Health Services clone - Concord Integrated Preschool

Welcome to Health Services

Health Services Mission and Guidelines

Our mission is to support students' academic potential by promoting their physical, emotional, and social well-being through evidence-based practices.

The following information is intended to assist you throughout the school year with medical issues that might arise. These recommendations are intended to keep school-wide illness to a minimum and particularly to protect our medically fragile children.

When to Keep Your Student Home

This is always a difficult decision right before the school day starts. If your student had a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, or diarrhea and/or vomiting the night before, the student should stay home to allow them to recover.

Fever

Students should remain home until they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.

Diarrhea and/or vomiting

Students should remain home until they are eating a regular diet
and their bowels have returned to normal.

Contagious conditions, such as strep throat or conjunctivitis (pink eye)

Students must be taking antibiotics for a full 24 hours before returning to school.

Communicable & Other Infectious Diseases

If medically diagnosed illnesses such as Chickenpox, Measles, Tuberculosis, or Pertussis/whooping cough.

COVID-19, RSV, and Influenza

Students must stay home until student has been fever-free for 24
hours AND symptoms start to improve. Take other precautions for the next five days, including limiting close contact with others and consider wearing a mask. Masking is encouraged but not required.

Acute Pain

If a student requires narcotic medications for pain relief.

Uncontrollable Cough and/or unmanageable nasal discharge

If it will cause classroom distraction.

Undiagnosed Rash

When accompanied by illness symptoms.

Pink or Bloodshot Eyes

When accompanied with yellow or green drainage and/or crusty
eyelids.

Please notify the school nurse if any of the following occur:

Injuries

If your student has an injury requiring physical restrictions (crutches, boots, splints, etc.) please inform your school nurse. A note from a medical provider may be needed depending on the injury and accommodations needed.

Concussions

Please inform your school nurse as soon as possible if your student has been diagnosed with a concussion. The nurse will help to inform your student’s teachers and administrators regarding the injury and will work with you and your student to provide a successful return to school.

Hospitalizations

If your student requires an overnight stay in the hospital for any reason or was seen in the emergency room, please contact your school nurse to inform her of the hospitalization and the expected needs on return to school.

Contact:
Office: 978-202-1172
Fax: 978-405-7147

Health Services Staff

Policies and Information

Medication Policy

Other than in emergencies, school personnel will not administer medications to students unless the following conditions are met:

The school nurse confirms that administering the medication during school hours is absolutely necessary.
The Parent/Guardian Authorization Form and the Medication Order Form are completed by the student’s parents or guardian and physician. These forms are available from the Health Office or on the website and must be on file before medication can be administered. They must be renewed at the beginning of each school year and whenever there is a change in the dose or medication.
Medications must be delivered to the Health Office by parents or a responsible adult in their original container. The container must state the patient’s name, medication name, dose, and prescribing physician's name.
Students are responsible for coming to the Health Office for their regularly prescribed medications. Parents will be informed if a student misses more than two consecutive doses.
Students who request Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) during school hours must have signed permission from a parent or guardian on their completed Emergency Card. No more than one dose of Tylenol or Advil will be given during the school day. Tylenol or Advil will be administered by the School Nurse only when necessary, based on the student’s complaint, physical assessment, and health history. The Health Office encourages alternative measures for comfort, such as rest, nourishment, ice packs, or heat, before administering medication.

Physical Exam Requirements

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health requires periodic physical examinations for all school-aged children. Physical examination forms must be on file in the Health Office at CCHS, except for those with documented religious exemptions. The requirements for high school students are as follows:

New Students: Must have a physical exam within the year prior to starting school and complete a Health Screening Form.
Sophomores: Must have a physical exam before the school year begins or within one year of their freshman physical exam.
Athletes: Must have an annual physical exam on file before participating in practices or try-outs. The form must state the student’s fitness for competitive sports and any restrictions.

Parents or guardians are responsible for scheduling physical exams and forwarding the forms to the Health Office.

Immunization Requirements

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health requires that all students be immunized for attendance at school. The only exceptions are for documented religious or medical reasons. Failure to meet immunization requirements can result in a student’s exclusion from school until the requirements are met. Immunization requirements for the high school as of September 1, 1999 are as follows:

4 or more doses of DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus) with a booster 5 years later (usually before 7th grade) and subsequent boosters every 10 years.
4 doses of OPV (oral polio) unless the third dose was given after the fourth birthday, in which case only 3 doses are required.
2 doses of MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella)
3 doses of Hepatitis B
3 doses of Hib
2 doses of Varicella or documentation of disease (Chicken Pox)

Medical Excuses for Sports and Gym Policy

A parent or guardian may request that a student not participate in physical education activities for up to two consecutive gym classes due to a minor ailment or injury. A student who is 18 years old may also make this request. The student is still expected to attend class unless a parent requests otherwise. In such cases, the student will be temporarily reassigned by the physical education teacher.

A written note from a physician is required to be excused from more than two consecutive gym classes. This note must include the reason and duration of the excuse and should be delivered to the school nurse. The school nurse will process a Physical Activity Medical Excuse and send a copy to the appropriate gym teacher. The student is expected to report to class unless reassigned by their guidance counselor.

Extended Illness and Return to School

Any student absent due to illness or injury for several days is encouraged to communicate with their teachers and Guidance Counselor. CCHS will provide a home or hospital tutor for any student whose physician determines they need to stay at home or in the hospital for at least 14 days. Additionally, the school may provide a tutor for chronically ill students who need to stay out of school for recurring periods of at least 14 days each.