Child Abuse Hotline| Immunization Requirements| Health Screening Information| Body Mass Index Notifications| Medication Forms| COVID Information
Child Abuse Hotline
If you suspect a child is being abused or maltreated (neglected), report it by calling 1-800-342-3720, a toll-free 24-hour hotline operated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police department. Information about reporting child abuse and maltreatment (neglect) is available online at http://ocfs.ny.gov/main/cps/.
Immunization Requirements
The New York State Immunization Requirements for School Entrance/Attendance list is available here.
Health Screening Information
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. The examination must be completed by a New York State licensed physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner.
A dental certificate which states your child has been seen by a dentist or dental hygienist is also asked for at the same time. The school will provide you with a list of dentists and registered dental hygienists who offer dental services on a free or reduced cost basis if you ask for it.
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 Pre-K or 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. 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 Health Office with the date. Communication between private 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.
We suggest you make copies of the completed forms for your own records before sending them to the school health office. Forms may also be faxed or emailed.
Please call the school’s Health Office if you have any questions or concerns.
For your convenience, please click here for a physical exam form and please click here for a dental certificate for your health care providers.
Body Mass Index (BMI) Notifications
New York state requires schools to track each student’s body mass index (BMI) and weight status category as part of school health examinations. Every year, the New York State Department of Health surveys some schools for the number of students in each weight status category. If Voorheesville Central School District is surveyed by the state, the district will share summary group data only and will not share summary group calculations. In order to opt out of the sharing of this data, parents must contact your child’s school nurse.
Medication Forms
Parents and guardians of students must submit a prescription order from their healthcare provider and a parent permission form to the school nurse for any medication to be taken on school grounds. For ongoing prescriptions, a new order form must be signed and dated after the end of the previous school year. Parents and guardians of students must submit any new prescription order from their healthcare provider with the parent permission form to the school nurse when the new prescription is ordered.
When “self-carry” is ordered by the health care provider, the student can keep their rescue medication in their locker, backpack or personal bag.
The Permission to Administer Medication at School form is available here.
The Independent Use and Carry form is available here.
COVID Information
Illness/positive COVID test
As with any infectious illness, students and staff who test positive for COVID-19, or who show symptoms, are asked to stay home from school and follow the Centers for Disease Control’s Isolation Guidance.
- Someone who tested positive and has no symptoms may return to school after day 5.
- Someone who is sick (has symptoms) may return to school after day 5 if they have been fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and symptoms are improving.
- People who have been sick, or tested positive, should wear a mask through day 10.
At-home test kits
VCSD provides at-home COVID-19 test kits for students. COVID home tests will be available at all building offices and through the building nurse.
COVID-19 vaccination
COVID-19 vaccinations are not required to attend school. Children ages 6 months and older are all eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Children older than 5 are eligible for a booster. The NYS Health Department has more information.
Masks
Any student or staff member may wear a mask while at school to prevent the spread of illness. Mask-wearing is recommended for at least 10 days following a positive COVID test, or COVID illness.
Health and safety protocols
Routine cleaning in our school buildings continues to be an important strategy for reducing the spread of illness. High-risk areas such as health offices, classrooms, lunchrooms, athletic rooms, bathrooms and high-traffic areas are cleaned often throughout the day, this includes lunch tables and handrails. High-touch surfaces such as desks, chairs, and light switches are cleaned nightly.
The District monitors the ventilation system and ensures the minimum of four full fresh air exchanges per hour in each room or the use of a HEPA unit. The District utilizes MERV 11 and MERV 13 filters as per the manufacturer settings of the air handling units.
In conjunction with a grant through Albany County Department of Health, each instructional or congregational space within the building will have at least 1 Austin Healthmate air purifier unit.
COVID-19 Data Tracking
Voorheesville Central School District follows the latest guidance from the New York State Department of Health regarding COVID-19. For more information, please review “What Parents/Caregivers Should Know about COVID Mitigation Strategies for the 2022-2023 School Year” (August 2022).
The Albany County Health Department is another source of COVID information, such as current COVID levels in communities, testing sites and other frequently asked questions.
The CDC maintains data on tracking community transmission rates.