Information about health screenings and reports

North Colonie health screenings and reports

Each year, the school nurse conducts a school health appraisal consisting of the following: vision screening and hearing screening in required grade levels based on NYSED mandates. Scoliosis screening is done on all girls in 5th and 7th grades and for boys in 9th grade. Parents will be notified when any condition meriting concern is found. If parents wish to inquire about the findings they may contact their school nurse.

BMI

As part of a required school health examination, a student is weighed and their height is measured along with vision and hearing screening, as well as scoliosis for the certain students. The height and weight numbers are used to figure out the student’s body mass index or ‘BMI’. The BMI helps the doctor or nurse know if the student’s weight is in a healthy range or is too high or too low. Recent changes to the New York State Education Law require that BMI and weight status group (NOT individual student) be included as part of the student’s school health examination in grades K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11. Each year, a sample of school districts will be selected to take part in a survey by the New York State Department of Health. If our school is selected to be part of the survey, we will be reporting health information about our students’ weight status groups to the New York State Department of Health. Only summary information is sent. No names and no information about individual students are sent. However, you may choose to have your child’s information excluded from this survey report.

The information sent to the New York State Department of Health will help health officials develop programs that make it easier for children to be healthier.

If you do not wish to have your child’s weight status group information included as part of the Health Department’s survey this year, please print and sign your name below and return this form to:

Your child’s School Health Office
c/o School Nurse

Please do not include my child’s weight status information in the 2019-2020 School Survey.

____________________________
Print Child’s Name

_______________________
Date

_____________________________           
Print Parent’s Name            

_____________________________
Parent’s Signature

Required Physicals

All required physicals are due at the start of each year. If you have not sent your child’s in yet, please do so ASAP. Letters have been sent and will be sent again to all who still do not have them on file. If your child’s physical has been done, please be sure to submit that paperwork to your school nurse at this time. If physicals are not in once our school physician is scheduled, your child will be scheduled for a physical with our school physician.

Vision Screening

School Nurses are mandated annually to perform screenings based on NYSED guidelines. Such screenings include but are not limited to the following:

• Distance acuity
• Near vision
• Color perception (color vision)
• Hearing
• Scoliosis

All screenings will be conducted annually by each school nurse according to guidelines for said year/grade levels. Parents will only be notified of abnormal findings either through school backpack mail, phone call or postal mail. If you are concerned or wish to inquire about your child’s results, please contact your school nurse.

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