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Mechanicsburg Area School District

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Health Services Guidelines

The MASD Health Services Department adheres to guidelines written by the PA Department of Health, American Academy of Pediatrics and Center for Disease Control in accordance with Pennsylvania state law and MASD policies.
 
Fever and Illness Guidelines
A temperature of 100.4  degrees or greater taken orally is considered a fever.  You child is expected to be fever-free without medication for 24 hours before returning to school.  Please refer to the " Is my child too sick for school" memo for illness guidelines. This will help prevent more students and faculty from becoming ill from exposure to the virus or bacteria that caused your child's fever/illness.
 
Exclusion Procedures
Students who have been diagnosed by a physician or are suspected of having a communicable disease by the school nurse as determined by suspicious clinical findings shall be excluded from school for the period indicated by regulations of the Department of Health for certain specified diseases and infectious conditions.  Among these diseases are cases of scabies, varicella (chickenpox), conjunctivitis (pink eye), impetigo, strep, and bacterial meningitis.  In some cases, a student may return if a course of medication has been started or if symptoms have cleared.  
 
Students who have been diagnosed by a physician as being absent due to a communicable disease not specifically listed by the Department of Health or who have diagnosed as a carrier of such disease may be excluded if they return without a physician's note stating they are clear for re-entry into school.  If you have any questions, please contact your school nurse.  
 
Elementary Physical Education
Physical education is an important part of your child's educational experience.  The goal of the physical education program is to allow the student to engage in a variety of physical activities that are developmentally appropriate and contribute to their health and physical fitness.  Our program is based on the state standards and allows the student enough time to become proficient in these areas.  Hopefully the student will gain enough of an appreciation of physical activity and fitness to include it as an integral part of their lives.  
 
All students are to participate in physical education.  They are to be prepared by wearing appropriate footwear (sneakers).  
 
Excuses for Physical Education
  • A doctor's excuse is necessary to excuse a student from participation in class for more than 1 class.  A parent note will be accepted for 1 class in the event of an illness or injury.  
  • Any student in a cast, splint, or using orthopedic devices must have a doctor's note stating limitations.  
  • A student returning to class after a cast or splint removal must have a doctor's note stating when they may return to normal activity. 
  • If a child is excused from physical education, the same restrictions apply for all recesses.  They may go outside, but may only participate in a quiet activity at a designated area.