From the Nurse's Office

Welcome to Nyack Middle School Nurse's Office!

 Whitney Pearce, RN (wpearce@nyackschools.org)  

 

Illnesses, Injuries and Absences

If your child becomes ill or injured at school, he/she should report to the nurse's office. If your child needs to go home, the School Nurse will contact you.

  • All absences require a written note or a phone call from parent/guardian
  • If your child is out 3 or more days, a doctor's note is required when he/she returns to school
  • Students must be fever, diarrhea, or vomitting free for a full 24 hours without medication before returning to school
  • If your child is going to be absent from school due to illness please call the attendance office 845-353-7205. It is the parent's/guardian's responsibility to notify the school if the student is absent

Injuries/ Medical Accessories:

  • If your child needs to leave school due to an injury,  a doctor's note is required when he/she returns to school
  • If your child is using medical equipment such as braces, crutches, a boot, or any other assistive devices, a doctor’s note is required for proper documentation. The note should include the nature of the injury, any activity restrictions, and the expected duration of those restrictions. If no return-to-activity date is provided, a follow-up note will be needed before your child can resume physical activities.
  • All doctor’s notes must be submitted to the Nurse’s Office, which will provide copies to physical education teachers. Additionally, if your child requires the use of the elevator, a doctor’s note is necessary to issue the elevator key.
  • Upon returning to school, any student with a medical restriction should report to the Nurse’s Office, where emergency evacuation instructions will be provided and staff support will be arranged as needed.

Contact Info for School Nurse and Health Aide

Whitney Pearce  RN

Direct Number: 845 353 7210

wpearce@nyackschools.org

NMS Nurse's Office Fax: 845-353-7212

Please email or fax updated forms to emails/fax listed above or mail to:

NMS Nurse's Office 

98 South Highland Ave 

Nyack, NY 10960

Medications

The health and safety of students is a top priority at our school. Below are the rules and guidelines regarding medications and health action plans. Please review them carefully to ensure proper handling of medications and emergency health needs.

A completed medication form is required for allow any to student to use, carry or store medications in the Nurse's Office. New York State Law requires a medication order form be completed by the MD and signed by the parent - so please do not ask the nurse to administer any medication without your doctor's signature - this includes over the counter medications such as Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen and Benadryl.  Try to anticipate your child's needs ahead of time and have everything in place for the time that he/she may need it - these forms are good for a full year! 

Standard Medications:                                            

The Nurse's Office keeps some OTC medications in stock, but if there is something more specific, the OTC medication must be provided in the original package by the parent. As with all medication orders, this order must be renewed annually. *NOTE: these medications must be supplied to the Nurse in their original packaging.*

 Medication form - parental permission 2025-2026 1.docx 

 

For Short-Term/ Daily Medications:                                  

A prescription from the MD must be provided for short term medication use such as antibiotics, prescription eye drops and /or ADHD medication.*NOTE: these medications must be supplied to the Nurse in their original packaging; prescription medications should have the student and doctor's name on them.*  

Medication Order Form - Non-formulary meds 1.pdf   

 

Please note: The parent or guardian must pick up all medications and inhalers on or before the last day of school. If the medications and inhalers are not picked up they will be discarded.

If you have any questions please call 845-353-7210 // 845-353-7211 or fax 845-353-7212 or email: 

Physical & Dental Exams

Physical & Dental Exams:

NY State Law mandates that ALL NEW students and students in 1,3,5, SEVENTH, 9 and 11th grades submit a current physical and proof of dental exam to the Nurse's Office. Mandatory screenings by the School Nurse will done for the above grades if the MD has not documented height, weight, vision, hearing & scoliosis.

Physical exams are good for one year from the date of exam. Sports Physicals will take place before each sport season after school at in the nurse's office by our school MD, this is for student's that do not have a current physical on file, and/or want to participate in our school sports programs. These dates will be made available to 7th and 8th graders prior to each season. Please see the Sport's Registration tab for more information...

Students that fail to submit a mandatory physical may be required to have an in school physical by the School MD at the district's discretion so that we may be in compliance with NY State. 

