by Jennifer Velez Smith, School Nurse at Newfield Elementary School
Hello Stamford families,
As we get closer to the start of a new school year, I want to share a reminder that’s especially important for families with children entering Kindergarten, 7th grade, or 10th grade.
To help every student start strong, a school wellness visit is required before the first day of school for students entering these grades. These checkups are about more than meeting a requirement—they’re about giving your child the healthiest start possible.
At a school wellness visit, your child’s healthcare provider will check physical, emotional, and developmental health. They’ll make sure school-required vaccines are up to date, examine their vision and hearing, and talk with you about your child’s growth and overall well-being. It’s a chance to catch any concerns early and set kids up for a confident, healthy school year.
For our Kindergarteners, this may be their very first school checkup—and a big step into a whole new world of learning and discovery. For 7th graders, it’s a chance to talk about the changes that come with the teen years. And for 10th graders, this is a good time to check in on everything from stress and sleep to nutrition and screen time.
If your child hasn’t had their school wellness visit yet, don’t worry—there’s still time! The Stamford Department of Health Clinic, located at 138 Stillwater Avenue, offers school wellness visits for all children. No insurance? No problem. To schedule an appointment, call (203) 977-5385. Need more information about school or daycare vaccine requirements? Visit https://bit.ly/ChildhoodVaccinesInfo.
We all want the same thing for our kids: a happy, healthy, and successful school year. Getting your child’s wellness visit done now is one simple way to support that goal. Let’s make sure every student in Stamford is school ready!
This post is sponsored by The Stamford Department of Health