St. Joseph’s new web site contains a section entitled “Health Information” and includes helpful, easy-to-use teaching tools. Interactive models contain useful information on the circulatory and respiratory systems. Tips on nutrition, exercise ideas and a health encyclopedia also are featured. There are more than 100 brief videos for illustrating health and wellness topics, and gentle graphic presentations of various disease states.

School sign-in/sign-out will is in the Guidance Department. An authorized adult must sign out students who are picked up during the school day. Please send a note to school with the student stating what time the student will be picked up and who will be picking the student up. Although many faces are familiar to Guidance Department Staff, you may be asked to present identification when signing out a student.

MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION IN SCHOOL (This is NYS law)

1. For the safety of all children, medications MUST be delivered to the health office by an adult and an authorization form must be signed. Medications delivered by a student will be held and a parent will be contacted to visit the health office in order to confirm the medication and to sign an authorization form.

2. A doctor’s order is required for all medications, including over the counter drugs such as Tylenol, Anbesol, cough drops and medicated skin creams. Please be sure to ask your doctor for a copy of his written order for the school nurse. A pharmacy label is NOT a doctor’s order.

3. The medication MUST be delivered in its original, pharmacy labeled container. If you need a spare bottle for home the pharmacy will provide an extra bottle at your request. Medications received in zip-lock bags or any other container that is not labeled by the pharmacy will be held until a parent can be contacted. The medication cannot be administered until an appropriate container is received.

If you intend to have your child seen by your family physician for a physical, you will need the School Health form. Have your physician complete it and return it to the School Health Office.

The Jr/Sr High School offers a service called the School Health Program. This is a state funded program that is affiliated with Family Health Network and provides health services with no out of pocket expense to the parents. Some of the services provided are: complete physicals, immunizations, strep throat cultures, assessments for acute illnesses, administration of mediation as needed, etc. If you are interested, contact our health office at 849-3180. The enrollment forms can be sent home with your child or you can come pick them up and meet the staff.

Counseling services are also provided for students by the Family Health Network at no out of pocket cost to families. This school year, there are a variety of counseling options for students. Individual and group counseling will be available throughout the year. Referrals can be made directly to the School Based Health Center Counselor, Lisa Loomis, CSW. Referrals can be obtained in the High School Health Office.