Health Services Information
Health Information
- Screenings
Height/weight and BMI measurements will be taken annually for all students in grades 1, 4, 7 and 10, per state mandate. Parents may opt-out of this screening with written permission sent to the Nurse’s office at the beginning of the school year.
- Screenings
Postural screening is a state mandated, non-invasive screening conducted by the the school nurse in grades 5-9 in each school year in the spring. Parents will be notified prior to the screening clinics and have the option to opt-out their student. A letter requesting to opt-out their student must be sent to the school nurse prior to the screening clinic.
- Attendance Decisions
- Illness Guidelines
On March 22,2024, DPH updated their guidance for management of respiratory illnesses Staying home to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses | Mass.gov to align with those previously released by the CDC on for respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. This new guidance is for respiratory viruses like Influenza, RSV, and Covid-19 as they share similar transmission methods, symptoms, and prevention strategies. This unified approach aims to simplify recommendations and address common risks more effectively.
Effective 3/28/24, NMRSD has transitioned to new Respiratory Virus Guidelines that follow both CDC and MA DPH guidance.
- Attendance Decisions
- Illness Guidelines
The goal of North Middlesex Regional Schools is to strive for excellent attendance. There are times when your child may not be perfectly healthy, but is able to participate in normal school activities. We would encourage your child to attend on those days. If you feel it is questionable that your child will make it through a full day of school, please send a note in to the school nurse with numbers where you can be reached. The Nurses at North Middlesex Regional Schools have formulated the following guidelines for school attendance.
Please keep your child home from school if they display any of the following symptoms:
- Fever of 100 degrees or more, and until the child has had a normal temperature for 24 hours; without the use of Tylenol or Advil
- Vomiting or diarrhea during the night or in the morning before school
- Uncontrollable or infectious (phlegm-laden) cough
- Abdominal pain lasting more than 2 hours
- Rash of unknown cause
- Signs of infection of the eyes, ears, nose, throat, skin or scalp. For example: conjunctivitis or pink eye, open sores in mouth, untreated strep throat, impetigo or open weeping wounds
- If on antibiotics for less than 24 hours for infectious conditions such as strep throat, conjunctivitis or impetigo
- Untreated lice and/or presence of nits (eggs) or scabies.
Please remember to call the absent line at your child’s school to report his/her illness. Please try to call the absent line early in the morning if your child will be out.
- Information Confidentiality
Information pertinent to the student’s safety or ability to learn in the classroom will be shared with the student’s team and specialists as well as school administrators. All other information will be kept confidential.
- Medication
Cough drops are considered to be over-the-counter medications by the MA States Regulations. They are included in our OTC Consent Form. If you would like your child to have access to cough drops at school, please complete the OTC Parental Consent Form and send it in to your school nurse.
- Allergies
Today, food allergies are increasingly recognized and diagnosed among school age children. Reactions to food allergies vary and exposure to a particular food may result in a sever allergic reaction requiring immediate medical attention.
Squannacook Early Childhood Center is a food free facility. There is a designated snack time in each classroom. Only snacks sent from home for your own child are allowed. In addition if there is a child with a nut allergy, that classroom will be designated as a Nut Free room. If your child is placed in a nut free room, you will be asked by the teacher not to send snacks containing nuts and will be given a list of snacks that will be safe for your child to bring.
- Medical Requirements
Massachusetts state laws require that we have certain medical documentation on file before children can enter the school setting.
Preschool Medical Entrance Requirements Include:
IMMUNIZATIONS
- Hepatitis B…. 3 doses
- DtaP/DTP….. 4 doses
- Polio……….. 3 doses
- MMR……… 1 dose
- Hib…………. 1- 4 doses
- Varicella…… 1 dose
Lead Screening - Documentation of date and results of at least 1 lead screening, done between the ages of 9 months and 5 years.
Physical Exam - Current physical exam done within 12 months of starting preschool. If your child has a medical condition, such as asthma, diabetes, or life threatening allergies, etc. that require medication to be kept at school, I encourage you to come and talk with me about your child’s condition so we can work together on an individual health care plan based on your child’s need while at school.
- Medication
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are drugs that do not require a prescription in order for you to purchase them. In the school system, physician orders are required in order to administer OTC medications in the health office. Our school physician has written standing orders for the medications listed below. OTC medication will be given based on our current standing orders. Written parental permission is required for administration. The OTC Parental Consent Form (linked below) must be completed by the parent for the student to receive any of these medications at school. A copy of the protocol can be requested.
Topical:
- Hydrocortisone Cream 1%
- Calamine Lotion
- Antibiotic Oitnment (bacitracin)
- Caladryl
- Hand Sanitizer
Oral:
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- Throat lozenges/cough drops
- Antacid Tablets (Tums)
- Physical Restrictions
Restrictions in physical activity, including physical education and recess, should be noted, as needed, by the physician. Students should submit excuses from physicians to the nurse. The appropriate staff will be notified about the excuse by the school nurse in order to ensure the student's safety at school. Parents/Guardians may excuse their child from PE or fitness with a note stating: date to be excused, reason for excuse, signature of parent and name of student. *A doctor’s note is required after 2 consecutive excuses.*
- Medical Requirements
Physical exams are required by law for all incoming kindergarten, 4th grade, 7th grade, and sophmore students. Physical exams are to be performed by your private physician. Please provide documentation of the physical exam to the school nurse.