Each school building is staffed by a full-time nurse to ensure the well-being of our students. If you have any questions or concerns about any of the following information, please contact the appropriate health office.
When is your child too sick to send to school?
Students should stay home:
- If they have a temperature 100 degrees F or greater. (It is recommended that students remain at home until they are fever-free without medication for 24 hours.)
- If they are vomiting and unable to tolerate a regular diet.
- If they have an eye infection such as pink eye (conjunctivitis). Children should remain at home until condition has been treated for 24 hours with medication prescribed by the doctor or the drainage is gone.
- After a diagnosis of strep throat. Children should remain at home until treated with antibiotics for 24 hours.
- If they have any symptoms related COVID-19. The list of symptoms can be found here
More information about the COVID-19 protocols at MCSD can be found here.
Special health needs
Please be sure to let us know of any special health needs or concerns your child may have whether it be on a temporary or permanent basis. This information may be shared with school personnel to ensure your child’s safety unless otherwise requested. Examples of such needs are as follows:
- Food or Bee Sting Allergy (severity and treatment)
- Allergy to any other substance (be as specific as possible, severity & treatment)
- Need for special aids such as crutches, wheelchair, splints, etc.
- Head lice – children should be checked periodically at home and the school nurse should be notified if live lice or nits are found.
- Surgical procedures, for example tonsillectomy and tooth extraction.
- Diagnosis of communicable disease such as, but not limited to, Fifth Disease, Impetigo, Scabies, Pneumonia, Chicken Pox.
- Difficulty with vision, hearing or speech.
- Any new medication taken at home or needed in school.
Please note, it is the parents’ responsibility to notify bus drivers and/or the Transportation Department of your child’s health concerns.
Medication
Every effort should be made to administer medication at home.
However, if your physician feels that medication is necessary during the school day, please keep in mind that NYS law requires that all medication (even “over the counter” medications like Tylenol, cough drops, throat lozenges, eye drops, and antibiotic/cortisone creams):
- Must be accompanied by a doctor’s order.
- Must be accompanied by written parental permission requesting administration of the medication as ordered by the licensed prescriber.
- Must be in the original container.
- May not be transported to or from school by a student. The pharmacy label on the bottle does not take the place of a doctor’s order. A new order from a physician must be submitted to the Health Office for any change in a previous medication order (i.e. dosage or time to be given).
Medication orders must be renewed each school year.
Emergency contact information
Please keep emergency contact information up to date. It is essential for the protection of your child to be able to reach someone in case of an emergency. Please list only names of people you would entrust your child to in case you cannot be reached. Please call the guidance office for any changes.
Attendance
Written parental explanation is required by state law for all absences. Please notify the Elementary School at 518-661- 8254 / 8251 or the High School at 518-661-8211 by 9:00 a.m. if your child is going to be absent or arrive late. Please keep your child home for 24 hours after a fever (100 F or above) has returned to normal. Please follow current Department of Health and CDC guidelines for any COVID related illness.
Accidents in school
If an accident occurs in school, the parent will be notified. The student will be treated with appropriate first aid measures until the person in parental authority can authorize further treatment. The Mayfield CSD maintains a Student Accident Insurance Policy which is non-duplicating. If an accident occurs during school or a school sponsored activity, this policy will pay claims in excess of other coverage you may have on your child, up to the usual and reasonable expense as determined by the insurance carrier.
If your child is injured in a school sponsored activity, you have 30 days from the date of injury to seek medical treatment. You must notify the school nurse that your child’s injury was medically treated so that claim procedures can be initiated.
Immunizations
Immunizations are due within 14 days of starting school in the year they are required. Please check with your child’s health care provider to be sure all immunization requirements have been met.
Immunization Requirements and Information
New York State Immunization Requirement Chart
Acceptable proof of immunity for school attendance must be on record in the Health Office. Please update the appropriate health office with any new immunization records as soon as they are received.
School physicals
Student physical exam forms are due within 30 days of starting school in the year they are required.
