Student Absence
If your child is absent from school due to illness or any other reason. Please call the school office as soon as possible. We need to account for every child.

Physical Exams
Health physicals should be updated every two years and are required for any sports participation. Parents are urged to have this completed before the start of the school year.

Medication
Occasionally, during the school year, your child might need medication during school hours. This medication can be administered by the School Nurse provided certain regulations are followed:

• Medication should be hand delivered to the school nurse only by the parent or the other responsible adult in the original pharmacy container appropriately labeled by the pharmacy. Pills in home containers or plastic baggies are not accepted.
• A consent form must be signed by the parent/guardian for the administration of the medication in school.
• A Physician's signature is required for any prescription medication to be given by the school nurse.
• No student is allowed to have medication on his/her person. Exception: Inhalers and/or Epi-pens are allowed to be carried by the student only if there is documentation from the physician and parent. If your child needs an asthma inhaler, it should be kept in the health office unless a note is received from the physician that states the child is able to carry it with him/her.
  

 

1. Authorization forms for medication administration are available in the health office.
2. In the absence of the school nurse, the principal or designee may administer medications.
3. Medication not picked up at the end of the school year will be discarded.
4. Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, and cough drops are available during school hours if permission is given by parent/guardian.
   

Feminine health products are also available in the health office.

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Illness
Whether or not to keep a child home from school isn't always an easy decision. It is obvious that actively ill children should not be in school. Your child should be kept home if he/she exhibits any of the following signs and symptoms:

• Fever 100 degrees or higher (A child should be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school.)
• Vomiting/diarrhea
• Severe cold symptoms(congestion, sneezing, nasal drainage, severe cough)
• Not feeling well enough to participate in school activities such as a painful injury, urinary tract infection, nagging cough, etc.

Any child who has a fever of 100 degrees or above should not be in school and will be sent home if he/she exhibits symptoms at school.

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Communicable Disease
Do not send your child to school if you think he/she has a communicable disease. Please schedule an appointment with your child's physician.
You should report any communicable illness to the school nurse. It is important that sick children receive proper health care and that the remainder of the school community is protected from any contagious disease. Some communicable diseases/conditions are:

Strep Throat Whooping Cough	Meningitis Influenza	Head Lice Impetigo
Conjunctivitis Ringworm	Fifth Disease Chicken Pox/Shingles	Hepatitis viral A,B

Chicken pox requires a 6 day exclusion after the appearance of the rash or until all scabs are dry. The child is to report to the school nurse upon return to school.

A sore throat will be examined by the school nurse. If a sore throat persists for 3-4 days or if there is a fever with it, the child should be seen by a physician. If the child tests positive for streptococci, the child should remain at home on medication for 24 hours and be non-symptomatic before returning to school.

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Healthy Practices
Hand-washing is the most important thing a person can do to prevent the spread of germs according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Encourage your child to wash hands often especially during school hours and use tissues to cover sneezes and coughs.

We have all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Studies show that children who eat breakfast perform better in school than those who skip breakfast. Breakfast eaters show greater concentration, more energy, and better muscle coordination in the morning. They score higher on tests and are less likely to act out in the classroom. Morning hunger may affect children at the worst time of the school day. In many classrooms, basic skills such as reading, writing and math are taught during the morning hours. Testing is often done in the morning as well. Breakfasts that are high in sugar will burn off quickly leaving the child feeling tired and irritable for hours before lunch. Encouraging your child to eat a well-balanced, nutritious breakfast will help them achieve optimum performance at school.

Good attendance is one of the best predictors of school success.
When a student is tardy, they have difficulty catching up and often disrupt the learning of others in the class.

Children need adequate sleep every night. The amount of the depends on the child's age, activity level, and health status. The school age child should average 9.5 hours of sleep per night.

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Health Screening Day
Typically Health Screening Day takes place in November. All students are screened for scoliosis. Height and weight is also checked. Vision and hearing are tested on all seventh grade students. Results of the screening are available upon request. Referrals to your child's physician are mailed home. Parent volunteers are greatly appreciated on this day. Please call the school if you are willing to help out.

Immunizations
NH State laws require school nurses to keep an accurate and updated immunization record on each student. Please send to school documentation of any updated immunizations your child has received and any changes in your child's health status as they occur. Immunization schedules are available upon request. I will be reviewing all student health records and will notify the parent/guardian is a child due for any immunizations.

From the NH Department of Health and Human Services, click here for the updated 2009/2010 immunization requirements.

Mosquito Awareness

Preventing Diseases Spread by Mosquitoes

Prevent Mosquito Bites
EEE Fact Sheet
Fact WNV

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Links to Health Services Information

Government Sites:

NH Department of Health and Human Services:  www.dhhs.state.nh.us

NH Immunization Requirements: www.dhhs.nh.gov/DHHS/Immunization

Center for Disease Control: www.cdc.org

Food and Drug Administration: www.fda.gov

Poison Control Center: www.nnepc.org

Kid’s Health Resources:

NH Healthy Kids: www.nhhealthykids.com

Kid’s Health: www.kidshealth.org

Teen Health: www.teenhealth.org

Harvard School of Public Health -  Head lice  Info: www.hsph.harvard.edu/headlice.html

Food Allergy Network & Anaphylaxis: www.foodallergy.org

Asthma Link:   www.lungusa.org

American Diabetes Association: www.diabetes.org

Sunburn/Skin Safety: http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/actionsteps.html

Anti Drug: www.drugfree.org

National Dairy Council: www.nationaldairycouncil.org

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