Health Services
Each school in Abington School District has a Certified School Nurse(s) who is responsible for the school’s respective health suite, and other nurses are assigned to the health suites to ensure there is always a nurse available during school hours. The nurses provide health screenings, assessments for chronic and acute illnesses, and first aid for school-related injuries, among other responsibilities such as coordinating prevention and control of communicable diseases. Along with athletic coaches and trainers, nurses are also part of trained concussion management teams.
The Certified School Nurse at each school is available to consult with parents/guardians, as needed, regarding student health concerns and the development of health plans for students with specific conditions. The health staff do not serve as the student’s physician or primary care provider. However, please keep your student’s school nurse informed of health issues of your child, and be sure to keep your student’s immunizations and physical examinations up to date. Additionally, please make sure your contact information is up to date in Skyward Family Access (including emergency contacts).
For more information, please read the information below.
Immunizations and Forms
The Pennsylvania Department of Health regulations require that all students attending school must be fully immunized. The only exceptions to these regulations are those students for whom immunization is not medically advisable or those for whom immunization is contrary to religious or moral convictions. For any immunization exceptions, a note must be given to the health suite. Students who are not fully immunized will be prevented from entering school.
For attendance in ALL grades children need the following immunizations:
4 doses of tetanus, diphtheria, and acelluarpertussis (1 dose on or after 4th birthday)
4 doses of Polio (4th dose on or after 4th birthday and at least 6 months after previous dose given)
2 dose of Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), 1st does after 1 year of age
3 doses of hepatitis B, 3rd dose must be given 6 months of age or older
2 doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine or evidence of immunity, 1st dose after 1 year of age
Students attending 7th grade will need:
1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) (if 5 years has elapsed since last tetanus immunization between the age of 11 to 12)
1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV), after the age of 10
Student attending 12th grade will need:
2nd dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV), after the age of 16
If you do not have insurance coverage for immunizations, or if your child is VFC (Vaccines for Children) eligible, visit one of the Montgomery County Office of Public Health (OPH) clinics for free childhood, adolescent and adult immunizations.
Click here for more information from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Special Health Needs and Medications
Parents/guardians are asked to contact the school nurse if a child has any special nursing care needs that must be provided during school hours. Examples of this include catheterization, blood sugar checks, seizure precautions or other medical needs. The nurse will facilitate and coordinate arrangements for meeting these needs, along with parent/guardian and physician collaboration and input.
Administration of Medication
“Medication” is any drug used for treating an injury, disease, or symptoms of an illness that is prescribed by a qualified health care provider. This also pertains to over-the-counter medications.
Administration of medications, especially short term, should be done at home whenever possible. If a student is required to take medication during the school day, the medication should be taken to school by parents/guardians or an adult designee. All medication, including for the treatment of allergies, asthma, or diabetes, should be accompanied by a Medication Permission Form and a Health Care Provider’s Authorization Form. Please see the Immunizations and Forms information above for access to these required forms, and learn more about Abington School District’s Board policies regarding Medication – Use by Students, by clicking here.
Homebound Services
Written requests for homebound services can be sent to the school nurse any time a student will be missing school for at least four weeks. The request will be communicated to the Student Services Department, who will then provide further information that will need to be filled out by a doctor.
Screenings
Screenings are included as part of the Health Services offerings in Abington School District. All students are seen by a respective school nurse each year via a scheduled conference. The following screenings are provided at the specified grade levels:
Height and Weight – All grades/Annual
Vision – All grades/Annual
Hearing – Grades K-3 (Annually), 6 and 11
Scoliosis – Grades 6 and 7
Written reports of any vision, hearing or scoliosis findings that deviate from the norm are sent home to the parent/guardian. Parents/guardians are asked to contact the nurse by note or by phone call after the student has been evaluated by a doctor. Annual height, weight and body mass index results can be accessed by parents/guardians on Skyward. Please see the directions below:
Choose your student’s name
Scroll down the left-hand column and click on “Health Info”
This screen will list all of the heights/weights/BMI results
To see vision results, click on “display options” seen at the top of the page next to your child’s name
Click “show tests”
Click on the word “results” in the test column in the current school year
You can also click on immunizations to view/print your student’s most recent immunization records that have been entered into Skyward
Resources
The following materials are available for further information, as well as, to provide relevant parent/guardian support.
Contacts
Health Staff Administrative Assistant
(215) 517-2850, ext. 2382
Certified Schools Nurses and Health Staff: