The goal of our school-based health center and our school nurses is to support students’ wellbeing and serve as an important resource in our schools to enable all students to achieve their full potential.
The nurses’ offices in each school are available to help students who are ill, have a school-related accident or are interested in playing a school sport. To visit the nurse’s office, students must secure a pass from their classroom teacher, except in the case of an emergency. If it is necessary for you to go home because of illness, you must be released by the nurse who will get permission from a parent or guardian.
Whitney Young School-Based Health Center
Whitney Young Health began offering school-based health center services in the Watervliet City School District in September 2018. Health services through Whitney Young Health are available to all elementary, junior and senior high school students.
The School-Based Health Center is located at Watervliet Junior-Senior High School, 1245 Hillside Ave. To schedule an appointment, call 518-573-2556.
Learn more about the WYH School Based Health Center
Student Physicals
Education Law requires all New York State (NYS) public school students (including remote students) to have a health exam when they are a new student in a school district and when they enter Pre-K or Kindergarten, and Grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. All health examinations performed for school must be documented on the NYS Required Health Examination Form or an electronic health record equivalent form – pursuant to Education Law.
Health certificates are required to be submitted within 30 days of the start of the school year [Education Law §903, 8 NYCRR §136.3 (c)(1]]. If the parent/guardian has not furnished a health certificate to the school within 30 days, then school officials must provide a written notification to the parent/guardian of the school’s intent to provide a physical examination by health appraisal of their child at school by the district medical director as per Education Law §903(3)(a) and 8 NYCRR §136.3 (c)(1)(iii)if the parent/guardian does not provide the school with a health certificate within 30 days from the date of the notice.
These examinations must be completed on the required NYS Student Health Examination Form. Please provide completed forms to your school nurse.
Dental Health Certificates are requested, but are not required
Immunization Requirements
Children attending day care and Pre-K to Grade 12 in New York State must receive all required doses of vaccines on the recommended schedule in order to attend or remain in school. This is true unless they have a valid medical exemption to immunization. This includes all public, private, and religious schools. A medical exemption is allowed when a child has a medical condition that prevents them from receiving a vaccine.
There are no non-medical exemptions to school vaccine requirements in NYS.
As a reminder, immunization requirements for students must be met for school attendance. A student may not be permitted to attend school without proof of required immunizations. There is a 14-day grace period following the first day of school to provide documentation of required immunizations. For those students who are transferring from out-of-state or from another country and can show a good faith effort to get the necessary evidence of immunization(s), there is a 30-day grace period. If a student is excluded from school, the building principal will submit their name to the local Department of Health.
Please be advised that students not in compliance with the required immunization requirements, or those lacking proof of satisfactory progress toward completion, will be excluded from attending school until adequate proof is submitted.
If you have any questions, please contact your child’s school nurse or building principal.
Student Medication
School personnel (nurse, principal, assistant principal) may administer medication to schoolchildren if the following guidelines are met:
- A written request from the physician is provided indicating the diagnosis, name of the medication, the frequency and the dosage of the prescribed medication. This request may be faxed to the school’s health office:
- Elementary School
Fax: 518-273-5312 - High School
Fax: 518-629-3256
- Elementary School
- The parents must submit a written request to administer the medication as specified by the doctor.
- The medication must be in a pharmacy container. The container must clearly state the name of the student, the name of the medication, the dosage and the frequency of the medication. All inhalers must have a labeled box.
- The medication must be delivered by an adult. No medication should be brought into school by the student, unless specifically written and ordered by the physician.
- No medication will be kept until next year. All medication must be picked up by the end of the school year or else it will be discarded.
- A new request is needed each school year.
Please call the school health offices with any questions.
- WES: 518-629-3402
- WJSHS: 518-629-3304
Student Illness
Please call the main office of your child’s school to report any absence. While not required, it is helpful to note your child’s major complaint or illness.
We strongly encourage parents/guardians to keep your child home if any of the following symptoms are present:
- Vomiting or diarrhea.
- Fever: A student must be fever-free for 24 hours without medication, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) before returning to school.
- Any unexplained rash (if your child is sent home with a rash he or she will need a physician’s note to return to school).
- Strep Throat: Your child will need three doses of antibiotic and must be fever-free before returning to school.
- Live lice or nits (lice eggs) present in the hair. If your child has had lice or nits, he or she must be brought to school to be checked before returning to class.
- Pink Eye: Redness or drainage from the eyes. Your child must be on medication at least 24 hours before returning to school.
Please be aware that children who exhibit the symptoms above may be sent home from school.
