Illness and Other Absences

If your child is out sick for more than three consecutive days, you must submit a doctor’s note stating that your child may return to school. Please do not call the main office to report your child’s absence. Your child’s teacher will record all absences and the office will maintain a record based on the teacher’s notations.

Health
All children newly admitted to a New York City school are required by law to have a medical examination form showing a complete physical examination.  The immunizations required for pre-k include:  diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) or diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP); polio, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), hepatitis B, and varicella.  Kindergarten students must have proof of the same immunizations, except for Hib.  For grades one through five, the same immunizations are required except for Hib; and instead of DTaP or DTP, diphtheria-tetanus is permissible.  Immunization requirements change from time to time, so for the most current requirements it is best to check with main office, or call the Bureau of Immunization at 212-676-2273. 

Vision and Hearing Screenings
Children will have vision and hearing screenings free of charge in the school. Parents will be notified of the results only if further testing is indicated.

Head Lice

Head lice, unfortunately, seem to be a given in an elementary school.  However, we do take measures to keep it under control when we find that a child has been afflicted.  If you suspect your child has head lice, please notify an administrator, your child’s teacher, or Pumpkin, our nurse, immediately.  We will check that child and if she/he does have lice/nits, then every child in your class will be checked.  Siblings will also be checked, and if necessary, the siblings’ classmates.  A form letter will go out to the entire grade notifying parents that a child on that grade/in your class has lice, as well as giving very detailed instructions on how to get rid of the lice should your child be infected.

Children who have lice may not come back to school until they have been cleared by our school nurse.  However, the policy for “nits” has recently been changed by the Department of Education: children who have nits may be readmitted to the classroom.  It is incumbent on us all to help manage a lice outbreak by both breaking the stigma associated with lice (it can happen to anyone!) and working together to make sure any suspected cases get reported and addressed. Anyone who has dealt with an infestation knows how incredibly stressful, time consuming, and costly the process of addressing the situation can be.

Emergency Contacts
At the beginning of each school year an emergency notification card (the Blue Card) is sent home for parents/guardians to complete. This card provides the school with information in case of an emergency involving your child during the school day.  Please return this card promptly, and update the card during the year if there are changes.  It is the only way the school can notify you, a designated relative, or a friend if it should become necessary.

Below are links to the NYC DoE’s Wellness Policy:

2010 Wellness Policy (English)