The Wayland-Cohocton Nurses would like to take this opportunity to explain the role of the school Health Services and to ask your help in our work with your children.

SPECIAL HEALTH NEEDS: If your child has any special health needs or problems, this should be communicated to his or her school nurse. This information is kept confidential and it can be important to a successful experience in school. Examples of such needs are as follows:

1. BEE STING ALLERGY
2. Allergy to any other substance
3. Difficulty with vision, hearing or speech
4. Need for medication during the school day
5. Need for special aids such as crutches, walkers, or wheelchairs, either on a temporary or permanent basis
6. HEAD LICE is of particular concern to parents of younger children. This very common condition is easily treated with a special shampoo. Children should be checked periodically at home and the school nurse should be notified if head lice is found.

MEDICATIONS IN SCHOOL: Every effort should be made to administer medication at home, as it does represent a disruption in the student's school day. However, If your physician feels that medication is necessary during the school day, please submit a completed form, which can be obtained from any health office before medication is brought to the school.

A new form must be filled out for each change of medication and renewed each school year. Administration of medication during the school day is permitted only with written directions from the physician and parent. In some instances, approval by the school physician may be required. (PLEASE NOTE: THIS INCLUDES ALL TYPES OF MEDICATION INCLUDING OVER-THE COUNTER DRUGS (aspirin, Tylenol, cough syrup) AS WELL AS PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION.) The medication must be in the original container, or a duplicate professionally labeled by the pharmacist for this purpose.

Students are at no time allowed to carry medication of any kind on their person, or to take medication without official written direction (from physician and parent) or to take medication without supervision.

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS: The importance of current Emergency Numbers must be stressed. More and more parents are away from home during the day and it is essential, for the protection of our students, to be able to reach someone in case of an emergency. Your school will ask you to provide this information.

ATTENDANCE: State law for all absences requires written parental explanation. It is important for you to notify the Health Office on the first day your child is absent from school. Such information enables us to observe patterns of illness and to be of service to you and your child if the need arises.

Please keep your child home for 24 hours after a fever has returned to normal for his/her protection as well as the protection of the other students.

ACCIDENTS IN SCHOOL: If a serious 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 Wayland-Cohocton School District maintains a Student Accident Insurance Policy. 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 determined by the insurance carrier.

IMMUNIZATION: All students in New York State are required to be properly immunized.

SCHOOL PHYSICALS: The New York State Education Law requires an annual physical examination for pupils on entrance to school and routinely at grades two, four, seven and ten.

If your child has a yearly examination by your family physician, please ask him or her to complete our school forms, which are available in the health office.

The physical examination should be completed by October 1st. We would appreciate having the form returned to the school nurse by this date. After this, the school physician must examine all pupils in all grades mentioned above for whom we have no record of the family physician's report.

SCREENING PROCEDURES: Students in all grades are screened each year for visual acuity and hearing. Students in grades five through nine are also screened for scoliosis according to State law. Parents will be informed of any abnormal findings.

We are grateful for your cooperation. We look forward to working with you to make your child's school year a positive experience.