Student Health

A registered nurse staffs the health room at Sacred Heart of Jesus School every day from 9:00-1:00. The primary goal is the promotion of health and well being for the Sacred Heart of Jesus School Community.

Sacred Heart of Jesus School adheres to the policies and procedures of the New York State Department of Education along with the Archdiocese of New York. Before each child enters school, an immunization record and health appraisal form MUST be on file in the nurse’s office. As a part of each child’s requirements for school, a physical examination is required for students in Prekindergarten or Kindergarten and in Grades 2, 4, 7 and 10. Health forms are available to download below, and can also be picked up at the main office and the health room.

If your child has any of the following symptoms DO NOT SEND him/her to school:

  • Temperature > 100
  • Reddened eyes with discharge
  • Persistent sore throat or cough
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Severe stomachache
  • Severe headache

Before returning to school, a child must be fever free for 24 hours (without fever reducing medications), exhibit no vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours, and if on antibiotic medication, must be on the antibiotics for 24 hours.

If a child is too sick to remain in school, the parent will be notified immediately. Parents are obligated to pick up the sick child within one hour of notification.

In cases of emergency when a child needs to be taken to the hospital, he or she will be taken to Keller Army Community Hospital or St Luke’s Cornwall unless parents indicate otherwise on the emergency card.

If your child is absent for any health reason or diagnosed with a communicable disease, a written note from the parent or guardian must be sent to the nurse on the child’s return to school.

If your child needs medication, you are required to complete the medication authorization form. The medication is to be brought to the school nurse by a parent/guardian. Medication must be presented in a properly labeled container. On the prescription medication the pharmacy label should display:

  • Student name
  • Name and phone number of the pharmacy
  • Licensed prescriber name
  • Date and number of refills
  • Name of the medication and dosage
  • Frequency of administration

Parents are responsible for picking up all unused medications. Students are not allowed to transport medications to and from school. The only exception is if a physician has given a written order that the student may carry and self administer their own medication (an inhaler is a good example of this situation).

Any student participating in interscholastic sports must have a current physical on file in the nurse’s office. Students will not be allowed to participate in practices or games without a current physical and health history form. Physicals for participation in school sports may be scheduled at any time during the calendar year. The results of the physical shall be valid for a period of 12 months through the last day of the month in which the physical was conducted.

Parents are required by law to get their children a dental appraisal in the same school years the children are required to have a health appraisal. The Dental Appraisal Form is available to download below, and can also be picked up at the main office and the health room. Please take the form to your child’s dentist and return it to the School Nurse where it will be filed in your child’s Cumulative Health Record.

Vision, hearing and scoliosis screenings are done annually at certain grade levels and when necessary.

  • Vision – Grade K, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7
  • Hearing – Grade K, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10
  • Scoliosis-Grades 5-9

Parents will be notified if a concern is found. It is in your child’s best interest to follow up with a visit to your family doctor or optometrist if a referral is sent home.

There are children enrolled in this school with life-threatening food allergies. For the safety and wellness of all our SHS students, we strongly enforce that students NOT share food. Parents must reinforce to their children that food is not to be shared. Please be sure to check with your teacher at least three days before sending in any snacks, so the teacher can make the alternate arrangements for children that may not be able to participate.

Helpful links:

Downloadable health forms: