Physicals
New York State Educational Law 903 requires students in Kindergarten and grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11, and all new entrants, to have a physical examination.
Download: Required NYS School Health Examination Form
To be completed by a private health care provider or school medical director.
Annual physicals are required for students participating in interscholastic sports, and working papers as needed or as required by the Committee on Special Education (CSE) or Committee on Pre-School Special Education (CPSE).
Physical exams for sports are valid for 12 months.
As per New York State Educational Law, physicals MUST comply with the following criteria:
- Completed on the Required NYS Health Examination Form (a copy of this form is available for download here)
- Physical is dated with the date of the examination
- Completed in its entirely (if an area is not assessed, indicate Not Done)
- Signed by the health care provider
Physicals not meeting the above requirements will not be accepted. Completed physical forms must be uploaded in Operoo.
Please note: Health certificates (examination performed by your private health care provider) are required to be submitted within 30 days of the start of the school year. Let this serve as notice that if the parent/guardian has not submitted one to the school within the 30-day time frame, the school’s intent is to provide a physical examination by health appraisal of their child at the school by the district medical director if the parent/guardian does not provide the school with a health certificate by 10/1/2023.
New York State Educational Law also requires public schools to request a dental health certificate. The form is to be completed and signed by your dentist or registered dental hygienist. Completed forms can be uploaded in Operoo.
If you are in need of free or low-cost health and/or dental services, please click the links below for a list of local providers.
BMI (2023 – 2024 School Year)
As part of a required school health examination, a student is weighed, and their height is measured. These 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 be included as part of the student’s school health examination. A sample of school districts will be selected to take part in a survey by the New York State Department of Health. Warwick Valley Central School District has been selected for the 2022-2023 school year to be part of the survey, we will be reporting to New York State Department of Health information about our students’ weight status groups. 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 email your child’s building nurse by December 22, 2023.
Medications
Medication Administration at School: What you need to know
According to New York State Law, school nurses administering medications to students during the school day must follow strict guidelines.
- School nurses must have a written order signed by a healthcare provider. Medication forms can be obtained from the district’s website under the Health & Wellness Department Resources or your school nurse.
The medication form is to be completed by the healthcare provider and parent/guardian.
The form includes the following information:
- Medication name
- Dosage/ Route
- Reason for giving the medication/Diagnosis
- Time of medication administration
- Number of days the medication is to be given
Medication forms must be completed annually for both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications.
A separate medication form must be completed for each medication given at school.
- Medication must remain in the original pharmacy container or original OTC container.
We request that you ask your pharmacist to give you a second identically labeled empty container for prescription medications your student will take at school. We also request that you bring small containers of any OTC medications that your child will take. Appropriately labeled containers will allow the school nurse to send these medications on field trips and comply with New York State medication storage laws.
The parent/guardian is responsible for delivering the medication directly to the school. Children (K-12) must not bring medicine to school on their own
- Medication will be destroyed seven (7) days after the final dosage is required unless the parent picks it up within this period or arrangements are made between the parent and the school nurse.
New York State law allows students with respiratory(breathing) conditions, allergies, and/or diabetes the right to independently carry and use their inhaled respiratory rescue medications; epinephrine auto-injectors; and insulin, glucagon, and related diabetes supplies. For more information, please click here.
Should you have any questions regarding medications for your child at school, please contact your building nurse.
Immunization Requirements
Students entering grade 7 and grade 12 must be vaccinated against meningococcal disease and have an up-to-date immunization record. Click here for a list immunization requirements by grade level.
Religious exemptions removed from vaccination law
With the worst outbreak of measles in more than 25 years taking place in the United States and outbreaks in New York state primarily driving the crisis, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on June 13, 2019, signed a bill into law that immediately removed the religious exemption for school vaccination requirements.
Per the amendment to Public Health Law Section 2164, children who attend child daycare or public, private or parochial school who previously had a religious exemption must now receive their first age-appropriate dose in each immunization series by June 28, 2019, in order to remain in daycare or school. Parents and/or guardians of these children must then show by July 14, 2019, that they have made appointments for all required follow-up doses in order to remain in daycare or school.
All other children who do not have their required immunizations face a deadline of 14 days from the start of school in the fall for their first dose vaccinations. Parents/guardians of these children must show within 30 days of the first day of school that appointments have been made for follow-up doses.