Health Services

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

CHIP provides quality, comprehensive health insurance for routine doctor’s visits, prescriptions, dental, eye care, eyeglasses, mental health, and much more. CHIP covers uninsured kids who are not eligible for Medical Assistance. For many families, CHIP is free – for others, it is low cost. For additional information, please visit CHIPcoversPAkids.com or call 1-800-986-KIDS.

Confidentiality Notice
The York Suburban School District Health Services Department complies with federal and state regulations regarding the confidentiality of all student health information, both written and oral. As such, school nurses will not discuss the health concerns or findings of any child in the District other than your own. We want parents to feel comfortable consulting with Health Services staff members and sharing medical information about their child without worrying about privacy issues. Should you have questions about the care of your child, please contact your school nurse listed below.

Physical Examinations
Physical examinations are required for children upon original ENTRY into school, in GRADE 6, in GRADE 11, and for any child who does not have documentation of a physical exam from their previous school. The exams must have been completed after July 1 of the previous year. Sports physicals, as well as copies of driver’s licenses, will be accepted.

Dental Screenings
Dental evaluations are required within one year of entry to KINDERGARTEN, GRADE 3, and GRADE 7.

Immunizations
Unless the child has a medical or religious/philosophical exemption, Pennsylvania School Health Law requires all children have the required medically appropriate vaccines or a plan to obtain those vaccines, or he/she will risk exclusion from school.

For attendance in ALL GRADES (K-12), children need the following:

  • 4 doses of tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (DPT)* - last dose after fourth birthday
  • 4 doses of polio - last dose after fourth birthday
  • 3 doses of hepatitis B
  • 2 doses of measles, mumps, rubella (Usually given as MMR)
  • 2 doses of varicella (chickenpox) or evidence of immunity

For attendance in GRADE 7, children need the following in addition to the above:

  • 1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) on the first day of seventh grade
  • 1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) on the first day of seventh grade

For attendance in GRADE 12, children need the following in addition to the above:

  • 1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) on the first day of twelfth grade. If one dose was given at age 16 or older, that counts as the Grade 12 dose.

If a child does not have all the doses listed above and the next dose is not medically appropriate, the child must provide an alternative medical plan for obtaining the required immunizations. This plan must be received within the first five days of school, or the student will risk exclusion.

Forms
Printable forms for physicals, immunizations, and dental screenings can be found at https://www.yssd.org/our-district/health-room/health-room-forms.

Once completed, the documentation can be returned to the school nurse at the start of the school year or scanned and emailed throughout the summer. Please feel free to contact your child's school nurse if you have any questions or concerns.

Certified School Nurses

April Miller
Valley View and Yorkshire Elementary Schools
amiller@yssd.org

Krista Wolfenberger
East York and Indian Rock Elementary Schools
kwolfenberger@yssd.org

Kacie Blum
York Suburban Middle School
kblum@yssd.org

Karla Coffman
York Suburban High School
kcoffman@yssd.org


Health Room Nurses

Tammy Daugherty
Valley View and Yorkshire Elementary Schools

Samantha Herink
East York and Indian Rock Elementary Schools

Health Forms & Resources

All Students
All Students

Locate the forms that pertain to your child(ren). Download a form by clicking on the document's title to open it (it may take a few seconds to load); the subsequent screen will have a download button in the upper, right-hand corner. Finally, read and complete the forms. Return the forms—along with any applicable medication—to the school nurse prior to the first day of school.

Asthma
Cardiac
Diabetes
Seizures
Allergies
Health and Safety Plan

Type 1 Diabetes
Act 117 of 2024 requires school entities and non-public schools to share Type 1 Diabetes educational materials with parents and guardians of students, either in writing, electronically, or on the school entity's or non-public school’s publicly accessible website. Attached are the Type 1 Diabetes educational materials. The materials are also available on the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website.

Description
Type 1 diabetes in children is an autoimmune disease that can be fatal if untreated, and the guidance provided in this information sheet is intended to raise awareness about this disease. Type 1 diabetes usually develops in children and young adults, but can occur at any age.

  • Type 1 diabetes can appear at any age, but it generally appears at two noticeable peaks. The first peak occurs in children between 4 and 7 years old. The second is in children between 10 and 14 years old (Mayo Clinic). Type 1 diabetes affects insulin production.
  • Normally, the body turns the carbohydrates in food into glucose (blood sugar), the basic fuel for the body’s cells.
  • The pancreas makes insulin, a hormone that moves glucose from the blood into the cells.
  • In type 1 diabetes, the body’s pancreas stops making insulin, and blood glucose levels rise.
  • Over time, glucose can reach dangerously high levels in the blood, which is called hyperglycemia.
  • Untreated hyperglycemia can result in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which is a life-threatening complication of diabetes.

Risk Factors Associated with Type 1 Diabetes
It is recommended that children displaying warning signs and symptoms associated with type 1 diabetes described below, should be screened (tested) for the disease by their health care provider. Risk Factors: Researchers do not completely understand why some people develop type 1 diabetes and others do not. However, having a family history of type 1 diabetes can increase the likelihood of developing type 1 diabetes. Other factors might play a role in developing type 1 diabetes, including environmental triggers such as viruses. Type 1 diabetes is not caused by diet or lifestyle choices. Warning Signs and Symptoms Associated with Type 1 Diabetes and Diabetic Ketoacidosis. Warning signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children develop quickly, in a few weeks or months, and can be severe. If your child displays the warning signs below, contact your child’s primary health care provider or pediatrician for a consultation to determine if screening your child for type 1 diabetes is appropriate:

  • Increased thirst
  • Increased urination, including bed-wetting after toilet training
  • Increased hunger, even after eating
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Feeling very tired
  • Blurred vision
  • Very dry skin
  • Slow healing of sores or cuts
  • Moodiness, restlessness, irritability, or behavior changes

DKA is a complication of untreated type 1 diabetes. DKA is a medical emergency. Symptoms include:

  • Fruity breath
  • Dry/flushed skin
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Stomach pains
  • Trouble breathing
  • Confusion

Type 1 Diabetes Treatments
There are no known ways to prevent type 1 diabetes. Once type 1 diabetes develops, medication is the only treatment. If your child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, their health care provider will be able to help develop a treatment plan. Your child’s health care provider may refer your child to an endocrinologist, a doctor specializing in the endocrine system and its disorders, such as diabetes.

Contact your child’s school nurse, school administrator, or healthcare provider if you have any questions.

Related Information