Welcome to the Nurse's Office. Mrs. Stacie Morse, RN, is here to support students and staff with first aid and health assessment, coordinate care plans for health conditions, educate the school community about current public health needs, administer physician-directed medications, maintain mandated health records, coordinate student athlete preparation and eligibility, and assist families.

An Otselic Valley graduate herself, Mrs. Morse works with school nurse professional organizations and the New York State Department of Health to stay informed and prepared. She can be reached by email (smorse@ovcs.org) and phone (315-653-7218, ext. 4006).

Reminder for 2024-205: Parents/guardians of incoming students in grades Pre-K, Kindergarten, 6, 7, and 12,  your child has additional vaccinations required for school attendance this year. Please have these vaccinations completed prior to school starting. Learn more at the "2024-2025 NYS Immunization Requirements" in the black button to the right.

General Guidelines for Parents Regarding Symptoms

If your child complains of or shows the following symptoms at home, please follow these guidelines:

• RED EYES: Any child with an itchy eye that is red, puffy, and draining colored fluid will be sent home and asked to see their healthcare provider.

• RASH: Any child with an unexplained rash or eye inflammation should be kept at home until the condition is diagnosed by a physician.

• FEVER: If a fever is present during an illness, a child should be kept at home until the temperature is normal for at least 24 hours, and until all symptoms are gone. Children with temperatures of 100.5 or higher will be sent home. Children with temperatures below 100.5 will be assessed and may be sent home depending on their complaints.

• COLD: A child with acute early symptoms of a cold should stay at home to prevent serious developments and to protect classmates from exposure to infection. If this practice is followed, fewer absences due to respiratory illness will occur. Some cold symptoms include a runny nose, persistent cough, swollen glands, sore throat, and headache.

• STOMACH PROBLEMS: An upset stomach, diarrhea, and stomach pains are also reasons your child should stay home.

• HEADACHES: Many times headaches are from not eating or drinking properly. Please encourage your child to eat breakfast either at home or get a FREE breakfast at school .

• VOMITING: Any child who has an episode of vomiting will be sent home from school. Please do not send your child to school if they have vomited in the last 24 hours.

Physical Examinations and Health Screening

New York State Education law requires that all new students and students in kindergarten, grades 1, 3, 7, and 10 have physical examinations. Ideally, the child's primary health care provider should perform the physical examination. We anticipate Community Memorial Family Health Network will be available later in the year to perform physicals for those that need or want one. Students are checked annually for height, weight, hearing, and vision. Children 8-16 years old are examined yearly for scoliosis. All students are checked for visual color perception, near visual acuity, and hyperopia at one point during their elementary years.

Medication During School Hours

When your child's licensed healthcare provider feels that medication is necessary during the school day, you are asked to follow certain procedures.  New York State law requires that the school nurse must have on file a written order from a licensed healthcare provider stating the name, dosage, and time the prescribed medication or over-the-counter (OTC) medication is to be given.  School nurses cannot administer medication to students without a written order from a licensed healthcare provider.  Therefore, you are requested to:

• Complete the Authorization of Medication form for each medication ordered.  This is to be signed by the parent and the licensed healthcare provider.
  

• Obtain a new licensed healthcare provider's order for each new medication or any change in medication, such as dosage, time of administration, etc.
  

• Send in a new medication order at the beginning of each school year as needed.
  

• The parent must bring the medication to school in the original prescription bottle, or original packaging of an over the counter medicine.  Medication will not be accepted from a student.

Students are not allowed to carry medication of any kind on their person or to take medication without written directive from a licensed healthcare provider or parent. The only exception to this is a child with asthma.  Students with asthma may carry and use a prescribed inhaler during the day with the written permission from their licensed healthcare provider and parent.  Please contact the school nurse for the Self Administration Authorization form.

Illness During School Hours

If a child becomes ill at school, the parent or the person named on your emergency card will be notified.  No child will be sent home unless there is someone to receive him or her. 

NOTE: Please notify the office of any changes in telephone numbers and/or the name of the person to be notified.

Emergency Medications

In the event of a sudden and life-threatening reaction to an allergen (insect bites, food allergy, or severe asthma attack), an epinephrine injection may be given by the nurse.  Ambulance and emergency personnel will be contacted any time this medication is given.  Epinephrine is only given when the reaction becomes life-threatening.  New York State mandates school districts to have such emergency policies to protect students.

Communicable Diseases/Extended Illness

All communicable diseases are to be reported to the school nurse as soon as the parent knows the diagnosis.  For other illnesses or conditions, please notify the nurse if your child will be out more than two days.

Regarding Head Lice

This is a topic that can be very alarming to parents and faculty members.  Eight to twelve million students are affected by head lice each year in this country.  Here are some facts and tips for you:

• Head lice do not hop, jump, or fly.

• Head lice prefer clean hair.

• Head to head contact is one way to contract lice.

• A live louse may crawl onto carpet or clothing and can survive long enough to crawl onto hair that comes into contact with it.

• An adult louse has a life span of 30 days and can produce 300 eggs known as nits.

• Nits hatch in 10 days and need a warm, humid environment.  They require human blood to survive.  They cannot survive on plastic, smooth, or hard surfaces.

• Adult lice are the size of a sesame seed.  They are brown and move very quickly through hair.

• Nits are white and stick very tightly to individual hair strands.

• Treatment with an approved head lice product and manual removal of all nits is the only way to break the lice cycle.

If your child does get head lice, try not to panic.  Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a recommended treatment product.  Follow instructions carefully.  Call the school nurse or your doctor if the instructions seem confusing.  Remember to retreat in 10 days as indicated by the product instructions.

• Check all family members, including parents.

• Disinfect combs and brushes.

• Wash and dry bedding on the high heat setting.

• Vacuum carpets, furniture, mattresses, and vehicles.

• Stuffed animals can be put into a plastic garbage bag and sealed for 14 days.

• There is no need to spray or bomb your house.  These products are toxic and are not proven to help prevent lice.

• Children and pregnant women should not use products containing Lindane (Kwell).  This product is toxic.

 If you need more help or would like to learn more about lice, you can call the National Pediculosis Association at (800) 446-4672.

The school nurse will perform head checks throughout the year.  The management of head lice can be effective if we all work together.  Children who are found to have head lice during routine checks will NOT be identified in front of their classmates.  Parents will be contacted and expected to treat their child as soon as possible. The student will be rechecked as needed.

Mrs. Stacie Morse, RN
PreK-12 School Nurse 
Email: smorse@ovcs.org
Phone: (315) 653-7218, extension 4006