Student Health Data
Because NY State is interested in data about children’s health, schools are required to keep height and weight data and to calculate students’ Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is a way of checking for underweight or overweight youngsters based on their height and weight. Some schools will be surveyed by the state Department of Health each year and asked to share the number of pupils they have in each of six possible BMI categories based on students’ age and sex. If our district is surveyed by the state, we will only share group data (for instance, the number of second grade boys whose BMI is below the fifth percentile), not individual data, such as names or exact weight. However, if parents wish their child’s data to be excluded from such group calculations, they may do so by contacting the nurse at their child’s school (WES nurse: 518-629-3402, WJSHS nurse: 518-629-3304).
Health Alerts and Allergies
If your child is allergic to insect bites, bee stings or certain foods, please contact their school health office regarding emergency measures. If your child has any health challenges, please be sure your school nurse is aware of them.
Sports Physicals
Every student in Grades 7-12 who intend to participate in interscholastic athletics (including cheerleading) must have a sport physical by the school physician. A student may choose to have a physical exam by his/her family doctor, but it must meet the requirements of the school physical and must be reviewed and approved by the school physician before participation takes place. No student may practice or participate before he/she has received a sports physical, which must be renewed each calendar year.
The Dominic Murray Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act
Students who display signs and symptoms of pending sudden cardiac arrest during athletics or physical activities must be removed from such activities and receive clearance from a health care provider.
Learn more about the Dominic Murray Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act.
Automatic External Defibrillators
Public school districts are required to have an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in each school building and available at athletic events.
School Insurance
The Watervliet School District is a member of the Pupil Benefits Plan, Inc.
- Pupils are covered for benefits once they get on the school bus on the way to school and until they depart the bus on their way home. Pupils who walk, drive or ride bicycles to school are not covered until they enter the school.
- Benefits are available only after all other insurances have been used. It is the parents’ responsibility to file their claim with their own company prior to submitting any balance to the school.
- Injuries that require medical treatment must be filed with Pupil Benefits Plan, Inc. within 30 days. Non-athletic injuries will be filed with the school nurse, athletic injuries with the athletic director.
- All claims should be submitted as promptly as possible.
Accident Regulations
Accidents that occur during school hours or school-sponsored activities must be reported immediately to the teacher, school nurse, advisor or coach.
If your child has had an accident in school, please call the school nurse.
- WES: 518-629-3402
- WJSHS: 518-629-3304
Fight Flu at Home and School
Flu, or influenza, spreads easily and can make people very sick, especially young children. You can help stop the flu!
View tips for fighting the Flu at Home on the New York State Department of Health website.
Safety Policies and Information
Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)
The goal of the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), which took effect July 2013, is to provide students with a safe, supportive educational environment that is free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment and bullying. DASA states that no student shall be subjected to harassment or discrimination by employees or students on school property or at a school function based on their actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or sex.
Learn more about the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA).
If you witness or hear about a bullying/cyberbullying incident/behavior, harassment and/or discrimination, please report it to your building principal within 24 hours and put it in writing on the district’s DASA form within 48 hours. DASA forms are available in the guidance offices, main offices and you may download a copy of the WCSD Bullying Prevention and Intervention Incident Reporting Form. Complete the form and drop it in the anonymous bully boxes are located in the WES main office and the WJSHS guidance office and 2nd floor office suite.
If you are a victim of, or witness to, an act of bullying, harassment or discrimination, talk to your teacher, guidance counselor or one of the district’s Dignity Act Coordinators listed below:
- WES
Alison Santiago, Social Worker
Phone: 518-629-3400
Email: asantiago@vlietschools.org - WJSHS
Madelyn Degler, Social Worker
Phone: 518-629-3300
Email: mdegler@vlietschools.org - District Level
Kirsten DeMento, Administrator
Phone: 518-629-3231
Email: kdemento@vlietschools.org
District Safety Plan
Emergencies and violent incidents in school districts are critical issues that require comprehensive planning and training. The New York State Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE) law requires school districts to develop a school safety plan to prevent or minimize the effects of serious violent incidents and natural/manmade disasters and to facilitate the coordination of state, local and county resources in the event of such incidents or emergencies.
Review the District’s Safety Plan for more information
Water Quality Testing
In September 2016, a state law went into effect that requires all public school districts in New York to test water for lead. The law requires school districts to sample all water outlets currently or potentially used for drinking or cooking purposes in buildings that may be occupied by students and to submit those samples to a state-approved lab for analysis. Regulations called for testing to take place again in 2020 and every five years thereafter, unless the state Commissioner of Health requires testing sooner.
Learn more about water testing in schools.
Child Abuse Hotline
If you suspect a child is being abused or maltreated (neglected), report it by calling 1-800-342-3720, a toll-free 24-hour hotline operated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police department.