November 15, 2002 

Dear Parent or Guardian: 

The New Jersey State Board of Education has recently amended their regulations which previously required that students be provided with physical examinations at four different grade levels in the school setting.  These new regulations end this practice and direct school districts to only provide physicals to students who do not have a Amedical home@ or family physician.  The school districts have been advised to remind parents of the importance of complete physical examinations, which should be done at least one time during each of a child=s developmental stages; i.e.,  early childhood (preschool through grade 3), pre-adolescence (grades 4 through 6), and adolescence (grades 7-12).  Once again, all of these exams must be done by the family physician if a student has a family doctor. 

Our schools will still be conducting the annual screenings for scoliosis (between the ages of 10 and 18) and maintaining all other health services in the Nurse=s Office as we have in the past.  High School sports physicals are still required before students may participate in any extracurricular activities, including band, and these must also be done by the student=s family physician. 

Thank you very much for your attention to this important matter.  Please feel free to contact your child=s school nurse if you have any questions. 

Sincerely yours, 

Robert M. Gilmartin
Superintendent of Schools 

RMG:dm