Keystone Oaks School District

What your school nurse is permitted to do:

• Make sure that all PA state mandated guidelines are followed:
  • All students have required immunizations
  • All students have periodic physical and dental exams
  • All students are screened for height, weight, BMI, vision and hearing
     
• In addition to the PA state mandates, the school nurse can also:
  • Provide basic first aid
  • Communicate with parents if a student is ill or seriously injured
  • Work to keep students healthy 

What your school nurse is not permitted to do:

• Diagnose or treat illnesses or injuries - other than basic first aid for incidents that occur during school hours 
• Keep stocked medications - other than those for which the child's physician has given orders and provided a written directive to the school
• Replace good medical care from a family heath care provider
   

Any serious ailments or injuries should always be attended to by your regular physician. 

Physical exams are required of all students entering kindergarten or first grade, in sixth grade and in eleventh grade. These grades were chosen because they represent critical periods of growth and development in a student's life.

Dental exams are required of all students entering kindergarten or first grade, in third grade and in seventh grade.

It is recommended that physical and dental examinations be done by your family health care provider or dentist, since he/she knows your student and your student's health history. If a private doctor or dentist is unavailable, the school offers physical examinations during the school year. A notice will be sent home with the pertinent information.

The Physical Exam Form should be returned to the school nurse and must be dated within one year of the beginning of school. Dental Exam forms should be completed and returned to the school nurse by the beginning of the school year. These forms are available for download below. 

Physical Exam Form

Dental Exam Form

Please read below for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s vaccination requirements for attendance in Pennsylvania schools. 
 
ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, a KOSD student must have had at least one dose of the following vaccinations or RISK EXCLUSION from all KOSD school buildings.

• Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (DTap)* (1 dose on or after the 4th birthday). There are 4 doses of this vaccine. 
• Polio** There are typically 4 doses of this vaccine. 
• Measles, mumps, rubella*** There are 2 doses of this vaccine. 
• Hepatitis B. There are 3 doses of this vaccine. 
• Varicella (chickenpox) or evidence of immunity. There are 2 doses of this vaccine. 

*Usually given as DTP or DTap or if medically advisable, DT or Td
**A fourth dose is not necessary if a third does was administered at age 4 year or older and at
least 6 months after the previous dose
***Usually given as MMR 
 

If a child does not have all of the doses listed above, needs additional doses, and the next dose is medically appropriate, the child must receive that dose WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE DAYS OF SCHOOL or risk exclusion. If the next dose is not the final dose of the series, the child must also provide a medical plan from the doctor WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE DAYS OF SCHOOL for obtaining the required immunizations or risk exclusion.
 

If a child does not have all the doses listed above, needs additional doses, and the next dose is not medically appropriate, the child must provide a medical plan from the doctor WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE DAYS OF SCHOOL for obtaining the required immunizations or risk exclusion. The medical plan from a doctor must be followed or risk exclusion from all KOSD school buildings.  

FOR ATTENDANCE IN GRADE 7:

• 1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) ON THE FIRST DAY OF GRADE 7 OR RISK EXCLUSION. Please note that this is a different vaccine from the DTap vaccine required for entrance at any other grade level. 
• 1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) ON THE FIRST DAY OF GRADE 7 OR RISK EXCLUSION. 

FOR ATTENDANCE IN GRADE 12:

• A 2nd dose of MCV BY THE FIFTH DAY OF GRADE 12 OR RISK EXLCUSION. If a second dose was given at 16 years of age or older, that shall count as the Grade 12 dose. 

The vaccines required for entrance, 7th grade and 12th grade continue to be required in each succeeding school year.
 
While a lead screening is not required for Kindergarten or New Student Registration, families who have completed the screening should provide a copy of the screening results along with the immunizaiton records.   
 
For more information on the vaccines your student needs to attend school, please contract your student's school nurse or talk to your child's pediatrician. 

• Aiken - 412-571-5236 
• Dormont - 412-571-6150 
• Myrtle - 412-571-3225
• Middle School - 412-571-6073
• High School - 412-571-6047

If your student is uninsured, please contact the Allegheny County Healthy Department at 412-578-8060. More information is also available on the Pennsylvania Department of Health's website.

Parents often ask about sending their child to schools with a communicable disease. Keystone Oaks School District follows guidelines from the Allegheny County Health Department.

• Pink Eye: Child is excluded from school for 24 hours after the initiation of treatment 
• Strep Throat, Scarlet Fever: Child is excluded from school for 24 hours after the initiation of treatment 
• Lice: Child is excluded from school until treated with a pediculicidal agent. Students who have been excluded must be checked by the School Nurse and found to be free of lice eggs before re-entering the building. 
• Chicken Pox: Child is excluded from school until all blisters are dried and crusted, usually five days from the last crop of blisters to errupt. 
• Impetigo, scabies and ringworm: Child is excluded from school until judged non-infectious by the physician or by the school nurse. 

Each year, students will receive the following screenings:

Height, Weight, and BMI
The PA Department of Health follows a state mandate to try to combat the problem of growing obesity. BMI (Body Mass Index) is a required screening for all K - 12 students. A BMI-for-age percentile is calculated based on the height and weight measurement of your student and this "index" or number will indicate whether your student is underweight, growing in a normal pattern, at risk for becoming overweight, or overweight. The BMI is a screening tool only and does have its limitations. For example, athletes may have a higher BMI due to increased muscle mass. Parents will be given the confidential results of this screening and it is recommended that they share these results with their child's health care professional. 

Vision
Vision screening is performed every year on all K - 12 students. Again, this is only a screening and should not take the place of a complete eye exam by an eye care professional. Screening for depth perception, color vision, and hyperopia (farsightedness) is also done once during the elementary years. Parent will be notified by mail if their child does not pass the screening. If your child wears glasses or contacts, please the child to wear them at school. 

Hearing
Hearing screening is performed every year on students in grades K- 3 and in grades 7 and 11. This is only a screening and should not take the place of a complete ear/hearing exam. Parents will be notified by mail if their child does not pass the screening.

Scoliosis
Scoliosis (curvature of the spine) is a state mandated screening for students in grades 6 and 7. If the screening is not done privately, it will be done by the school nurse. A letter notifying parents of the school screening will be sent home prior to it being done. Refusal for participation must be in writing.

Asthma Action Plan

Physical Exam Form

Dental Exam Form