Health & Wellness

About Health and Wellness

Each of our four schools has a dedicated school nurse. Students may go to the Health Office for health information, advice, medical questions, illness, medication administration, physical exams and assessments, care of injuries or short rest periods for headache or minor discomforts.

The school nurse will phone parents, when necessary, and assess and administer first aid should a student become ill or injured in school. The nurse will transfer a student to the emergency room via EMS ambulance should a higher level if care be needed or if the parent can not reach the student in a reasonable and safe amount of time. Students will be sent home ill or injured by the nurse with either the parent or a responsible person listed by the parent on the emergency card.

Back-to-school student health requirements

Please note the following health requirements for back-to-school:

• Incoming 12th graders who have not had their 2nd meningococcal vaccine have until 9/14 to receive it in order to attend school.
• Incoming 6th graders who have turned 11 require a Tdap vaccine by 9/14 in order to attend school. Student who have not yet turned age 11 when entering sixth grade have 14 days from their birthday to get vaccinated.
• Incoming 7th graders who have not had their meningococcal vaccine have until 9/14 in order to attend school.
• All students in grades K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 require a physical, dated from 9/1 to present, as mandated by NYS. This is required within the first 30 days of school or by 9/29. If you have an appointment scheduled after 9/29, please email the health office with that date. Please send this in to your child’s respective school health office.

If your health provider is unable to fit in your child, please get a nursing visit. Uninsured families can call the Orange County Department of Health at (845) 291-2330 for assistance. Questions should be sent to your child’s school nurse.

Immunization requirements and physical exams

Students must have an up-to-date immunization record, which complies with New York State Department of Health requirements. Vaccinations for the following are due within the first 14 days of school. Students cannot attend school without them.

• 6th grade: Tdap vaccine (due upon entering 6th grade if age 11, or within 14 days of their birthday if turning 11 during the school year)
• 7th and 12th grade:  Meningococcal vaccine

If you have questions, please contact your child’s school nurse and/or pediatrician.

Education Law requires a physical exam for new entrants and students in Grades Pre-K or K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11; annually for interscholastic sports and working papers as needed; or as required by the Committee on Special Education (CSE) or Committee on Preschool Special education (CPSE)

Beginning January 31, 2021, physical examinations for school are to be documented on the NYS Required Health Examination Form or an electronic health record equivalent form. Local pediatricians were advised of this new requirement in May 2020; therefore, your pediatrician should have the required forms on file. Access the Health Exam Form.

The school district is unable to accept health exam documentation if it is not on the required form or the required health record equivalent.

Oral health assessment

New York State law (Chapter 281) permits schools to request an oral health assessment at the same time a health examination is required. Your child may have a dental check-up during this school year to assess his/her fitness to attend school.  Access the Dental Health Certificate.

NYS screenings

All new students enrolling in the district for the first time — along with children entering pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 in the fall — are required to have a health exam.

Other changes for students include vision screening for distance and near vision acuity as well as hearing screening within 6 months of admission to school and for students in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and grades 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11. In addition, girls in grades 5 and 7, and boys in grade 9 will require scoliosis screenings.

Students are screened in school for vision, hearing and scoliosis according the New York State mandates. Parents/guardians will be notified of any findings on the screening that would require medical follow-up by their family doctor. The state mandates are:

• Vision screening – All new students of any age plus grades Pre-K, K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 11
• Hearing screening – All new students of any age plus grades Pre-K, K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 11
• Scoliosis screening – Girls grades 5 and 7, and boys in grade 9

We make every attempt to keep students in class for instruction time. Scoliosis screening is performed during physical education classes.

Medications in school

Parents and guardians may drop off medication beginning on the first day of school or thereafter, at any time during school hours. If you need assistance, please contact the nurse at your child’s school so they may help you. Students may not carry or keep medications on their person or in their locker or athletic bags with two exceptions:

• Rescue asthma inhalers
• EpiPens

They must have a prescription from the doctor filed in the Health Office giving administration advisory and permission to carry. All other medications including prescription, over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, Advil, Midol, sinus medications, eye drops, etc., must have a doctor’s note and be kept in the Health Office.

All medications must be in each student’s own original containers and properly labeled. The nurse will store all medications and dispense from the Health Office as needed. There are no stock supplies so the student must supply his or her own bottles of medication. Access these medication use forms:

• Authorization for administration of medication in school form
• Self Carry & Use Medication Form

Medical exemption from physical education classes

Students are required by the State Education Department to participate in Physical Education classes. If not able to participate, a doctor’s note with the specific restriction and expected time period of restriction must be clearly stated. Students should report to their PE teacher for each PE class for attendance and receive a written packet to be completed in the library and then placed in their teacher’s mailbox. These packets must be done in order to receive credits for the class. PE participation is mandatory to meet graduation credit requirements. Students who have had a medical exemption from PE/sports must have a written clearance to return to participation in their PE class/sport.

Body Mass Index

The state requires schools to track each student’s Body Mass Index (BMI) and weight status category as part of school health examinations. Every year, the New York State Department of Health will survey some schools for the number of pupils in each of six possible weight status categories. If the state surveys Goshen, the district will share summary group data only, and will not share individual names or information. Parents who wish to exclude their child’s data from such group calculations must contact the nurse in their child’s school building.

Child abuse hotline notification

If you suspect a child is being abused or maltreated (neglected), report it by calling 1-800-342-3720, a toll-free 24-hour hotline operated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police department. Information about reporting child abuse and maltreatment (neglect) is available online at the Office of Children and Family Services website.

Working papers

An application for employment must be filled out with social security number, signature of applicant and signature of parent or guardian giving permission. The form must be submitted with a health certification obtained at the health office. One set of working papers are produced for ages 14-16 and a new set for ages 16-18. A recent physical (within one year) is a requirement for all certificates. Physicals for working papers may be done in the Health Office or by your family physician. For more information, contact the Health Office. Learn more about Working Papers and the employment of minors at the NY State Education website.

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