Respiratory Illnesses|Health Screening Information| Immunization Requirements| Medication Forms| Body Mass Index Notifications| Child Abuse Hotline|
Respiratory Illness
The updated CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance utilizes a unified approach to addressing risks from common respiratory viral illnesses, such as COVID-19, flu, and RSV.
If a student shows symptoms of any of these viruses, CDC recommends keeping them home for at least 24 hours, and returning to normal activities only after:
- Symptoms are getting better overall, and
- They no longer have a fever without the use of fever-reducing medication.
Once the child resumes normal activities, CDC recommends taking extra precautions for the next five days. This includes wearing a well-fitting mask, maintaining a safe distance from others and practicing good hygiene.
If the student develops a fever or starts to feel worse, they should stay home and away from others again. They should use the same criteria for returning to normal activities as when they first had symptoms and take added precautions over the next 5 days.
Remind your student about preventing the spread of disease. Teach them to:
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds (long enough to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice). Be sure to set a good example by doing this yourself.
- Cough and sneeze into a tissue. (If a tissue is used, throw the tissue away immediately).
- Stay at least six feet away from people who are sick.
At-home test kits and masks
VCSD provides at-home COVID-19 test kits for students. COVID home tests will be available at all building offices and through the building nurse.Any student or staff member may wear a mask while at school to prevent the spread of illness. The CDC recommends taking extra precautions following respiratory illnesses, including wearing a mask for 5 days following an illness.
COVID-19 vaccination
COVID-19 vaccinations are not required to attend school. Children ages 6 months and older are all eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Children older than 5 are eligible for a booster. The NYS Health Department has more information.
Health and safety protocols
Routine cleaning in our school buildings continues to be an important strategy for reducing the spread of illness. High-risk areas such as health offices, classrooms, lunchrooms, athletic rooms, bathrooms and high-traffic areas are cleaned often throughout the day, this includes lunch tables and handrails. High-touch surfaces such as desks, chairs, and light switches are cleaned nightly.
The district monitors the ventilation system and ensures the minimum of four full fresh air exchanges per hour in each room or the use of a HEPA unit. The district utilizes MERV 13 filters in educational spaces.
In conjunction with a grant through Albany County Department of Health, each instructional or congregational space within the building will have at least 1 Austin Healthmate air purifier unit.
Health Screening Information
New York State law requires a health examination for all students entering the school district for the first time and when entering Pre-K or K, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th grade. The examination must be completed by a New York State licensed physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner.
A dental certificate which states your child has been seen by a dentist or dental hygienist is also asked for at the same time. The school will provide you with a list of dentists and registered dental hygienists who offer dental services on a free or reduced cost basis if you ask for it.
A copy of the health examination must be provided to the school within 30 days from when your child first starts at the school and when your child starts Pre-K or K, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th & 11th grades. If a copy is not given to the school within 30 days, the school will contact you. If your child has an appointment for an exam during this school year that is after the first 30 days of school, please notify the Health Office with the date. Communication between private and school health staff is important for safe and effective care at school. Your healthcare provider may not share health information with school health staff without your signed permission. Please talk to your provider about signing their consent form for the school at the time of your child’s appointment for the examination.
We suggest you make copies of the completed forms for your own records before sending them to the school health office. Forms may also be faxed or emailed.
Please call the school’s Health Office if you have any questions or concerns.
For your convenience, please click here for a physical exam form and please click here for a dental certificate for your health care providers.
Immunization Requirements
The New York State Immunization Requirements for School Entrance/Attendance list is available here.
Medication Forms
Parents and guardians of students must submit a prescription order from their healthcare provider and a parent permission form to the school nurse for any medication to be taken on school grounds. For ongoing prescriptions, a new order form must be signed and dated after the end of the previous school year. Parents and guardians of students must submit any new prescription order from their healthcare provider with the parent permission form to the school nurse when the new prescription is ordered.
When “self-carry” is ordered by the health care provider, the student can keep their rescue medication in their locker, backpack or personal bag.
The Permission to Administer Medication at School form is available here.
The Independent Use and Carry form is available here.
Body Mass Index (BMI) Notifications
New York state requires schools to track each student’s body mass index (BMI) and weight status category as part of school health examinations. Every year, the New York State Department of Health surveys some schools for the number of students in each weight status category. If Voorheesville Central School District is surveyed by the state, the district will share summary group data only and will not share summary group calculations. In order to opt out of the sharing of this data, parents must contact your child’s school nurse.
Child Abuse Hotline
If you suspect a child is being abused or maltreated (neglected), report it by calling 1-800-342-3720, a toll-free 24-hour hotline operated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police department. Information about reporting child abuse and maltreatment (neglect) is available online at http://ocfs.ny.gov/main/cps/.