Lakeland Central School District

POLICIES & PROCEDURES

Absences:

Please call the school's main office if your child will be absent. From 4:00 PM till 8:25 AM you may call 914-245-7447 and leave a voicemail message with the following information:

• Provide your name
• Student’s name, grade and teacher
• Reason for absence – if illness state particular complaint, such as stomach ache, chicken pox, fractured arm, etc.
• Give length of absence if known

After 8:25 AM, your call will be picked up by the nurse on 914-245-7447 ext. 206.

Accidents:

In the event your child is injured during school hours, he or she must report to the person in charge of the activity and to the School Nurse. Immediate first aid will be given. If further medical attention is required, parent/guardian will be contacted. An Accident Report will be filled out and if necessary an insurance claim form will be completed and sent to the parent/guardian.

Emergency Cards:

Early in September an emergency card will be sent home. Please fill this in and return it to the Health Office. This is very important for updating your child’s health record with changed phone numbers, persons to contact in an emergency in the event you cannot be reached and any new health status.

Illness:

If your child doesn’t feel well, his or her complaints will be evaluated. If they appear minor, the child will be allowed to rest for a few minutes before returning to class.

If there is a temperature, vomiting or any other suspicion of a contagious condition, parent/guardian will be called immediately and expected to take the child to a physician or home. 

Immunization Law & Requirements:

According to the New York State Public Health Law and District Policy, all new registrants must be adequately immunized before entering school. Verification by a physician or clinic is necessary for the following immunizations:

• 3 doses of DIPTHERIA TOXOID (usually administered as DTP or TD)
• 3 doses of ORAL POLIO
• 1 dose each of LIVE MEASELS, MUMPS and RUBELLA (MMR) given after 1^st birthday
• 2^nd dose of LIVE MEASELS (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccine is the preferred vaccine for both doses of measles immunization). Intervals between doses should be at least 3 months.
• Varicella for all students born on or after 1/1/1998 (*NEW Requirement) See Lakeland Policy document pdf under Lakeland Distict Forms.

Any time your child receives immunization, please send a written statement with the immunization, date and signature of the physician. This is important in keeping your child’s health record updated as well as compiling statistics for the State. 

Medication Policy:

NO STUDENT IS TO BRING OR TAKE MEDICATION OF ANY KIND IN SCHOOL UNLESS THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE IS FOLLOWED.

Medication of any kind cannot legally be dispensed to any child without a physician’s order and parental consent. Medications that can be taken at home before or after school should be arranged in this manner.

If it is absolutely necessary to take medication during school hours, follow this procedure:

The parent or guardian must obtain a form from the Health Office for the physician to fill out and sign or the physician may write up:

• Name of Medication prescribed
• Dosage
• Side Effects
• Time to be given
• The parent or guardian must also sign this form

The parent/guardian must bring in the bottle from the pharmacy with the label attached. CHILDREN ARE NOT TO BRING IN MEDICATION. If a child brings the medication, it will be taken from him/her and not given until the parent comes to school with necessary forms and identifies that medication.

ANY CHILD SEEN WITH MEDICATION BY ANY SCHOOL PERSONNEL WILL HAVE THE MEDICATION TAKEN FROM HIM/HER. IF THE PARENT DOES NOT PICK IT UP, IT WILL BE DISPOSED OF.

Lakeland Central School District policy requires that all medication must be picked up by a parent or guardian on or before the last day of school. Any remaining medication will be disposed of at the close of the last day.

Physical Education Excuses:

Physical Education is mandated by New York State Law as part of the school curriculum. If your child is unable to participate in physical education for the day, a written note from the parent or guardian must be given to the School Nurse with the date and reason for the excuse.

If your child is unable to participate in Physical Education for more than one week a physician’s certificate stating the reason and the length of time to be excluded will be required. If your child is excused from Physical Education, he or she is not to participate in other areas of physical activity such as After School Activities which include running, etc.

Physical Examinations:

New York State Education Law and District Policy requires that all children enrolled in a school for the first time have a physical examination. A completed physical examination form signed and dated by a licensed physician within ninety (90) days prior to the child’s entrance date into school will be accepted and satisfy this requirement.

The School District is required to have a completed physical examination on file for all children in the first, third, seventh and tenth grades. You are encouraged to have this examination done by your child’s private physician. Send the completed physical signed by the physician to the Health Office within the first few weeks of school. If a form is not on file, your child will be scheduled for a physical appraisal by the school physician.

Screenings:

During the school year, we routinely weigh and measure every child and give a vision and hearing test. Parent/Guardian will receive notification if any problems arise from the screenings.

According to Education Law, all children between the ages of eight and sixteen must be screened for Scoliosis. This may be done by your private physician and a report sent to the school. If we do not receive a report, your child will be screened during the early part of the school year. Any child that exhibits a problem will be re-screened by the school physician. If there still exists an unusual or abnormal finding parent/guardian will be notified by the School Nurse and advised to follow-through with a visit to your own physician.

State law mandates that certain screenings must be offered in school each year.

• Annual Height and Weight Screening:
  • All students grade K- 5.
• Annual Postural Screening: New York State Education Law requires that all children in Grades Two (2), Four (4) and Five (5) receive a school screening examination to identify those children who may have a possible curvature of the spine (scoliosis). Any child who has not submitted a physical will be examined in school.
  • The procedure for this screening process will involve school staff and school medical personnel.
  • Screeners, who have been specially trained, will look at your child’s back while he/she is standing, in a bent forward position.
  • Boys and girls are seen separately during their physical education classes.
  • Parents/guardians will be notified if any problem is noted at the completion of the screening process.
• Dental Screening:
• Head Lice:
• Hearing and Vision Screening:
  • Grades: K-5:
  • All transfer students
  • Upon parent or teacher request
• Lead Screening:
  • At least one lead test prior to entering kindergarten
• Tuberculosis Screening: 
  • TB screening is only recommended for high risk students per physician’s discretion.

All students are required by state law to participate in the screenings- if you would like to request that your child be exempt from screenings, a written physician’s note must be provided stating that the child does not require the screening. Notes from Parents/Guardians are not acceptable.