Health and Wellbeing

If the student has a communicable disease such as strep throat, chicken pox, mononucleosis, pertussis, etc., please advise the nurse. Students are excluded from school if their temperature is higher than 100 degrees F, if they have an episode of diarrhea, or if they have pink eye with discharge. They must be free of fever, diarrhea, vomiting or eye discharge for 24 hours without medication before they may return to school.

If lice or nits are found on your child, parents must treat the scalp with the treatment recommended by their pediatrician, and see the school nurse before reentering the classroom the next day. The nurse will screen the class for nits, and notify the parents of the occurrence so they may monitor their child for the next two weeks. See website for further information on lice.

If a student, teacher or member of the staff contracts AIDS, AIDS-related complex or any infectious disease, the school will adhere to all regulations and laws that govern the actions of independent schools. Any decisions related to individual students, faculty and/or staff will be made in consultation with medical and legal advice.

With regard to possible instances of child abuse, our faculty and staff must follow the laws and regulations of New Jersey. The law in New Jersey requires any citizen of the state who has reasonable belief that a child is being abused to report his or her concern to state authorities (New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services) and law enforcement.

All medication is held in a locked cabinet in the Health Office by the school nurse. Medication must be in its pharmacy bottle, clearly labeled with the student’s name and directions for dispensing. A “Request for Medication” form, located in the Health Office or online, must be completed by the doctor and parent. Only students requiring epi-pens or inhalers may carry these medications once they are old enough to self-administer. A new doctor’s order and parent permission form must be on file in the Health Office each school year. Overnight trips require the “Medication on a Field Trip” form completed by the parents and the doctor. The form may be found in "Health Information & Forms."

A list of the over-the-counter products used in the health office can be reviewed on the Magnus Health System.

Princeton Day School "nurtures the mind, the body, and the character of each student. Integrity, respect, and compassion are essential to the school's mission." -- PDS Mission Statement

The Student Service Team works closely with the students and faculty to ensure that faculty have the understanding and tools with which to work with various students and students have the emotional, educational, and physical support to be successful students.

Student Services Team

The Student Services Team collaborates regularly in support of students and faculty. In our effort to most efficiently meet student needs, the team works collaboratively: Samantha Dawson, Ph.D. is the Learning Specialist for Upper School, Dr. Cloey Talotta is the Learning Specialist for Middle School, and Casey Upson in the Lower School Learning Resource Center Coordinator. In addition, Nurse Nina Keller is available for Medical Support.

PDS provides a range of services for students who may need additional academic assistance.

Lower School

In our Lower School, our Learning Resource Center team consults with teachers and parents; screens students in language arts and math; and provides extra help for students who are having difficulty acquiring skills.

Middle School/Upper School

In the Middle and Upper schools, teachers are available to meet with students during regularly scheduled resource periods (Middle School) or by appointment during free periods (Upper School). In addition, our Learning Specialist screens students, consults with teachers and parents, works with students on specific short-term study strategies, advocates for learning-different children, and helps them to develop self-advocacy skills. The model is one of increasing independence as students move through the divisions.

To facilitate the medical care of student athletes in grades sixth through twelve, the school employs a certified athletic trainer who is responsible for the prevention, treatment, care and rehabilitation of sports related injuries and illnesses. S/he is available to evaluate any injury or illness that takes place during a practice or game and to either handle the situation at school or refer the student for further medical care. In the event of a serious injury or medical emergency, "911" will be called, and every effort will be made to contact the athlete's parent.

An athletic trainer is available on weekdays from early afternoon until all practices and/or home games have been completed, and on weekends during regular home games.

Medical Excuses from Sports:

All injuries to athletes, whether sports-related or not, must be reported to the certified athletic trainer. Any athlete under a doctor's care for an injury or illness will be required to provide a doctor's note to be excused from sports, and then a note allowing the student to return to sports. If the athletic trainer refers a student to a doctor for medical care, a doctor's note is required to return to sports.

An athlete who is unable to participate in games and/or practice due to injury or illness must be excused in writing by their doctor or the certified athletic trainer. The athletic trainer will modify the athlete's activity and/or provide therapeutic exercise if appropriate to assist the athlete in their return to sports participation.

Parents must notify the appropriate lower or middle school administrator or the switchboard prior to 10:00 a.m. if their child is absent from school. No student may call to excuse her/himself from school. If the School receives no word from home, it will call to verify the absence. The School also calls home to verify absence if a student neglects to sign in with his or her advisor in the morning. If the medical absence extends for five days or more, a written note from the physician must be sent to the school nurse indicating the reason for the absence and must specify any physical or educational limitations or rehabilitation needs.

If a student is able to come to school, but cannot take gym classes temporarily for medical reasons, s/he must present a note from the parents. If the absence will extend longer than 3 days, the student must provide a note from their doctor excusing them. The nurse will then issue a gym excuse to the physical education department, and arrangements will be made for the student to attend library/study hall during the gym period.

New Jersey law requires that students who participate in school sports must have a physical examination on file in the health office within the past 365 days of the first day of practice. For student athletes, a Health History Update, Emergency Contact form, and Participation Permission form must be completed and signed by a parent before the beginning of each sport season. Athletes may not practice until all forms are received by the school nurse or athletic trainer. Forms are available on the Princeton Day School website under Athletics.

If students are not able to schedule a physical by their private physician, the school nurse should be advised, as three times a year, the school physician will perform sport physicals.

New Jersey law now requires any child who wears corrective eyeglasses while participating in racquetball, squash, tennis, women’s lacrosse, basketball, women’s field hockey, badminton, paddleball, soccer, volleyball, baseball or softball shall be required to wear protective eyewear that meets the frames standards of the ASTM F803 and lens standards of the ANSI Z87.1. See your eye care specialist for standards and grants for low-income families.

PDS follows the guidelines of the New Jersey State Department of Health which requires biennial scoliosis screening for all students 10 to 18 years of age. Vision and hearing screenings are completed on students K through 4, and grades 6,8 and 10, if not validated by the physician’s report. Height, weight, and blood pressure will be documented annually on all students.