HEALTH AND SAFETY
Health
Admission
The New Jersey Department of Human Services and the New Jersey Department of Education require all students have a physical exam and current immunizations to attend school.  Your child must have a physical exam before starting school.  It is a state law that the results of the exam be recorded on a UNIVERSAL CHILD HEALTH RECORD (UCHR) form.  If your child had a physical exam within 1 year prior to starting school, you may bring the UCHR form to your doctor to have it completed. Otherwise, a new exam recorded on the UCHR will be required. 

The following immunizations are required before your child is permitted to attend school:

PPD (Mantoux) may be required depending on where the child lived before starting school. 

Reasons for Exclusion

• Your child’s immunizations must be up to date and in compliance with State requirements (see vaccination table below) or he/she will not be permitted to register for the preschool program.
• To promote the health and safety of all children, please do not send your child to school if he/she displays any of the following symptoms: fever, cold (runny nose, coughing and sneezing), vomiting, diarrhea, skin rashes, pink eye, lice or ringworm. 

If your child exhibits any of these symptoms while at the center, you will be required to pick up your child.  Your child must not return to school until he or she is symptom free for 24 hours.  Please notify the center if your child is being kept home because of illness.

Meals/Nutrition
All children are offered a nutritious breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack each day.  Meals are served family style where students and teachers eat together.  Parents are encouraged to support good eating habits at home with a balanced diet of lean meats, fruits, vegetables, whole-grains, and dairy.  Sweets should be used sparingly. 

Food brought from home or from an outside facility is not permitted in the center.  If your child has food restrictions due to medical or religious directives, you will need to provide a doctor’s note or letter from the clergy stating the specific food restriction.

Health Services Provided
The Plainfield Board of Education will provide a Certified School Nurse to assist students, families and staff in attaining and maintaining optimal health and health attitudes.  The school nurse will do the following:

• Check student records for current immunizations, physical exam and TB testing (if necessary) - Send home notices to parents regarding missing items.
• Assist with and/or conduct health screenings such as hearing, vision, dental, height/weight, and blood pressure. 
• Provide physical care (first aid for urgent illness or injury while present at center) and emotional support to help children cope with illness and injury.
• Assist parents and staff by giving support regarding health care concerns (i.e. students with asthma that take medicine at school need to have an asthma action plan; children with allergies need to have an allergy management plan).
• Provide educational programs promoting health and nutrition for children, staff and parents.
• Assist parent and staff with making referrals to health agencies as needed.
• Evaluate the nutrition program of each childcare center to ensure that each child is receiving adequate nutrition as recommended by the Child Care Food Program of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Safety
Provide your child’s center with up-to-date emergency contact information.  Any change of information must be given to the appropriate personnel at your center’s administrative offices.  In case of emergency, the parent or the emergency contact person(s) must be contacted as soon as possible.

Designated staff at each center must have current First Aid and CPR certification.