Health Services

Wissahickon School District has set the following policies regarding Communicable Diseases and School Exclusion Criteria. These regulations are based on PA Code, Title 28, Chapter 27, Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases, Subchapter C Quarantine and Isolation, amended 1/25/02.

1. All persons having communicable diseases such as diphtheria, poliomyelitis, typhoid fever, small pox, meningitis, tuberculosis, etc., are assumed to be strictly quarantined for the full quarantine period as defined by State Law and may not attend school during this period. No child from the same household may attend school until released by the attending health care provider, who shall certify to three (3) days treatment and negative cultures.
2. Incubation Periods: All persons exposed to a communicable disease who have not previously had the disease or been immunized against a particular disease, should be aware of the Incubation Periods (the time from exposure to disease to the onset of that disease in the exposed person.) If any symptoms of an illness occur during this time period, please seek medical attention as soon as possible and exclude that person from school until a diagnosis is reached and that person has met the required exclusion period.

3. A child suffering from any of the following communicable diseases shall be excluded from school for the following periods: (This does not apply to other members of the same household.)

4.      Any pupil suffering from impetigo or scabies shall be excluded from school and not re-admitted until a note is presented from the family health care provider stating that the pupil is under his/her care with his/her permission to re-enter.

5.      Any pupil suspected of having a communicable disease and excluded from school shall not be reinstated within the prescribed interval unless a health care provider certifies that the pupil was not suffering from the suspected contagious disease.)

Per Montgomery County Public Code ARTICLE B Section 3-7 REPORTABLE DISEASES AND CONDITIONS, Gwynedd-Mercy Academy Elementary will report cases of any reportable diseases and conditions listed to the Montgomery County Department of Health and follow the guidance provided.

To protect our school students from serious and sometimes fatal diseases, the Pennsylvania Department of Health regulations require that all students entering school for the first time must be immunized. All the required doses of immunizations must be completed and verified by your healthcare provider prior to the student’s entry into school. We ask for your cooperation with the school nurse in providing proper records of any completed immunizations and securing those that are lacking.

Gwynedd-Mercy Academy Elementary follows the policy of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (#S 305) with regard to immunization exemptions: 

“The policy of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia with respect to vaccinations, requires all children to be vaccinated against a wide variety of diseases. Exceptions are not granted, except for medical reasons.” 

If your child requires exemption from the immunization regulations due to medical reasons, proper documentation from your health care provider must be submitted to school. If it is necessary to adjust your child’s immunization schedule due to health issues, your healthcare provider may submit a plan of immunizations that takes any special health concerns into account. Please note that if your student is exempt from immunizations, he/she may be removed from school during a communicable disease outbreak.

Immunization Plan

State-Mandated Physical and Dental Exams

The Pennsylvania School Health Law requires all students on original entry to school and Grades 6 and 11 to have a physical examination.

Students entering school as well as those entering Grades 3 and 7 are required to have a recent dental examination. Recent examinations means an exam done no earlier than one year prior to the school year it is required. We urge you to have these examinations performed by your child’s healthcare provider.

PA Physical Exam Report – required on entry to Wissahickon School District and Grades 6 and 11.

PA Dental Exam Report – required on entry to Wissahickon School District and Grades 3 and 7.

Students transferring to Gwyned-Mercy Academy Elementary must provide both reports from their previous school or have the examinations done as part of the admission process.

If necessary, you can also contact the school nurse to secure these forms. The completed forms must be submitted to the school nurse by October 15 of the applicable school year.

State-Mandated Health Screenings

Each child will have state mandated screenings annually which include growth (body mass index), and vision. Hearing is tested in Kindergarten and Grades 1,2,3 and 7. We will report deficiencies to you in these tests. These reports should be rechecked by your child’s health care provider and returned to the school nurse when problems are corrected.

Medical Care in School

Medical care in the schools is limited to first aid for accidents and illness until the parent can be contacted to take the student home or to their personal health care provider or hospital. Emergency information completed by you will give us the information to locate you when needed. It is important to keep this information updated each school year. School nurses are permitted by law to perform only those services written on the Standing Orders of the consulting school physician. Do not expect the school nurse to diagnose or treat illnesses. This is the proper function of your family health care provider.

Absence Due to Illness

Please encourage your child to practice good health habits that will contribute to growth, development, and well-being. These should include a balanced diet, adequate sleep, regular exercise and study. When there are signs of illness, your child should stay at home. A physician’s excuse is necessary after an absence of three (3) days.

Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Public Health has aligned with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recently updated Respiratory Virus Guidance regarding COVID-19 isolation. There is no longer an isolation period for COVID-19. Rather students and staff should stay home when sick. See a summary of CDC guidance below:

What to do When You’re Sick:  

When you have respiratory virus symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache, please take the following steps to prevent its spread.  

Step 1: Stay at home. You should stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after: 

·        Your symptoms are getting better overall, and 

·        You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). 

