Health & Medication Policy

 

 Related Pages: Health Office Overview    
  Health Forms    

 

In our on-going efforts to maintain a safe and healthy environment for you and your children and AAA, please review carefully this information.

Our Health & Medication Policy, formulated according to the guidelines of Cheltenham Township is stated in the Policies and Procedures section of the School Handbook/Calendar and highlighted here for your reference.


HEALTH RECORDS
Pennsylvania School Health Law requires that all students have medical and dental exams within one year prior to student's entry into the grade in which the exam is required.

Medical Exam - entering grades K, 6, and students new to the Academy
Dental Exam - entering grades K, 3, 7 and students new to the Academy

In order to protect children form epidemics of serious diseases, Pennsylvania requires all school age children to be fully immunized as a condition for school admission.


The required immunizations are:


1. Four doses of Diptheria and Tetanus (DT, Dtap or DPT) Fourth dose must be given on or after 4th birthday.
2. Three doses of Polio vaccine (SS to gr 8)

3. Two doses of Measles vaccine, two doses of Mumps vaccine, and one dose of Rubella vaccine (SS to gr 8) Usually given as MMR - first vaccine must be given after 12 mos of age
4. Three doeses of Hepatitis B vaccine (must be properly spaced)
5. Two doses of Varicella or documentation of chicken pox disease (SS to gr 8)
6. Tuberculosis (SS to gr 8)
7. Students entering grade 7 must have the following: 1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, accellaular pertussis (Tdap) if 5 years has elapses since last tetanus immunization; 1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV)

 

This information is also available for download here. 

 
MEDICINE
A student must have both a physician’s note and the written permission of parent/guardian to take either prescription or non-prescription medicine in school.  A parent/guardian must deliver medications to the Health Office in the original container from the pharmacist accompanied by a signed note from the doctor and parent with complete instructions for dispensing.  Students may not carry prescription or non-prescription medicines to or from school, or on their person during the school day (except inhalers and special needs medications).

* If your child takes prescribed medication at school, please use an Authorization for Administration of Medication at School form.  This form is available to download here.  This form must be current for each school year; therefore any previously signed forms from past school years are invalid.

FEVER
If your child has had a fever we request that s/he remains at home until his/her temperature is normal for a full 24 hours without medication (Tylenol or Motrin)

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Please notify the Health Office if your child contracts a communicable disease such e.g.
chicken pox, whooping cough, or meningitis.

CONJUNCTIVITIS - More Information
Students showing symptoms of conjunctivitis will be asked to see a physician regarding diagnosis and treatment, and must be seen by the school nurse before returning to school.

PEDICULOSIS (Head Lice)- More Information
The National Pediculosis Association has established that no treatment for head lice is completely effective for killing all nits. 

Both the American Association of Pediatrics and the National Association of School Nurses advocate that "no-nit" policies should be discontinued.  "No-nit" policies that require a child to be free of nits before they can return to school should be discontinued for the following reasons:

  • Many nits are more than 1/4 inch from the scalp.  Such nits are usually not viable and very unlikely to hatch to become crawling lice, or may in fact be empty shells, also known as casings.
  • Nits are cemented to hair shafts and are very unlikely to be transfered successfully to other people.
  • The burden of unnecessary absenteeism to the students, families and communities far outweighs the risks associated with head lice.

At Ancillae-Assumpta Academy, if a student is found to have live lice (louse) or nits within 1/4" from the scalp line, the student should be treated.  We require that treated students be examined by the school nurse before returning to school.

  1. If a student has lice, that student's siblings will be checked for head lice.
  2. The whole grade will not be checked.
  3. The parents will be called, informed and asked to pick up the student.
  4. The school nurse will go over treatment and review Recheck-In Policy with parents at time of pickup.
  5. A letter from the principal will be sent to parents in student's grade only.
  6. An e-mail will be sent informing the Administration.
  7. The student will be rechecked back into school.
  8. The student will not be allowed to return to school if there are still live louse.
  9. Parents will be told to continue nit removal and follow up treatment in 7-10 days and recheck on a weekly basis throughout the year.

SPECIAL NEEDS
In an effort to meet your child’s health needs at school, please notify the Health Office with all pertinent medical information.

We rely on and thank you for your cooperation in adhering to these policies regarding Medicines, Pediculosis, Conjunctivitis, Fever, Communicable Diseases, and Special Needs.

The Crisis Management Plan is designed to respond to any crisis regarding health, weather, disaster, or security.  In our efforts to be prepared we continue to have on hand emergency supplies, and Automatic External Defibrillators. Several of our staff members and coaching personnel are certified in CPR and AED training.

In the event of an emergency or disaster, it is recommended that your child be prepared for 72 hours without outside intervention.  Many students take medications at home and during school hours.  To be able to administer medications for 72 hours, the school requires the Authorization for Administration of Medication at School form completed by the physician and parent for a 24-hour day for 3 days.  It is required to have the medication in the original labeled bottle that includes the doses to be administered. Only medications that are essential to your child’s health are suggested to be available during a crisis situation.  This decision is between you and your health care provider.

The Food Allergy Policy is to ensure a healthy and safe learning environment for all students. Foods that commonly produce allergic problems are peanuts and tree nuts, shellfish and fish, milk, egg, soy, and wheat. The Academy adheres to a strict food allergen policy. No food items can be brought to school without consulting the Health Office or Food Service Coordinator. Only non-edible treats are permitted for any birthday or class celebration held at school. Any questions, please contact Fran Lantieri RN at ext 109 or Sue Fithian, Food Service Coordinator,  at ext 105.