WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!

The beginning of the school year is exciting for everyone. My favorite part is seeing how much the children have grown during the summer break. Some junior high students are as tall or taller than some of their teachers!

My least favorite part of the beginning of the school year is the paperwork. The state of Illinois requires all Kindergarten students to have a physical examination form and proof of immunizations in their school health file by October 15. This also applies to all new students in all grade levels. I have already contacted those parents whose children are missing physical examination forms and/or immunizations. Children who are missing this information will not be able to attend school beginning October 16.

The state has added an additional rule beginning this school year for all Kindergarten students. A vision examination is now required. Completed forms are due by October 15. Children who are missing this form will not be excluded from school, however, they will not receive a report card until a completed vision examination form is turned in at school.

A new sports physical is required every school year in order for children to tryout for an afterschool sports team. If your child plans on trying out in the future, please get their sports physical taken care of now. Many announcements are made at the beginning of the day and during PE classes as to when and where tryouts will take place. And even with this information there are still children upset on tryout days because they don’t have a sports physical.

Lastly, the state of Illinois requires all Kindergarten, 2^nd, and 6^th grade students to have a dental examination. Completed dental examination forms are due by May 15, 2009. This may seem like a lot of time to take care of this, however, last year there were 6 children who were unable to register for the current school year because they didn’t hand in their dental form. So please be aware that if your child does not have a dental examination form in their health file for this school year by May 15 they will not receive their end of the year report card AND you will not be able to register them for the next school year until this is taken care of.

Please do not hesitate to call me with any questions concerning the above state and school rules.

Thank you,

Patty Lubash, RN