted to the school nurse by the first day of school.

4. Please keep your child at home if signs of a coming cold or other illness are evident.

5. Please inform the school office if your child has a contagious disease and will not be reporting to school for a number of days.

6. Children who are well enough to come to school are generally well enough to participate in recess period. Parents are requested to avoid having their children “kept in” at recess
time. If children should not engage in strenuous activity following illness, it is possible for them to be seated outdoors.

7. Please see that your child receives sufficient sleep each night.

8. Please make sure that your child has eaten a nourishing breakfast before departing for school.

9. When a parent is notified that his child is ill and resting in the nursing station, arrangements must be made to transport him/her home as soon as possible.

Health Policy – Head Lice – The following are policies that the Hebrew Academy will adhere to strictly regarding head lice.

1. Our school has a “no-nit” policy, as recommended by the Public Health Department and National Pediculosis Association. If nits (lice eggs) are found on a student’s head, that student will be sent home immediately for treatment and removal of all nits. If you find nits/lice on your child’s head, even over a weekend or vacation, please notify the school immediately so that steps can be taken to prevent spreading of lice.

2. When a case of head lice is found, that classroom will be thoroughly re-cleaned.

3. If nits or lice are found on a student’s head, that entire grade will also be checked, as well as all siblings. Periodic head checks will continue for that class at the discretion of the school nurse.

4. Children who were sent home for treatment for head lice will not be permitted to return until they have been checked at school and found to be free of nits.

5. When a student returns to school after treatment, he/she must be brought directly to the nurse’s office by the parent or guardian, who must remain in the school until the nurse has determined if the child is nit-free.

6. As a precaution, we will be checking all children for head lice the first and second days of school, and when they return from winter vacation.