·        If your symptoms improve and stay better for 24 hours, you are less likely to pass your infection onto others. Then, you can start getting back to your daily routine and move on to step 2 

Step 2: Resume normal activities and use added prevention strategies over the next five days, such as taking more steps to get cleaner air, enhancing your hygiene practices, wearing a well-fitting mask, keeping a distance from others, and getting tested for respiratory viruses.  

People who are at higher risk for severe illness and who start to feel sick should seek health care right away so that they can access testing and treatment.  

It is important to contact the school nurse for these special circumstances:

● If there are restrictions caused by a recent illness or injury, if there are any continuous restrictions on your student’s school activities, or if your student is on daily medication.

● If your student has an allergy to foods, medicines, or insect bites. Provide the school nurse with a written plan completed by your physician with your approval signature outlining the directions to follow in case of an incident. Please consult the nurse to obtain the forms needed to be completed by your child’s healthcare provider.

● As soon as possible if your student has a confirmed communicable disease to protect the safety and well-being of others.

Food Allergies

It is the goal of GMA to partner with parents to ensure a safe environment while children are attending school. With the understanding that GMA is not a “peanut free” school, if a student with a peanut allergy attends GMA, the school will partner with the student’s parents to educate teachers, students, and other parents.

Faculty and staff members should complete online training regarding the significance of life-threatening allergies, precautionary measures, and appropriate treatment protocols. This training includes demonstrating the proper use of epinephrine auto injectors. They also have procedures to adhere to and are familiar with students who have life-threatening allergies.

In the cafeteria, there is a designated Allergen Free table. Parents of students with food allergies may opt to assign their child to this area. GMAE does not prohibit peanut products at lunch or monitor the lunches of students. Parents are encouraged to make careful decisions about sending peanut products to school. If a parent indicates that a student could have an allergic reaction if in contact with the allergen, parents will be asked not to send any food for consumption in the classroom that may contain the particular allergen.

Parents should always consult with the teacher before sending any food items to school for the class. Please allow sufficient time for the classroom teacher to inform all parents of the treat being offered. This gives parents the opportunity to opt out for their child and send a suitable alternative.

Parents may not bring outside treats for celebrations during lunch in the cafeteria.

Please discourage your child from sharing food at school.

Non-food birthday and other celebratory treats should be considered.

An Allergy/Anaphylaxis Action Plan must be completed by the student’s healthcare provider and signed by a parent/Guardian. Any medications ordered by the healthcare provider must be provided by the parent/guardian.

The Wissahickon School District recognizes that parents have the primary responsibility for the health of their children. Although the District strongly recommends that medication when necessary should be given at home, it realizes that the health of some children requires that they receive medication / treatment while in school. Parents should confer with the child’s primary care provider to arrange medication / treatment time intervals to avoid school hours whenever possible. When medication / treatment absolutely must be given during school hours, certain procedures must be followed:

 Any medication to be given during school hours must be delivered directly to the School Nurse. The medication must be brought to school in the original pharmaceutical dispensed and properly labeled container. All controlled medications must be delivered to the School Nurse by an adult, counted and recorded on the student’s medication log. As per the PA Controlled Substances Act, no more than a thirty school day supply for any one medication should be stored at school.

All Medication / Treatments must be accompanied by authorization in writing on the WSD “Prescription Medication Dispensing Form” by a board certified prescribing provider (i.e., physician, advanced practice nurse, psychiatrist, or dentist).

Print the Prescription Medication Dispensing Form. You may also request a copy in the school health office.

This form must contain the following information:

1. Student name and grade
2. Name of medication to be given
3. Reason for medication/treatment
4. Dosage (amount to be given may not exceed manufacturer’s recommended dosage); total dosage within 24 hours
5. Route of medication/treatment f. Exact time medication/treatment is to be given
6. Possible side effects and treatment of possible side-effects

• The “Prescription Medication Dispensing Form” must also be signed by a parent/guardian for ALL medications/treatments. (Note: this form is renewed annually.)
• No emails or telephone requests will be accepted.
• Students in grades 6 through 12 will be responsible for reporting to the Nurse at the time the medication / treatment is to be given. In grades K through 5, individualized plans will be made for the administration by the School Nurse.

Prescription Medications

1. Prescription medications, including inhalers and Epi-pens/Auvi-Q, must be brought to school with the pharmaceutical label on the container that includes the student and prescribing health care provider names. The prescribing health care provider may fax written orders to the School.
2. In order for a student to carry an inhaler or Epi-Pen/Auvi-Q for self-administration, a form requesting such must be signed by the physician and parent/guardian stating the student has been given instruction regarding the medication and direction to report to the School Nurse if self-administered.
3. If there is a change in medication or dosage, a new form must be completed by the physician and signed by the parent.

