KINDERGARTEN/PRESCHOOL ORIENTATION

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KINDERGARTEN/PRESCHOOL
ORIENTATION

• JoAnn Ricciani, RN, Certified School Nurse
• Springfield Township Elementary

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Presentation Topics

• Welcome
• Health Services (screenings)
• First Aid and Illness at school
• Absences
• Medication at school
• Emergency Forms
• Communication
• Food Allergies
• Odds and Ends

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Entering Preschool/Kindergarten

• Traumatic time for some parents and some
  children.
• We are now PARTNERS in raising your child
• We do care and want the success and well-being of
  your child

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Health Screenings

• All children get yearly height, weight and blood
  pressure
• Body Mass Index BMI-for-age, is a number
  calculated from a persons weight and height
• BMI lt 5 (underweight) or gt95 (overweight),
  letter will go home to parent
• Vision screening
• Hearing screening
• Scoliosis screening 5th grade (and every 2
  years thereafter)
• Parent will hear from school nurse if there is a
  problem.
• If YOU feel there is a problem, please call
  school nurse
• School phone [phone] press 1 for school nurse

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Physical exams

• Need a physical to enter Kindergarten (by NJ law)
• Physical exam recommended at Pre-adolescence-
  grades 4 through 6 and Adolescence- grades 7
  through 12
• If you have no health insurance, see school
  nurse for information on NJ Family Care

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IMMUNIZATIONS

• NJ state law requires certain immunizations prior
  to entering preschool and kindergarten
• Only exception is religious or medical exemption
• Student will be excluded from school until
  immunization requirements are meet

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Mandatory Influenza (Flu) Vaccine

• This is to inform you that the New Jersey
  Department of Health (NJDOH) mandates that all
  children 6 through 59 months of age attending any
  licensed child care center or preschool facility
  must receive at least one dose of influenza (flu)
  vaccine between September 1 and December 31 of
  each year (N.J.A.C. 857-4.19).
• Students who have not received the flu vaccine
  by December 31 MUST be excluded from school for
  the duration of influenza season (through March
  31), until they receive at least one dose of the
  flu vaccine or until they turn 60 months of age
  (5 years old).
• Valid medical and religious exemptions are
  acceptable. Students who have valid medical and
  religious exemptions are allowed to remain in
  school.
•  The school will be required to have proof that
  your child has received this vaccine by December
  31.

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First Aid

• School nurse takes care of
• accidents and illness that occur here
• Please take care of injuries that
• happen at home, at home
• If these injuries are bothersome at school,
  they may visit the school nurse

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Illnesses and Injuries

• Will be reported to parent at nurses discretion
  (sometimes phone call and sometimes note)
• Head bump- will notify in note form of what
• to be aware of (will also receive phone call)
• Ticks- will be notified by note
• Classroom contagious illness- if there is a child
  with strep throat or any other contagious
  illness, whole class will receive note explaining
  symptoms, etc.

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ILLNESS

• Buying a thermometer would be a great idea
• Temperature of 100 degrees F orally or above is
  considered a fever and requires exclusion
• If you suspect your child may be ill, try to make
  decision night before
• Your child may seem like they are
• ill more often. It is because they are
• exposed to more now that they're
• around more children

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Illness that cause exclusion

• Children are excluded (sent home and/or may not
  attend) for vomiting, diarrhea and temperature
  over 100 degrees
• Children may not return until symptom-free for 24
  hours
• Children with questionable pink eye, strep
  throat, unexplained rash
• A doctors note will be required for re-admission
  if a child is out greater than 3 days

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Illness and return to school

• Fever need to have normal temperature
• without fever-reducing medications for 24 hours
• Chicken Pox - out 7 days or until all scabbed
  over
• Contagious Disease if anyone in family is
  diagnosed with one (example hepatitis,
  meningitis, polio) please call school nurse
  before sending in
• Head lice

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Calling your child out of school

• If for any reason your child will be out
• call 723-2479 extension 1 for school nurse
• Leave message with childs name, grade, teacher
  and reason why they will be out

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Medication Policy

• NO medication whether over the counter (like
  Tylenol or cold medicine) or prescription can be
  given in school without a Medication Permission
  Form filled out by the childs doctor and signed
  by parent
• If a child is on daily medicine, get form from
  school nurse
• Medication must be sent in original container
• Children cannot bring in medication in backpack
  safety issue
• Notify the nurse if any medication taken at home
  will alter childs behavior
• Completed medication forms and medication need to
  be available on the first day of school

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If your child has Asthma

• Asthma Treatment Plan and medication permission
  form need to be filled out yearly by physician
  and signed by parent
• Early summer, medication packet will be mailed
  home for completion
• Need to have Asthma Treatment Plan, medication
  form, and medication available the first day of
  school

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EMERGENCY VERIFICATION FORM

• Reliable name and phone number of someone with
  transportation
• If changes please call and update
• Fill out and return every year

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Communication

• Phone School nurse number 723-2479 extension 1
• E-mail jricciani_at_springfieldschool.org
• Notes
• Feel free to contact school nurse any time you
  have a question or a concern
• Remember, we are now partners in the care of your
  children

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Food Allergies

• Increase number of children with
• food allergies
• Encourage children not to share food
• We have peanut-free tables at lunch and peanut
  free classrooms as needed
• If your child does have food allergies and has an
  Epi-pen, please see me after for paperwork

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GYM / PHYSICAL EDUCATION

• Kindergarten students will have gym 2 times a
  week
• Preschool students will have gym once per week
• Please make sure wear sneakers on those days

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DRESS CODE

• Modest dress
• No spaghetti strap shirts
• No short shorts
• No flip flops
• Please review Student Parent Handbook

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Any Questions
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