Immunization Requirements for Elementary School-Aged Children

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania mandates children entering school have the following immunizations prior to starting school.* Please arrange to have your child receive any immunizations needed. Proof of immunizations from your Doctor’s Office or a County Health Department should be sent to the Health Office where they will be kept on file. If your child has a medical or religious exemption, proof of such must be on file in the Health Office. Any child with an exemption or incomplete immunization series will be excluded from school in the event of an outbreak of disease, as mandated by the Chester County Health Department.

DPT, DT or Dtap: 3 doses spaced at least one month apart, plus a 4^th dose after the 4^th Birthday.
Polio: IPV: 3 doses after 6 weeks of age spaced 4 weeks between doses, plus a 4th dose after the 4th birthday.
MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella): 2 doses after twelve months of age spaced at least 4 weeks apart.
Varicella: 2 doses after twelve months of age¸ spaced 3 months apart.
Hepatitis B: 4 weeks between dose 1 and 2, third dose after 24 weeks of age.
TB: Tuberculosis risk survey to be filled out and kept on file in Nurses Office.

*The Health Office will contact you if immunizations are not up to date, to give you more information on state mandated regulations.

Physical Examination:

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania mandates that a Physical Examination be on record for initial entrance into a Pennsylvania school, and in grades six and eleven.  Please obtain a signed Physical History given within one year prior to entrance, from your Health Care Provider. (MD, DO, CRNP, PA)  School Physicals can be arranged if needed.

Dental Exam:

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania mandates a Dental Exam be on file for initial entrance into a Pennsylvania School, as well as in grades 3 and 7. Please have your family dentist complete the Dental form and return it to the Nurse Office. Dental exams dated within a year prior to initial entrance or the mandated grade levels, are accepted.  School Dentals can be arranged if needed.

Emergency Medical Information:

At the beginning of each school year, please go into your parent portal to review and change:

• Any contact information. This enables us to contact you or your “emergency contacts” in the event of illness or injury that require further medical attention.
• Consent to administrate Tylenol, Ibuprofen, an Antacid or Benadryl (for acute allergic reaction only).
• Any changes in your child’s current medical conditions, and medications.

 Please remember to update your phone numbers if they change during the school year - we want to be able to reach you in the event of an emergency! 

Required Absence From School:

When your child is ill, it is important to keep them home until:

• They are fever free (below 100 degrees) for 24 hours without the use of a fever reducing medication (Tylenol, Ibuprofen etc.)
• They have not had vomiting and/or diarrhea for 24 hours.
• They have been on an antibiotic, if prescribed, for 24 hours or until cleared for school by physician.
• They no longer have live lice in their hair. (Please notify the health office if your child has had lice and been treated).

If you have any questions about your child’s health status for school attendance, please call us at 484-266-2206 so we can assist you in making a decision.

School Screenings:

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania mandates the following screenings;

Height, Weight, BMI and BMI %:  Yearly.

Hearing: K-3, 7th and 11th.

Vision Acuity: (Near and far): Yearly.

Color Vision, Stereo Depth and Plus Lens: Screened once, in 1st or 2nd grade.

Scoliosis Screening: 6^th and 7^th

Results are accessible in your parent portal.  A referral for further screening is sent to parents in the event their child does not meet the state guidelines for vision and/or hearing. 

Bringing Medication to School:

If your child requires medication (prescription or over the counter) at school, please adhere to the following guidelines:

A health care provider’s (MD, DO, CRNP or PA) note must accompany the medication. It should include your child’s name, date, name and dosage of medication to be given, and time for medication administration.

A parent note requesting that medication is administered at school, as prescribed by your health care provider.

Prescription medication must in the original prescription bottle with the prescribing doctor’s signature, student’s name, and instructions for administration of medication. Over the Counter medications must be in the original labeled bottle. 

Allergies and the School:

Allergies are a concern at our school. We have children attending school who have severe reactions to peanuts, tree nuts, dairy products, soy, eggs, wheat and shellfish. We also have students with bee sting allergies and allergies to latex.

Due to these allergies there are precautions taken at school:

• Please notify the teacher and school nurse of any allergies your child has.
• We ask that children not share food with one another at snack time or in the cafeteria.
• There are a few special occasions when food may be shared in class. Parents have the option of having their child opt out of the shared food.
• If there is a child in your child’s classroom with a severe food allergy, we may ask that the food to be shared does not contain the allergen.
• We also ask that any arts and crafts projects planned are not made with known allergens.

If your child has a severe food allergy, it is important to have the allergy documented in the Health Office, so we can help prevent an allergic reaction at school.  It is also important to talk to your child about his/her allergens and what foods to avoid at school. A safe snack may be sent to school for classroom celebrations if you prefer.

We also have students with Latex sensitivities at our school. Please call the Health Office to see if Latex balloons can be brought into the building.

With everyone working together, we can help each child have an enjoyable experience at our school.