Nurse's Office/Student Well-Being

All students attending school must have complete immunization records. GVSD is prohibited by law to allow children to enter school without evidence of immunizations. These requirements allow for exemptions for medical reasons and religious beliefs.  If your child is exempt from immunizations, he/she may be removed from school during an outbreak.  Please call the school nurse if you have any questions.
  
If your insurance does not cover immunizations, please contact the Chester County Health Department at 610-344-6225 to schedule an appointment for vaccines.

Immunization Requirements

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has specific immunization regulations relating to school enrollment and attendance.
 
The minimum immunizations (as required by PA law) for any student entering school include:

• Diphtheria/Tetanus (DTP, DTaP, DT, Td): 4 doses minimum, with 1 dose on or after the 4th birthday;
• Polio: 4 doses (4th dose on or after the 4th birthday and at least 6 months after previous dose given);
• Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR): 2 doses of Measles (usually given as MMR); 2 doses of Mumps (usually given as MMR); 1 dose of Rubella (German Measles) (usually given as MMR); 
• Hepatitis B (HBV): 3 doses of Hepatitis B;
• Varicella (Chickenpox): 2 doses, or written history of Chickenpox disease.

Children entering at the 7th Grade level or above need all of the above immunizations, plus:

• 1 dose of tetanus/diphtheria/acellular pertussis (Tdap), if 5 years has lapsed since last tetanus immunization;
• 1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV);

Children entering 12th Grade need all of the above immunizations, plus:

• 1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) upon entrance to 12th grade

Acetaminophen (generic Tylenol), Ibuprofen (generic Advil/Motrin), Calcium Antacid (generic TUMS), Diphenhydramine HCl (generic Benadryl), Anbesol, throat spray, and lozenges may be dispensed in the health room at the discretion of the School Nurse. A parent/guardian must give permission annually in order for these medications to be administered. Benadryl is to be administered only in an emergency.
 
All medication, both prescription and non-prescription, that is sent into school must have a physician's written order with it, in order for the school nurse to dispense the medication. All medications must be brought directly to the nurse's office. (Specific guidelines for the possession and use of an asthma inhaler and epinephrine auto-injectors may be found in the GVSD handbooks and in School Board policy. All prescription and non-prescription medications must be stored in their original containers in a locked cabinet in the health office. Parent and physician requests for medication administration (both prescription and non-prescription) must be renewed each school year. Every effort should be made to give all doses of medication at home. If parents are unable to secure a written or faxed prescription from their physician, they may come to school to administer medication to their child. Please read the guidelines below specific to prescription and non-prescription medications. Please read the guidelines below.

Medication:

• Must be accompanied by a physician's signed, written instructions in order for the school nurse to dispense;
• Must also be accompanied by written consent from the parent on an "Authorization to Give Medication at School" form;
• Must be sent in the original, clearly labeled container that shows an expiration date. Medication will not be given if it is removed from its original container;
• Medication authorization forms must be submitted every school year and for any change in medication.
• Only emergency medication will be permitted to go on class trips.

Parents are urged to take their children to their family healthcare provider and dentist for the required school physical and dental exams. Your family healthcare provider is best able to treat your child and to detect any changes in a child's health. Notify the School Nurse if you need physical or dental exams done by the school doctor or dentist. A written and dated parent permission note must be sent to the nurse for a student to be seen by the school doctor or dentist in the spring.

Physical Exams

• Required for original entry to school in Kindergarten or 1st Grade (whichever is the entry level year), and again in Grades 6 and 11;
• Exams done up to one calendar year before school entry or before Grade 6 or Grade 11 will be accepted;
• Physical exam is also required for any child new to the school district whose health records are incomplete.

Dental Exams

• Required for original entry to school in Kindergarten or 1st Grade (whichever is the entry level year), and again in Grades 3 and 7;
• Exams done up to one calendar year before school entry or before Grade 3 or Grade 7 will be accepted;
• Dental exam is also required for any child new to the school district whose health records are incomplete.
• Contact the School Nurse if you have any questions concerning these requirements, or if you need assistance.

Forms 
Physical and Dental exam forms are on the Forms Page, or they may be obtained at any GV health office.
       
The Children's Dental Clinic
The Children's Dental Clinic in Berwyn offers dental services to children in our school district if they do not have preventive dental insurance and the family is around the same income status for receiving the free or reduced lunch program. Click here to read more about the Dental Clinic.

If a student's physical activity at school will be limited by injury or illness, please send a note to school. This note will be shared with the P.E. teacher and the School Nurse. Children are expected to participate fully in P.E. and recess activities unless there is an exemption note.

• A medical problem limiting activity for more than one class cycle will require a doctor's note. The doctor should indicate the diagnosis and the length of time that physical activity is restricted.
• If the physician requires that the student be reevaluated before returning to P.E., the physician will need to issue another note stating that the student has been cleared to participate.
• A student with an obvious medical problem (i.e., cast or splint) will be required to have a note for P.E. limitations.

Mandated health screenings are completed by the school nurse annually and at any other time as requested by a parent or a teacher.  Parents will be notified if a student does not pass their screenings. Parents can view screening results in Skyward Family Access.

• Near Vision and Far Vision: all grades, every year
• Color Vision Test: Grade 1
• Detects discrepancy in ability to recognize color
• Convex Lens Test (Plus Lens): Grade 1
• Detects excessive farsightedness and binocular problems
• Stereo Depth Test: Grade 2
• Tests for binocularity, lazy eye, and poor eye alignment
• Hearing: Grades K, 1, 2, 3, 7, 11
• Height/Weight/BMI/BMI Percentile: all grades, every year

BMI is a measurement that helps determine if a child's weight is appropriate for his/her height. The percentile shows a comparison of your child's BMI to others of the same age group and gender. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests a consultation with your physician if your child's BMI falls below the 5th percentile or is above the 85th percentile.