Should My Child Go to School?

It is best to fully evaluate your child if he or she is not feeling well before sending them to school. This may not only allow for your child to heal quicker but also will help the prevention of germs from spreading. If your child is exhibiting any of the following signs/symptoms, please consider keeping them at home:

• Fever, including a fever with a new rash.

• Vomiting more than twice in the preceding 24 hours.

• Diarrhea that causes ‘accidents’, is bloody, or results in greater than two bowel movements above what the child normally experiences in a 24-hour period.

• Skin sores that are draining fluid on an uncovered part of the body and are unable to be covered with a bandage.

• Respiratory virus symptoms (fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache) that are worsening or not improving and not better explained by another cause such as seasonal allergies (CDC, 2024).

Please consider consulting with your family doctor if any of the items listed above pertain to your child before sending them to school.

Health Screenings

Vision screenings are state-mandated for every student in the district. 

Hearing screenings are required for students in grades K, 1, 2, 3, 7 and 11.

Scoliosis screenings are required for students in grades 6 and 7. 

                          Scoliosis Information Letter

Height and weight, along with BMI calculations are also state-mandated for every student in the district.

If you receive a referral in the mail for your child, please have them seen by the appropriate specialist and return to the nurse's office as soon as possible.

Physical and Dental Exams

Physical exams are required by the PA Department of Health for students in grade K, 6, and 11.

• You have the option to have your child seen by a private physican or the school physican. If a private physical form is not provided by the requested due date, your child may be scheduled to be seen by the school physican to meet state requirements.

Dental exams are required by the PA Department of Health for students in grade K, 3, and 7. 

• You have the option to have your child seen by a private dentist or the school dentist. If a private dental exam form is not provided by the requested due date, your child may be scheduled to be seen by the school dentist to meet state requirements.

If your child is being seen by a private physician or dentist, the forms for these exams can be found under the 'Forms' tab on the Nurse/School Health page.  

Immunizations

The Department of Health has requirements under Pennsylvania Code § 23.83 regarding vaccinations for school entry and attendance for all students in grades K-12. These include:

• 4 doses of tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (DTap), last one being on or after 4th birthday

• 4 doses of polio (IPV), last one being on or after 4th birthday

• 2 doses of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)

• 2 doses of varicella

• 3 doses of hepatitis B

• tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) and first meningococcal conjugate (MCV) for 7th grade

• Second meningococcal conjugate (MCV) for 12th grade

If your child is due for any immunizations, a letter from the Health Room Services at Halifax will be sent home. Please refer to the following flyer for more details: PA Department of Health School Vaccination Requirements

Reference: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2024). When Students or Staff are Sick. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/orr/school-preparedness/infection-prevention/when-sick.html.