Health Services - Guilderland Central Schools

In the Guilderland Central School District, our health services are delivered by licensed Registered Nurses (RNs) who play an essential role in student success. By addressing the physical, emotional, mental, and social health needs of our students, our nursing staff ensures that every child is healthy, safe, and ready to learn.

Our team provides a comprehensive range of evidence-based services and interventions guided by the highest professional standards in school nursing.

Please contact your building’s school nurse to review any specific medical concerns, process daily medication orders, or establish specialized care packets (such as an individualized Food Allergy Action Plan).

Visiting the Health Office

The Health Office supports students who become ill or injured at school and assists in managing chronic health conditions, including care coordination and ongoing communication with families and healthcare providers. The office also manages wellness education, preventive health services, required health screenings, and mandated state health reporting.

Important Safety Policies:

Medical Dismissals: For the safety and accountability of our students, all medical dismissals must be coordinated directly through the Health Office. Students must not utilize personal cell phones to arrange to go home when ill.
To ensure consistent and appropriate care, all clinical decisions regarding whether a student should be sent home due to illness are made by the Health Office in consultation with parents/guardians.

Reporting a Student Absence

To report a student absence, please contact your child’s specific school building attendance line:

Elementary Schools: Contact your child’s main office or designated attendance line.
Middle School (FMS): Contact your child’s assigned House Office.
High School (GHS): Contact the High School Attendance Office.

School Illness Guidelines: When to Keep Your Child Home

Please utilize the chart below to determine when your child should stay home due to illness and when it is clinically safe for them to return to school.

If your child has…	Keep them home if…	Return to school when…
Fever	Temperature is 100.2°F or higher.	Fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
Vomiting / Diarrhea	Repeated episodes (2 or more).	Symptom-free for at least 24 hours, tolerating a mild diet, and well enough to participate in school activities.*
Respiratory Illness / Flu-like Symptoms	Worsening cough, shortness of breath, or large amounts of mucous/secretions.	Symptoms are improving and the student is fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.
Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)	Redness of the eye accompanied by yellow/green discharge.	24 hours after initiating appropriate prescribed antibiotic treatment (if bacterial).
Rashes / Sores	Draining sores, or a new/unexplained rash accompanied by a fever.	Sores are completely crusted over or fully covered, symptoms are improving, and fever-free for 24 hours.

*Note: If vomiting/diarrhea is related to a known, non-contagious underlying medical condition, please contact the school nurse for specific guidance.

Antibiotic Requirement: For contagious bacterial infections (such as Strep Throat or Impetigo), students must receive prescribed antibiotics for a minimum of 24 hours and exhibit improving symptoms prior to returning.
General Reminder: When in doubt, or if your child displays new and unusual symptoms, please contact your school health office for guidance before sending them to school.

Hospitalization, Injuries, & Physical Education

Hospitalization & Orthopedic Injuries

If your child is returning to school following a surgery, hospital stay, or orthopedic injury requiring assistive devices (such as a cast, crutches, splint, or wheelchair), you must notify the Health Office prior to their return.

Provider Documentation: Students arriving with temporary medical or mobility devices must provide a written directive from a licensed medical provider (MD, DO, NP, or PA).
Activity Restrictions: For safety reasons, students wearing a fracture cast, immobilizing brace, or utilizing mobility devices will be restricted from Physical Education (PE) and recess. Written medical clearance from the provider is required to resume physical activities.
Supportive Wear: Stitches or minor supportive braces used for routine joint support may not require activity limitations unless specifically directed by a healthcare provider.

Physical Education (PE) Excuses

Medical absences from PE lasting more than three consecutive classes require formal documentation from a licensed healthcare provider.
Please submit all medical documentation directly to your school nurse.
Important: Students who are medically excused from PE are automatically restricted from participating in recess.

Student Health & Safety Compliance (Mandated Protocols)

To ensure a safe environment and maintain strict compliance with New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and New York State Education Department (NYSED) regulations, families and staff must adhere to the following mandatory compliance protocols:

Concussion Management

In accordance with the Concussion Management and Awareness Act, New York State mandates a strict “When in Doubt, Take Them Out” policy for suspected head injuries.

Immediate Removal: Any student suspected of sustaining a concussion during school hours, physical education, or athletic events will be immediately removed from physical activity.
The “Return to Learn” Prerequisite: Per NYS guidelines, a student cannot resume athletic activity or begin physical progression until they have successfully returned to a full, normal class schedule without any academic accommodations or injury-related adjustments.
Medical Clearance: Once all academic restrictions are lifted and the student has remained entirely symptom-free for a minimum of 24 hours, they must provide signed, written clearance from a licensed physician before initiating the supervised, multi-stage Return-to-Play protocol.

CDC HEADS UP Concussion Guidelines

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Prevention

In compliance with the Dominic Murray Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act, GCSD enforces rigorous screening and response protocols to protect student-athletes.

Seasonal Screenings: An Athletic Health History form must be completed and signed by a parent/guardian prior to every sports season to identify any new changes in cardiovascular health or family risk factors.
Immediate Removal: Any student displaying potential signs or symptoms of a pending cardiac issue during physical activity must be immediately removed from play.
Signs & Symptoms to Watch For: Fainting or seizures (especially during/after exercise or when startled); a racing, skipping, or irregular heartbeat; chest pain or discomfort during exercise; dizziness; or extreme, unexpected fatigue during or after workouts.
Mandatory Clearance: Any student removed for symptoms, or who presents a positive family history risk factor, is strictly barred from physical activity. They will require a comprehensive evaluation and written clearance from a licensed physician (MD or DO) before returning to play.

NYSED Sudden Cardiac Arrest Guidance

Life-Threatening Allergies, Anaphylaxis, & Medications

Life-Threatening Allergies & Anaphylaxis

Parents/guardians are responsible for notifying the school nurse of any diagnosed, life-threatening allergies as soon as possible.

