Health screenings are state mandated, non-invasive procedures for K – 4 students that include height and weight, vision and hearing screenings. In Ashby we do these screenings in the month of October and any needed re-screens in November. Any results that are outside the normal limits will be sent directly to your mailing address after the re-screening has been completed. 

Physical exams are required by law for all incoming kindergarten and 4th grade students and are to be performed by your private physician.

In compliance with Massachusetts General Law and for the safety of our students, this medication policy has been written and will be strictly enforced.

The policy for administration of medications, whether prescribed or over-the-counter, during school hours is as follows:

1. Medication must be accompanied by a MEDICATION PERMISSION FORM signed by both the physician and the parent. A signed physician's order, stipulating specific diagnosis requiring treatment, accompanied by a MEDICATION PERMISSION FORM signed by parent will also be accepted.
2. Medication must be supplied by the parent in the original pharmacy container. (Please ask your pharmacist to provide a second container and send only the amount of medication needed to school.)
3. Medication is kept locked in the nurse's office and is dispensed by the School Nurse. For their own safety and the safety of other students, students are not allowed to carry medication to or during school.
4. All medication orders must be for treatment of specifically diagnosed medical need and must be renewed at the beginning of each school year.

Please have your child’s physician complete a Medication Permission Form any time your child will need to have medication administered during school hours. An adult must transport all medications to school in the original prescription or product container. The doctor’s order must match the label on the pharmacy container. New containers with the new medication order must be obtained when the prescription changes. When medication is discontinued, it must be picked up by an adult within two weeks or it is destroyed. Please note students are not allowed to carry any type of medication with them, either prescription or over-the-counter.

Children will be dismissed from school due to illness or injury ONLY to a parent or person designated on the child’s Emergency Card. Changes or additions to Emergency Cards cannot be made over the phone but must be put in writing with a parent signature.

School attendance guidelines

To help prevent the spread of common communicable diseases such as colds and flu to other students and teachers please keep your child home if they have:

-  fever over 100

-  have been vomiting, had diarrhea in the last 24 hours

-  undiagnosed rash

- signs of infection of eyes, ears, nose, throat, or skin

- Untreated live lice (school nurse must confirm treatment)

It is the policy of North Middlesex Regional School District that students are kept home from school until they have not been vomiting or had diarrhea for 24 hours, are fever free for 24 hours without the aid of medications such as Tylenol or Advil, and have been on antibiotics for 24 hours for any communicable illness such as strep throat or conjunctivitis. 

 A note from the doctor is needed for any surgery, injury, or prolonged absence due to illness.  This note must state the date it is okay for your child to return to school and any limitations or restrictions, even if there are none (e.g. no limitations needed).

 Additionally, if a parent/guardian sends a child to school with a fever of 100 degrees or more, who is vomiting, has an undiagnosed rash, has signs of infection (eyes or throat), or with signs of bed bugs, the parent/guardian will be required to pick up their child from school.