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Each of our schools is staffed with a dedicated school nurse who serves as a key partner in student care. School nurses coordinate health care in the school setting, answer routine medical questions, administer first aid and prescribed medications, manage mandated screenings, and support families with immunization and physical exam requirements.
Gates Chili High School Health Office
- Phone: (585) 247-2420
- Fax: (585) 340-5545
- Hours: 7:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
The high school health office is located in Room 300, around the corner from the science atrium.
Illness and injury
Illness and when to keep students home from school
Please do not send your student to school with signs or symptoms of illness, including:
- A fever of 100.4 degrees or higher. Students may return to school after being fever-free (with no fever-reducing medications) for 24 hours.
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- Any rash, until diagnosed by a medical provider
- Head lice, scabies, pinworms or ringworm, until treatment has begun
- Strep throat, until 24 hours after starting antibiotics
- Chicken pox, until scabs heal over (about 1 week)
Parents/guardians must report their student’s absence by calling or sending a ParentSquare message to the attendance clerk. Upon return to school, please send in a written note explaining the reason for the absence.
Injury and exclusion from physical education
If your student will miss two or more consecutive physical education classes due to illness or injury, a note is required from the student’s primary care provider. An excuse from Physical Education class also restricts other activities, such as recess on the playground.
Medication at school
The school nurse has the primary responsibility for administering any medications to students. A written order from the student’s primary care provider must be on file in the school’s health office for prescription and over-the-counter medication, as well as a written request from the parent/guardian. The medication should be delivered to the school nurse by the parent/guardian in the original prescription container, marked clearly with the full name of the student who is taking it. Over-the-counter medication must be in the new and unopened container it was sold in. Parents/guardians will also need to sign a consent form giving the nurse permission to administer the medication. Students may not transport medications to or from school, including over-the-counter medications.
Health screenings and exams
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Physical examinations are state mandated in prekindergarten or kindergarten, grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 and for eligibility to participate in interscholastic sports. A health certificate signed by a duly licensed New York State health care provider must be provided to the health office for new entrants to the district or for any student entering in any of the above grades. Health appraisals need to be presented within 30 days of entry. They are valid for 12 months, through the last day of the month in which the physical was completed. It is recommended that students have their annual physical with their primary care provider since that person knows the student’s health and medical history the best. Physical examinations are also available at school free of charge, if necessary. Examinations are conducted by the school physician/ nurse practitioner on selected days during the school year.
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The New York State Education Department (NYSED) requires certain screening examinations at certain ages or grades of students as listed to the right. The New York State Department of Health also requires that a private health care provider reports and the school district collects information on your student’s Body Mass Index (BMI) and Weight Status Category (WSC). Families may fulfill these legal obligations by having personal physicians conduct the screening exams privately. If a family has not provided a certificate or notified the nurse of a plan to have the screenings done privately by the time the nurse conducts the school screenings, the district will follow NYSED mandates and will conduct the screening as scheduled. Please communicate regularly with the school nurse to avoid confusion.
The following screening evaluations are conducted by the school nurse who will advise on any concerns:
- Distance visual acuity and near visual acuity for all new entrants and for students in kindergarten, grades 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11 and at any other time deemed appropriate.
- Color perception for all new entrants within six months of entrance.
- Hearing acuity for all new entrants and for those in kindergarten, grades 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11 and at any other time deemed essential.
- Scoliosis screening (curvature of the spine) for girls in grades 5 and 7 and for boys in grade 9.
Immunization information
All students must be fully immunized to attend school. An up-to-date copy of immunizations must be presented to your student’s school health office each school year. Immunization information must be received by the school health office no later than 14 calendar days from the first day of school. If a student is transferring from another state or country, immunization information must be received no later than 30 calendar days after the first day of school. Failure to provide complete immunization documentation will result in the exclusion of any student from school until such documentation is presented.
Free vaccinations
If your student is unable to receive necessary immunizations at their doctor’s office, you may contact the Monroe County Health Department at 753-5150 to ask about their immunization program, which is offered free of charge.
Non-medical exemptions
Per New York State law, non-medical or religious exemptions are no longer permitted as an alternative to the requirement that students are to be vaccinated against measles and other diseases to attend prekindergarten through grade 12 in a public, private or parochial setting or to be enrolled in daycare.
Questions about immunization
To learn more about vaccine requirements in New York State, visit the NYS Department of Health’s website. For more information about the vaccination schedule and a catch-up immunization schedule, visit the Centers for Disease Control website. Questions regarding mandated vaccines may be directed to your student’s doctor or to your student’s school nurse.
