Information pertinent to the student’s safety or ability to learn in the classroom will be shared with the student’s team and specialists as well as school administrators. All other information will be kept confidential.

Cough drops are considered to be over-the-counter medications by the MA States Regulations.They are included in our OTC Consent Form.  If you would like your child to have access to cough drops at school, please complete the OTC Parental Consent Form and send it in to  your school nurse. 

Today, food allergies are increasingly recognized and diagnosed among school age children.  Reactions to food allergies vary and exposure to a particular food may result in a sever allergic reaction requiring immediate medical attention.

Squannacook Early Childhood Center is a food free facility. There is a designated snack time in each classroom. Only snacks sent from home for your own child are allowed. In addition if there is a child with a nut allergy, that classroom will be designated as a Nut Free room. If your child is placed in a nut free room, you will be asked by the teacher not to send snacks containing nuts and will be given a list of snacks that will be safe for your child to bring.

Massachusetts state laws require that we have certain medical documentation on file before children can enter the school setting.

Preschool Medical Entrance Requirements Include:

IMMUNIZATIONS

• Hepatitis B…. 3 doses
• DtaP/DTP….. 4 doses
• Polio………..  3 doses
• MMR………   1 dose
• Hib………….  1- 4 doses
• Varicella……  1 dose

Lead Screening - Documentation of date and results of at least 1 lead screening, done between the ages of 9 months and 5 years.

Physical Exam - Current physical exam done within 12 months of starting preschool. If your child has a medical condition, such as asthma, diabetes, or life threatening allergies, etc. that require medication to be kept at school, I encourage you to come and talk with me about your child’s condition so we can work together on an individual health care plan based on your child’s need while at school.

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

The policy for administration of prescribed medications (a prescription is required for over-the-counter medications) 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.  An adult must deliver all medication to the school nurse.
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.
5. All medication must be picked up by an adult at the end of the school year.  No medication will be stored in the school over the summer vacation. 

Medication Permission Form

 Please note students are not allowed to carry any type of medication with them, either prescription or over-the-counter.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are drugs that do not require a prescription in order for you to purchase them.  In the school system, physician orders are required in order to administer OTC medications in the health office.  Our school physician has written standing orders for the medications listed below.   OTC medication will be given based on our current standing orders.  Written parental permission is required for administration.  The OTC Parental Consent Form (linked below) must be completed by the parent for the student to receive any of these medications at school.   A copy of the protocol can be requested.

OTC Parental Consent Form

Topical:

• Hydrocortisone Cream 1%
• Calamine Lotion
• Antibiotic Oitnment (bacitracin)
• Caladryl
• Hand Sanitizer

Oral: 

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• Throat lozenges/cough drops
• Antacid Tablets (Tums)

Physical exams are required by law for all incoming kindergarten, 4th grade, 7th grade, and sophmore students. Physical exams are to be performed by your private physician. Please provide documentation of the physical exam to the school nurse. 

The goal of North Middlesex Regional Schools is to strive for excellent attendance. There are times when your child may not be perfectly healthy, but is able to participate in normal school activities. We would encourage your child to attend on those days. If you feel it is questionable that your child will make it through a full day of school, please send a note in to the school nurse with numbers where you can be reached. The Nurses at North Middlesex Regional Schools have formulated the following guidelines for school attendance.

Please keep your child home from school if they display any of the following symptoms:

• Fever of 100 degrees or more, and until the child has had a normal temperature for 24 hours; without the use of Tylenol, Advil. or any fever reducing medications
• Vomiting or diarrhea during the 24 hours before their return to school
• Uncontrollable cough
• Abdominal pain lasting more than 2 hours
• Rash of unknown cause
• Signs of infection of the eyes, ears, nose, throat, skin or scalp. For example: conjunctivitis or pink eye, open sores in mouth, untreated strep throat, impetigo or open weeping wounds
• If on antibiotics for less than 24 hours for infectious conditions such as strep throat, conjunctivitis or impetigo

Please remember to call the absent line at your child’s school to report his/her illness. Please try to call the absent line early in the morning if your child will be out.