Health Services

Medications should be scheduled around school hours if possible.

The Medication Administration Form for all medications to be given at school can be found at the top of this page.  

Medication Orders

Medications orders are required from a physician/licensed provider for all medications to be given at school. This includes prescription, over the counter and herbal remedies.  All medication orders must be dated on or after July 1st of the current school year. 

The order from the licensed provider must include:

• Student’s name
• Name, signature and phone number of the licensed provider
• Name of medication
• Route and dosage of the medication
• Frequency and time of medication administration
• Date of the order and discontinuation date if applicable
• Specific directions for administration if necessary

Medication Packaging/Delivery

A parent/guardian or a responsible adult designated by the parent/guardian should deliver all medications to the school. The medication must be in the original pharmacy labeled bottle or packaging or over the counter packaging including medication, name dosage and frequency of administration.

For prescription medications the label must include:

• Name, address, telephone number and Federal DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) number of the pharmacy
• Patient name
• Directions for use (dosage, frequency, time of administration, route, and any special instructions)
• Name and registration number of the licensed prescriber
• Prescription serial number
• Date originally filled
• Name of medication and amount dispensed
• Controlled substance statement when applicable
• Medications in plastic bags or containers other than their original pharmacy container are not acceptable

Medication Pick-Up

A parent/guardian or a designated adult will be responsible to pick up any unused medication at the end of each school year or if it is discontinued. Any medication not retrieved by the last student day will be disposed of.

Children will be permitted to carry epinephrine auto-injectors and inhalers home on the last day of school. If you do not wish to have your child carry these medications home with them, please contact the school nurses. Any epinephrine auto-injectors and inhalers not retrieved by the last student day will be disposed of.

New School Year

A new prescription is required at the beginning of every school year for medication that is taken or available at the school on a long term basis. Medication orders from a physician/ licensed prescriber are valid for one school year and the summer only.

Standing Order Over-the-Counter Medications

Each standing order over-the-counter medication (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, tums) can be given no more than 2 times per week, or 5 times per year to an individual student.  If your child has a need to take these medications at school at a higher frequency, please use the Individual Order for Over-the-Counter Medication. This form should be signed by your child's doctor and a parent.  A new order is needed at the start of each new school year.

• upon original entry into school (usually when entering Kindergarten or 1st grade)
• 6th Grade
• 11th Grade

Please see the Physical Exam tab for additional information regarding the physical exam.

• upon original entry into school (usually when entering Kindergarten or 1st grade)
• 3rd Grade
• 7th Grade

• 4 doses of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (one dose on or after student's 4th birthday)
• 4 doses of polio(one dose on or after student's 4th birthday)
• 2 doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
• 3 doses of hepatitis B
• 2 doses of varicella (chicken pox)

• 1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap)
• 1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV)

• 2nd dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV)
• MCV is to be given at 16 years or older to count as the 12th grade dose

Please use the Spring-Ford Medical/Religious Exemption Form if your child does not receive immunizations for medical or religious reasons 

Physical Exams: A private comprehensive health examination is required upon entry to school (usually when entering Kindergarten or 1st grade) 6th grade and 11th grade.

Dentals Exams: A private comprehensive dental examination is required upon entry to school (usually when entering Kindergarten or 1st grade), 3rd grade and 7th grade

A school health and/or dental examination will be conducted UPON REQUEST IF YOUR CHILD DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

The district will accept reports of privately conducted physical and dental examinations completed within one year prior to a student’s entry into the grade where an exam is required.

example:  If a student in entering 6th grade in August, 2026, a private physical exam will be accepted as long as it is dated on or after July 1, 2025.

PA State Law mandates annual health screenings for every student in public school. Students will be screened for height, weight, vision yearly and hearing for grades KG, 1, 2, 3, 7 and 11th. Students in 7th grade are also screened for scoliosis. Any student unable to pass hearing, vision or scoliosis screenings will bring home a referral paper indicating the results and recommending medical follow-up.

Action Plans

Allergy Action Plan (English)

Allergy Action Plan (Spanish)

Asthma Action Plan (English)

Asthma Action Plan (Spanish)

Seizure Action Plan (English)

Seizure Action Plan (Spanish)

Diabetes Action Plan

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.  

The following fact sheet was created under the requirements of Act 117 and is approved for use in Pennsylvania schools:

PA Department of Health - Type 1 Diabetes Fact Sheet (English)

PA Department of Health - Type 1 Diabetes Fact Sheet (Spanish)

• We will NOT distribute any snacks for birthday celebrations in class. We suggest non-food items (stickers, pencils, erasers) if you would like to recognize your student’s birthday.
• Food at district approved holiday parties must be pre-packaged with an ingredient label.
• If ANY food is to be offered to students at special occasions such as holiday parties, field day, or PSSAs, you will receive an email from your child’s teacher notifying you prior to the distribution.
• Parent must inform the teacher and the student if there are particular foods being offered that must be avoided due to an allergy or personal preference.
• We will instruct and encourage students to avoid sharing food or touching others while eating and we will encourage good handwashing. Please reiterate these healthy practices at home.

When to keep your child home from school:

The Spring-Ford Area School District follows current best practice for the management and treatment of head lice (pediculosis) in schools.  Please use the links below for more information.

CDC Head Lice Information for Schools

CDC Head Lice Treatment

PA School Health - Environmental Issues in Schools: Head Lice

If you have additional questions or concerns please reach out to your School Nurse.  

In an effort to keep all of our students safe and healthy at school, updated information is required at the start of each new school year. The emergency/health information/medication permissions card is included within the First Day Verification tab in Skyward. 

To review and edit the information on your child’s Health Information Form in Skyward, please follow these steps:

• Open skyward family access
• Click “go to first day verification”
• Choose your child
• Click “mark as incomplete and make changes”
• Click the “health information” step
• Click “view full screen” if an option
• Make changes/add information to *required fields
• Scroll up and click to complete this step and move to the next step at top of screen
• Click step to resubmit
• Scroll down and be sure to do this for each of your children

Thank you very much for helping us to keep your child/ren happy and safe while at school!

Please follow these steps if your child tests positive for COVID, the flu, or another respiratory illnesses:

• Step 1: call in an absence as normal to the attendance line. There is no need to report information to the school nurse. 
• Step 2: monitor symptoms at home
• Step 3: contact your PCP or family health provider with specific questions or concern

The individual may return to school if:

• They remain fever free for 24 hours without medication and symptoms have improved
• They feel healthy enough to return to school

• Stay up to date on vaccination
• Stay home when sick
• Optimize ventilation
• Hand hygiene
• Respiratory etiquette
• Cleaning and disinfection

Please practice good health hygiene by:

• coughing or sneezing into the bend of your elbow or a tissue
• properly disposing of tissues
• washing your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water
• using an alcohol based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available
• avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth