Student Health Examination
New York State law requires a physical examination for students entering Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Grades 1, 3, 5, 7,9, and 11, and all students transferring into the Lakeland Central School District. These examinations must be completed on the approved NYS Student Health Examination Form for School.  The form is due in the Health Office 30 days from the date of school entry.

It is suggested to have your New York State licensed physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner complete on the approved NYSED Student Health Examination Form for School. Click here for the 2023-2024 form. New students must present a verified copy of all immunizations. Students whose immunizations are already on file only need to present proof of any additional immunizations that they receive.

Students who do not return evidence of a physical examination or the date of an appointment will have a health appraisal scheduled with our school doctor. Parents/Guardians will be informed of the date of the school physical. If you have any questions, please call your child's school health office.

Immunization Law & Requirements
Meningococcal Vaccine School Requirement :
All students entering grades 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 in New York State will be required to be vaccinated against meningococcal disease as recommended by the Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices (ACIP).

Students in Grade 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 will require 1 dose of MenACWY vaccine (sometimes abbreviated as MCV4; brand names Menactra or Menveo)  and students in Grade 12 will require 2 doses of MenACWY with last dose on or after 16 years of age or 1 dose of MenACWY on or after age 16 years.

Click here to download NYS Meningococcal Disease and Immunization flyer to parents.

Meningococcal Disease | Guide for Parents
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mening/public/index.html

Please check with your HealthCare Provider for your child’s immunization status.   All documentation must be on file in the Health Office PRIOR to release of the student's school schedule.

New York State Public Health Law, Section 2164 mandates that schools shall not permit a child to be admitted unless the parent provides the school with a certificate of immunization or proof from a physician, nurse practitioner or physician's assistant that the child is in the process of receiving the required immunizations.

Tdap Vaccine Requirement for Grade 6:
New York State Immunization Requirements for students 11 years or older entering Grade 6 are required to have one dose of Tdap before the start of school.  Students who are 10 years old entering grade 6 will need the Tdap vaccine by their 11th birthday.  Any immunization obtained over the summer can be mailed directly to Lakeland Copper Beech Middle School 6th Grade Guidance Office.

The required immunizations are: 
NYS Immunization Requirements for School Entrance/Attendance link (English)
NYS Immunization Requirements for School Entrance/Attendance link (Spanish)

All immunizations must be documented by your health care provider, health department where the child received the immunizations or must be from an official copy of the immunization record from the child's previous school (a copy of the original immunization record from the healthcare provider – not a copy of the school health record). All immunizations must specify the exact date each immunization was administered. Your child will not be permitted to attend school without the necessary verification of immunizations.

Absences:
Please call absences in daily. For high schools student absences call the Attendance office, middle school student absences call the Attendance office and elementary schools absences call the main telephone number and follow the prompts. A signed handwritten letter must be provided to the attendance office within 48 hours of the student's return to school stating the reason for the absence. Upon receipt of the letter, the attendance office can adjust the attendance code, if necessary. 

• 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

2023-2024 COVID-19 & Respiratory Illness Protocols

Influenza
Students with "influenza-like illness" should stay home from school and limit contact with others. If your child develops flu-like symptoms they should stay home until they are fever free without the use of medication and symptoms are improving.  During school if your child is found to have flu like symptoms parents/guardians will be called to pick up student.  Please have updated contact numbers on file.  Emergency contacts should be local and available to pick up students promptly. We would ask that when parents call to report an absence, that they identify the illness your child is experiencing including symptoms.

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.

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.

Return to School after Illness/Surgery or Injury
Prior to a child’s return to school after a communicable, contagious or infectious illness, other prolonged illness, injury or surgery, or condition that poses a risk to the health, safety or welfare of the student or others, a note from the child’s health care provider is required to advise that (1) the child is cleared to return to school; (2) whether or not there are any restrictions on the child’s return to school (e.g., participation in physical activities or after-school activities); and (3) whether or not the child is required to use crutches or other equipment and for how long. Upon receipt of a writing clearing a child to return to school, the District may, in an appropriate case, request that the child’s health care provider advise, in writing, whether or not the child is a danger to him/herself or others

Students Residing Outside of United States
All children who have resided outside of the United States for more than two (2) months prior to entering or returning to the District, must submit medical documentation of current tuberculosis screening through either a PPD skin test or an Interferon Gold blood test in order to ascertain exposure to or active tuberculosis disease.

Dental Examination:
A law recently enacted that expands health screenings to include the dental health of students in New York State. The district requires that your child have a physical examination, now the district is requesting a dental certificate as well. Click here for the certificate form available for you to take to your child's dentist and after completion, it should be returned to the school health office as it will be filed in your child's Cumulative Health Record. If you have any questions, please call your child's school health office.

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 or click here to download the form 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.

Screenings
The district's School Health Services program supports your child's academic success by promoting health in the school setting. One way to provide care for your child is by performing the health screenings as mandated by New York State.

During the school year, the following screenings will be required or completed at school.

Vision

• Distance and near acuity for all newly entering students and students in Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Grades 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11.
• Color perception screening for all newly entering students.

Hearing

• Hearing screening for all newly entering students and students in Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Grades 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11.

Scoliosis

• Scoliosis (spinal curvature) screening for girls Grades 5 & 7 and  for boys Grades 9.

Health Appraisals

• A physical examination including Body Mass Index and Weight Status Category Information is required for all newly entering students in Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11.

Dental Certificates

• A dental certificate is requested for all newly entering students and students in Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11.

A letter will be sent home if there are any findings on the school screening that would cause concern or need medical follow-up. If you have any questions, please call your child's school health office.

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 school sports and recess. All Physical Education excuses must be given to the school nurse prior to the student's scheduled Physical Education class.