HEALTH RECORDS: The cumulative health record, which the Health Office keeps on each student, follows him/her from grades K-12. It is state law that immunization records for certain communicable diseases be kept up to date. In keeping with the state law, the student's health record will be a required source of information when he/she enters or leaves the Somerset Berkley Regional School District. It is requested that all graduating seniors visit the Health Office at the close of their senior year to receive their original health record for their own purposes. Remaining records will be distributed to seniors at graduation rehearsal. This record includes documentation of their immunization history, to date. It is important that this original cumulative health record be kept by the student in a safe place for reference when needed for application to further their education or for future employment. A copy of students' immunizations only will be retained by the Somerset Berkley Regional School District for 10 years.
IMMUNIZATIONS: The following are immunization requirements for all students entering Somerset Berkley Regional High School:
3 doses - Hepatitis B series
4 doses - DTaP/DPT or > 3 doses Td; plus 1 dose Tdap
Note: Meningitis vaccine is recommended but notrequired for all high school students. Please be aware that some workplaces and most colleges where students will be living in a dormitory setting will require a meningitis vaccine.
MEDICATIONS: A student medication form will be sent home at the beginning of each school year and is available on this website for download under FORMS (above). Please note that the form requires the signature of a parent/guardian AND a physician for the legal dispensing of prescription and/or over-the-counter medications to students during the school day. All medications should be brought to the school nurse and administered by the school nurse. Students are allowed to carry their own inhaler and EpiPen, provided that a signed doctor's order form has been given to the school nurse and that the inhaler/EpiPen is used appropriately. At the end of the school year, all medications must be picked up by the parent/guardian. Students may pick up their own medications with parental permission. Any medication that is not retrieved will be discarded.
A Student Medical Treatment Form is also distributed to all students at the beginning of each school year. This is signed by the school physician and only requires a parent/guardian signature. With this form on file in the Health Office, the nurses may administer over-the-counter medications such as Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Tums, topical treatments for the purposes of relieving temporary itch or irritation that may occur at school, or for anti-bacterial treatment of a small injury. We encourage all parents/guardians to send in this signed form with the objective of keeping students in school rather than dismissing them due to minor complaints such as a headache, sore throat or menstrual cramps, etc.
Note: Any student requiring a narcotic analgesic for pain (i.e. Percocet, Vicodin, Codeine...) following a surgery, injury, or medical procedure may not come to school having taken such medication. Nor will these medications be dispensed during school by the school nurse, regardless of doctor’s orders. If a student is in pain to the point of requiring a narcotic, they must convalesce at home and, for safety reasons, may not attend school while under the influence of a narcotic medication. Exceptions to this policy may be considered on a case by case basis. However, under the Nurse Practice Act, it is at the discretion of the school nurse whether or not to dispense any medications that pose a risk to the safety and well-being of the individual student or the student body.
HEALTH SCREENINGS: Any student who is identified during the school’s routine screening process as having a vision, hearing, or postural abnormality, will have a referral mailed home to their parent/guardian. A written report (included in the mailing) should be completed by a doctor and returned to the school nurse for inclusion on the health record. This serves to verify the fact that the student has been further evaluated as recommended. An additional state requirement is Body Mass Index (BMI) screenings for 10th graders. This is calculated using the student’s height and weight taken at the time of their 10th grade physical. Knowing your child’s BMI can be a useful tool in identifying possible health risks. Parents/guardians have the opportunity to opt their child out of the postural screening for 9th graders, and the BMI screening for 10th graders.
PHYSICALS: It is mandated by the state that all 10th grade students receive a physical examination. This physical may take place any time on or after July 1st preceding their sophomore year and must be received by the school nurse before entering their junior year of high school. Those students who are involved in school sports would have taken care of this requirement when they received their athletic physical. The school physician administers a FREE physical exam in the spring for all 10th graders still in need of a physical. Emails reminding parents/guardians of this requirement will be sent periodically throughout the year. Please note that if your child does not have a physical examination on record with the school nurse by the first day of school of their junior year, he/she may be subject to administrative action and may not be allowed to participate in any school activities until the physical report is received by the school nurse. If the student remains non-compliant with this state requirement as they enter their junior year, the school nurse may deem it necessary to file a complaint with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) on the grounds of child medical neglect.
STUDENT INJURIES: Regarding student injuries: Any student being treated for an injury that restricts his/her physical activity must provide documentation from the treating physician. This documentation needs to be dated, signed by the physician, and specific about the exact time frames of restrictions/exclusions. If the student was treated in any emergency room, the emergency room physician must provide this documentation. This information must be documented in the Health Office and it will be forwarded to the Wellness Department as well as the Guidance Department if schedule changes will be necessary. In the event of long term exclusion from physical education or sports, and/or other restrictions from activities, further documentation from the doctor’s office may be requested by the school nurse.
ACCIDENTS/INSURANCE: All accidents that occur on the way to school, in school, on the way home from school, or at any official school-affiliated/sponsored activity should be reported to either the staff member supervising the student when the accident occurred, or to the Principal, Assistant Principals, or school nurse. Accident reports are to be completed by the nurse, if she is present, by any school personnel at the scene of the accident, by the individual to whom the accident is reported, or by the one who administers first aid. Accident reports must be made out immediately, in triplicate, with one copy on file with the school nurse, one attached to the student's health record, and one sent to the Superintendent. All students will be covered by school insurance. This is a limited coverage policy that will supplement the parent/guardian's insurance plan. The student accident insurance policy covers students while attending school and/or traveling directly to and from school and/or participating in activities sponsored and supervised by school personnel. The optional twenty-four hour plan may be purchased by the individual if it is desired. In case of an accident, when a claim is to be made, you will receive by certified mail an insurance claim form from the SBRHS Main Office. If you require assistance, the Main Office secretary or the school nurse can instruct you on how to complete the claim form. This insurance is supplementary to any existing health or accident insurance coverage the student may already have. Immediate action must be taken to insure timely and satisfactory results on your claim.