Health Services

The School Nurse provides the following services

• Individualized health care planning and case management for students with special health care needs

• Health and wellness promotion

• Illness and injury prevention, assessment, and intervention

• Medication administration and nursing procedures

• Communicable disease prevention and control

• Mandated health screenings:

        Vision (grade 10)

        Hearing (grade 10)

Postural (grade9)

Height, Weight and BMI (grades 10)

Screening Brief Intervention Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) (grade 9)

Health Insurance

Massachusetts now offers free or low cost health insurance to children and teens.  For more information, contact the Children's Medical Security Plan at 1-800-841-2900

https://www.mass.gov/childrens-medical-security-plan

Medication Administration

PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANY MEDICATION TO SCHOOL WITH YOUR CHILD

STUDENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO CARRY ANY MEDICATIONS IN THEIR POSSESSION WITH THE EXCEPTION OF EPIPENS AND INHALERS WITH PHYSICIAN AND PARENTAL CONSENT

The following is an overview of the medication policies that are in place to ensure the health and safety of students that may need to take medications in school.  It is highly encouraged that students take their medications at home, but if this is not possible, then the school nurse will administer the medications:

• Contact the nurse to inform the student will be taking medications while at school.

• Complete the prescription parent/guardian medication/consent form (downloadable-on the school website).

• A written order from a licensed provider is required for prescription medications.

• Short term medications - requiring administration for 10 or fewer school days, the pharmacy labeled container may be used in lieu of a physician signed medication order. Whenever possible short term antibiotics should be given at home.

• Medication is to be delivered to school by a parent or a responsible adult.

• Medication must be in a pharmacy or manufacturer’s labeled container.

• No more than a 30 day school day supply of medicine should be delivered to the school.

• There is no nurse present before or after school hours, students do not have access to their medications during those hours. 

• Forms are kept on file in the nurse's office and must be updated for each new school year.

• Medications must be picked up at the end of the school year.

Physical Exams

MA General Law, Chapter 71, section 57 requires physical exams and immunizations for all students upon entry into school and at certain intervals thereafter.  Physical exams are required upon enrollment, and grade 10.  Physical forms can be faxed, mailed or dropped off to the school.  This form must be signed and dated by the child’s physician, not printed from the health portal.  Forms can not be emailed due to privacy laws. 

When To Keep Your Sick Child At Home

Guidelines on when to stay home.  If your child presents with symptoms during the school day, it can result in dismissal.  

• Temperature over 100 degrees.

• If your child has a contagious illness such as flu, strep throat, conjunctivitis (pink eye)

• Cold symptoms, sore throat. earache, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, stomachaches.

• Child has an upper respiratory illness with significant coughing and/or nasal discharge.

Please check your child’s temperature; a child should be "fever free" for twenty-four hours without taking a fever-reducing medication such as Tylenol or Advil before returning to school. 

The school nurse should be notified by the parent/guardian of any: 

• New medication and/or dosing change.

• New medical diagnosis or allergies.

• Serious injury, illness, or hospitalization.

•  Planned surgery.

• Communicable diseases such as chicken pox, strep throat, scarlet fever or fifth disease.

• New diagnosis or change in your child’s health status.

• Fracture, sprain, stitches, cast, or crutches.