You can find links to all the forms for the health office with websites to provide additional information.

Welcome to Paulsboro Middle School and High School,

We hope this information helps you navigate any health issues your student may have while in school. We encourage you to call with any questions you may have and look forward to working together to help keep our students healthy, happy and successful.

Mary Porter RN, BSN, CSN

Middle & High School Nurse

School Nurse Responsibilities

• Care of emergency sickness or injury that occurs in school

• Communicable disease prevention and control

• Determination of health needs

• Follow-up and interpretation of health needs to students and parents

• Perform annual health screenings (yearly height, weight, blood pressure, rotating basis for vision, hearing and scoliosis)

• Coordinate sports paperwork and school physicals

• Review immunizations

• Administer medications

Important Notes for Parents

1. A doctor's note is required to excuse a student when they are absent due to illness or injury. If a student is to be excused for gym, the note must state the duration and the date they may return to participation. If your child participates in a sport, the note must indicate they are cleared without restrictions for sports participation. If they are unable to participate in gym, they may not practice their sport.

2. Students who are required to use crutches, wheelchair, brace or other medical equipment must have a doctor's note stating the use of these devices.

3. If a student is required to use an elevator key, it must be stated in the note. Students who are given an elevator key must follow all rules imposed by its use and must return the key to the nurse when they are cleared by their doctor. Failure to return an elevator key may result in penalties.

4. If your student is absent, you are required to contact the school nurse or attendance secretary by phone or email. Please state the student's name, grade, reason for absence and symptoms they are experiencing if sick.

5. If your child has any changes in their medical condition or medications, recent procedures or surgeries must be brought to the attention of the school nurse. Please alert the school nurse if your student takes medication at home.

6. If your child has contracted any contagious illnesses such as measles, mumps, strep throat, flu, Covid19, chicken pox, pink eye...please keep them home until you have a note from their doctor clearing them to return. Ringworm must be covered while in school. Please call the school nurse to make sure absences are covered.

7. If your child becomes ill or injured at school, you will be called to make arrangements for pick up. Please alert the school with changes in phone numbers and emergency contacts to avoid the need to call emergency services.

Regulations and Procedures

General Health Regulations

1. It is a parent's responsibility to keep all contact information up-to-date. Please remember, you are responsible for your child's welfare 24 hours a day. Please have arrangements prepared in the event you are unable to pick up your child.

2. A child who has diarrhea and /or vomiting cannot be sent to school. They must be symptom free to return to school.

3. Students with fevers must remain home. A student must be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications for 24 hours before they may return to school.

Enrollment Procedures

Important Information for new students:

• Inform the school nurse of all health issues of your student

• All required immunizations must be obtained and submitted to the school nurse within first 30 days of school. Failure to do this will result in exclusion from school.

• Students who are coming from another country, state or county must submit a physical that has been completed in the past 365 days. Yearly exams are recommended for all school age students.

Health Insurance

Parents may select the link below to access information for FamilyCare Insurance enrollment.

https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dmahs/clients/medicaid/families/ 

Medication Policies

Administering Medication in School

Please review the following guidelines for students to receive medication in school:

• Medication will be dispensed to your child by the school nurse.

• Students may NOT carry any medication on their person (including over the counter medication such as tylenol, ibuprofen, cold/allergy medication) unless it's for life-threatening indications and the student has submitted a doctor's note.

• The school paperwork must be completed by the student's doctor. New paperwork must be submitted at the beginning of every new school year.

• All medication must be brought in by the parent, in the original container and clearly labeled with expiration date, dosage and time of day for administration.

• Students with asthma, serious allergies, seizures or diabetes must submit a new treatment plan every new school year. Failure to submit will prevent your student from participating in field trips and sports.

• The state of NJ requires that trained delegates be available to administer certain medication in the absence of the school nurse.

Sports Paperwork (Grade 6-12)

1. Sports physical paperwork may only be completed by a licensed physician, advanced practice nurse or physician's assistant who has completed the Student-Athlete Cardiac Assessment Professional Development Module ( N.J.S.A. 18A:40-41d ) . Please make sure your practitioner has completed this before making your appointment.

2. Only the NJ Department of Education Pre-Participation Physical Evaluation Form can be used for sports physicals. The form is completed by the parent (page 1)and practitioner (p.2-4). Incomplete paperwork will not be processed.

3. Sports physicals are valid for 365 days. If the official start date for the sport starts within the 365 days, the physical is valid for the season even if it expires during the season. Please note that all physicals submitted are reviewed by the school doctor and must be approved before participation. Please submit in a timely fashion to avoid delays.

4. Students with asthma, serious allergies and seizures are required to submit treatment plans. Participation will be denied to any student who hasn't submitted a new form every new school year.

5. FamilyID registration is required for all athletes to register for their sport with each new season. Please see sports icon on the high school main page. Students will not be approved until this paperwork is submitted.

6. The school doctor will provide in-school sports physicals for any student that does not have a doctor. The school doctor does not complete treatment plans for asthma, allergies or seizures. Physicals are given in May and November and are posted on social media and a phone blast. If missed, students may obtain a physical from an Urgent Care. Please verify ahead of time that the urgent care does sports physicals and be sure to give them the correct paperwork to complete.

District School Nurses

• Mary Porter RN, CSN - Paulsboro J/Sr High School

  • 670 N. Delaware St, Paulsboro, NJ 08066/ office 856-423-2222 x2230/ fax 856-834-7120

  • mporter@paulsboro.k12.nj.us

• Janice Esters RN, CSN - Loudenslager Elementary School

  • 100 Baird ave, Paulsboro, NJ 08066/office 856-423-2228 x 4203/fax 856-834-7120

  • jesters@paulsboro.k12.nj.us

• Tracy Scott RN, CSN - Billingsport Elementary School

  • 441 Nassau ave, Paulsboro, NJ 08066/856-423-2226/fax 856-834-7120

  • tscott@paulsboro.k12.nj.us