School Nurses & Health Offices

The district’s goal is to promote and protect the health and wellness of every student. This commitment is reflected in its school nurse offices, health and physical education curricula, its adherence to state and federal health regulations and guidelines and comprehensive wellness policy.  

School Nurses/Health Offices

Contact information

a woman wearing glasses and a t-shirt that says school nurse, smiles at the camera
Janell Sindoni, RN
Elementary School Nurse
jsindoni@duanesburg.org 
Phone: 518-895-2580 ext. 229 | Fax: 518-708-6814

a woman with brown shoulder length hair wears a white and blue top in front of a blue background
Stephanie Yauchler, RN
Jr./Sr. High School Nurse
syauchler@duanesburg.org
Phone: 518-895-3000 ext. 240 | Fax: 518-836-0657

It is imperative that the school nurse be aware of children’s existing medical conditions, such as asthma and diabetes, and allergies, including environmental, food, bees and other insects. Please keep the school updated on any changes in your child’s medical conditions and/or medications.

New health examination form requirements

2022-23 COVID Guidance (as of August 23, 2022)

COVID guidance for the start of the 2022-23 school year at DCS can be found here.

Student illness

Please help the district prevent infection by keeping students home when they have vomiting, diarrhea, a fever higher than 100 degrees in the past 24 hours, uncontrollable coughing, strep throat (if on medication less than 24 hours) or conjunctivitis (if on medication for less than 24 hours).

Please call your child’s school to report any absences, and note your child’s major complaint or illness. Please be aware that a written note is required by New York state law for all absences and late arrivals.

Medications in schools

The school nurse may only administer prescription or non-prescription drugs to students in school if the parent or guardian submits a written request accompanied by directions for administering the medication from the prescribing physician. Medication should be in the original container with the child’s name on it. All medication turned over to the school nurse is kept under lock and key. These precautions are in place to protect the student’s well-being.

Over the counter medications

By law students cannot be given any over the counter medications or treatments unless there is a written order from your child’s health care provider and written parent/guardian permission to administer these medications.

Having these orders on hand allows us to treat a child’s headache, aches and pains, stomach ache, and minor injuries with the goal of keeping our students in class. All medications are kept in the Health Office.

Have your child’s health care provider complete this form to grant permission for your student to receive over the counter medications. It can be sent to school with your student, faxed or dropped off to the appropriate office.

Behavioral health services

We’ve seen a lot of changes and challenges in recent months. It can create a lot of stress and uncertainty for children and young adults. But we want our families to know we’ve got their backs. 

DCS has a network of staff members and resources to support the social and emotional well-being of our students. For some, that support might include new tools or the right strategies to help manage challenges or stress. Others might benefit from talking to someone outside of their friend and family circles.

DCS provides individual and family counseling services at the district’s on-site behavioral health clinic. This service is offered in conjunction with Northern Rivers Behavioral Health Center. At a parent or guardian’s request, licensed Mental Health Counselor Yvonne Lerner can provide care during regular school hours through a student’s health insurance. She works at DCS year-round to offer services during summer and holiday breaks. 

Parents and guardians seeking more information should contact their DCS school social worker or Lerner at 518-895-5350 ext. 235.

Go to https://www.duanesburg.org/social-emotional-services-and-resources-are-available-to-families/ to learn more about our support services, to meet our team and to get a toolkit of healthy resources.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).

Latest COVID guidance from NY state (March 2, 2022)

Link to DCS’ COVID-19 Report Card

Immunizations and Screenings

Immunizations

Visit the New York State Department of Health website for a complete schedule of required immunizations.

Health exams and screenings

There is a new health examination form for schools that may be filled out electronically. Schools can no longer accept the health exam if it is not on the required form or the required health record equivalent.

Education Law requires all New York state public school students to have a health exam when they are a new student in a school district and when they enter Pre-K or Kindergarten, and grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. 

Please share the following papers at your child’s visit for a health exam with the health care provider. This is typically your doctor but may be a nurse practitioner or physician assistant.

Information about health screenings for athletes can be found in the Athletics Code of Conduct.

Body Mass Index

New York State Education Law requires body mass index, or BMI, and weight status group to be included in a student’s school health examination. To determine BMI, a student is weighed and his/her height is measured. The BMI helps the nurse or doctor know if the student’s weight is in a healthy range or is too high or too low.

Some schools will be surveyed by the state Department of Health each year and asked to share the number of pupils they have in each of six possible BMI categories based on students’ age and sex. If Duanesburg CSD is surveyed by the state, it will only share group data (for instance, the number of second grade boys whose BMI is below the fifth percentile), not individual data. However, if parents wish their child’s data to be excluded from such group calculations, they may do so by contacting their school nurse.

Head lice

If head lice are discovered, a child’s parent or guardian will be notified. The school nurse will provide information about treatment procedures when head lice are detected.

Parents who detect head lice are asked to complete treatment before returning the student to school. The student will be re-assessed by the school nurse before returning to the classroom.

Influenza (flu)

The flu, or influenza, is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs that comes on suddenly and can involve other symptoms. Adults can spread the flu from one day before getting sick to up to 5 days after getting sick. This can be longer in children and in people who don’t fight disease as well (people with weaker immune systems).

Children with the flu should stay home until they have no fever without the use of fever-control medicines and feel well for 24 hours. Infants and young children are at greater risk for getting seriously ill from the flu. That’s why the New York State Department of Health recommends that all children 6 months and older get the flu vaccine.

Read more about the flu and the flu vaccine.

Vaping sensors 

Given our concern for the health and welfare of our students, vape sensors have been installed in Duanesburg Jr./Sr. High School. The sensors are triggered by vape and also can detect elevated sound levels, alerting staff to incidents occurring within the bathrooms. Vaping has become a real health issue for teenagers. Parents/guardians are encouraged to have a conversation with their students regarding using vapes/e-cigarettes. For information about how the vape sensors work, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEmZvdkgm6M.