Health Screenings

The following health screenings are conducted at all Newtown Public Schools based on the recommendations of the CT Department of Edcation..

• Vision Screening:  Grades K, 1, 3, 4, and 5 by SPOT Vision Screener or Snellen chart

• Hearing Screening:  Grades K, 1, 3, 4, and 5 by Puretone audiometer

• Scoliosis Screening: 5th & 7th grade girls and 9th grade boys by visual inspection

Students who have had a physical within the school year that included a vision, hearing or postural screening do not need to be retested. 

*In addition to the scheduled screenings, teachers may identify a student with a suspected problem and ask the nurse to screen or rescreen a student for a potential deficit. If the results of any screening tests indicate further evaluation needed the school will notify the parent/guardian and recommend further medical evaluation of the suspected problem. If the nurse is unable to test a student the parent/guardian will be notified. If a parent/guardian does not want a student to participate in any of the screenings they should notify the school nurse in writing every school year at the beginning of the year.
 

Resources:

How to Know if Your Child Needs Glasses

CDC: Hearing Loss in Children

What You Need to Know About School Hearing Screenings/

Scoliosis - Early Detection

Please report your child's absence to his/her school's attendance line.  Attendance phone numbers can be found on the school's website under 'Contact Us'.

Medications (in-school)

1. Per CT State Law, nurses and trained school personnel may administer prescription or over the counter medication during school hours with the completions of the Medication Authorization form signed by the student's doctor and parent.  This would pertain to medication other than iburprofen, acetaminophen(Tylenol) and antacids(Tums).  
2. Medication Authorization forms can be obtained from the main page of the School Health Services website.
3. Medication (with the exception of inhalers and Epipen) cannot be transported by the student on the bus nor can the student carry the medication with them while at school.
4. Medication to be given during the school hours should be brought to the student's School Health Office in the original prescription container by a parent/guardian and must be identified with the following information:
        a.  Prescription number
        b.  Medication name
        c.  Student's name
        d.  Dosage
        e.  Doctor's name
        f.  Directions for administration
5. Newtown Health Office's have standing orders for the administration of ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and/or tums during school hours.  However, parents must give permission for the distribution of these medications by filling out the Health History and Medication Permission Form in InfoSnap at the beginning of every school year.  The Tylenol, Ibuprofen and Tums Permission Form can also be found on our School Health Services homepage.

Phys Ed Excusals

Parent Note:  A note from a parent or guardian, explaining student's illness or injury, may excuse a child from Phys Ed for up to 2 days.
                      
Exception:  Parent note will only excuse a student for 1 day at Newtown High School

Doctor Note:  A  note from a doctor is required if a student must miss more than two days of Phys Ed.  The doctor's note should address the specific limitations and time frame of limitations for the student.

Please notify the nurse if your student is wearing a cast, splint, is on crutches, or has any other medical concerns.  Students are not permitted to participate in physical education while wearing a splint or cast.

Exception:  Newtown High School students may be able to perform in alternate form of phys ed, upon discussion with teacher and nurse's office.

All student athletes planning to try out for a sport must have a current physical (dated within 13 months from tryout dates).  Students will need to submit a current physical on the CT State Health Assessment Record which is located on the Student Health Services Homepage.