Over the Counter Medications

1. Over–the-counter (OTC) medications must be provided by the parent/guardian and accompanied by a written note with the information outlined above. No OTC medication will be administered without a written note. No homeopathic or herbal product will be administered without a primary care provider order. 
   • Parent/Guardian Request for Administration of Over-the-Counter Medication During School Hours
2. The Wissahickon School District Consulting Physician allows for administration of certain OTC medications including acetaminophen, ibuprofen and caladryl lotion. In the event of an unexpected allergic reaction in your child, liquid diphenhydramine and Epi-Pens/Auvi-Q are also available. The parent/guardian must continue to provide Epi-Pens/Auvi-Q for children with known severe allergic responses.
3. The School Nurse reserves the right to withhold administration of an OTC medication within the first two hours and the last one hour of the school day to protect the student from excessive medication ingestion. All medication, both prescription and OTC, must be kept in the Nurse’s Office other than medication for which the appropriate documentation has been provided by the student’s healthcare provider.

Students who self-carry any emergency medications (for example: inhalers, epi pens and diabetes supplies), must have the “Permission to Carry Emergency Medication” form completed by BOTH parent/guardian AND prescribing medical provider.

In addition, they will need to demonstrate proficiency in using and storing these medications. The student will meet with the school nurse to review the appropriate skills checklist. These forms are available on the GMAE website for your review under Health Services.

Please plan accordingly and have your child’s medical provider complete the Permission to Carry Emergency Medication form as soon as possible to be ready for the upcoming school year.

Click here to print out the Permission to Carry Emergency Medication form.

Epinephrine Opt Out

The Pennsylvania Public School Code, Section 1414.2 (g) allows parents/guardians to request an exemption to the administration of an epinephrine auto-injector for their student. In order to request this exemption, contact the school nurse to make an appointment to discuss this decision, review and sign the opt-out form.

Physical Education Exclusion

Students who are to be excluded from physical education classes (or recess) for medical reasons must bring a note from the parent/guardian stating the reason for that exclusion.  In cases involving exclusion for more than one physical education period (or recess period), a medical doctor’s statement with the reason for exclusion and the anticipated length of exclusion must be provided.  The student still will attend physical education class and be expected to participate within the constraints delineated by the medical doctor.  A physician’s note must be provided to the school nurse before student returns to full physical education activities without restriction.

Diabetes Care in School

Gwynedd-Mercy Academy Elementary recognises that an effective program of diabetes management in school is crucial to the immediate safety as well as the long term health of students with diabetes.

GMAE follows the Wissahickon School District's Diabetes Care Management policy in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations in response to the revisions of Act 86 of 2016 regarding diabetes care in school.

On October 29, 2024, Act 117 was signed into law in Pennsylvania. This law, which is effective December 29, 2024, added section 1414.12, related Type 1 Diabetes Education Parental Notification to the Public School Code. Act 117 enables the Department of Health (DOH) to develop informational materials for parents and guardians about Type 1 Diabetes. Under Act 117, the informational materials must be updated periodically as necessary and must be made available on DOH’s public website. Additionally, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, a school entity or non-public school must make this material available in writing, electronically, or on the school entity or non-public school’s public website to the parent or guardian of a student when the student first enrolls in elementary school and again when a student enters grade six.

Please review this important information.
Type 1 Diabetes Parent Information Sheet

The following forms will download in Adobe .pdf format. After downloading they can be printed, filled out and sent in to the school nurse to be included in the student's confidential medical file.

• Gwynedd-Mercy Academy Absence Note - please print, fill out and send in with your child upon returning to school
• Guidelines for Dispensing Medication during the School Day
• Physician Request for the Administration of Prescription Medication During School Hours
• Parent/Guardian Request for the Administration of OTC Medicine During School Hours
• Montgomery County Health Department - PA Immunization Requirements
• Asthma Action Plan
• Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan
• Permission to Carry Emergency Medication
• Private Physician's Report of Physical Exam (new students and grade and 6)
• Private Dentist Report (new students and grades 3 and 7)

Gwynedd-Mercy Academy Elementary will follow the guidance of the Montgomery County Health Department and the CDC regarding cases of respiratory illness in our school community.

If your child has symptoms of any contagious virus, please keep him/her home from school, inform the nurse and follow Montgomery County Health Department guidance.

Parents will be contacted and students may be dismissed from school if they are experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness.

Helpful link for families:  MCOPH Respiratory Virus Guidance

Campus Visitor Health Guidelines

When visiting the the GMA Campus property, all parties are expected to be in good health and free of the symptoms of communicable disease.

• MUST have a temperature below 100.4
• MUST NOT be experiencing any of the following symptoms of communicable diseases: cough, shortness of breath, or recent loss of taste or smell, chills, diarrhea, fatigue, new onset of severe headache, muscle pain, nasal/head congestion, runny nose (not related to seasonal allergies), nausea or vomiting.

• Must be following the CDC recommendations regarding the Preventing Respiratory Viruses.