School Health Services/School Nurses

Please use the following guidelines to help stop the spread of illnesses in our school. Your children’s health is foremost on our minds.

• Please keep your child home from school if they have a fever (often a temperature of 100.0 or higher signals an illness or contagion). Your child must be fever-free for a full 24 hours before returning to school, without the use of fever-reducing medication, such as Tylenol, Motrin or Advil.
• Please keep your child home if they vomited or had diarrhea the night before or the morning of school. Please maintain the 24-hour rule; vomit free and/or diarrhea free; as well as being able to tolerate a regular diet for 24 hours before the child can return to school.
• Please give your child a full 24 hours at home, once placed on antibiotics for contagious diseases such as strep throat, bronchitis, conjunctivitis (pink eye) and impetigo.
•  Please keep your child home if they exhibit flu-like symptoms or Covid symptoms. Contact your child’s provider for: fever accompanied with chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle pain, fatigue, persistent vomiting and diarrhea.

Additionally, please keep your child home if:

• Their cough is not under control. (Please note cough drops, and over-the-counter cough medicine, require a doctor’s note).
• They have a rash accompanied by a fever or behavioral changes. It is recommended the child be seen by their pediatrician.

Thank you for adhering to these guidelines and for helping maintain a healthy school environment for our children.

It is imperative that parents/guardians notify the school nurse regarding their child's allergies to discuss the child’s needs and required documentation.

Asthma Action Plan

Asthma Action Plan - Spanish

Benadryl Authorization Form

Epinephrine Authorization Form (English & Spanish)

Food Allergy Emergency Care Plan

Food Allergy Emergency Care Plan - Spanish

Food Allergy Health History Form

Food Allergy Health History Form - Spanish

General Medication Authorization

General Medication Authorization - Spanish

Parent Opt Out for Nut Free Table

"When people get sick with a respiratory virus, the updated guidance recommends that they stay home and away from others. For people with COVID-19 and influenza, treatment is available and can lessen symptoms and lower the risk of severe illness. The recommendations suggest returning to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, symptoms are improving overall, and if a fever was present, it has been gone without use of a fever-reducing medication." - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guidance, March 1, 2024

Please note that school nurses need to be aware of when students have contagious diseases (flu, strep throat, fifth's disease and other illnesses) and serious medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease, anaphylaxis, seizures and other concerns.

Covid Resources

Covid Information from the CDC

Flu Resources

Resources from the New York State Department of Health

Fight the Flu - Info for Parents

Fight the Flu - Info for Parents - Spanish

Pertussis (Whopping Cough)

Pertussis is an infection that affects the airways and can easily spread from person to person by coughing or sneezing. Pertussis can cause a severe cough that lasts for weeks or months, sometimes leading to coughing fits and/or vomiting. Anyone can get pertussis, but it can be very dangerous for babies and people with weakened immune systems. Family members with pertussis, especially siblings and parents, can spread pertussis to babies.

FAQs About Pertussis - Westchester Department of Health

About Whopping Cough - CDC
 

Please refer to the When to Keep Your Child at Home tab for additional information.

Whether an injury or illness, our school nurses are here to support students. Students may be sent home due to injury or illness based on an evaluation from our nursing team. Please make sure that your contact information and your child’s emergency contact information is updated and accurate in case of an emergency.

Please notify our school nurses of:

• Broken bones
• Injuries that require the use of crutches, wheelchairs, slings, casts or any other assistance device
• Lacerations that required stitches or staples
• Concussions

Physical Education and Recess Exemptions

Parents and guardians should send a note to the school nurse to excuse participation for one absence. A physician’s note is required for your child to be excused from physical education for more than one absence.

Injuries that require the use of crutches, wheelchairs, slings, casts or any other assistance device require a doctor's note.

Head lice are tiny wingless parasites that feed on the human scalp. Lice have been in existence since the dawn of time. There is no research-based way to completely eradicate lice. They infest people regardless of age, race, sex, or socioeconomic class and are not an indication of poor hygiene. The most common method of transfer is direct head contact, although transfer may also occur through shared combs, brushes, hats, helmets, or other headwear.  Itching and scratching of the head may be a sign of possible infestation, and should prompt parents to examine their children. Children should be examined weekly to catch an infestation as early as possible. The following are resources for parents/guardians about head lice:

•  BCSD Head Lice Protocol
•  Head Lice Alert Letter to Parents/Guardians

Please contact your pediatrician or School Nurse for additional questions about head lice. 

Resources:

• Head Lice: What Parents Need to Know - American Academy of Pediatrics
• Head Lice Treatment - CDC 
• HeadLice.org

A medical authorization form is required for any medication needed during the school day, whether short-term or long-term. The form must be signed by a physician and parent/guardian.

Students are not allowed to bring in medication themselves. Medications should be delivered to your school's nurse's office by a parent or guardian and must be in the original container. This applies both to prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Please call your school's nurse's office with any questions.

Benadryl Authorization Form

Epinephrine Authorization Form (English & Spanish)

General Medical Authorization Form

General Medical Authorization Form - Spanish