George Fischer Middle School

The State of New York requires that physical health of each students' development be monitored in grades Kindergarten, 1, 3, 5,7, 9, 11.  This is a change from previous requirements.  Your family physician is best informed about your child's health. You are encouraged to have your family physician perform this examination. If you do not have a family physician or prefer the examination be done in school, we will arrange to have your child examined by our school physician.

The nurse has a "Physical Exam Preference" form for you to fill out. This form should be completed and returned to the school nurse by September 15. If you elect to have the physical examination done by your child's physician, please have the examination completed and return the student physical/health appraisal form by November 1.

  If you have any questions, please contact our nurses, Mrs. Burns and Mrs. McCormack on ext. 514.   

SPORTS PHYSICALS: Sports physicals will be performed by the school physician prior to the sport season.

When you register your child for the first time, birth certificate and immunization records are required. The immunization record must include the dates of all doses, as well as the doctor's signature or the clinic's stamp. Every student's record must show proof of having received:

• Three or four doses of DTP vaccine (if 4th dose received before 4 years old)
• 1 does for all 6th graders upon turning age 11 of Tetanus & Diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine (tDAP)*
• Three doses of polio vaccine
• Two doses measles, one dose of mumps and rubella vaccine (or two doses of MMR)
• Three doses of HepB vaccine or 2 doses of recombiv AX
• One dose of Varcella vaccine
• 1 dose (required by grades 7 & 8) Meningococcal vaccine*

*new or changed

At the beginning of the school year, parents/guardians are asked to advise the school regarding any changes in the following:

• personal addresses
• personal phone numbers
• emergency phone numbers

This current information is needed in the event your child becomes injured or ill at school. Please remember to notify the school of any changes during the school year. If you are going to be out of town during the day make arrangements with someone to be a contact for your child, in case one should be needed.

If a child needs to take medicine during the day, you must submit written orders from the doctor and a "medication permission form" signed by a parent/guarding. It is required that such medications be delivered directly to the school nurse by the parent/guardian in the original prescription bottle. This includes over-the-counter medication such as Tylenol or cough medicine. While at the pharmacy, request an additional container for your child's medication since all medications must be in an original container!

Medication permission forms are available during the school year. If a doctor feels it is medically necessary for a student to carry his own medication (e.g. inhaler for a severe asthmatic or epi pen ONLY) and the doctor and parents/guardians feel that the child is mature and responsible enough to take his own inhaler or epi pen, he/she may do so. However, a medical permission form stating this must be completed. These are available in the nurse's office.

NOTE:  MEDICATION WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED  UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. No pills may be carried under any circumstances.

When a child becomes ill or injured in school, the child is sent to the Health Office. If the school nurse feels that the child is able to remain in school, the child may be allowed to rest for a short time and then return to class. In case of minor accidents, first aid is given., and the child is sent back to class.

When the school nurse determines that the child should not remain in school, the parents are contacted and asked to make arrangements to transport the child home. In case of emergency, if a parent cannot be contacted or cannot pick up the student, an ambulance, payable by parents, will have to be called to take the child to the hospital.

If your child has a particular health problem such as chicken pox or strep throat, it is essential that the nurse be notified immediately. It is important that parents recognize symptoms of illness and act quickly to KEEP THE SICK CHILD AT HOME. Even when a child is not very sick but is a source of infection to classmates and staff.

Please do not send your child to school with a fever over 100 degrees or with a harsh cough, suspicious rash, or red draining eyes. They will only have to be sent back home. After a fever, your child's temperature should be normal for 24 hours before returning to school.