Each school has a registered nurse on duty during school hours to attend to student health needs. First aid measures for illness and injury occurring in school will be performed according to first aid guidelines and the written standing orders approved and signed by our medical advisor. Treatment for injuries occurring at home and off school premises are the responsibility of the parent/guardian and family physician.

At the beginning of each school year or upon school entry, each student will require a parent/guardian to enter current demographic, emergency contact, and health information into Power School, our District 18 Student Information System. Families will receive a communication during the summer prior to school entry with instructions for entry of information. This mandatory annual update is critical for school personnel to be able to contact families and for the school nurse to be able to meet the medical needs of students. It is imperative that emergency contacts be people who have agreed to be contacted if a parent/guardian is unavailable. It is the responsibility of the parent to arrange for pick-up of the student if deemed appropriate by the school nurse or administration. Our school technology teams are available for any questions or assistance needed with completion of the Power School Student Information System entries.

State regulations require each child to be immunized according to the current CT Department of Public Health requirements. Proof of immunizations is to be provided to the student’s school nurse prior to admission to school. The State and local Boards of Education also require a physical examination for students in Pre-K, K, Grade 6, and Grade 9. Kindergarten, Grade 6, and Grade 9 physicals are to be recorded on the blue State of Connecticut Health Assessment Record, and Pre-K physicals are to be recorded on the yellow Early Childhood Health Assessment Record. All mandatory (*) screening items are to be completed by the physician’s office. The front page is to be completed by the parent/guardian, and the completed form is to be given to the health office to remain on record in the student’s cumulative health record. New entrants from within the United States are to submit a school entry physical form from their previous school that addresses the screening items that are required in District 18. New entrants from outside the United States must present a recent physical examination conducted by a U.S licensed physician dated within 12 months of entry.

Annual vision, hearing, and postural screenings are conducted on selected grades according to state regulations, and parents will be notified prior to the screening process. Vision and hearing  screening is conducted annually for students in K, Grades 1, 3, 4, and 5. Postural screening is conducted for females in grade 5 and 7, and for males in grade 9. Parents/guardians will receive a written physician referral if their child is noted to have a possible deficit in one or more of the screenings.

Health Assessments

In compliance with the State of Connecticut State Department of Education regulations, current health assessments are required of all students entering preschool and kindergarten, and again during Grade 6 and Grade 9. New students transferring into CT schools must meet CT regulations and school district policy. Health Assessment Record forms are available online on this webpage under the heading "HEALTH FORMS." They can also be obtained in the health offices in each school and are included in the registration packet. Please contact your child’s school nurse with any questions regarding this mandate. All students are required to have a mandated physical assessment before starting school classes.

Preschool and Kindergarten Health Assessments must be completed within one year prior to entry into school.

Physical assessments are required during Grades 6 and Grade 9. Mandated physicals for grade 6 students must be completed between June 1st of Grade 5 and before starting Grade 7. Mandated physicals for grade 9 students must be completed between June 1st of Grade 8 and before starting Grade 10.

***Please note that all asterisked areas on the physical assessment form must be completed for all students including Hemoglobin/Hematocrit Screening and must include Lead Screening for students in Pre K.

Sports Physicals are required every 13 months for all students participating in interscholastic schools at the middle school and high school levels. Students will not be able to practice or participate in competitions without medical compliance.

Immunizations

Appropriate immunization requirements are expected of all students enrolled in CT schools. Proof of immunization compliance or an approved Medical Exemption Certificate is required of all students in order to attend school classes.

Health Screenings

Annual vision, hearing, and postural screenings will be done in schools as mandated by the regulations of the CT State Department of Education and our local Board of Education. Vision and hearing screenings are required for students in Grades K, 1, 3, 4.and 5. 

Postural screenings are done for females in Grades 5 and 7, and males in Grade 9. Parents will be notified in advance of the screenings and notified if their child’s screening is out of normal range and in need of a referral to a physician or a specialist.

Administration of Medication in School

Medication (both prescription and over-the-counter) may be administered in school with a written authorization from the medical provider and signed by a parent/guardian. Medication must be brought to the nurse by the parent or guardian in a properly labeled prescription bottle including the name of the student, the name of the medication, dosage, and time of administration. Over-the-counter medications must be brought to the nurse in the original bottle. High school and middle school students are able to carry and self-administer epinephrine injectors and inhalers with proper authorization from the physician and parent. Medication remaining at the end of the end of the school year must be picked up by the parent.

