Nurses' Office Resources

We are approaching Covid management in the context of our overall health and wellness goals. We want to have healthy students deeply engaged in purposeful learning at school. Packer has updated our Covid protocol to reflect the CDC guidance for when to stay home and when to return to normal activities after respiratory infections including Covid, influenza, and RSV, which has been adopted by the NYS and NYC Departments of Health. Please report all contagious illnesses, including Covid, to the nurses' office. The instructions below apply to students, faculty, and staff.

• Stay home when you are sick. Return to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, you are fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medication AND symptoms are improving overall.
• After returning to normal activities, you are encouraged to take added precautions over the next 5 days, including masking and testing to avoid spreading the virus.
• If symptoms worsen or a fever develops or returns, stay home and away from others again. Use the same criteria for returning to normal activities as when you first had symptoms.
• Vaccination: Packer still strongly encourages staying up-to-date with Covid-19 vaccination. We continue to fully comply with New York law with regard to student vaccination and may update our vaccination requirements in the future as a matter of school policy.
• Masking in General: Packer is a mask-optional and mask positive campus. Anyone may choose to wear a mask at any time. Students, faculty and staff will respect and support anyone who chooses to mask for any reason. 

Print important health policy information.

Packer is an Allergy Aware School. Tree nuts (cashews, walnuts, pistachios, etc), peanuts and sesame ARE NOT PERMITTED on campus or at off-campus school activities (including athletics). There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this policy. 

All students with severe allergies must have an annual Allergy Action Plan completed and signed by the physician and parents and uploaded to the Magnus Health Portal.

Preschool and Lower School students with severe allergies may participate in the school snack programs (including the sharing of birthday or other treats provided by families/school community members), provided caregivers have given explicit permission to do so and signed the waiver through the Magnus app. Third and Fourth Grade students are permitted to participate in the Packer meal plan after they have had a meeting with the Food Services Director and the Nurse.

Middle School and Upper School students with severe allergies must carry their EpiPens when on campus and at off-campus Packer activities.

All students must submit annual health forms to the Magnus Health portal in a timely fashion or students may face exclusion from school, athletics and trips. All students must comply with the New York State Immunization Requirements for School Entrance/ Attendance. 

For support with submitting your health forms, please contact the Magnus Support (877) 461-6831. Many parents find the "Getting Started Video" helpful.

All parents must log in to Magnus Health, and complete the required printable and online forms. All required forms can be found in the Student Health Tracker:

•  Consent to treat
• Annual health form: completed and signed by your child(ren)’s physician
•  Permission for OTC Medications: completed and signed by parent and the physician
•  Medication Permission Form for all OTC and Prescription Medication: completed and signed by parent and the physician
• Vital Health Record: the online health questionnaire completed by parent

In addition to the forms required for all students, students with life threatening allergies, asthma, diabetes, or seizure disorders will find additional form requirements. Continue to submit health forms from your doctor every 12 months, from the date of the last physical exam. 

We depend on you to submit accurate and updated health information every 12 months, from the date of the last physical exam. Therefore, please include all medication your child takes, even if you do not expect them to take it at school or if they only take it occasionally. Having current and comprehensive information on your child allows us to provide the best care for them and provide a safe school environment for all.

Sign in to Magnus Health

Students who have a fever of 100 or higher or have vomited must stay home for 24 hours or the next full day of school. Students who have been diagnosed with strep throat or pink eye must stay home until they have completed 24 hours of antibiotics.   The Nurses’ Office must be notified of any contagious illness.  Students who become sick in school must be picked up within the hour. Students who have had a fever or cold symptoms must be tested for Covid before returning to school. Students who have cold symptoms and are coming to school should also be tested for Covid. Please do not send students to school who have a persistent cough or continuous runny nose.

Students who need to take medications at school must have a current copy of the prescription or written order from the prescribing doctor on file in Magnus. Medication must be brought to the Nurses' Office in the original pharmacy labeled container.

All students who are injured either at school or off campus and are prescribed any orthopedic appliance (cast, splint, crutches, sling, walking boot) or are excused from sports or gym, are required to return to school with a written note from the treating physician that (1) specifies the level of activity permitted and (2) clears them to attend school. The Nurses’ Office will work with the family and physician to determine what accommodations are required for the student to remain in school. These accommodations may include an elevator pass, excuse from PE/dance class, assistance with writing, etc.

Students who have had surgery or stitches must also return with a written note from the physician.

Packer follows strict guidelines around head injuries as required by the State of New York. If your child has been diagnosed with a head injury/concussion, the following protocol must be adhered to.

• The student may not return to school without written healthcare provider’s orders that must include specific information regarding any physical and academic restrictions.
• Parents must bring the student to the Nurses’ Office prior to the start of the first day back.
• Students will not be permitted to return to physical activity until they are fully cleared by their medical provider for academic work.
• Return to sports and other physical activity will also need a medical provider's written orders.
• A school nurse will coordinate communication with the medical provider, the Athletic Trainer (for sports injuries) and the Dean/Advisor. Regular check-in meetings with the Nurse, Dean and Athletic Trainer may be required.