Nurse’s Office

Welcome to the Junior/Senior High School Health Office page. The Health Office is located on the first floor of the High School, Room 132. Hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday during the school calendar year.

Please feel free to call my office or stop in anytime to discuss your child’s health care needs or if you have any questions. 518-827-3600, ext. 2609

Please remember to call or send in updates and changes to your child’s blue emergency contact forms. If you have recently moved, changed numbers or have a new emergency contact, these changes are very important to have updated in each student’s record. If an accident or emergency arises, we want to be able to reach you.

Immunization Requirements

Students who are entering 6th grade and who are 11 years of age or older MUST receive the Tdap vaccine. 

Students who are entering 7th grade MUST have 1 dose of the Meningococcal vaccine. Students who are entering 12th grade MUST have 2 doses of the Meningococcal vaccine (1 dose if your child’s first dose was given on or after age 16).

Please click here for the district’s policy on immunizations.

COVID-19 vaccinations are not required to attend school. Children six months and older are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Children older than five are eligible for a booster. 

For students enrolled in our Bassett school-based health center, you can make an appointment to get vaccinations. To make an appointment, please call 518-827-3793 Monday – Friday, 8:00-4:00, when school is in session. 

Student Physical Requirements

A physical is required for the following Jr./Sr. High School students:

• New students registering at the Jr./Sr. High School
• 7th, 9th, and 11th grade students (This New York State mandate requires all students entering 7th, 9th, and 11th grades to have a physical between January of the student’s 6th/8th/10th grade year and December of the 7th/9th/11th grade year)
• Students who wish to participate in modified or interscholastic sports

If you do not have a physical form, please download a copy here prior to your appointment with the doctor. Please return the completed health physical form to the Health Office.

Taking Medications in School

Here is a letter from the nurse to parents about the use of medicines at school.

NYS Guidelines: Every effort should be made to administer medications outside of the school setting.

When this is not possible, all medications to be taken by a student while in school must be accompanied by a prescription from their health care provider. Download the Parent and Healthcare Provider’s Authorization for Administration of Medication in School and School Activities form

All medications are to be brought in a properly labeled container labeled with the student’s name, name of the medication, dose and strength, what it is being given for, time medication is to be given and the student’s grade. This applies to all medications including those sold “over-the-counter” such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin and Advil (ibuprofen).

If your child has an allergy to bee stings or food, and needs medication in case of a reaction, there must be medication on hand and a current health care provider’s order (updated every September at the beginning of each school year).

In the event that your student must carry an inhaler for asthma or EpiPen on their person, download the Self-Medication Release Form, fill it out completely and bring it in to the nurse’s office to have on file for our records as soon as possible.

Respiratory Illness

The updated CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance utilizes a unified approach to addressing risks from common respiratory viral illnesses, such as COVID-19, flu, and RSV.  

If a student shows symptoms of any of these viruses, CDC recommends keeping them home, and returning to normal activities only after:

• Symptoms are getting better overall, and 
• They no longer have a fever without the use of fever-reducing medication. 

Once the child resumes normal activities, CDC recommends taking extra precautions for the next five days. This includes wearing a well-fitting mask, maintaining a safe distance from others and practicing good hygiene.

If the student develops a fever or starts to feel worse, they should stay home and away from others again. They should use the same criteria for returning to normal activities as  when they first had symptoms and take added precautions over the next 5 days. 

Remind your student about preventing the spread of disease. Teach them to:

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds (long enough to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice). Be sure to set a good example by doing this yourself.
• Cough and sneeze into a tissue. (If a tissue is used, throw the tissue away immediately).
• Stay at least six feet away from people who are sick.

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 five days following a respiratory illness. 

COVID-19 Testing On Campus

Bassett’s School-Based healthcare practitioners have the ability to do COVID testing for any symptomatic student as long as you are enrolled in the school-based health program.

Our Bassett school based health center will be open when school is in session virtually or in-person. Telehealth visit options are also available. Please call 518-827-3793 or 844-255-7242 Mon – Fri 8:00-4:00 to schedule an appointment. Schedules are subject to change.

Other Local Testing Sites in Schoharie County:

• Bassett Healthcare Network, Cobleskill Regional Hospital,  518-234-3456
• CVS Pharmacy, Cobleskill, NY,  518-234-8150
• Well Now, 721 East Main Street, Cobleskill, NY, 518-657-3539

Home test kits are also widely available at pharmacies.