Welcome to the Branchburg Township Schools
The comprehensive school health program is maintained by three full time certified school nurses, one at each of the three school buildings. In addition to the three certified school nurses, substitute registered nurses are employed in their absence. The Branchburg School Nurses work in a cooperative manner and facilitate the needs and acuity health issues in all of the schools.
The primary goal of the school health program is to maintain and promote optimal health for all children. We encourage and teach children to take responsibility for healthy living habits. We are mandated by Federal and State statutes and code in the promotion of the health and safety of all of our children. These are reflected in the district Board of Education policies and regulations, some of which are highlighted below.
Physical Examinations and Record of Immunizations
Physical Examinations: Children who enter the district for the first time are required to have a PHYSICAL EXAMINATION by a licensed physician, physician's assistant, or certified nurse practitioner. Branchburg School Health Services recommends subsequent medical examinations of children at least once during each developmental stage, at early childhood (pre-school through grade three), pre-adolescence (grades four through six) and adolescence (grade seven through twelve).
Middle school students who wish to try-out and participate in an INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORT require a current PHYSICAL EXAMINATION FORM (within 365 days). For each sport your child wishes to try-out for, a new HISTORY FORM form must be completed by the parent/guardian. Only one current physical exam is required per school year, however participation in subsequent sports requires the completion of a new History Form with each sport.
Immunizations: Please review NJ Department of Health Immunization Requirements. Additionally, the law requires a record of immunizations. The documented record of immunizations will be accepted from (1) a licensed physician, (2) school health record form (A-45) from a New Jersey school district, (3) a governmental Health Agency, or (4) any documented school health form from districts outside of New Jersey, but within the United States. If a child enters the district from an identified high-risk country or is born in an identified high-risk country a valid record of a Mantoux Tuberculin Skin Test must be presented. By state law, the Mantoux (PPD) test will only be considered valid if administered within the prior six months. If a child is born in an identified high-risk county his/her Mantoux Tuberculin Skin Test must have been given after age three.
Medication Policy
In accordance with school policy and state mandates, if your child needs to take any prescription or over the counter medications during school, the following procedure must be followed before the school nurse will administer medication to your child.
The four necessary requirements are:
A. Provide written physician statement identifying the type, dosage and purpose of the medication.
B. Provide written parent/guardian permission for nurse to give the medication prescribed by physician.
C. Provide medication in original labeled pharmacy container(pharmacies will provide an extra labeled container) with the child's name, date, name of medication, dosage schedule and physician's name. Nonprescription drugs are to be in original container.
D. Parent/guardian (not the child) must bring in all medication to the school nurse.
MEDICATION AUTHORIZATION FORM needed for the School Nurse to administer medicine during the school day.
NJ State Law...
In 1997 New Jersey legislature passed a law that allows a student to carry and self-administer an Epi-Pen and/or self-administer an inhaler if he/she is diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening condition, which would warrant the immediate use of these medications.
Physician's Orders for Allergy Emergency Treatment Form
Asthma Treatment Plan - Student Form
Additionally, in 1997 the state of New Jersey also passed legislation allowing a staff member (teacher, aide, secretary, etc.) to be designated as the person who will administer an EpiPen to a child diagnosed with a severe allergic response to peanuts, nuts, other foods or insect stings in the absence of the school nurse.
New Jersey State Mandated Screening Program: Screening Assessments Chart
The Branchburg Township school nurses are responsible for conducting health screenings. These screenings include height, weight, blood pressure, hearing, vision, and scoliosis. Screening for height, weight and blood pressure are conducted annually for all students. Screening for auditory acuity is conducted annually for students in Kindergarten through grade 3 and in grade 7. Screening for visual acuity is conducted biennially (every two years) for students in Kindergarten through grade 8. Screening for scoliosis is conducted biennially for students between the ages of 10 and 18. Therefore, in the Branchburg Township Schools, students are screened for scoliosis in grades 5 and 7.
Helpful Health Tip: Make a copy of all your child's health-related forms and store them in your child's medical file at home. This should include your child's completed physical examination form, physician reports (primary care physician and specialists), physical education excuses written by your child's physician, dental reports, and any other documents you receive regarding the health of your child.
If you have any questions regarding the school health program, please call the nurse in your child's building. We thank you for your cooperation and remain committed to serving as advocates for the children of the Branchburg School District.
Contact Us:
Whiton Elementary
Nicole Bonaduce, RN
[email protected]
908-371-0842
Fax 908-369-1582
Stony Brook
Maribel Rizzuto, RN
[email protected]
908-722-2400
Fax 908-722-4201
Central Middle
Janet Hoffman, RN
[email protected]
908-526-1415
Fax 908-526-7486