Emergency Care Plans: Upon notification, the school nurse will collaborate with the family and medical provider to develop an individualized Allergy or Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan detailing prevention, symptom recognition, and emergency response procedures.
Staff Training & Mitigations: The school nurse coordinates the implementation of these plans, ensures relevant staff are trained, and implements safeguards to reduce allergen exposure.
Emergency Epinephrine: In accordance with NYS law and standing medical orders, school nurses are authorized to administer stock epinephrine in emergency situations, including first-time, undiagnosed anaphylactic reaction.

Medications in School

Per New York State guidelines, all medications (including over-the-counter formulas, cough drops, and vitamins) require strict authorization before they can be stored or administered at school.

Requirements include:

Written Provider Order: Must detail the diagnosis, medication name, precise dose, route, time, and frequency.
Parent/Guardian Written Consent.
Adult Delivery: All medications must be delivered directly to the school nurse by an adult in the original, pharmacy-labeled container. All supplies must be provided by the parent. If a medication must be taken with anything other than water, the parent is responsible for providing those items.
Self-Carry Privileges: Students may carry and self-administer emergency medications (e.g., rescue inhalers, EpiPens) only with explicit, written dual-authorization from both their healthcare provider and parent.

Forms:
Medication Administration Authorization Form

Medication Self-Carry Form

Registration Requirements for New Students

Submission Deadlines

The New York State Education Department mandates that all children enrolled in NYS public schools submit the required medical documentation to the health office prior to the start of school.

General District Deadline: All required health documents must be submitted by August 31st.
NYS In-State Transfers: Families transferring from within New York State have 14 days from the student’s first day of attendance to submit documentation.
Out-of-State / International Transfers: Families transferring from another state or country have 30 days from the student’s first day of attendance to submit documentation.

Mandatory Registration Documents

To complete registration with the health office, the following four items must be turned in:

Official Immunization Record: An official document that must be signed and dated by a licensed healthcare provider.
NYS Physical Exam Form: Required for all new entrants/Kindergarteners, as well as students entering grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. The physical exam must be completed within New York State and be explicitly signed and dated by the provider.
Health History Form: Completed entirely by the parent/guardian. This form outlines medical history or health concerns that could impact your child’s academic performance and well-being at school.
Dental Certificate: Requested by New York State and completed by a licensed dentist.

Immunization Information

According to New York State Public Health Law §2164, students must provide proof of all required, age-appropriate immunizations within the state-mandated timelines. Extensions may be granted for students transferring from another state or county if there is official documentation of a good-faith effort to comply, or proof that a required vaccine series has begun with scheduled follow-up appointments consistent with CDC guidelines.

Acceptable Documentation Includes:

Official and verifiable records from a licensed healthcare provider (must be signed by an MD, DO, NP, or PA with the student’s name clearly visible on the record to be considered a legal document).
Official New York State Immunization Information System (NYSIIS) records.
Official state or international immunization registries.
Electronic health records (EHR) printed or transferred directly from the provider’s office.
Official school health records transferred directly from the student’s previous school district.

International Records: Immunization records written in languages other than English can be taken to the Albany County Department of Health for official translation. Parents may call (518) 447-4589 to schedule a translation appointment.

Mandatory New York State School Vaccine Requirements

Vaccines may be administered as standalone doses or as combinations (e.g., Pediarix, Pentacel, Proquad).

DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis): 4–5 doses
Hepatitis B: 3 doses
Varicella (Chickenpox): 2 doses
MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella): 2 doses
Polio (IPV): 4 doses
Tdap Booster: Required for entry into 6th grade
Meningococcal (MenACWY): Required for entry into 7th and 12th grades

Proof of Immunity & Exemptions

Titers (Lab Evidence): Laboratory blood test evidence (titers) showing definitive immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, or varicella is legally acceptable in place of vaccine doses. A provider-documented medical history of varicella disease (chickenpox) is also accepted.
Religious Exemptions: Religious exemptions are not permitted under current New York State law.
Medical Exemptions: Valid medical exemptions must be filled out by a licensed physician, detail a medical contraindication to a specific vaccine, and be submitted and reviewed annually.

Enforcement Notice: Students who do not meet immunization requirements or fail to show valid, documented progress toward completion will be excluded from school attendance until compliant documentation is submitted.

New York State Immunization Requirements for School Entrance/Attendance

Health Screening & Examination Information

State-Required Physical Examinations

Physical examinations are legally required for all new students and all students entering Grades K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11.

Requirements: Must be completed by a NYS-licensed healthcare provider. Exams completed within 12 months of the first day of the school year are acceptable.
Timeline: Completed forms should be submitted to the health office by early October.
District Appraisals: If a physical exam form is not provided by the family, the school may arrange for a health appraisal at no cost. However, families are strongly encouraged to see their own healthcare provider for a more comprehensive, continuous evaluation.

Form: Required New York State School Health Examination Form

Dental Health Certificates

Per NYS Education Law, schools may request dental exam reports for new entrants and students in grades K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. Forms should be completed by both the parent/guardian and the dentist, then submitted directly to the school nurse.

Form: GCSD Dental Health Certificate Form

Mandated School Health Screenings

In accordance with NYS regulations, building health offices conduct routine screenings during the school year. Parents/guardians will be notified in writing of any findings that fall outside standard ranges and require clinical follow-up. All results are recorded permanently in the student’s cumulative health record.

Vision Screening: Administered to all new entrants within 6 months of arrival, and to students in grades K, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11.
Hearing Screening: Administered to all new entrants, and to students in grades K, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11.
Scoliosis Screening: Administered annually to girls in grades 5 and 7, and to boys in grade 9.