Pierson Health Office

As of July 1, 2018, New York State law requires a health examination for all students entering the school district for the first time and when entering Pre-K or K, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 11th grade.  Those students entering Pre-K, kindergarten, sixth, seventh and twelfth grade will need new immunizations as required by the New York State Department of Health which must be received by the 14th day of school. If your student has not yet received a required immunization, please call your healthcare provider and schedule your appointment today.  Many of our local pediatrician’s offices are able to make “vaccine only” appointments if your student is not yet due for a well visit. Please see the NYS Department of Health for a list of required immunizations. https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2370_2026.pdf 

The health examination must be completed by a New York State licensed physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner within the 365 days prior to the first day of school. We can accept any physical done on or after 9/04/24 for the 2025-26 school year for grade level school physicals. Please note that a current physical is required for students playing a school sport.

• A copy of the health examination must be provided to the school within 30 days from when your child first starts at the school, and when your child starts K, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, & 11th grades. If a copy is not given to the school within 30 days, the school will contact you. Health examinations for the purposes of school sports participation must be completed every year, regardless of grade.

• The physical exam must be printed on the correct NY State form (https://www.p12.nysed.gov/sss/documents/health-exam-form.pdf). Pediatricians can usually print the necessary paperwork for you. Please be sure to include an updated immunization record.  

• If your child has an appointment for an exam during this school year that is after the first 30 days of school, please notify the School Health Office with the date.

• Communication between private physicians and school health staff is important for safe and effective care at school. Your healthcare provider may not share health information with school health staff without your signed permission. Please talk to your provider about signing their consent form for the school at the time of your child’s appointment for the examination. 

Welcome new students and those returning to the Sag Harbor School District! Students entering the school district for the first time, or coming back after being away, must have a current physical and up to date immunization record on file in the Nurse's Office. Please see the Physical and Immunizations section for required health paperwork. 

For a student to take medication at school, the proper paperwork must be on file in the nurse's office. This paperwork must be completed by the parent and signed, and then signed by the doctor. All medication must be brought to school by an adult unless the student has permission to carry their own medication. For a student to carry medication in school, the proper paperwork must be on file in the nurse's office, signed by the parent and doctor. Controlled substances, such as medications for ADD or ADHD, cannot be carried by an student and must be brought to the nurse's office by a parent.  All medication forms must be updated each school year.

Over the Counter Medications: Occasionally, your child may benefit from over the counter medication while at school, such as ibuprofen for minor pain. The school nurses cannot administer medication, even over the counter medication, without completed medication forms. These forms include a written signature from you and also your healthcare provider.  Over the Counter Medication Form 

Prescription Medications: All prescription medication must be in the original prescription bottle with the pharmacy label affixed to the bottle. The label must list the student's name, the name of the medication, strength, dosage, how it is to be taken and the prescriber's name. This includes medication that students are allowed to self administer (but only if the proper paperwork is on file in the nurse's office.)  Permission to Administer Medication 

Allergy Forms:  If your student has an allergy that may require epinephrine or antihistamines, please send in an Allergy Action Care Plan Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan "FARE" Form, Allergy Care Plan  and Permission to Administer Medication Form 

Asthma Forms: If your child has asthma and may need medications such as inhalers while at school,  please fill out an Asthma Care Plan and Permission to Administer Medication Form.

The district’s School Health Services program supports your student’s academic success by promoting health in the school setting.  One way that we provide care for your student is by performing the health screenings as mandated by the State of New York. During this school year, the following screenings are required and will be completed at school (if not already documented on paperwork from a recent health examination with a private physician):

• Vision: Distance and near vision acuity for all students newly entering the district and students in grades 7 and 11. Color perception screening for all students newly entering the district. 

• Hearing:  Hearing screening for all newly entering students and students in grades 7, and 11.

• Scoliosis: Scoliosis (spinal curvature) screening for all girls in grade 7, and boys in grade 9.

A letter will be sent home if your student needs follow-up with your healthcare provider. If you would prefer that your child be screened with your private physician, please let me know so that I can send you the appropriate paperwork.

Please do not send your student to school with any of the following:

• Fever -  students must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school, with no fever reducing medications

• Vomiting or diarrhea in the past 24 hours

• Chills

• Sore throat

• Strep throat (students may return to school after 24 hours of antibiotic treatment) 

• Bad cold, with a very runny nose or bad cough, especially if your child was awake at night

• Head lice - until your child has been treated according to the doctor's instructions

If your student becomes ill at school and the nurse feels that they will not benefit from school or is contagious to other children, parents/guardians will be called to take them home. Please be sure that you have arrangements to transport your child home should this occur. If your daytime or emergency contact numbers change during the year, please update them on the Parent Portal on eSchool or call the main office.

Information on Influenza - English   Spanish  Influenza - a Guide for Parents 

Handwashing 

Starting in 7th Grade, Pierson students can begin to play a school sport. Students must be registered with via Final Forms.  Once registration for the current season opens (approximately one month prior to the start of the season), student athletes can be registered for participation. Please keep in mind, a current and valid physical and all of the parent/guardian and student forms must be completed before an athlete's account can be reviewed for clearance.  Forms will appear in green once they are completed on Final Forms. Forms that appear yellow or red are not complete and require attention. Student clearance for sports will be processed in the order in which completed registrations are submitted.  Parents/Guardians, students and coaches will receive an email once a student has been cleared to play.  Students may not participate in games or team practices until they have been cleared.   Please contact the Athletics Department if you need assistance with Final Forms.

NYS Required Health Examination Form  https://www.p12.nysed.gov/sss/documents/health-exam-form.pdf

NYS 2025-2026 Required Immunizations for School Attendance https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2370.pdf 

NYS 2024-2025 Required Immunizations for School Attendance - Spanish https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2405.pdf 

FARE Emergency Allergy Care Plan Form -  FARE Form - Updated 8/2025 

Permission to Administer Medication https://drive.google.com/file/d/187-3IlZnQEPLBVryfDfw8rFcH-WFIOlI/view?usp=sharing 

Over the Counter Medication Form OTC Medication Form - Updated 8/2025 

Field Trip Medication Form Field Trip Medication / Single Medication Form 

Please call or email the Nurse's Office if your child will be absent from school. 631 725-5302 x716 or kpoitras@sagharborschools.org

Excused absences for reasons such as illness or college visits require doctor's notes or documentation from the Admissions Office of the college as well as approval from Pierson Administration. Absences will be marked as unexcused until approved by Administration.

BMI Data Collection

Each year, the New York State Department of Health selects 50% of public school districts to participate in reporting aggregated weight status categories (BMI and BMI for age percentiles) and health conditions. No names are associated with any data and only numbers are submitted. Information is kept confidential, however, parents/guardians may refused to have their student's data included in the survey. Should the Sag Harbor Union Free School District be chosen to participate in this survey and you do not want your student's data included in the survey, please indicate that by completing the Parent/Guardian Notice of BMI Data Collection and Opt-Out Form  and returning it to the Nurse's Office.