Your YCSD Nurses are available to support and assist your children in school and will always strive to take care of your children to the best of our ability. Please view our website for policies, health related Updates, Illness guidelines, physical and immunization mandates, and sports information. Information is subject to change so please check back often.

YCSD Nurse Contact Information

Nurse Coordinator and Mildred E. Strang Middle School Nurse

Lisa Epstein RN, MSN- lepstein@yorktown.org

Office Hours : 7:20-2:20, Phone: 914-243-8100, option 2. Fax: 914-245-6438

Separate Attendance Office: 914-243- 8100, option 1 for sick, tardy , and early pick up

Yorktown High School Nurse

Kim Cortese RN, MSN- kcortese@yorktown.org

Office Hours: 7:20-2:20, Phone: 914-243-8050, option 2. Fax: 914-962-8527

Separate Attendance Office: 914-243-8050, option 1 for sick, tardy , and early pick up

Crompond School Nurse

Barbara Driscoll RN, BSN- bdriscoll@yorktown.org

Office Hours: 8:00-3:00, Phone: 914-243-8140, option 1. Fax: 914-243-0018

Mohansic School Nurse

Barbara Avedisian RN, AAS- bavedisian@yorktown.org

Office Hours: 8:30-3:30, Phone: 914- 243-8160, option 1. Fax: 914-455-2796

Brookside School Nurse

Nicole Cacioppo RN, MSN- ncacioppo@yorktown.org

Office Hours: 8:30-3:30, Phone: 914-243-8130, option 1. Fax: 914-243-0017

District Float and UPK Nurses

Jena McLaughlin, RN, MSN- jmclaughlin@yorktown.org

AnnMarie Dillon, RN, MSN- adillon@yorktown.org

St. Patrick's School Nurse

Marion Fitzmorris, RN- Mfitzmorris@yorktown.org

Office Hours: 7:30-2:30, Phone: 914-962-3207 Fax: 914-243-4814

(Information given on this site is known to be accurate at time of printing but is subject to change.)

YCSD Health Updates and Notices:

ILLNESSES

A Message from Your YCSD Nurses

When to Keep Your Child Home From School

It is often hard to know when to send children to school if they tell you they don’t feel well. With the increase in Flu A, strep throat, and viral illnesses it is important to keep students home when they don't feel well in order to allow them to start feeling better and to protect other students and staff from becoming ill. Here are some guidelines to follow. Please keep your child home and/ or contact your child’s doctor for :

Temperature greater than 100 degrees (taken by mouth). Student must be fever-free for 24 hours without medication before returning to school
One or more episodes of vomiting and/or diarrhea within the last 24 hours. Students must remain at home for 24 hours symptom free.
Severe sore throat along with a fever, or after exposure to Strep throat infection
Honey-crusted sores around the nose or mouth
Rash on other body parts associated with fever or a rash in various stages including, boils, sores, and bumps which may be Chicken pox
Large amounts of discolored mucus (liquid) from the nose, with face pain or headache
Severe ear pain or fluid coming from the ear
Severe headache especially with fever
Severe, persistent abdominal pain
Lethargy, irritability, difficulty breathing –Call the child’s doctor!
Discomfort that keeps them from fully participating in school such as persistent cough
Red, runny, itchy eyes, with persistent drainage – “A cold you can see”
Student is too sleepy or sick from an illness that they cannot stay awake in school

* Keep your child at home and away from others until at least 24 hours after both symptoms are getting better and have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). If your child has been diagnosed with a contagious infection, we require a note from the doctor stating it is safe for them to return to school.

Please read this IMPORTANT INFORMATION at the beginning of each year :

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Health Forms

A variety of health forms for medications, self carry, asthma, seizure, concussions, etc are available on our Health Forms page listed in the tab above. If your child is playing a sport they should have a self carry order for meds located on our site.

*Illnesses and Health Advisories

We ask that ill students who cannot concentrate in school stay home . Students who get sick during the school day while in school must report to the school nurse before calling or texting a parent to come get them or leaving school on their own. Any student leaving school due to illness must be released by the school nurse.

Many parents also ask “When is my child sick enough to stay home from school?” This is not always an easy question to answer, but the following tips from the health office may help. Click here to learn more about illness and view our tab above "Sick Day Guidelines" for respiratory illnesses like COVID, RSV, and Flu as well as "Guidelines for Common School Age Concerns and Illnesses". Students must stay home until fever free without fever reducing meds, and no vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours (1 full school day).

Seasonal Flu Information

New York State Department of health recommends to keep your kids safe, get the flu vaccine each year. Please view their guide below as well as info in our sick day guidelines.

Lice Facts

Head lice can reach a peak time for infestation due to overnight camps, slumber parties and/or vacations. Please consider checking your child’s head for the presence of lice regularly during the summer and also during the school year weekly. Please read the YCSD Parent Lice Letter .

Information about identifying lice can be found on this CDC site.

Concussion Information

If your child has a concussion please notify your school nurse and read Concussion Information in our tab above.

2025-26 School Entrance Immunization and Physical Requirements:

Physicals:

New York State mandates health assessments for new students and those in grades Pre-K or K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 are to be submitted within 30 days of school entrance. Please submit a physical to your school nurse no later than the first week in October of the new school year. After October 9th, our school physician will be contacted to examine all students in the grades mentioned above for whom we have no record of the family physician’s report. Please use the NYS Required Health Examination Form or an electronic health record equivalent form to send to your child's school nurse

YCSD may be called upon to participate in a NYSDOH survey regarding students’ BMI. No personal information related to your child is included in the survey. If you do not want your child's BMI reported to New York State you must notify your school nurse by October 1 of the current school year. Opt out forms are available for download: BMI survey Opt-out form.

