Health Services

Contact Information

Upper Perkiomen High School
Mrs. Regina Lundquist, M.Ed., BSN, RN, CSN
rlundquist@upsd.org
215-541-7125

Upper Perkiomen Middle School
Joanna Rosenberger, BSN,RN,CPN
jbrosenberger@upsd.org
215-679-6288 x4010

Marlborough Elementary
Lori Preite (LPN)
lpreite@upsd.org
215-541-7299 ext. 7209

Hereford Elementary
Crystal Swartz (RN, CSN. M.Ed)
cswartz@upsd.org
215-679-4151 ext. 3459

4th-5th Grade Center
Amy Gangwer
algangwer@upsd.org
215-679-6288 x4010

K-12 Immunization and Health Requirements

IMMUNIZATIONS REGULATIONS
The Pennsylvania Health Department has recently changed the state requirements for immunizations for the upcoming school year. All students must be appropriately immunized by the first day of school. Students who are not properly immunized by the first day of school will be excluded, and will not be permitted to attend school. According to our records your child is missing one or more of the state required immunizations:

Children in ALL grades (K-12) need the following immunizations for attendance:

4 doses of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (last dose on or after student's 4th birthday)
4 doses of polio (one dose on or after student's 4th birthday)
2 doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR, 2^nd dose on or after 4^th birthday) )
3 doses of hepatitis B
2 doses of varicella (chicken pox) (2^nd dose on or after 4^th birthday)

Additional Requirements for Students Entering 7th Grade

1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap)
1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV)
*Tdap and MCV must be given at age 11 years old

Additional Requirements for Students Entering 12th Grade

2nd dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV)
*1dose for 7^th grade; 2^nd dose on or after 16 yrs. of age

SCHOOL VACCINE INFORMATION

New Provisional Attendance Rules:

1. A child must have at least the first dose of a multiple dose series (DTP, Polio, MMR, Hepatitis B, Varicella) in order to start school. A five day provisional period at the start of the school year will only be given to students who are missing subsequent dose(s) of a multiple dose vaccine, where the additional doses are not medically appropriate by the first day of school. In this case, a medical certificate, signed by your doctor that indicates your child’s immunization plan, must be provided before the fifth day of school or your child will be excluded.

2. There is no provisional period will be given for 7^th and 12^th grade students who are missing a vaccine that only requires one dose (Tdap, MCV). These students must have all immunizations by the first day of school or your child will be excluded from school.

Please check with your child’s doctor to complete these immunizations. An updated immunization record signed by your doctor must be submitted to the school’s health office by the first day of school or have a plan to complete the vaccination series. Please call your school nurse’s office with any questions.

*These requirements allow for the following exemptions: medical reason, religious belief, or philosophical/strong moral or ethical conviction. Even if your child is exempt from immunizations, he or she may be excluded from school during an outbreak of vaccine preventable disease. (Pennsylvania Department of Health, 2020)

School Physical & Health Requirements

PHYSICAL EXAMS

A comprehensive health examination is required at the start of the school year

upon original entry into school (usually when entering Kindergarten or 1st grade)
6th Grade
11th Grade

If needed, the physical form is linked, here.

DENTAL EXAMS

A comprehensive health examination is required at the start of the school year

upon original entry into school (usually when entering Kindergarten or 1st grade)
3rd Grade
7th Grade

If needed, the dental form is linked, here.

A school health and/or dental examination will be conducted if proof of a private exam is not submitted to your school nurse.

The district will accept reports of privately conducted physical and dental examinations completed within one year prior to a student’s entry into the grade where an exam is required.

Medication Administration at School Information and Form

Medications should be scheduled around school hours if possible.

The Medication Administration Form for all medications to be given at school can be found at the top of this page.

Medication Orders

Medications orders are required from a physician/licensed provider for all medications to be given at school. This includes prescription, over the counter and herbal remedies.

The order from the licensed provider must include:

Student’s name
Name, signature and phone number of the licensed provider
Name of medication
Route and dosage of the medication
Frequency and time of medication administration
Date of the order and discontinuation date if applicable
Specific directions for administration if necessary

Medication Packaging/Delivery

A parent/guardian or a responsible adult designated by the parent/guardian should deliver all medications to the school. The medication must be in the original pharmacy labeled bottle or packaging or over the counter packaging including medication, name dosage and frequency of administration.

For prescription medications the label must include:

Name, address, telephone number and Federal DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) number of the pharmacy
Patient name
Directions for use (dosage, frequency, time of administration, route, and any special instructions)
Name and registration number of the licensed prescriber
Prescription serial number
Date originally filled
Name of medication and amount dispensed
Controlled substance statement when applicable
Medications in plastic bags or containers other than their original pharmacy container are not acceptable

Medication Pick-Up
A parent/guardian or a designated adult will be responsible to pick up any unused medication at the end of each school year or if it is discontinued. Any medication not retrieved by the last student day will be disposed of.

Children will be permitted to carry epinephrine auto-injectors and inhalers home on the last day of school if they already have orders to carry medications at school. Any epinephrine auto-injectors and inhalers not retrieved by the last student day will be disposed of.

New School Year

A new prescription is required at the beginning of every school year for medication that is taken or available at the school on a long term basis. Medication orders from a physician/ licensed prescriber are valid for one school year and the summer only.

Health Screenings

Exemption from Immunization

Pennsylvania Code §23.84 Exemption from Immunization

MedicalExemption.Children need not be immunized if a physician or the physician's designee provides a written statement that immunization may be detrimental to the health of the child. When the physician determines that immunization is no longer detrimental to the health of the child, the child shall be immunized according to this subchapter.
ReligiousExemption.Children need not be immunized if the parent,guardian or emancipated child objects in writing to the immunization on religious grounds or on the basis of strong moral or ethical conviction similar to religious belief.

Health Related Action Plans

When to Keep Your Child Home from School

When to keep your child home from school:
Children learn best when they are healthy. Please do not send your child to school sick. Here are some guidelines to help you to know when to keep your child home.

Appearance/Discomfort
If your child appears unusually tired, irritable, pale or has an unusual lack of appetite.

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Because of the extremely contagious nature of Bacterial Pink Eye, we ask you to consult your doctor before sending your child to school with the following symptoms: thick mucus or pus draining from eye, if eye is red, puffy, itchy or painful.

Diarrhea
If your child has had three or more watery stools in a 24 hr period, especially if your child acts or looks ill, it is recommended that they do not come to school.

Fever
A temperature of 100.0 or higher is an indication that your child could be contagious. Giving a child Tylenol or Ibuprofen will bring the temperature down, and make them more comfortable, but it will not prevent them from passing their illness on to classmates. Please keep them home until they are fever free for 24 hours.

Vomiting
If your child has vomited within the past 24 hours, please keep them home.

Thank you for your cooperation.
If you have any questions, please contact your School Nurse.