School Policies

Nurse’s Office

The nurse’s office is where the student goes when:

1. He/she is not feeling well.
2. He/she has an accident at school.
3. He/she is to take medication during the school day.
4. His/her vision and hearing are tested annually.

The nurse will evaluate the condition and determine if your child should remain in school.  If the nurse feels the student should go home, she will call the child’s parents or guardian to come to school and take him/her home. Your child should be picked up within a 30 minute time frame.  If you are unable to be at the school within 30 minutes, please make alternate arrangements so that he/she can be picked up within that time period. 

When children are ill, parents are asked to keep them at home until they are fever free for 24 hours, completely recovered and able to participate fully in all school routines.  The nurse’s office cannot be used as an infirmary where children still recovering from illness are sent.

Your child’s emergency contact information is on file in the nurse’s office.  It is important that two telephone numbers be provided for emergency purposes and all contacts are up-to-date.

Immunizations

Children entering the Port Washington Public Schools are required by state law to have a physical examination by a New York State physician within 30 days of entrance.  Effective January 2018,  immunizations required are 2 MMR, 4-5 DTaP, 3-4 Polio, and 3 Hepatitis B doses,  2 dose series Chicken pox vaccine. Starting June 2018 in NYS, religious exemptions are no longer accepted. 

New Booster: Students born on or after 1/1/94 are required by NY State to have a Tdap (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) booster. This Booster must be completed by the first day of school provided  the student is 11 yrs. old or they will not be allowed to remain in school as per NY State law.

Allergies

Food allergies can be life threatening. The risk of accidental exposure to foods can be reduced in the school setting if schools work with students, parents, and physicians to minimize risks and provide a safe educational environment for food-allergic students. 

Family’s Responsibility

• Notify the school of the child’s allergies.
• Work with the school team to develop a plan that accommodates the child’s needs throughout the school including in the classroom, in the cafeteria, in after-care programs, during school-sponsored activities, and on the school bus, as well as a Food Allergy Action Plan.
• Provide written medical documentation, instructions, and medications as directed by a physician, using the Food Allergy Action Plan as a guide. Include a photo of the child on written form.
• Provide properly labeled medications and replace medications after use or upon expiration.
• Educate the child in the self-management of their food allergy including:
• safe and unsafe foods
• strategies for avoiding exposure to unsafe foods
• symptoms of allergic reactions
• how and when to tell an adult they may be having an allergy-related problem
• how to read food labels (age appropriate)
• review policies/procedures with the school staff, the child’s physician, and the child (if age appropriate) after a reaction has occurred.
• provide emergency contact information.

 School’s Responsibility

• Be knowledgeable about and follow applicable federal laws including ADA, IDEA, Section 504, and FERPA and any state laws or district policies that apply.
• Review the health records submitted by parents and physicians.
• Include food-allergic students in school activities. Students should not be excluded from school activities solely based on their food allergy.
•  Identify a core team of, but not limited to, school nurse, teacher, principal, school food service and nutrition manager/director, and counselor (if available) to work with parents and the student (age appropriate) to establish a prevention plan. Changes to the prevention plan to promote food allergy management should be made with core team participation.
• Assure that all staff who interact with the student on a regular basis understands food allergy, can recognize symptoms, knows what to do in an emergency, and works with other school staff to eliminate the use of food allergens in the allergic student’s meals, educational tools, arts and crafts projects, or incentives.
• Practice the Food Allergy Action Plans before an allergic reaction occurs to assure the efficiency/effectiveness of the plans.
• Coordinate with the school nurse to be sure medications are appropriately stored, and be sure that an emergency kit is available that contains a physician’s standing order for epinephrine. In states were regulations permit, medications are kept in an easily accessible secure location central to designated school personnel, not in locked cupboards or drawers. Students should be allowed to carry their own epinephrine, if age appropriate after approval from the student’s physician/clinic, parent and school nurse, and allowed by state or local regulations.
• Designate school personnel who are properly trained to administer medications in accordance with the State Nursing and Good Samaritan Laws governing the administration of emergency medications.
• Be prepared to handle a reaction and ensure that there is a staff member available who is properly trained to administer medications during the school day regardless of time or location.
• Review policies/prevention plan with the core team members, parents/guardians, student (age appropriate), and physician after a reaction has occurred.
• Work with the district transportation administrator to assure that school bus driver training includes symptom awareness and what to do if a reaction occurs.
• Recommend that all buses have communication devices in case of an emergency.
• Enforce a “no eating” policy on school buses with exceptions made only to accommodate special needs under federal or similar laws, or school district policy. Discuss appropriate management of food allergy with family.
• Discuss field trips with the family of the food-allergic child to decide appropriate strategies for managing the food allergy.
• Follow federal/state/district laws and regulations regarding sharing medical information about the student.
• Take threats or harassment against an allergic child seriously.

The process of placing children in particular classes is to establish environments in which children may be productive and successful learners.  There are many factors that go into this decision-making process such as general ability, gender, learning style, special identification (e.g. ELL, classified, etc.), and compatibility with other students.

Classroom teachers carefully consider the academic and social needs of children as they form classes for the coming year.  Our process involves the teachers of a particular grade level meeting with the principal, as a group, to find the best placement mix.  In addition, the school psychologist, guidance counselors, resource room teachers, speech and language teachers, reading teachers, and special area teachers will provide key assistance.  After classes are formed, classroom teachers from the receiving grade will also meet with the principal to review their assignments and rosters for the coming year.

Throughout the school year parents have the opportunity to share their child’s strengths and needs with his/her current teacher through conferences and other means.  Rest assured this vital information is included in our discussion.  Request for specific teachers cannot be entertained, and the principal asks you not to approach your current classroom teacher to discuss such placements.

You may contact the principal if you have concerns regarding your child’s placement due to:

1. prior experience with a potential teacher and your child or his/her sibling, or
2. if you have a personal, family, or business relationship with a potential teacher.

The principal will assume responsibility for all final decisions regarding your child’s placement.

This description of the placement process will enable us to work together in an open and fair way to serve the best interest of your child.  The collective wisdom and judgment of the Salem family will lead to sound decision-making and a successful educational environment in September.

This policy is designed to foster communication between home and school.  Its aim is to encourage an atmosphere of open and honest exchange and contribute to a cooperative and mutually supportive school environment for the benefit of the Salem children.

The following are the recommended sequence of steps:

Step 1: A brief telephone conference between parent and teacher is frequently the only informal interaction necessary to allay parental concerns and resolve issues.  For questions and concerns centering on student experiences in school but outside the classroom, the principal can be contacted.

Step 2: A face-to-face conference between parent and teacher is recommended if either party feels that the telephone exchange has not resolved the issue.

Step 3: For any issue that cannot be resolved between the parent and teacher, the next step would be a conference with the teacher, parent and principal.

Step 4: If a parent is not completely satisfied with the outcome of the conference involving the teacher and principal, the parent should outline their concerns and the details of the unresolved issues to the principal.  The principal will respond in writing to the parent, articulating the school’s position on the issues raised by the parent.

Step 5: Upon receipt of the principal’s response, any parent who remains 

dissatisfied with the school’s effort to resolve the open issues may refer their concerns to the Superintendent’s office, either by phone or in writing.