Health Services (Nurse)

Keep your child safe! All families must update contact and emergency contact information each year in the Skyward Family Access Portal. Medical information should be completed on the paper form and returned with your child on the first day of school. 

Please provide:

• Contact Information (at the Skyward Family Access Portal)
  • Phone numbers
  • Email address
• Medical Information (via the paper form)
  • Health conditions and important details
  • Information to help treat illness or injury
  • Permission for common medications (such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Benadryl, or Tums)
• Emergency Contacts (at the Skyward Family Access Portal)
  • A trusted adult (friend, neighbor, or relative)
  • This person must be available if you cannot be reached
  • Students can only be released to people listed

This information must be completed each year for every child. You will be asked to provide contact information on the paper form as well. Please ensure that information you include
on the form matches the contact information you add to the Skyward Family Portal

Skyward Family Access Portal 

Student Medical Form in English

Student Medical Form in Spanish

Regular attendance is important, but sick children should stay home to rest and prevent spreading illness. Please keep your child home if they have:

• Fever 100.4 degrees F or higher
• Confirmed flu or COVID-19
• Flu-like symptoms (fever, headache, fatigue, body aches)
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Strep throat, bronchitis, or another infection needing antibiotics
• Red eyes with drainage (pink eye)
• Productive cough, barking cough, or drainage from the nose that is not clear
   

Your child may return to school when they:

• Have no fever for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medicine)
• Have no vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours
• Have taken antibiotics for at least 24 hours (if prescribed)
• Have taken 24 hours of antibiotic treatment for pink eye OR when no further drainage is noted (viral infection)
• Have been treated for lice and checked by the nurse

Call your school nurse with any questions or concerns regarding a child’s return to school.

COVID testing is not available in schools. Students should follow the return-to-school guidelines after illness.

CDC Guidelines

Chester County Health Department
 

If your child returns to school after a concussion or injury:

• Provide medical documentation to the school nurse
• Include information about treatment and any school accommodations

A doctor’s note is required for your child to return to gym after a concussion or serious injury.

Medications should be given at home whenever possible, either before or after school hours. In compliance with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and KCSD, the following is required for nurses to administer all prescription and over-the-counter medication in school:

• Signed Physician Order for medication administration
• KCSD Request for Medication Administration Form, completed and signed by parent
• IF physician signs this form, a separate order is not needed
•  Medication provided in a labeled pharmacy bottle (pharmacy will provide a spare bottle for school use if you ask), or in original packaging if over the counter medication  

Medications must be locked in the nurse’s office.

• Federally controlled medication (such as ADHD prescriptions) and narcotics must be transported by a parent or responsible adult and delivered directly to the nurse.
• Students are not permitted to carry any medication in school, including acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil).  
• The ONLY exceptions are Emergency Medications (insulin, asthma inhalers, and epinephrine autoinjectors)

Medicine Administration Form in English

Medicine Administration Form in Spanish

For further information, refer to School Board Policies.  

Use of Medication Board Policy No. 210

Possession of Asthma Inhalers/Epinephrine Auto Injectors Board Policy No. 210.1

Check your child’s hair regularly for lice or nits.

• Keep your child home if lice are not yet treated
• Notify the school nurse if you have concerns
• Prompt treatment helps prevent spreading

To attend school, students must have the following vaccines:

• DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus): 4 doses (1 dose on or after age 4)
• Polio: 4 doses (last dose after age 4 and at least 6 months after the previous dose)
• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella): 2 doses
• Hepatitis B: 3 doses
• Varicella (Chickenpox): 2 doses or proof of immunity

Additional Requirements

Entering 7th Grade:

• 1 dose of Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis)
• 1 dose of MCV (Meningococcal Vaccine)

Entering 12th Grade:

• 2nd dose of MCV (If the first dose was given at age 16 or older, a second dose is not needed.)

Students must meet vaccination requirements by the first day of school unless an approved exemption is on file. Students who are not fully vaccinated may be excluded from school during an
outbreak.

Please contact your school nurse with any questions.

Pennsylvania requires physical examinations, dental evaluations and health screenings for all students. 

School Board Policy on Health Examinations and Screenings (No. 209)

Physical and Dental Exams

The Pennsylvania School Code requires physical examinations and dental evaluations for all students. Dental exams and other health screenings are conducted at school as noted below unless parents opt out. Physical examinations conducted at school require parent consent.

Physical examinations are required:*

• Upon entrance to school (new students)
• In 6th and 11th grades
• Available free of charge at school during set time periods with parent/guardian consent
• Private physical forms in English and in Spanish are available below or you may submit a visit summary from your medical provider

Physical Examination Form in English

Physical Examination Form in Spanish

*We recommend physical examinations be completed by your family medical provider since he/she can best evaluate your child’s health and provide follow-up care as needed.

Dental evaluations are required:

• Upon entrance to school (new students)
• In the 3rd and 7th grades
• Completed free of charge during the school year for those who have not submitted documentation

If you do not want the school to provide this free screening, please send a note to your school nurse. You will need to have your family dentist complete the exam below.

Private Dental Form

Health Screenings 

The following Required Health Screenings are completed by the school nurse:

• Height, Weight, and BMI (Body Mass Index): all grades every year*
• Vision: all grades, every year
• Hearing: K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 11th grades
• Scoliosis: 6th and 7th grades

Results of screenings will be shared with parent/guardian, and families will be notified if follow up care is needed.

If you do not want your child to be screened for any of the above by the school nurse, you must provide a written parent note and documentation of completed screening by your provider.

*Update to Student Health Screening Reports: BMI Information
Per recent updates to the Pennsylvania Public School Code, we will no longer automatically include Body Mass Index (BMI) results on school health screening reports unless requested in writing by a parent or guardian. We will continue to complete all school health screenings, including growth (height and weight), vision, hearing, and scoliosis screenings. Screening results will continue to be shared with parents and guardians as they have been in the past.

If you would like to receive your child’s calculated BMI, please submit a written or email request directly to your child’s school nurse.

Parents and guardians also have the right to exempt their child from annual height and weight measurements. To request an exemption, please submit a written request to your child’s school nurse.

Students who plan to play school sports must complete additional official PIAA medical forms.

Athletics section of the Kennett High School Website

Some students need extra health support during the school day.

Individualized Health Plans (IHP) may be created for students with ongoing health needs, such as:

• Diabetes
• Seizures
• Heart conditions
• Severe allergies

The plan:

• Outlines care and safety steps
• Is shared with appropriate school staff
• Is reviewed and updated each year

Students may also qualify for a 504 Plan or IEP if additional supports are needed.

CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program):

• Covers children from birth to age 19
• Offers free or low-cost insurance

For help:

• Call Chester County Assistance Office: 610-466-1000
• Call 1-800-986-KIDS

CHIP School Flyer in English

CHIP School Flyer in Spanish

Visit the Pennsylvania CHIP website

Many children with disabilities are eligible to participate in ACCESS, Pennsylvania’s name for the federal medical assistance (MA) program. ACCESS can provide free or reduced medical benefits for children with disabilities regardless of their parent/guardian’s income. A child may qualify for MA even if they have other health insurance as long as the child meets certain physical and/or mental health disability criteria.
 

Act 117 of 2024 requires all school entities to share Type 1 Diabetes educational materials with parents and guardians of students either in writing, electronically, or on the school entity or nonpublic school’s publicly accessible internet website.

The attached Type 1 Diabetes educational materials meet that requirement.  The materials are also available on the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website.

Type 1 Diabetes Flyer English

Type 1 Diabetes Flyer Spanish

Children participate in outdoor recess and gym classes, so they should dress appropriately for current weather conditions.  Children who may need extra underwear or clothing can bring them in their book bag or store extra supplies in the nurse’s office.