Under the amended Code of Virginia, Section 22-220.1 no child will be admitted for the first time to any public kindergarten or elementary school unless certification of a comprehensive physical examination is furnished.  A physical must have been performed no earlier than twelve (12) months prior to the date the pupil first enters a kindergarten or public school. As part of the physical, certification must also be given that the child has been successfully immunized against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus (DPT), polio (OPV), measles, (rubeola and rubella), chicken pox (varicella), and mumps.  Those families who do not have a family physician and wish to have an appointment with the Health Department Clinic should contact the school nurse.

Parents should inform the school officials of any medical or physical disability that might hinder the child’s progress in school or pose a threat to the child’s safety.  As an added precaution, each successive year, the parent should inform the child’s teacher of this condition and of any procedure that should be followed should a problem arise.

In the interest of the child and public safety, the school nurse or official will contact the parents and send a child home when illness or injury has been determined.

When possible, medication should be scheduled for out-of-school hours.  We recognize that this is not always possible and will cooperate in the administration of medication.  The following guidelines have been established:

Parents or guardians assume full responsibility for supplying the medication.

Parents or guardians must deliver any medication to the school with a medication request form filled out by the physician that includes:

• a request form for each prescribed medication, signed by the parent or legal guardian and filed in the principal’s office, and
• a labeled container of medication that includes:
  • Student’s full name
  • Physician’s name
  • Physician’s telephone number
  • Name of medication
  • Dosage, schedule and dose form
  • Date of expiration of prescription

The school nurse will assume responsibility for placing medications in a locked cabinet.

Students will be assisted with taking medications according to the physician’s instructions and the procedure will be observed and recorded by a designated school staff member.

Medications that are discontinued or unused must be picked up by a parent or guardian by the end of the semester.  No medications can be sent home with a student.

It is the parent’s or guardian’s responsibility to keep continuing prescriptions filled in a timely manner to keep from interrupting the educational process.

For more information, please visit the School Nursing webpage.