Bridget Jaklitsch, BSN, R.N. (St. Francis Xavier)                                                                       
Julie Carragher MS,RN ACNP-BC ANP-BC (Sacred Heart School)

We hope you are all doing well and have been able to enjoy fun summer activities!  We are looking forward to seeing you in September.

Important Forms for Heading Back to School in the Fall: 

1.  Medication Form
2.  Medication Order
3.  Medication Parent Permission
4.  Asthma Action Plan
5.  Allergy Action Plan
6.  Mass Immunization Requirements

Mental Health Resources from Franciscan Children's

Through the Kids Healthy Minds Initiative, the clinicians at Franciscan Children’s have been working to educate parents and teachers about the mental health crisis plaguing our children. In the US, 20% of all youth have a mental health diagnosis; anxiety and depression are the most common problems. The stresses associated with the Covid-19 pandemic can certainly trigger these symptoms or exacerbate symptoms that are already present. And the recent social unrest in our world and uncertainty about returning to school are further compounding these stresses.

Signs of Covid 19

Symptoms of Covid 19 usually appear 2-14 days after being exposed to the virus. If you or a family member have any of the following symptoms, contact your medical provider to find out if testing is necessary. When school resumes in the Fall do not send your child to school if they have any of the following symptoms:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea/vomiting or diarrhea

Seek immediate medical treatment / call 911 for the following symptoms:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Bluish lips or face

Ways to prevent the spread of Covid 19:

• Stay home as much as possible. Avoid large crowds or social gatherings
• Stay at least 6 feet away from people who are not members of your household
• Wear a face covering when you are outside of your home and unable to socially distance from others
• Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.  Use hand sanitizer if you are unable to wash your hands.

Stay Home if you are sick.

GUIDELINES FOR THE FALL

Immunizations: Please send in a copy of your child's immunization records. Students must be up to date with all vaccines in order to attend school unless there is a medical reason they are unable to receive a vaccine. The form must be provided to the nurse before your child may attend school.

Physical Exams: Please send in a copy of your child's most recent well visit physical exam that contains documentation of visual and hearing screening as well as a lead test and a TB risk assessment. You can get a copy by requesting one from your child's pediatrician. The form must be provided to the nurse before your child may attend school. 

Flu Vaccines: We are strongly encouraging that all students and staff receive a Flu shot this year unless contraindicated . Most pediatrician offices will have flu clinics in the fall. 

Life threatening allergies (LTA) Anaphylaxis: If your child requires an Epi-Pen or an Auvi-Q for a LTA please bring to school in the original box from the pharmacy with your child's name on box. An Emergency Allergy Action Plan from your pediatrician is required. Please hand Epi-Pen or Auvi-Q to the nurse. Do not place in student's school bag. 

Asthma: If your child has asthma and requires an inhaler please bring to school in original package from pharmacy with your child's name on the box. If a spacer is needed, please provide the spacer as well. Please hand the inhaler to the nurse. An Asthma Action Plan from your child's pediatrician is required. 

Mandated Screenings: Vision, Hearing, BMI and Postural screenings are being done by the school nurse.  Permission is required for this screening.

Medication Policy:

Our Medication Policy complies with state guidelines for medication administration and has been put in place to provide for the health and safety of students requiring medication administration during the school day. The following statements highlight the main points of the policy. The entire policy is available for review in each school health office.

The school nurse is responsible for the administration of all medication, as required by Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 94C. When a child needs a medication during the school day, we ask that parents/guardians please act promptly to follow this policy, so that the medicine can be administered as soon as possible.

The medication permission form must be completed in ink and be on file in the Health Office before any medication is administered.

• All medications, prescription, or over the counter medications, require a physician’s order and completed parental permission form, or the medication cannot be given.
• All medication orders expire at the end of the school year. 
• Medication orders must be renewed at the beginning of each school year.
• All medications must be picked up by a parent/guardian, before the close of the school year. Any medications that are not picked up by the close of school will be destroyed.
• Non-prescription medication (over-the-counter) will be handled the same way as prescription medication.
• Whenever possible, medication administration should be scheduled at times other than during school hours.
• All medication must be delivered to the Health Office by the student’s parent/guardian, or a designated adult.
• Students are not permitted to bring medications to school.
• Only a thirty (30) day supply of medication will be accepted at any time.
• All medication must be delivered in a correctly labeled pharmacy or manufacturer’s medication container. (Medications are not accepted in containers such as plastic bags.)
• The pharmacy-labeled container can be used in lieu of a physician’s order only in the case of short-term medications, i.e., those medications to be given for ten(10) school days or less. If the school nurse has a question about the medication, she/he may request a licensed prescriber’s order. In addition, a parental authorization form is required for short-term medication administration.
• Self-medication may be allowed under certain circumstances after consultation with the school nurse, and with the completion of the required authorization forms by both a student's parent/guardian and prescribing physician.
• If a medication needs to be given during a school sponsored event such as a field trip, the school nurse must be contacted in advance in order to allow time to make special arrangements prior to the outing.
• A parent may retrieve the medicine from the school at any time.