A student should stay home if not feeling well enough to participate in the educational process of the school day or if they have an illness which may be contagious. When people get sick with a respiratory virus they should stay home and away from others. For people with COVID-19 and influenza recommendations suggest returning to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, symptoms are improving overall and if a fever was present, it has been gone without use of a fever-reducing medication. Under the following circumstances, a student should not attend school:
PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS
The Pennsylvania Department of Health requires all students enrolled in a PA school to complete a number of vaccinations in order to be fully immunized. Therefore, Middletown Area School District is required to obtain proof of completed immunizations for each student enrolled in a MASD school. MASD will enforce the state guidelines as outlined in the following documents:
PA Department of Education Immunization Requirements
PA Department of Education Immunization Requirements - Spanish
PHYSICALS & DENTAL EXAMINATIONS
A medical examination is required when first enrolled in school, in sixth grade, in eleventh grade, and for new entrants who do not have a health record on file. A dental examination is required when first enrolled in school, in third grade, in seventh grade, and for new entrants who do not have a dental record on file. The District accepts reports of private physicals and dental examinations completed within one year prior to a student's entry into a grade where an examination is required. In meeting the requirements of the law, parents are urged to have family physicians and dentists complete the required examinations since they are more familiar with the child's medical and dental history and needed health care. Examinations may be completed at the parent/guardian's expense within one year prior to the student's entry into the grade where an examination is required.
MEDICINES IN SCHOOLS
According to Board Policy and the Public School Code of Pennsylvania, school nurses may not administer or dispense prescription medications or over the counter medicines (aspirin, Tylenol, Visine etc) without a completed Student Medication Form. Student Medication Forms are available from the school nurse and can also be found on the “For Parents” tab on the District website. Students may carry their own cough drops.
All medication, prescribed and over-the-counter, must be in its original, labeled containers and delivered by a parent/guardian to the school nurse. Students are not permitted to carry or deliver medication. Medications may be delivered during a Medication Drop-Off Night prior to the start of school or at the main office during school hours. The medication will be counted upon delivery and kept in the nurse’s office. The student must go to the nurse’s office to take the medication. If a parent/guardian must administer the medication to their student during the school day, this will be done in the main school office with the school nurse present, and parent/guardian will be asked to provide the name and dose of the medication for documentation purposes.