Health Services in the Upper Darby School District are organized and developed in accordance with the School Laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The overall purpose of school health services is to help all children develop physically, mentally, and emotionally, so that they may mature and achieve their full potential. Optimal health is essential for maximum utilization of educational opportunities and should occupy a prominent place within the broad objectives of education.

Health Services are planned to help your child achieve his/her fullest potential in school. A team of health professionals, including Certified School Nurses, Staff Nurses, a Physician consultant, and a Dental Consultant, provide services. If your child has a handicap or special health need that may require accommodations at school, every effort will be made to accommodate the needs of your child. 
First aid and health counseling are available to all students during the school year. State-mandated health screenings are conducted at your child's school each year. Vision, height, weight, and BMI (Body Mass Index) screenings are conducted annually in all grades. Hearing screening is done in kindergarten, grades one, two, three, seven, and eleven. The mandated scoliosis screenings are done in grades six and seven. Should a problem or potential problem be detected in any of the screenings, parents will be contacted and further evaluation will be recommended. 

Pennsylvania Health Law requires a physical examination upon entrance to school (at any level) and again in grades six and eleven. Dental exams are required in grades one, three, and seven. Parents may elect to have an abbreviated physical exam performed by the School District Physician Consultant and/or a dental exam performed by the Dental Consultant. This requires written permission from the parent/guardian. 
Please feel free to contact your school nurse throughout the school year. It is recommended that you meet the school nurse at least yearly if your child has a special health concern or health issue.

Please seriously evaluate your child's health and ability to be productive in school when he/she complains of headache, stomach ache or cold symptoms, with or without fever.  Children often have no fever in the morning, but temperatures may rise as the day progresses.  The number of ill students who are sent to school is surprisingly high; it worsens your child's condition and exposes the entire staff and student body to illness.

If your child has any of the following symptoms or conditions, please keep them at home:

• Fever, now or at any time in the last 24 hours.
• Vomiting, now or at any time in the last 24 hours
• Diarrhea, now or at any time in the last 24 hours.
• Extremely red, weepy itchy eyes.
• Eyes were "glued shut" in the morning or have a yellow-ish drainage.
• Any undiagnosed rash or skin eruptions anywhere on the body.
• Sore, red throat.
• Enlarged tonsils.
• Excessive, uncontrollable coughing.

If your child is taking any pain medication stronger than Tylenol or ibuprofen, or if your child has taken Benadryl that morning, please keep them home for monitoring.

A parent note is required for every absence, except those of 10 or more consecutive days. In the instance of an absence of 10 or more consecutive days, a physician's note is required.

An emergency card is required for all students in all grades. The emergency phone numbers you list should be for those people who are willing and able to come to your child's school and pick them up in case of illness or emergency should the need arise. Please be sure the school nurse is aware of any food allergies, bee sting allergy, or a life threatening medical condition that your child may have.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Health requires that every student in grades K/1, 6 and 11 have a physical on file in their health record.  All new students transferring into the school district must also have a physical exam. Download the Report of Physical Examination form, have it filled out, and return it as soon as possible. 

A dental exam performed by the student's private dentist is required by the Pennsylvania Department of Health for students entering K or 1st grade, 3rd grade and 7th grade. Please download Dental Examination Form.  The school district will provide a Certified Dental Hygienist and/or a Certified Physician to administer the exams, if needed.

Sports physicals are under the supervision of the Athletic Director.  Please contact your child's coach for information.

Immunization Requirements

The following immunizations are required for all students in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  Your child's school must have written confirmation from your physician for each immunization.  State law mandates that students not up to date on their immunizations are at risk of being excluded from school.

Grades K through 12:

• DPT (Diptheria/Pertussis/Tetanus): Four (4) required, with one after age 4

• Polio: Four (4) required, with one on or after age 4 and at least 6 months after previous dose.

  If third dose is give on or after age 4 and at least 6 months after last dose, the fourth dose is not required.  

• MMR (Measles/ Mumps/ Rubella): Two (2) required, with the first dose on or after age 1

• Hepatitis B: Three (3) required, must be properly spaced

• Varicella (chicken pox): Two (2) immunizations required, the first must be after age 1. Or history of disease.

In addition to the immunizations listed above, the following requirements are in place:

Grades 7 through 12:

• Tdap (Tetanus/Diphtheria/ Pertussis): one dose required, if less than 5 years since last DPT
• MCV (Menactra – meningitis): one dose required.

Grade 12:

• MCV (Menactra - meningitis): second dose required (if the first dose was given at age 16 or older, only one dose is required)

Screenings are performed by a Certified School Nurse and include the following tests:

BMI (Body Mass Index)

Grades K to 12 - A referral letter recommending a physician evaluation is sent home if the student's BMI falls in the risk category as defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Height/Weight

All grades -  BMI is calculated from annual height/weight.

Vision Screen

All grades -  A referral letter recommending a physician evaluation is sent home if the student fails basic vision test.

Color Vision

Grade 2 - Colorblindness screening is performed and a referral letter recommending a physician evaluation is sent home if irregularities are noted.

Hearing Screen

Grades K through 3, 6, and 9 - A referral letter is sent home recommending a physician evaluation if the student fails the basic test.

Scoliosis Screen

Grades 6 + 7 - A referral letter is sent home recommending a physician evaluation if the student shows any signs of scoliosis. The 6th grade physical exam done by your child's doctor can be used for the scoliosis screen.