Frequently Asked Questions
- Immunization Requirements
- Physical Exams
- What screenings are provided at school?
- When should my child return to school after an illness?
- What do I need for my child to return to school after an absence?
- What is the medication policy?
- What is the dismissal policy for illness, injury or emergency?
Immunization Requirements
Children enrolled in the public school system must be fully
immunized
according to current state laws. Unless there are medical or
religious
contraindications, in which case a letter signed by the primary
health care
provider must be received. All kindergarten students must be up
to date with
all immunizations before entering kindergarten.
Immunizations requirements as follows:
1. 5 doses DTaP
2. 4 doses Polio (IPV)
3. 2 doses MMR
4. 3 doses Hepatitis B
5. 1 dose Varicella or a physician certified reliable history of
chicken pox
Physical Exams
Massachusetts state law requires every child to have a complete
physical
exam within 6 months prior to entering kindergarten, during
fourth grade
and before entering seventh grade. Children planning to
participate in
competitive sports are required to have annual physicals.
What screenings are provided at school?
Vision, hearing, height and weight screenings for kindergarten
through 6th
grade
Postural screenings for 5th and 6th graders
These screenings are performed to identify possible deviations
from the
norm that require further medical evaluation.
When should my child return to school after an illness?
Fevers are generally signs of infection. Your child's temperature
should be
less than 99.8 degrees for 24 hours without use of fever reducing
medications before returning to school. It is important to allow
your
child's immune system to recover from the current illness which
caused the
fever.
A child with vomiting and/or diarrhea should stay home until
symptoms have
resolved for approximately 24 hours and the child is able to keep
down
liquids and food.
If cold, sore throat, and cough symptoms are associated with a
fever, your
child should remain at home. A sore throat, headache, and/or
stomach ache,
with or without fever, may indicate a strep throat. Your child
may return to
school after being on antibiotics for 24 hours and fever free for
24 hours
as they will no longer be contagious.
A rash is usually a sign of a viral illness or a reaction to a
medication or
chemical. If your child has a suspicious rash or one that is
associated with
fever contact your doctor. Keep your child home until your doctor
has made a
diagnosis and authorizes the child's return to school.
Conjunctivitis ("pink eye") may be a contagious
infection. After your child
is treated for 24 hours with an antibiotic eye ointment or drops
he/she may
return to school.
What do I need for my child to return to school after an absence?
A student returning to school after an absence should present a
note from
the parent indicating the reason for the absence. After an
illness of five
consecutive days, a doctor's note is needed for the child to
return to
school.
What is the medication policy?
The medication policy complies with the state guidelines to
ensure the
health and safety of all students requiring medications at
school. If it is
necessary for prescription medications to be given at school, the
medication
must be delivered by a parent or another responsible adult. NO
MEDICATION
IS TO BE CARRIED BY YOUR CHILD. For prescription medication a
parental
permission form and a licensed prescriber permission form must be
filled out
and signed before the medication can be given. Please ask your
pharmacy to
provide separate bottles/inhalers for school and home with the
label stating
the doctor's order, child's name, drug name, and dosage. We must
have an
original container, we will not accept medications that are not
labeled.
For over the counter medication, a parental permission form must
be filled
out and returned to the school nurse before the medication will
be
administered. If your child is on medication at home, please
notify the
school nurse in order that we may take the best possible care of
your child,
especially in an emergency. Whenever possible, please try to
give
medications at home.
What is the dismissal policy for illness, injury or emergency?
In case of an illness, injury or emergency during the school day,
an
attempt will be made to contact parents/guardians first. Then,
emergency
contacts will be notified. It is important that the phone
numbers and
emergency information be kept up to date. Please keep the office
informed
of any changes.