Health and Wellness

Health Screening

Physical exams are required for all students entering grades Pre-K or Kindergarten, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11. It is extremely useful to hand in an updated Physical Exam Form every time your child has an annual Physical exam with their health care provider in order to keep their school health records up to date.

As your child receives vaccines it is important to hand in proof of the immunization to keep their school health records up to date.

Physicals are required for those students wishing to participate in interscholastic sports. In order to play a sport, the athlete must have on file in the Health Office a physical that was done within the previous 12 months and a Health Update for Sports form. Sports physicals are done by Dr. Breen (the school physician) every spring. Contact the Health Office for further information about these physicals. If you have questions regarding sports requirements, please call 618-668-5452 Ext. 1221 and speak with Mr. Manny, Athletic Director.  All physicals done for athletes need to be submitted to Mrs. Becker prior to first practice. 

Mandated Screenings | Medications in School | Immunizations Information

Mandated Screenings

The Health Office supports students’ academic success by promoting health in the school setting. One way we provide care for your child is by performing the health screenings as mandated by the State of New York. Screenings will not be done if adequate screening results have been provided on a Health Examination Form from a licensed medical provider. During this 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-K or Kindergarten, Grades 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11
• Color perception screening for all newly entering students
• Will be completed unless

Hearing

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

Scoliosis

• Scoliosis (spinal curvature) screening for all girls in grades 5 and 7, and boys in grade 9

Body Mass Index (BMI) Information

As part of a required school health examination, a student is weighed and their height is measured along with vision and hearing screening, as well as scoliosis for the certain students. The height and weight numbers are used to figure out the student’s body mass index or ‘BMI’. The BMI helps the doctor or nurse know if the student’s weight is in a healthy range or is too high or too low. Recent changes to the New York State Education Law require that BMI and weight status group (NOT individual student) be included as part of the student’s school health examination in grades K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11. Each year, a sample of school districts will be selected to take part in a survey by the New York State Department of Health. If our school is selected to be part of the survey, we will be reporting health information about our students’ weight status groups to the New York State Department of Health. Only summary information is sent. No names and no information about individual students are sent. However, you may choose to have your child’s information excluded from this survey report. The information sent to the New York State Department of Health will help health officials develop programs that make it easier for children to be healthier.

You may choose to have your child’s information excluded from this survey report. If you do not wish to have your child’s weight status group information included as part of the Health Department’s survey this year, you must submit this request in writing to the health office. You can also contact the health office to request an opt out form. This form must be signed and returned to the health office of your child’s school.

Medications in School

Children are permitted to take medication during school hours if certain requirements are met. This requirement applies to all prescription and even over-the-counter medications (including cough drops). A doctors order is required or your doctor may complete a Permission to administer medication at school form. Parents are required to transport all medications to school. Prescription medication must be in original pharmacy labeled container. Discuss this with your child’s health care provider and the school nurse. 

Immunizations Information

The following is a brief overview of the immunizations required prior to school entrance. These requirements and the accompanying guidelines are extracted from the NYSED Regulations & Public Health  Law 2164.  

All children attending schools in New York State must be properly immunized as follows: 

• 3-5 doses of Diphtheria Toxoid vaccine – 4 doses (if the 4^th dose of DTaP was administered at age 4 years or older, then the fifth (booster) is not necessary. 3 doses if the series is started at 7 years of age or older. 
• 3-4 doses of Polio vaccine (OPV and/or IPV) – if 3 doses were administered before age 4 years, an additional dose should be received at age 4-6 years. For children 7 years or older who have previously received less than 3 doses, a total of 3 doses are required.  
• 2 doses of MMR given ***no more than 4 days prior to the first birthday 
• 2 doses of Varicella given no more than 4 days prior to the first birthday  
• 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine (4 weeks between dose 1 & 2, 8 weeks between dose 2 & 3, and 16  weeks from dose one) 
  * The 2 dose adult Recombivax Hepatitis B series for students 11-15 years of age meets the requirements for Hepatitis B.
• 1 dose of Tetanus toxoid containing vaccine and Pertussis vaccine ( required for students  enrolling in grades 6-7 must be 10 years or older when receiving and students in grades 8- 12 who have not previously received a Tdap at 10 years of age or older are acceptable). 
• 1 dose of Meningococcal vaccine for students in grades 7-11 
• 1 dose of Meningococcal (booster) vaccine for students entering 12^th grade age 16 or older given no more than 4 days before their sixteenth birthday prior to beginning classes, an immunization record documented (or certification of having the disease) by a physician or other authorized person who administered the vaccine must be presented. Your child may be excluded from school if this documentation is not provided. The record must specify the immunizations and the exact dates of their  administration. Students may be exempt from these requirements if their physician states such immunizations would be  detrimental to their health.

See specifics for unvaccinated children.

Concussion Management

Click here to view the Lake George Central School District policy on concussion management.