*Health Screenings in School

YCSD Health Services supports student academic success by promoting health in the school setting. One way that we provide care for your student is by performing health screenings that are mandated by the State of New York. If the state requests screenings , your child will have a grade level screening if it is not listed on your child's physical. Screenings must be current and within 6 months of the school year. A notification will be sent home if there are any findings that would cause concern or need medical follow-up. The following screenings are required per grade and will be done in the Fall or Spring :

- Vision far/ near and Hearing Screenings: Grades preK, K, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11 (details in link below)
- Scoliosis Screening: Girls in Grades 5 and 7; Boys in Grade 9
- Distance Vision, Near Vision, Color Perception, and Hearing Screenings: All new students transferring into the district.
- A dental exam is recommended during state required physical exams. Further dental information and neighboring health centers can be viewed on Westchester.gov .If your child does not have a dentist please view Dental providers offering free or reduced care.

Please view Screening and Physical Requirements for further information and contact your school nurse if you have any questions.

Immunizations:

New York State (NYS) Public Health Law Section 2164 require every student entering or attending public, private or parochial school in New York State (NYS) to be immune to diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B, varicella and meningococcal in accordance with Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations.

Additionally, students aged 11 or older entering grades 6-12 must receive one Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (TDaP) shot. For students turning 11 while in the sixth grade, the TDAP vaccination is required, and documentation or a booster dose appointment must be provided within 14 days of turning 11.
Students in grades 7-12 need a meningococcal vaccination at age 11 or 12 and a second one by age 16 before entering grade 12.
All grade level immunizations are due BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. All requested immunization proof must be emailed or faxed to your school nurse prior to August 15th for proper entrance clearance. Please view the 2025-26 Immunization requirements.
Every child in daycare, Head Start, nursery school or pre kindergarten in NYS must be immune to diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B, varicella, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and pneumococcal disease.

Where Can I Get My Child Vaccinated?

Most private health insurance plans cover the cost of recommended vaccines. Check with your insurance provider on your coverage and where you and your children can get vaccinated or visit clinic sites below.

Back to School Immunization info from Westchester County Department of Health
Westchester County Department of Health offers a no-cost Immunization Clinics for those who don’t have health insurance that covers the cost of vaccines. All recommended childhood vaccines, as well as several adult vaccines, are available. Call 914-995-5800 to schedule an appointment at one of their clinics in White Plains or Yonkers. If you are not eligible for vaccinations through their clinics, you can receive them through pharmacies, as well as public and private health care providers. These are some sites also located in Westchester: Vaccine Sites in Westchester /Recursos de Sitios de Vacunación del Condado de Westchester.

Need Health Insurance?

Health Navigators are available through the Health Department and can help families and individuals sign up for the health insurance they need. If you would like assistance with enrolling in a health insurance plan that fits your needs and budget, contact our Health Insurance Navigator Program for free help at hnav@WestchesterCountyNY.gov or call (914) 995-6350, between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Medication in School

Students, with the exception of diabetics, may not have any medication (prescription or over the counter) on their possession during the school day (i.e., not in pockets, lunch boxes, backpacks, lockers, etc.). The only medication exceptions are an asthma inhaler or EpiPen, which may be carried by the student if they have a physician order and parent consent, along with the approval of the school nurse.

Every effort should be made to administer medication at home, as it does represent a disruption in the student’s school day. However, if your physician or nurse practitioner feels that medication is necessary during the school day, please submit a completed medication form dated after July 1 of the current school year before medication is brought to school.
Medication forms can be obtained on our YCSD School Nurse site “Health Forms”.
Administration of medication during the school day is permitted only with written direction from the health care provider and parent/guardian.
A new form must be filled out for each change of medication and renewed each school year after July 1, this includes all types of medication and over the counter medicines such as Aspirin, Tylenol, medicated Cough syrup, medicated cough drops as well as prescription medication. In some instances, approval by the school physician may be required. Menthol cough drops can be given if sent in a labeled bag to the nurse office with parent permission and signature.
An adult must bring in medication in the original container and it must be labeled by the pharmacist for this purpose. See the Health Forms section for self carry.
Students are at no time allowed to carry medication of any kind unless a self carry permission form is signed by both parent and physician for inhalers and epipens. Please call your school nurse with any questions. Parents will be asked to call the school upon arrival and wait for someone to bring the child to the parent to get medicine if a child does not have permission to self carry a medicine.

Sports Grades 7-12

Please view BOTH the Athletics Home page "YCSD Athletics and YCSD School Nurses site "Athletic Sports Clearance Info" for sign up info, sports offered and requirements. The Athletic Site has sports schedules as well.

Registration opens 30 days before sports starts and will close the Friday before High School sports starts for nurses to clear students on time. Remember to visit the sites highlighted above for detailed information.

Food Allergies/Safe Snacks/Healthy Eating

Lunch menu nutritional and allergen information is located in the school menu and the district wellness site.

Please view the District Wellness site for further information, wellness events, lunch menus, photos, and the District Wellness policy.

Ticks and Lyme Disease

Is there a tick on you, a loved one, or pet? Be aware of Ticks and check your children frequently. If there is a tick follow this advice from the state:

Are you a registered licensed New York State nurse interested in becoming a YCSD School Nurse Substitute?

Please apply here School Nurse Position.

Minimum Requirements are:

Successful experiences working with pediatric population, preferably in a school setting is desirable.
Current certification in Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

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