Microsoft word - dear parent letter with kindergarten requirements and immunuzations revised 2.1.12.doc

Lexington Public Schools 146 Maple Street  Lexington, Massachusetts 02420 Please note that in order to be admitted to kindergarten, a child must be 5 years of age on or before August 31, and be
a Lexington resident. No exceptions will be made.
Dear Parent or Guardian:
In order to enter kindergarten in the Lexington Public Schools, the following registration information is
required:
1. Completion of school forms – Student Registration Form PreK-12, Student Health Information Form,
Massachusetts School Health Record, Certificate of Immunization, Home Language Survey, and Lexington Census. 2. Proof of residency - See the Parent/Guardian Checklist for Incoming Students for a list of acceptable 3. Submission of original birth certificate – This will not be retained by the school. 4. A physical examination is required at the time of entrance. This examination should be conducted by your child’s primary care provider. The exam may be reported on the Massachusetts School Health Record, or on the primary care provider’s form and return it to the school. Required immunizations should also be included on the health record. A physical examination done within the past year prior to entrance is acceptable. The exam must include vision screening with stereopsis results. 5. Massachusetts General Law c.76, §§ 15 and 15C, requires school children be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTP), polio, measles, mumps, rubella (German measles) (MMR), hepatitis B, and varivax (chicken pox). (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) – Two doses required First dose must be after age 1. Disease – must submit laboratory evidence of immunity Two doses given four weeks apart after age 1 required, or documentation of disease Although not an immunization, date and result are required to enter Based upon the guidelines established by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the following policy has been approved by the School Committee for entering students: Students entering from Latin America and the Caribbean (which includes all countries and islands south of the United States), Africa, Asia (except Japan), Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, and the Middle East are required to submit a baseline intradermal (Mantoux) test prior to entrance into the Lexington Public Schools. If the Mantoux is positive as stated in a physician's letter, then a negative chest X-ray report is required. BCG vaccine cannot be used in place of Mantoux screening because its protection rate is unreliable and Tuberculosis (TB) may occur after vaccination. All students should have a TB risk assessment by their primary care provider at the time of scheduled physicals and upon entry to school. It is the responsibility of the primary care provider to evaluate the child to determine the risk of exposure to TB, the necessity for a TB (Mantoux) test, follow-up on positive reactors, or children placed on isoniazid (INH) preventive therapy. Physicians may also request skin testing based on the current recommendations listed below:  Contact of persons with confirmed or suspected infections tuberculosis  Children with radiographic or clinical findings suggesting tuberculosis  Children who have emigrated from endemic countries  Children whose parents or other household members have latent tuberculosis infection (i.e. positive skin test for tuberculosis and negative chest x-ray) There may be a small group of children exempted from the law because of medical or religious reasons. A statement from the child’s physician is required indicating the medical reason why one or more of the immunizations is contraindicated. A parent or guardian may submit a statement indicating that immunization conflicts with his/her religious belief. Please note: When a case of a vaccine-preventable disease emerges, susceptible individuals (including those with medical or religious exemptions) who are not vaccinated will need to be excluded for the appropriate time periods as outlined in Reportable Diseases, Surveillance and Isolation & Quarantine Requirements (105 CMR 300.000).

Source: http://lexingtonps.schoolwires.net/cms/lib2/MA01001631/Centricity/Domain/554/KindergartenrequirementsImmunuzations1213.pdf