Health Services

The goal of the Young Scholars Office of Health Services is to provide quality services that promote, maintain, protect, and improve student, employee, and community health.

We provide services to students that address disease prevention, health promotion, and mandated service provision through the Pennsylvania Department of Health. We strive to ensure that all students have equal access to quality health services, prevention education, and early intervention and support to help them achieve academic success.

Health Services

The following health services are available to all Young Scholars students every year. There is no charge for exams conducted by or at the school.

 

  1. Medical examinations: Required for all children entering school (kindergarten or 1st grade) and all children enrolled in 6th and 11th grades. A medical examination may be conducted outside of school by a physician at the family’s expense or at Young Scholars by a physician provided by the school district.
  2. Dental screenings: Required for children in kindergarten and first, third, and seventh grades. The screening may be completed outside of school by a dentist at the family’s expense or in school by our visiting dentist.
  3. Vision tests: Given to each child annually by the school nurse.
  4. Hearing screenings: Given to each student in kindergarten and grades one, two, three, and seven by the school nurse.
  5. Height, weight and BMI measurements: Taken on each student once per year by the school nurse.
  6. School health records: Initiated at the time of each child’s school admission. It becomes part of the cumulative health record that accrues over his or her school career.

Health Requirements

Pennsylvania School Law, Section 1402, mandates physical and dental examinations in certain grades. The state encourages parents and guardians to have their family physician or dentist conduct the examinations because these doctors are aware of the student’s health status and history.

Examinations by a family physician or dentist are made at the parent’s or guardian’s expense. When a child receives immunizations during the year, his or her parents or guardians should provide a copy of the updated records to our school nurse and keep a copy for their home records as well.

If a child cannot be seen outside of school, the school district’s physician and/or dentist can provide the appropriate exams during the school year.

There is no charge for a school exam.

Required Examinations

  • Physical examination Grades Kdg, 6
  • Dental examination Grades Kdg, 3, and 7
  • Scoliosis screening Grades 6 and 7

Immunizations Regulations
Allegheny County

students must have proof of completed immunizations to be admitted to school.

  • Diphtheria/Tetanus    4 doses after 4th birthday

  • Polio    3 doses

  • Measles    2 doses on or after 1st birthday

  • Mumps    2 doses on or after 1st birthday

  • Rubella    1 dose on or after 1st birthday

  • Hepatitis B    3 doses

  • Varicella  (Chicken Pox)    2 doses on or after 1st birthday

  • Meningococcal  (MCV4)    1 dose on or after 11th birthday

  • Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis  (Tdap)    1 dose on or after 10th birthday

Administration of Medications at School

We encourage parents and guardians to dispense medications to their children at home if at all possible.

There are times, however, when some students will need to take medications at school. For the safety of students and staff, no medications will be administered to students by school personnel unless:

  1. It is in a labeled container with the student’s name, dosage, and time schedule for administration.
  2. Physician’s directions for administering the medication are clearly stated, if the medicine is prescribed.
  3. Directions for administering a commercial medication are clearly stated by the parent or guardian.
  4. A parent’s or guardian’s written permission has been provided to the school, including a full waiver releasing the school district and school personnel from all liability.

Please contact the school nurse for forms and instructions associated with school administration of medications.

Young Scholars recognizes that student wellness and proper nutrition are related to physical well-being, growth, development, and readiness to learn. We are committed to promoting student wellness through proper nutrition, nutrition education, and regular physical activity as part of the total learning experience. As part this initiative, we have posted health links for both parents and students.
We encourage you to explore these websites to set your child on the right track to a lifetime of health and happiness. In addition please check out our monthly health topic that will address healthy living and our weekly recipe for a healthy yet simple snack or meal for your child.

http://kidshealth.org

KidsHealth provides facts about health and offers perspectives, advice, and comfort about a wide range of physical, emotional, and behavioral issues that affect children through their teen years. This website provides specific sections for parents, kids, and teens.

BAM.gov

BAM! Body and Mind is a website by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Designed for kids 9-13 years old, BAM! Body and Mind gives them the information they need to make healthy lifestyle choices. It focuses on topics that kids say are important to them, like stress and physical fitness. It uses kid-friendly lingo, games, quizzes, and other interactive features.

dole.com/DoleHTMLSuperKid

Getting healthy is fun! Be a Super Kid by eating 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Be a Fit Kid by exercising just 30 minutes a day. This website provides kids with information on how to be physically active and eat healthy by offering interactive games, music, comics, and videos. Healthy recipes for every meal are also a big hit on this website!