Dorothy C. Gorman, R.N., B.S.N., PaCSN
Dear Parents/Guardians,
On behalf of the Bethel Park
School District Nurses, I welcome you and your child to our
School. I truly believe there is a connection
between health and learning. When a child
or a child’s family member is ill, it can affect the
child’s learning ability and concentration.
Therefore, if you have any questions or concerns
about your child, a medical condition, or
a family medical matter, please do not hesitate
to call me.
This page is designed to
provide you with important information regarding the health of
your children. Simply click on one of the
links below to guide you through the page.
The
Certified School Nurse's Responsibilities
Medication During
School Hours
The
Department of Health of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Requirements
Wellness
and Preventative Care
The Certified
School Nurse’s Responsibilities:
1) To assess and treat
illnesses, provide first aid for injuries, and handle emergency health issues that
occur during school hours. Any illness or injury that occurs during non-school
hours should be referred to your child’s primary physician. However, since
I cover 3 school building, Ben Franklin Elementary, Abraham Lincoln Elementary,
and St. Germaine Elementary School, I am in the building only two or three days
a week. The days I am not at Franklin, the health-aide, Mrs. Bender, the
principal, Dr. Wolf, the secretary, Mrs. Clancy, or the principal’s designee,
will assist your child when ill or injured. Franklin’s Health Aide, Mrs. Bender
is in the Health Office every day from 9:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Therefore it is VERY
IMPORTANT that you keep us informed of ANY medical, psychological,
emotional or behavioral condition(s) for which your child has been diagnosed AND
any medication your child takes regularly at home, as well as any medication
they will need to take in school. Please notify the secretary of changes in
home, work, or cell phone numbers so that we are able to reach you in the event
of an emergency.
2) To plan and
implement the following State Mandated Screenings:
~ Height and Weight -
required in all grades, annually
~ Distance Vision - Required
in all grades, annually
~ Color Vision - 1st
grade
~ Hearing Screening -
Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 7th grades
~ Scoliosis - 6th and
7th grades
You will be notified
of the screening results ONLY if further medical evaluation is
indicated. The vision exam is only a screening and does not replace a complete
eye examination by your family eye specialist.
Medication during
school hours: Should your child require
medication during school hours,
you are welcome to
come to the school and administer the medication to your child. If you are
unable to come and
require school personnel to supervise your child taking his/her medication,
we must have the
following for both prescription AND over-the-counter medication:
1) a doctor’s written
order
2) written permission
from the parent/guardian
3) all prescription
medicine must be in the prescription bottle with dosage, directions for
administration and pharmacy name on it AND all over-the counter
medication must be in the original container that clearly states the name of
the medicine, dosage and direction for administration, as well as the child’
name written on the container. For the safety of all students, it is strongly
suggested that all medication be brought to the school office by a
parent/guardian.
The Department of Health of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Requirements: The following examinations are
required in the grades stated:
~ Physical
Examination - Upon original entry to school (K or grade 1), grade 6 and for
any
students with
incomplete records.
~ Dental
Examinations - Upon original entry to school (K or grade 1), grade 3, grade
7 and for any student with incomplete records.
These examinations
can be done by the school physician and/or dentist for free, or by the child’s
private physician and dentist, who know the child, at the parent’s/guardian’s
expense. Please let me know if you prefer a school or private
examination.
Please also be aware
that the Allegheny County Health Department has 2 dental clinics that treat
children 19 and under for free.
Income level is not a factor.
Health Insurance: If you do not have health
insurance for your child, the Pennsylvania Child Health Insurance Program
(PaCHIP), offers free or low cost health insurance. To see if your child
qualifies and to receive an application, please call 1-800-986-KIDS (5437)
Dental Care: The Allegheny County Health
Department has two dental clinics, which treat children 19 and under for
free. Income level is not a factor. If you do not have dental coverage for you child, please
call the South Side Clinic Office at 431-3736 or the McKeesport Clinic Office
at 664-8858. Families in our schools who have used the dental clinics have been
very satisfied with the way their child was treated.
Wellness and
Preventative Care: Since the health of a child
will affect his/her learning, it is very important the children get adequate
sleep and a good breakfast. To protect your child and prevent the spread of
illness to other classmates, PLEASE DO NOT SEND your child to school if he/she
has any of the following symptoms within 12 hours of the start of school:
* vomiting and/or
diarrhea
* temperature of 100
degrees or greater
* continuous coughing
and sneezing
* unexplained and/or
contagious rash
* thick dark yellow
or yellow-greenish drainage from nose
* yellowish drainage
from eye (contagious conjunctivitis - Pink Eye)
Communicable
Diseases: The school adheres to the guidelines of the Allegheny County
Health Department (ACHD), Division of Infectious Disease regarding contagious
diseases. Please notify the school office IMMEDIATELY, if your child is
diagnosed with any of the following illnesses:
* Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) * Strep Throat * Diarrhea Type
Diseases
* Chicken Pox * Pediculosis (lice) * Impetigo
* Fifth Disease * Influenza * Pneumonia
* Measles * Mumps * Rubella
* Pertussis * Hepatitis * Meningitis
* Tuberculosis * Tetanus * Ringworm
* Encephalitis * Food Poisoning
Immunization
Requirements: Allegheny County Health
Department (ACHD) requires all students who entered school after 9/1997 to have
the following immunizations:
- Four doses of the
Diphtheria/Tetanus Vaccine with one dose after the 4th birthday
- Three doses of the
Polio Vaccine
- Three doses of the
Hepatitis B Vaccine
- Two doses of the
Measles Vaccine, preferably given as MMR
- One dose of the
Mumps and Rubella Vaccine, preferable given as MMR.
One dose of the Varicella Vaccine (Chicken Pox) is currently
being proposed for the 2001-2002 school year, if your child has not had the
illness.
Please discuss these immunization
requirements with your child’s pediatrician or call the ACHD, Immunization
Department at 578-8060 with any questions or to receive information on their
immunization rates and locations. If your child has not completed these
immunizations, he/she will not be permitted to enter school.
The Caring
Place: Highmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield has established a FREE
Support Peer Group Program for children, adolescents and adults who have
suffered the loss of someone in their life through death. The program is
called The Caring Place. To find out more about the program, please call
1-888-224-HOPE (4673).
I sincerely appreciate your
support and cooperation. As a Certified School Nurse, my goal is to prevent
illnesses and maximize each child’s health and educational potential. If you
have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach us at one of the phone numbers
listed below.
Sincerely
yours,
Dorothy C.
Gorman, R.N., B.S.N., PaCSN
Dorothy C.
Gorman, R.N., B.S.N., PaCSN
Ben Franklin Elementary
Abraham Lincoln Elementary
Health Aide, Mrs. Bender
Health Aide, Mrs. Palumbo
Phone: 854-8742 Fax: 833-5016
Phone:854-8617 Fax: 833-5010