Nurse
MEDICATION POLICY
Under Massachusetts Laws (M.G.L., Chapter 112, Section 80 B), a license
nurse must have a medication order from a physician, dentist, nurse practitioner
or physician's assistant, in order to administer any medications, whether
it is a prescription drug or over-the-counter medication.
The following policies have been put in place to ensure the health and safety of children needing medicines during the school day. Our district requires that the following forms must be on file in your child's health record before any medication may be given in school.
1. Signed consent by the parent or guardian to give the medicine. A medication
permission form may be obtained from the school nurse.
2. Signed medication order from the child's health care provider. The
written medication order form, which may be obtained from the school nurse,
should be taken to your child's licensed health care provider (physician
or nurse practitioner), for completion and returned to the school nurse.
This order must be renewed, as needed, and at the start of each school
year.
Medication should be delivered to the school in a pharmacy or manufacturer
labeled container, by the parent or a responsible adult, whom the parent
has designated. Please ask your pharmacist to provide separate medication
bottles for school and home. No more than a thirty day supply of medication
should be delivered to school.
When your child needs medication that must be given during the school
day, please act quickly to follow these policies, so that the medication
may be started as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please
do not hesitate to contact the school nurse at 386-7266.
MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
FOR KINDERGARTEN AND NEW STUDENTS
IMMUNIZATIONS
According to the School Immunization Law (MGL Chapter 76, Section 15),
a child shall be admitted to school upon presentation of a physicaian's
certificate indicatiing that the child has received the following immunizations:
DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis)............................5 doses
Polio ........................................................................4
doses
MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) ..............................2 doses
Hepatitis B ..............................................................
3 doses
Varicella ..................................................................
1 dose or
Physician certified, reliable history of chicken pox disease.
* Occasionally, allergic reaction or other health concerns prevent children
from being fully immunized. For example, a child might receive DT alone,
without Pertussis. In this situation, a letter of exemption from the child's
physician is required.
LEAD SCREENING
Documentation of the date and results of at least one lead screening done
between the ages of 9 months and 5 years, is a Kindergarten entrance
requirement.
PHYSICAL EXAM
A current physical exam is required prior to the start of Kindergarten.
The exam is ideally performed by your private physician, who has comprehensive
knowledge of the health status of your child.. Many physicians book physical
exams moneths in advance. It is best to make your appointment aas
soon as possible.)
POSTURAL SCREENING
GRADES 5
Chapter 71 of the Massachusetts General Law requires that all children
in grades 5-9, attending public schools be screened annually for postural
abnormalities such as scoliosis. This is not a diagnostic service, but
a program to identify young people who should have further medical evaluation.
Identification at this time in their growth process can result in the
most effective intervention.
We encourage parents to have this screening done by their child's private
physician as part of their yearly physical exam. In the event that this
does not occur, screening will be done during gym and health classes,
this spring. Information was sent home in your child's January report
card envelope. If you choose to have your child screened by his/her physician,
please return the lower portion of the notice to school, indicating this
choice. Once your child
has been screened, the doctor's form should be returned to school.
Please be aware that this is a state mandated program. Therefore, all
students will be screened unless the lower portion of the information
from is
returned, indicating that the screening will be done by the child's physician.
Students will have the opportunity to view a video about postural screening
and more information will be sent home in the spring. Please do not
hesitate to call the School Nurse with any questions (386-7266). Thank
you for your cooperation.
GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Please keep your child at home when he/she:
- has a fever of 100 or more, and until the child has had a normal temperature
for 24 hours.
- has been vomiting the night before or in the morning before school.
- has an uncontrollable or infectious cough.
- has signs of infection of the eyes, ears, nose, throat, skin or scalp.
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