Medication/ Action Plans

If your student has any medical issues such as asthma, food allergies that require an epi-pen, seizure disorder, or diabetes, they should have an Emergency Action Plan completed annually by the doctor. Your student should carry their emergency meds/testing equipment at all times and/or keep doses/equipment in the Nurse's Office:

Immunization Clinic hours for Summer 2025

Rockland County Department of Health Summer Immunization Hours:

June 2025

Monday: 8:30a to 11:00a (50 Sanatorium Rd, Bldg A, Pomona location)

Thursday: 8:30a 11:00a (14 South Main Street, Spring Valley location)

 

July 2025 and August 2025

Wednesday: 8:30a to 11:00a (Pomona location)

Thursday: 8:30a to 11:00a (Spring Valley location)

 

Eligibility criteria for appointments are the following: uninsured, under-insured, Medicaid-based insurance (Fidelity, Affinity, MVP, etc.).

Vaccination Requirements

All incoming 6th Graders need to receive the Tdap vaccination before their 11th birthday. They may also receive the Meningococcal Vaccine (MCV) at this time. 

All incoming 7th Graders need to receive the Meningococcal Vaccine (MCV) before the start of 7th Grade. 

If proof of immunization is not provided within 14 days of the due date, your child may be excluded from school until documentation is received. 

Contagious Disease Information

If your child has a contagious condition such as strep throat, conjunctivitis, ringworm or lice etc., we ask that you please notify the school nurse 353-7210 so we can be aware of the condition and check other student's if necessary, as well as notify parents appropriately. Student's with contagious conditions must be under a physician's care and cannot return to school until advised by their MD. The nurse urges parents to keep their child home for 24 hours after temperature, nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea.

Head Lice Information

Please be reminded that head lice can happen to anyone, anywhere. While lice remain alive on the infected person's clothing or hair until they have been destroyed, it is communicable. As a reminder, several treatment's are often necessary to cleanse the hair. Please read instructions carefully, unless nits are removed, they can re-infest.

Washing all personal clothing with hot soapy water and a disinfectant should destroy any lice. Remember to check the seams of clothing. The use of a dryer (high heat for at least 20 minutes) will also facilitate destruction of adult lice and nits. If clothing is not washable it should be dry cleaned.

While observing your child, please be aware that lice are small brown bugs, nits or eggs are white, filmy and stick to the hair and must be combed or slid off the hair strand by hand. There is no reason to panic; however there is a need to be aware of the possibility of pediculosis. Your daily inspection of your child's hair will help ensure quick action if needed.

Sports Registration

Registration must be completed on-line prior to start of sport season to ensure clearance for practice. Student must have an updated physical within the year to be cleared for sports. 

      New Users: Sign up for all sports go to www.nyackschools.org.  Click on Departments Tab; select Health and Wellness; click on New Online Athletic Participation Registration Program; click on Middle School. 

    Returning Users: Please click the blue Family Account Login and register for your sport and submit. 

When are School Sports Physicals?

  • NYS MANDATED PHYSICALS
    • NMS Physical date: Wednesday January 15th 9AM to 1PM
  • Spring Sports Start Dates - Middle School Athletics start March 25th, 2025 
    • NMS date: Wednesday March 19 2:45PM - 4:45PM
  • Summer Sports Prep for Fall Sports
    • NMS date Wednesday June 11th 2:45PM - 4:45PM

***Please note: a physical that was considered valid for Fall season MIGHT NOT necessarily be valid for the Winter or Spring seasons and MIGHT NOT be valid for the NYS Mandated requirement.***  

Click Link For: "New Online Athletic Participation Registration Program  http://Nyack-ar.rschooltoday.com

Click On: Athletic Registration - Middle School to complete Athletic Registration

 

 

Letters Sent Home

 Information from the Middle School Nurse 

Health Examination Forms 

Medication Order Form NMS 

Cover page -Spanish Version MS 

Important Nurse Informational Letter - Spanish Version  

Dental Letter 

Lyme Disease Letter 

Vision Examination Certificate