Georgia law requires that all students entering Georgia schools have specific documentation of immunizations for school attendance. The school nurse will identify students with incomplete or expired immunization records and notify the parent accordingly. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to update the Immunization record upon expiration or changes in Georgia state law. Any student who fails to comply with state requirements will be excluded from school until an updated immunization record has been received per Georgia state law.
Pinecrest Academy does not accept religious waivers for immunizations per the policy of the Archdiocese. This ruling was made based upon research by several religious entities that immunization does not conflict with Catholic religious beliefs. In fact, having un-immunized persons is a threat to the health of a community. Therefore, Pinecrest Academy only accepts medical exemptions in efforts to promote the overall health and well being of our academic community.
Georgia State law mandates that in the case of an outbreak of a communicable disease, students with a medical exemption must be excluded from school immediately. They are to remain out of school until proof of immunity to the disease in circulation is presented to Pinecrest Academy and is approved by the Department of Public Health. Exclusion may be as long as the duration of the outbreak plus the incubation period. The parents/guardians of the excluded student, not Pinecrest, are responsible for assisting the excluded student in their school work while absent from school.
