Screening Information

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Annually the school nurses measures your student's height and weight.  You will receive a report of these measurements which will include a calculated BMI according to your student's age.  

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a calculation that uses your height, weight, age and sex to determine how you are growing.  It is only one tool that you can use to strive for your optimal healthy weight.  BMI is calculated as a number and a percentile.  Healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9.  The normal range of BMI is 5th to 85th percentile.  Both of these numbers are found on the BMI report you receive each year.

BMI Calculator for Kids
BMI Calculator for Adults 



Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine, most commonly found during the adolescent growth period.  The Pennsylvania Department of Health has adopted regulations requiring each child in grades 6 and 7 and age appropriate (11 and 12 years of age) children in ungraded classes to be screened for scoliosis.

The effect of scoliosis depends upon its severity, how early it is detected, and how promptly is is treated.  Early identification and management of scoliosis is the purpose of the state screening program.  

The screening is simple and non-invasive.

  1. The student is asked to take off any extra clothing such as sweatshirts and sweaters.

  2. The student stands straight with their feet even, looking forward.  The screener stands behind the student looks for unequal distances or unevenness of the shoulders, arms and hips.

  3. The student is asked to bend at the hips/waist and reach for their toes.  The screener then looks for any humps of the shoulder blades or unevenness in the hips.

The school nurse screens children in 6th and 7th grade during the school year.  If your student was assessed for scoliosis by a physician (private or school), that assessment is used in place of the annual screening.  If you do not want your child to participate in this mandated screening, please contact the Middle School Nurse.




Vision Screening

Vision screenings for near and far acuity are completed each school year for every student in the district.  West Perry utilizes Titamus Vision Screeners during this process.  Students are expected to look into a back lit view finder and read selected letters or identify pictures depending on age and maturity.  Students in first grade are also screened for color-blindness, depth perception and extreme far-sightedness.  Screenings are not diagnostic, and should be confirmed by a private optometrist or opthamologist.  These professionals will be able to prescribe corrective measures if needed.



Hearing Screening

Students in Kindergarten through third, seventh and eleventh grade are screen for hearing. If your child does not pass the hearing screening, you will be notified by the school nurse.  It is highly recommended you have your private physician evaluate your child's hearing if your child fails a screening.  There are many reasons a child may fail a hearing screening which can be corrected such as ear infections, wax impaction or congestion.