As of July 1, 2018, NYS Education Law requires all new entrants, Pre K or K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11th-graders and those participating in sports to have a health examination by a NYS licensed provider and on the approved NYSED student health examination form for school.
Acceptable health exams may be dated anytime within the 12 months prior to the start of the current school year in which they are requested. A dental Health Certificate is also requested at the same time as the required physical. Forms may be found on the district website.
Screening guidelines
- New entrants will be screened for color perception.
- New entrants and students in grades Pre-K or K, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11 will be screened for near and distance vision.
- New entrants and students in grades Pre-K or K, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11 will be screened for hearing.
- Scoliosis: Girls in grades 5 & 7; Boys in grade 9.
Parents/guardians will be informed of any abnormal findings.
If you do not wish for your child to be examined at school, physicals and screening results must be submitted to the appropriate health office within 30 days of the start of school.
BMI reporting
Mayfield Junior-Senior High School Health Office As part of a required school health examination, a student is weighed and his/her height is measured. These 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 groups be included as part of the student’s school health examination.
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 to the New York State Department of Health information about our students’ weight status groups. 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.
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, please complete and return this form to the nurse at your child’s school.
Concussion Management Protocol
New York State Concussion Management Awareness Act states that “any student of having a concussion either based on the disclosure of a head injury, observed or reported symptoms, or by sustaining a significant blow to the head or body must be removed from the athletic activity and/or physical activity and observed until an evaluation can be completed by a medical provider.” Symptoms of a concussion include but are not limited to:
- confusion or appearing dazed
- headache
- dizziness
- double or blurred vision
- sensitivity to light and sound
- nausea /vomiting
- mood changes
- trouble concentrating
- slowed reaction times
- fatigue and amnesia (not remembering the event, or difficulty retaining information)
Students who develop any of the following signs or if the above symptoms worsen, the student must be seen and evaluated immediately at the nearest hospital emergency room:
Seizures, cannot be awakened, repeated vomiting, slurred speech, unable to recognize people or places, facial drooping, unsteady gait, changes in pupil size or headaches that worsen significantly.
Returning to play:
Student will not be allowed to return to play until they are symptom free for 24 hours after any head injury, and will only be allowed to play if they are symptom free after provoking exertion with 5 push-ups, 5 sit-ups, 5 knee bends and a 40-yard sprint that is observed by the coach or athletic director. Gradual return to play will then be instituted as follows:
Day 1: low level activity such as walking or riding stationary bike.
Day 2: increased aerobic activity such as treadmill or elliptical.
Day 3: begin non contact sport specific drills
Day 4: full contact in a practice setting
If after day 4 the student is symptom free, they may return to full participation.
Each injury will be evaluated by the coach, school nurse or athletic director to determine the plan of care for the student or athlete.
Concussion management in the classroom:
Students recovering from concussions may experience academic difficulties due to impaired cognitive abilities. Mental exertion and environmental stimulation can aggravate symptoms of concussion. Academic accommodations shall be available to the student with a doctor’s prescription for said accommodations.
Mayfield Central School uses a number of concussion management programs to support our students, including but not limited to IMPACT testing, CDC guidelines and ACE concussion management.
Dental Health Certificate
- Each student is requested to furnish a Dental Health Certificate describing their dental health condition dated not more than twelve months prior to the beginning of the school year in which the examination is requested.
Forms are available on district website, see Health Services.
Other health-related items to note:
- A doctor’s note is required to be excused from physical education.
- When a doctor restricts a student from an activity, a note from the doctor will be needed to resume the activity. If a student has sutures, is wearing a cast or splint s/he will not be allowed to participate in Physical Education and/or recess.
- Be sure your child comes to school every day with warm enough clothing for outdoor activities (Hat, gloves, coat, boots, and snow pants)
- A change of clothing is highly recommended for all students.
- Please be sure to keep the school nurse in your child’s school building updated on any new health related issues (i.e. injuries, illnesses, medications, immunizations).