Health Office

District Forms

Health Office Staff

Health Services Policy JLC

Welcome to the ORCSD Health Office!

The school nurse is on duty during school hours. School nurses are available to the students who become ill or injured during school hours and to parents with questions regarding their children and/or school health policies. We welcome and encourage calls to update us regarding your child’s health concerns and needs.

School health services include administering medication, assessment of acute problems and chronic problems, vision and hearing screening, height and weight measures and the monitoring of immunizations to keep children in compliance with state regulations. Children are required upon entrance to school to have up-to-date immunizations and a physical exam (within the past year) per the State of New Hampshire. Physical exams are required upon entrance to kindergarten (or first year in our district), 5th Grade and 9th Grade. If your child participates in sports during high school they are required to have a physical again upon entrance to 11th Grade. Below please find several health practices in place to keep the students healthy, and ready to learn.

• Illness policy

To ensure a healthy environment we will dismiss all ill students who compromise their own health or the health of the school population to their parents or guardians. Students who have had diarrhea, vomiting, and/or a temperature over l00 degrees should be kept home until free from symptoms, without the aid of medication, for not less than 24 hours. A child with a bacterial infection that can be spread to other children (strep throat, impetigo, etc.) must be on an antibiotic for at least 24 hours before returning to school. 

• Medication policy

The State of New Hampshire dictates that all medication, both over-the-counter and prescription, be administered through the health office. All medication must be brought to the school by a parent in the original container, clearly marked with the student's name and dosage. Laws regarding dispensing medications are strict:

• Over-the-counter medication

Parent must sign a school form allowing the nurse to dispense the medication. Click Here for Parent's Request/Permission to Administer Medication school form.

• Prescription medication

Parent must sign the Parent's Request/Permission to Administer Medication form, and the medication must be in a prescription bottle. A note written by your child's doctor which includes date, name of medication, diagnosis, directions, duration of administration, and possible side effects must accompany the prescription. A form is available on line for this purpose (click here for Physician Medication Order). Ask the pharmacy to divide the medication into two bottles, one for home and one for school. Chronic illnesses and allergies should be made known to the school nurse. Medication prescribed by the physician for these conditions should be supplied to the school as outlined above.

• Immunizations

The State of NH requires that we adhere to the immunization requirements that they establish. Please keep us updated when your child receives an immunization or has any other significant health concern possibly requiring medication or hospitalization so that we may work together with other school staff to meet your child’s health and educational goals.

https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/immunization/documents/schools18-19.pdf

• Food allergies

Serious food allergies in children are becoming more common. Just traces of certain foods can cause life threatening reactions in susceptible people. Peanuts are the most common but are not the only offender. We are not a peanut-free school so please make sure your child understands they are not to trade foods with other children. What is okay for them may be life threatening to another child. Explain that there is no eating on the bus. Some children can react if they just come in contact with certain foods. Washing hands frequently removes trace foods that can be spread unknowingly resulting in reactions. Please do not send in food/treats for the whole class unless specifically asked for by the classroom teacher. This is for the protection of all children.

• Prescription meals

To request prescription meals, please complete the form available on our Child Nutrition page.

• Head lice

Head lice are a common problem in elementary schools. Please call if your child has been found to have head lice so that treatment can be reviewed with you. If your child is found to have head lice at school, you will be notified and asked to treat your child that night. Treatment must occur before they return to school the next day.

Head Lice Fact Sheet