Health Services (Nurse)

All students MUST have their forms completed in the Skyward Family Access Portal annually.  Please fill out the following:

• Contact Information
  • phone
  • email
  • text
• Medical Information
  • personal medical details
  • information to aid in treating injury or illness
  • consent for medications such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Benadryl, and Tums
• Emergency Information
  • contact information for a reliable friend, neighbor or relative who will be available in the event of an emergency (a student can only be released to people listed on the emergency section/form) 

Skyward Family Access Portal 

This information must be completed annually at the beginning of the school year for each child in a family.  Detailed instructions and information for completing these important forms in the Skyward Family Access Portal can be found at the Technology Section of the website under Get Connected.

 Technology Section

Although it’s important for all students to attend school on a regular basis, sick children do not perform well and they can spread illness to others. To promote a healthy school environment, here are some guidelines for keeping your child home from school:

• Fever > 100 degrees 
• Confirmed Influenza or COVID
• Flu-like symptoms: fever, headache, extreme fatigue, muscle aches
• Vomiting or Diarrhea
• Strep throat, bronchitis, or other infection that requires treatment with antibiotics
• Red eye(s) with drainage (called Conjunctivitis or Pink Eye)
• Productive cough, barking cough, or drainage from the nose that is not clear
• Untreated Head Lice - Control of head lice depends on prompt diagnosis and effective treatment.  Periodically check your child’s hair and notify the school nurse if you suspect nits or lice. 
   

• No fever for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medicine such as Tylenol)
• No vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours
• A full 24 hours of antibiotic treatment for infections that require antibiotics and 3 doses of antibiotic eye drops for cases of conjunctivitis (pink eye)
• For lice, treatment at home with lice-killing shampoo and check in with the nurse
   

COVID testing is no longer available in schools.  Students must meet above guidelines for returning to school following symptoms of illness. 

CDC Guidelines

Chester County Health Department
 

When your child returns to school after a concussion or injury, be sure to provide the nurse with medical documentation about the diagnosis, treatment, academic accommodations, and physical limitations.  A doctor’s note is required for students to return to gym after sustaining a concussion or serious injury.

Children participate in outdoor recess and gym classes, so they should dress appropriately for current weather conditions.  Children who may need extra underwear or clothing can bring them in their book bag or store extra supplies in the nurse’s office.
 

Medications should be given at home whenever possible, either before or after school hours. In compliance with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and KCSD, the following is required for nurses to administer all prescription and over-the-counter medication in school:

• Signed Physician Order for medication administration
• KCSD Request for Medication Administration Form, completed and signed by parent
• IF physician signs this form, a separate order is not needed
•  Medication provided in a labeled pharmacy bottle (pharmacy will provide a spare bottle for school use if you ask), or in original packaging if over the counter medication  

KCSD Request for Medication Administration Form Medications must be locked in the nurse’s office. Federally controlled medication (such as ADHD prescriptions) and narcotics must be transported by a parent or responsible adult and delivered directly to the nurse. Students are not permitted to carry any medication in school, including acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil).  The ONLY exceptions are Emergency Medications (insulin, asthma inhalers, and epinephrine autoinjectors)

For further information, refer to School Board Policies.  

Use of Medication and Possession of Asthma Inhalers/Epinephrine Auto Injectors.  (No. 210 and No. 210.1)

For Attendance in ALL Grades Children need the following:

• 4 doses of DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus) with 1 dose on/after age 4
• 4 doses of Polio (4th dose after age 4 and at least 6 months after previous dose)
• 2 doses of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
• 3 doses of Hepatitis B 
• 2 doses of Varicella (chickenpox) or evidence of immunity (history of disease)

In Addition Students Require the following to enter 7th Grade and ALL grades through 12:

• 1 dose of Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Acellular Pertussis)
• 1 dose of MCV (Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine)
• In Addition Students Require the following to enter 12th Grade:
• 2nd dose of MCV (Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine)
• If first dose of MCV was given on or after age 16, that will count as the 12th grade dose

Immunizations are required on the first day of school, unless the child has a Medical or Religious/Philosophical Exemption, or they risk exclusion.  

Call the school nurse for questions about vaccines and compliance. 
 

Pennsylvania requires physical examinations, dental evaluations and health screenings for all students. 

School Board Policy on Health Examinations and Screenings (No. 209)

Physical Exams

A medical examination is required for all children upon entering school for the first time, in grade 6 and grade 11.  It is preferable to have your own physician examine your child, since he/she can provide treatment, immunizations, and follow-up as needed.  Return the Private Physical Form or computerized print-out from the doctor to the school nurse. If your child does not have a physical examination performed by your family doctor, physical examinations by a nurse practitioner will be offered at school. Written parent consent is required.

Private Physical Form English      Private Physical Form Spanish

Dental Exams

Students are required to have dental evaluations upon school entrance, grade 3 and grade 7. If you DO NOT want your child evaluated by the dental hygienist at school at no cost to you, please send a letter to your school nurse.  You will then be responsible for having your private dentist complete these evaluations. Return the Private Dental Form to the school nurse.

Private Dental Form

Health Screenings 

Pennsylvania requires specific health screenings as part of the mandated Public School Code. Nurses must provide parents/guardians with printed results of these screenings, as well as referrals for further evaluation by a medical professional as indicated. KCSD nurses provide a summary of your child’s health screenings on the District Health Screenings Report that is mailed home.

• Growth Screening (height, weight, BMI) every year grades K – 12
• Vision Screening every year grades K – 12
• Hearing Screening, grades K, 1, 2, 3, 7 & 11
• Scoliosis Screening grades 6 and 7

Please go to the Athletics section of the Kennett High School Website for information about Physicals for athletes.  There are separate forms and data that must be collected for athletic physicals. 

Athletics section of the Kennett High School Website

An Individualized Health Plan (IHP) is a plan of care written by the Certified School Nurse for students with chronic health conditions and students whose physical and mental healthcare needs require more complex nursing services. The IHP outlines nursing interventions and safety measures for students with diabetes, seizure disorders, cardiac conditions, severe allergies, and other health problems.  A copy of the IHP is given to the child’s teachers, counselor, principal, bus driver, and cafeteria staff (for food allergies). The IHP is revised each year and follows students through graduation, unless their medical condition resolves.
 

Free and low-cost health insurance is available for children, newborns to age 19, through CHIP, PA’s Children’s Health Insurance Program. For local assistance, please call the Chester County Assistance Office at 610-466-1000. To see if you might be eligible for CHIP, contact 1-800-986-KIDS or go to the CHIP website for everything you need  including information on eligibility, enrollment, coverage renewal, and other resources in any language your prefer. 

CHIP

Many children with disabilities are eligible to participate in ACCESS, Pennsylvania’s name for the federal medical assistance (MA) program. ACCESS can provide free or reduced medical benefits for children with disabilities regardless of their parent/guardian’s income. A child may qualify for MA even if they have other health insurance as long as the child meets certain physical and/or mental health disability criteria.
 

Act 117 of 2024 requires all school entities to share Type 1 Diabetes educational materials with parents and guardians of students either in writing, electronically, or on the school entity or nonpublic school’s publicly accessible internet website.

The attached Type 1 Diabetes educational materials meet that requirement.  The materials are also available on the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website.

Type 1 Diabetes Flyer English

Type 1 Diabetes Flyer Spanish