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Health Services

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  • Attendance, Transportation & Student Health Procedures

    Absence & Lateness Excuses

    A written excuse is required for all absences and late arrivals, regardless of the reason.

    Please send a written note with your child upon their return to school.

    Students arriving late must check in with Mrs. Shambo or Mrs. Eisel to receive a pink pass before reporting to class.

    Bus Changes

    Please send a written note for any bus transportation changes.

    If the school does not receive a note, students will:

    • Ride their regular bus

    • Be dropped off at their normal stop

    For emergency transportation changes, please contact the school before 1:00 PM whenever possible.

    To minimize interruptions to instruction, phone calls for bus changes are strongly discouraged except in emergencies.

    Early Dismissal

    (Doctor appointments, dentist appointments, family emergencies, etc.)

    Please send a note to school on the day of the appointment that includes:

    • The reason for dismissal

    • The time your child will be picked up

    Providing advance notice helps teachers and staff prepare students for dismissal.

    For last-minute emergency dismissals, parents/guardians must report to the Front Office to sign their child out.

    Medications at School

    For medications to be administered during the school day, the following are required:

    • Medication in the original pharmacy-labeled container

    • A written order from the healthcare provider including:

      • Medication name

      • Dosage

      • Administration instructions

      • Time medication should be given

    • Written parent/guardian permission for the school nurse to administer the medication

    This policy applies to:

    • Prescription medications

    • Over-the-counter medications

    • Cough drops and pain relievers

    Important Reminders

    • Please send only the amount of medication needed during school hours.

    • Medications must be delivered to school by a parent/guardian or designated adult.

    • Students may not carry medications unless proper self-carry authorization forms are completed and approved by both the healthcare provider and School Nurse.

    If you have questions regarding student medications, please contact the School Nurse’s Office.

  • Required Grade Physicals

    New York State and Copenhagen Central School District policy require physical examinations for:

    • All new students entering the district
    • Kindergarten students
    • Students in grades 2, 4, 7, and 10

    Parents/guardians may choose to have their child’s physical completed by their own healthcare provider.

    If you plan to use your child’s personal physician, please contact the Health Office at:

    📞 (315) 688-4472

    The School Nurse can provide the required physical examination form, or families may download the form directly using the link below:

    ➡️ Download Physical Examination Form

  • A Reminder for Parents: Head Lice (Pediculosis)

    Head lice (pediculosis) can affect anyone and are a common issue among school-aged children. While dealing with head lice can be frustrating, there are several simple preventive measures families can take to help reduce the spread.

    Helpful Prevention Tips

    Know How Lice Spread

    Head lice:

    • Cannot fly or jump

    • Are most commonly spread through direct head-to-head contact

    Practice “Universal Precautions”

    Encourage students to avoid activities that may involve direct contact with another person’s hair or head.

    Examples include:

    • Taking close “selfie” photos with friends

    • Touching heads while hugging

    • Sharing brushes or combs

    • Sharing hats, hair ties, earbuds, or headphones

    Additional Information & Resources

    For more information about:

    • Preventing head lice

    • Identifying symptoms

    • Treatment options

    • Cleaning recommendations

    Please visit the following trusted resources:

    Thank you for helping us keep Copenhagen Central School students healthy and safe.

  • Staying Healthy Tips

    Help Reduce the Spread of Germs

    Please review these important tips for helping students and families stay healthy throughout the school year.

    Take 5 Minutes to Disinfect

    Regularly disinfect commonly touched surfaces at home, including:

    • Phones

    • Doorknobs

    • Refrigerator handles

    • TV remotes

    • Toy bins and storage containers

    • Light switches

    • Faucets

    A few minutes of cleaning each day can help reduce the spread of germs.

    Teach Kids the ABCs of Healthy Hygiene

    Handwashing Matters

    Encourage children to wash their hands:

    • Before eating

    • After eating

    • After using the bathroom

    • After coughing or sneezing

    • After touching shared surfaces

    Hands should be washed with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds — about the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.

    Be Germ Aware

    Help students understand that germs can hide on:

    • Shared school supplies

    • Desks

    • Electronics

    • Water fountains

    • Frequently touched surfaces

    Cover Coughs & Sneezes

    Teach students to:

    • Cough or sneeze into their elbow or a tissue

    • Throw tissues away immediately

    • Wash or sanitize hands afterward

    Practice Healthy Habits

    Healthy habits help keep immune systems strong and students ready to learn.

    Encourage your child to:

    • Eat a healthy, balanced diet

    • Get enough sleep each night

    • Stay physically active

    • Drink plenty of water

    • Manage stress in healthy ways

    Working together, we can help keep our students healthy, safe, and ready to succeed.

School Health Services

School Nurse – Denean Clark

Hours of operation are School Days, 8:00AM-3:20PM

You can call the Health Office direct at (315) 688-4472

What We Do

The Copenhagen Central School District Health Office provides a wide range of services to support the health, safety, and well-being of our students.

School nurses perform and coordinate required New York State screenings and assist families with immunization and physical examination requirements. In addition, nurses provide:

  • First aid and emergency response

  • Care for acute illnesses and injuries

  • Management of chronic health conditions

  • Medication administration

  • Health education and support

Requests for routine or ongoing medical care during the school day require:

  • Parent/guardian permission

  • A medical order from your child’s healthcare provider

The district’s health services staff will notify parents/guardians in a timely manner regarding student illness, injury, or emergency health concerns through phone calls, email, and/or written communication when appropriate.

Emergency Contact Information & Parent Responsibilities

It is extremely important that the school has current emergency contact information for every student.

If your address, phone number, emergency contacts, or medical information changes during the school year, please notify:

  • Your child’s Main Office

  • The School Nurse

Please also inform the nurse of:

  • New medical conditions

  • Allergies

  • Medications taken at home

  • Any medication that may be required at school

Keeping this information current helps us provide safe and effective care for your child.

Confidentiality

Copenhagen Central School District follows all requirements of the:

  • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

  • Applicable state and federal privacy laws

Private healthcare providers follow separate regulations under HIPAA.

When communication between the school and outside healthcare providers is necessary, parents/guardians may be required to complete authorization forms before information can be shared.

Please note that certain health information may need to be shared with appropriate district staff responsible for student safety, including classroom staff, coaches, transportation personnel, or supervisory staff.

If you have questions regarding confidentiality or the sharing of medical information, please contact the School Nurse.

Important Health Information

Medications at School

Students who need medication during school hours must have:

  • A written order from the healthcare provider

  • Written parent/guardian permission

This applies to:

  • Daily medications

  • As-needed medications

  • Over-the-counter medications

  • Cough drops, Tylenol, ibuprofen, etc.

Important Reminders

  • Students should not transport medication to school.

  • Medications must be delivered by a parent/guardian unless otherwise directed by the healthcare provider.

  • Medication orders must be renewed annually.

When to Keep Your Child Home

Please keep your child home if they are not feeling well or are experiencing symptoms such as:

  • Fever or chills

  • Cough

  • Shortness of breath

  • Fatigue

  • Muscle or body aches

  • Headache

  • Sore throat

  • Congestion or runny nose

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Diarrhea

  • Loss of taste or smell

Additional Situations That May Require Staying Home

  • Unexplained or contagious rashes

  • Honey-crusted sores around the mouth or nose

  • Red, crusty, or draining eyes

  • Severe ear pain or drainage

  • Any illness that may be contagious or serious

Please do not send a child to school with a fever after giving fever-reducing medication. Once the medication wears off, the fever often returns and parents will be contacted to pick up their child.

If your child frequently requests to stay home or appears anxious about attending school, please contact your healthcare provider or School Nurse for support.

Whenever your child is absent, please notify the Attendance Office before the start of the school day.

Food Allergies & Student Safety

Food allergies affect many students and can range from mild to life-threatening.

To help keep all students safe, we ask families to:

  • Encourage students not to share food

  • Keep food on trays while in the cafeteria

  • Send store-bought classroom treats with clear ingredient labels whenever possible

Together, we can help create a safe environment for all students.

Thank you for helping keep Copenhagen Central School safe and inclusive.

Weight Status Survey Information

As part of required New York State health screenings, student height and weight measurements may be used to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI).

If Copenhagen Central School District is selected to participate in the New York State Department of Health survey:

  • Only summary data is shared

  • No student names or identifying information are included

Parents/guardians may request that their child’s information be excluded from the survey.

To opt out or for additional information, please contact the Health Office:

📞 (315) 688-4472