Student Absences from School

Please keep your child home from school when illness or a communicable disease is suspected. Students who have had a fever (100 degrees or higher), vomiting, or diarrhea should not return until symptom-free for 24 hours without use of a fever-reducing medication. Students should be able to tolerate solid food and liquids before returning to school. Parents are required to notify the school if their child is absent for any reason. A school nurse is available in each school who may be reached by phone or email if there are any questions.

Medical Requirements for All Students 2025-2026 (PDF version)

Immunization Requirements for Enrolled Students in Connecticut Schools 2025-2026 School Year (PDF version)

State regulations and Board of Education policy mandate that medication shall be administered to students during school hours only when it is not possible to achieve the desired effects by administering the medication at home. If medication administration of prescribed and over-the-counter medication is necessary during school hours and school activities, the following criteria must be met:

· A medication authorization form for each medication is to be completed by the physician, dentist, APRN, or PA with written authorization by the parent/guardian and is to be kept on file in the health office. Medication forms are available on the district website under the parent portal, in each school health office, or from your child’s physician. The forms are to be renewed annually as needed.

· The medication must be in its original container, properly labeled with the student’s name, name of the medication, dosage, time of administration, and not more than a 90-day supply. Any remaining medication must be picked up by a parent/guardian or responsible adult at the end of the school year.

· Self-administration of medication for treatment of asthma and life-threatening allergies are appropriate when approved by a physician and a parent/guardian.

· All medication, except those approved for transport by students for self-administration, shall be delivered to the school by a parent/guardian, or other responsible adult and shall be received by the school nurse or, in her absence, a principal or designee.

· All medication, except for those that are approved for self-administration, will be administered by the nurse or trained school staff

· Students may not carry or maintain any unauthorized or unidentified medication in school or on the school bus.

Absences from School Due to Illness

Communication between families and the school nurse is critical when it comes to identifying potential outbreaks of contagious illness in our schools. It is imperative that we all work as partners in promoting the health and wellness of our entire school community, which includes not only our students, but our staff members as well.

Please notify your child’s school nurse and keep them home from school with the following:

• Fever of 100.0 or above. Students should be fever-free without use of a fever-reducing medication for 24 hours before returning to school.
• Any skin rash suggestive of a communicable disease.
• Eye discomfort suggestive of a possible bacterial or viral infection that includes but is not limited to drainage, itching, and redness.
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea. Students should stay at home for 24 hours without repeated episodes of vomiting/diarrhea and should be able to tolerate fluids and solid food.
• Cough that is persistent and disruptive.
• Other nonspecific complaints such as significant body aches, nausea, malaise, etc., that would make it difficult for your child to participate in school.
• Viral infections such as COVID, influenza and RSV: Students may return to school when feeling significantly better and have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication. Parents should contact their child's pediatrician with any illness related questions.

Medication regulations require that Connecticut schools designate and train nonmedical qualified staff who have volunteered to administer emergency epinephrine in a cartridge injector to a student who is exhibiting signs of having a severe allergic reaction who has not been previously identified by a physician as having a severe allergy. It authorizes the emergency use of Epipens (or equivalent cartridge injector) by nonmedical staff if the nurse is absent or unavailable during the school day hours on school grounds. The qualified staff must meet annual training requirements.

Any parent/guardian of a student who does NOT want epinephrine given to their child who has NO PREVIOUS HISTORY OF SEVERE ALLERGY OR DIAGNOSIS in the event of a severe allergic reaction must submit a letter in writing to the school nurse.

Per our district Medical Advisor, a doctor's order and signed parent permission will be needed for all over the counter medications, including cough drops. 

See the Authorization for the Administration of Medication by School Personnel (link below under "Health Forms").

If a student is ill or injured and unable to participate in a PE class, a parent may submit a written excuse that will be accepted for a maximum of two PE classes. Students who require an exclusion from PE class must have a physician’s note excluding them from PE class that includes date parameters of a maximum of six weeks. Students requiring additional exclusion time will be required to obtain a written extension time from their physician for an additional maximum of six weeks.

Use of any type of splint, ace or Velcro wrap, crutches, wheelchair, or elevator requires a written note by the medical provider.