Student Health and Safety
The primary responsibility for a child’s health rests with the family. School health services support families by providing care and a safe environment during the school day.
If a student becomes ill or injured, the school nurse will provide first aid and contact a parent/guardian. In serious emergencies, 911 will be called and the student will be transported to the nearest hospital.
Parents/guardians must keep current contact information in PowerSchool, including:
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- Home, work, and cell numbers
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- An emergency contact (neighbor/relative)
- Family physician’s information
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The school provides only first aid. Students who are sick should remain home until able to participate fully in school. If modifications are needed after illness or injury, the school must be notified by the parent/guardian and physician.
When should a student stay at home:
- If your student has a fever of 100.0 degrees F or higher; they should remain out of school for 24 hours after the fever is gone without the use of fever reducing medication.
- If your student has been treated with an antibiotic they need to be on the antibiotic for at least 24 hours before returning to school.
- If your student has vomited or has diarrhea due to illness they should remain out of school for a minimum of 24 hours after vomiting/diarrhea has ceased
Medication Policy
Students should not carry medication at school, except for those approved to carry emergency medications such as epinephrine auto-injectors and asthma inhalers. All other medications must be kept in the health office and administered by the school nurse. Whenever possible, medication schedules should be arranged so doses can be taken at home.
If a student requires medication during school hours, a parent/guardian must bring the medication to the school nurse along with a completed Medication Order/Permission Form, signed by both the parent/guardian and the student’s physician.
Medication forms are available from the school nurse or on the Health Services – Health Info and Forms webpage.
All medications—both prescription and over-the-counter—must be delivered to the school nurse in their original container. (You may request a separate, labeled “school bottle” from your pharmacist if needed.)
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Prescription medication must include the original pharmacy label.
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- If prescribed for 10 days or less, only written parent/guardian permission is required.
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- If prescribed for more than 10 days, a written doctor’s order and parent/guardian permission are required.
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Over-the-counter medication may be given by the school nurse with written parent/guardian permission. This permission is provided each September on the student verification form in PowerSchool.
Epinephrine Auto-Injector Requirement
If your child has been diagnosed by a physician with a life-threatening allergy and requires an Epinephrine Auto-Injector, please notify the school nurse. A physician’s order and a parent/guardian permission form must be completed at the start of each school year and submitted to the nurse.
Forms are available from your school nurse or can be downloaded from the Health Forms section of our website.
Physical Exams and Immunization Requirements
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Physical Exam & Immunizations: Reports of physical examinations, including an up-to-date immunization record, are required for:
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- All kindergarten students
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- All new entrants to the district
- Students in grades 4, 7, and 10
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Medical Exemption: If a medical condition prevents your child from receiving immunizations, a physician’s written statement must be submitted before admission and renewed annually.
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Religious Exemption: If immunizations are declined for religious reasons, a written statement from the parent/guardian must be submitted before admission and renewed annually.
Health Screenings
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health requires screenings as follows:
- Vision Grades Pre-K, K Grades 1-5, 7, 10
- Hearing Grades K-3, 7, 10
- Postural Screening Grade 5-9
- BMI (height & weights) Grades 1,4,7,10
- SBIRT Grades 8, 10
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Parents/guardians will be notified in writing and SNAP, only if the student does not pass the screening.
Please contact the school nurse with any questions.