Newington Public Schools

Elementary School Annual Health Screenings

Vision and Hearing Screening

Vision screening is done on all students grades K-1 and 3-5. The test performed is done by either a Spot Vision Screener or a Snellen Chart distance test, and is not meant to be a comprehensive vision test, or take the place of a full vision exam performed by an Ophthalmologist or other eye specialist.

Hearing screening is done on all students grades K-1 and 3-5. The test performed is a threshold hearing test only, and is not meant to be a comprehensive hearing test, or take the place of a full hearing exam performed by a hearing specialist.

If your child fails a health screening test, they will be rescreened according to state mandate, and a referral will be sent home if needed. Referrals for your child to see a specialist are a strong recommendation from the school nurse and should be given careful consideration.

Grade 3 Physicals

A physical examination is required for students entering Kindergarten and in grade 3. A student will not enter grade 4 until this physical examination is completed and reviewed by the school nurse.  Please complete the State of CT Health Physical Form (please print on blue paper).

Middle School Annual Health Screenings

Grade 5 Health Screening

Girls: Scoliosis, Hearing, and Vision (See Elementary)

Boys: Hearing and Vision (See Elementary)

Grade 6 Physicals

State of CT Law requires that all students have a State of CT Health Physical Form (please print on blue paper) on file at school during the 6th grade school year. Students who do not have this document on file, are not permitted to start 7th grade, until it has been received. Grade 6 students will also need updated vaccines - Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) and Menactra (meningitis) before entering 7th grade. 

Grade 7 Health Screening

Girls: Scoliosis

Grade 8 Health Screening

Boys: Scoliosis

High School Annual Health Screenings
Routine screenings are not mandated for high school. School nurses will screen on an as needed basis or upon request of parent or physician.

Parents are notified if any screening discrepancies are noted.

Grade 10 Physicals

All students in 10th grade are required by Connecticut State Law to have a physical exam. Please complete the State of CT Health Physical Form (please print on blue paper). If this 10th grade physical form is not received in the nurse's office PRIOR to the 1st day of 11th grade, the student will not be allowed to start classes. To meet the State mandated requirements for the 2024-2025 school year, students will need to have a physical done after these dates:

• 9th graders- 6/1/2024
• 10th graders- 6/1/2023
• 11th graders- 6/1/2022 

Newington High School

Callie Lawrence, BSN, RN, School Nurse

[email protected]
(860) 666-5611 ext. 116

Audra Veach, BSN, RN, School Nurse

[email protected]
(860) 666-5611 ext. 1163

*[email protected] to reach both high school nurses

Martin Kellogg Middle School

Ishprit Kaur, BS, RN, School Nurse
[email protected]
(860) 666-5418 ext. 1

John Wallace Middle School

Glenda Ortiz, BSN, RN, School Nurse

[email protected]
(860) 667-5888 ext. 1

Anna Reynolds Elementary School

Vanessa Prince, BSN, RN, School Nurse

[email protected]
(860) 521-7830 ext. 1

Elizabeth Green Elementary School

Kristen Miner, M.Ed, BSN, RN, School Nurse

[email protected]
(860) 666-3394 ext. 1

John Paterson Elementary School

Daniela Ospina, BSN, RN, School Nurse

[email protected]
(860) 666-4657 ext. 1

Ruth Chaffee Elementary School

Caryn Rhouddou, BS, RN, School Nurse

[email protected]
(860) 666-4687 ext. 1

District Health Services

Mercy Hetherington, M.Ed, BSN, RN, Senior Nurse Administrator

[email protected]
(860) 666-5611 ext. 1165

John Jutras, BSN, RN School Nurse (Float)

[email protected]

School Medication Policy

For the protection of your child as well as the other children in school, we would like to review the policy for the administration of medication during school hours.

No medication will be administered to a student during school hours unless a written request from both parent and prescriber accompanies the medication. The medication, in its original container, should be brought to the school by a parent or responsible adult and not sent with the student. The label on the medication and the prescriber’s written order must include the name of the medication, the dosage, the time to be given, the length of time to be given, and the diagnosis.

This policy will be in effect for any medication to be given in school whether the length of time is to be one day or for the school year.

Please call the school nurse for any questions regarding medication, and to obtain the proper forms.

Administration of Medications

Medication, including "over the counter" (i.e. non-prescription preparations) is given only with written authorization of the parent and authorized prescriber (MD, NP, PA) or dentist on a designated form. Ibuprofen may be administered to girls for menstrual cramps only with written parental permission on the emergency form.

Certified staff may legally administer medications if the nurse is not available.

Medication must be delivered in and administered from the original container clearly labeled with the name of student, physician, and medication with directions for dosage and date of original prescription. All medications must be delivered to the school nurse by the parent or other designated adult.

Students are never allowed to carry medications. The only exception is for students with inhalers and Epi-Pens with a signed Medication Administration Authorization Form.

Forms for Medication Administration (both parent AND physician must sign):

• Medication Administration Authorization Form for Epi-Pens and Inhalers
• Medication Administration Authorization Form for All Other Medications

• Fever: May return when temperature remains under 100.0° for 24 hours WITHOUT the use of medication such as Tylenol, ibuprofen, etc.
• Vomiting: May return 24 hours after vomiting has ceased without any dietary restriction.
• Diarrhea: May return 24 hours after last loose bowel movement without any dietary restriction.
• Conjunctivitis (“pink eye”): May return 24 hours after the first dose of medication, when the eye returns to normal, or until cleared by MD to return.
• Undiagnosed rash: May return after rash is determined to be non-contagious by a doctor or if the rash disappears.

Head lice are small bugs about the size of a sesame seed. They live on the human scalp and lay eggs, called nits, on the hair shaft. The nits are tiny yellowish-white or grayish-white eggs, teardrop-shaped, and about the size of a poppy seed. They are attached to the hair with a glue-like substance. Although nits may resemble dandruff, they will not wash, shake or blow away like dandruff does. Nits hatch in about a week, mature in 7-10 days and start producing eggs. The most common symptom of head lice is intense itching of the scalp.

Head lice are not a source of infection or disease; they are simply a public health nuisance. It is important to know that schools are not the most common place where head lice are spread. School-wide head checks are not recommended or endorsed by the Harvard School of Public Health, the American Academy of Pediatrics or the Centers for Disease Control. Immediate exclusion and “no-nit” policies are no longer practiced because they have not been proven to reduce the spread of head lice. The most effective screening occurs when parents check their own children at home, treat with a head lice shampoo and make efforts to remove the nits.

Head lice are not a sign of poor hygiene. Head lice do not jump, hop or fly. The only way they can get from one person to another is direct touching, head-to-head. The only place head lice can survive and thrive is on the human head. Pets do not carry them. Because of use and overuse of head lice shampoos, head lice have become resistant to the products that once would kill them, so no head lice product is 100% effective, even if you follow the directions to the letter. That is why combing with a metal-tooth comb and nit removal is so important.

One of the biggest challenges in eliminating head lice is parents’ discomfort in communicating about the problem with other parents when they find head lice, so they are more easily passed back and forth among close friends and relatives. School nurses are supportive advocates who will help advise you and assist you in checking or rechecking your child’s head as you deal with head lice. We handle head lice in a confidential manner, as with all health problems.

Treatment for lice:  We do not send a student home with lice unless the parent requests. However, we do expect that the student obtains proper treatment PRIOR to returning to school. Upon returning to school, the school nurse will check the student, at the beginning of the school day, before sending to class. If it is evident that proper treatment was not initiated, the school nurse has the right to send the student home for treatment. After treatment, parents should look for nits daily and remove the nits accordingly until gone.  For two weeks post treatment, at the beginning of each school day, the school nurse will check the student for both nits and live lice. If determined that nits or live lice are still present, the school nurse may send the student home to have the nits and/or live lice removed. 

Additional information on Head Lice and Treatment

The goal of Newington Public Schools Board of Education is to maintain the health and safety of all students including those with medically documented life-threatening food allergies and other medically documented food related conditions. 

The purpose of the Food Allergy Management Plan is to assist a student who has a known food allergy in avoiding exposure to the allergen(s). It is recognized, however, that the school district cannot guarantee an allergy free environment for students, and that possible risk of exposure to all allergens is possible. Home-prepared foods are NOT accepted for any school event/celebration held at a school during or after school hours.

Additional information on Food Allergy Management Plan