Health Office
Mission Statement
The goal of the Holliston Public School Health Services Department is to promote an optimum level of wellness and remove health related barriers in order to enhance the education process. We believe that health and education are interrelated and that a healthy student is the best learner.
The Holliston Public Schools Health Office is committed to providing basic health services, health promotion and prevention of disease, health maintenance and a safe and caring environment for all students.
- Nursing Team & Contact Information
- COVID Guidelines
- Newsletter
- Guidelines
- Medication Administration
- Forms
- Additional Resources
Nursing Team & Contact Information
Placentino Elementary SchoolOffice:
508-429-0689
Fax:
508-429-0691
|
Catherine Harkin, RN, BSN, NCSN |
Sarah Holmes, RN, BSN, NCSN |
Miller Elementary SchoolOffice:
508-429-0670
Fax:
508-429-0699
|
Melissa Jordan, RN, BSN, NCSN |
Brenda Barton, RN, BSN, Nurse Leader |
Robert Adams Middle SchoolOffice:
508-429-0659
Fax:
508-429-0690
|
Denise Butler, RN, BSN, NCSN |
Amy Piselli, RN, BSN |
Holliston High SchoolOffice:
508-429-0688
Fax:
508-893-6053
|
Tereza Rodrigues, RN, BSN |
donovanm@holliston.k12.ma.us
|
COVID Guidelines
(Translated Option)
What To Do If You Test Positive for COVID-19?
- Isolate individual if possible
- Keep student home and notify school of absence
- Notify the pediatrician and then notify the school nurse of positive case
- Review return to school guidelines below
Isolation Guidelines
- Timeline starts at Day 0 (Day zero is the first day of symptoms or date of positive test)
- Isolate through Day 5
Can Return to School on Day 6 as long as:
- Symptoms have improved
- Individual is fever-free for 24 hours without medicine
- Should wear a high-quality mask through Day 10
Note: If positive individual tests negative on Day 5 or later, they do not need to wear a mask.
Newsletter
Guidelines
Department of Nursing Services Guidelines on School Attendance, Screenings and Exemptions
The purpose of the comprehensive school health program is to encourage the best possible health outcome for each student and to teach concepts that help students make responsible decisions regarding their own health in the future.
The members of the Nursing Department collaborate with parents/ guardians and staff to provide every possible educational opportunity for all students by providing services to support their health, well being, and safety in school.
The comprehensive school health program includes screening procedures, protocols to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, emergency care, and procedures to facilitate school attendance for children with special health care needs. Due to nursing assessment and intervention, more students are able to stay in school. The nurse identifies health related barriers to learning, and collaborates with teachers to accommodate students with special health care needs. The nurse may act as liaison between schools and physicians and/or refer students to appropriate resources within the school or community.
The Holliston Public Schools nursing department employs registered nurses licensed to practice by the Massachusetts Board of Registered Nurses (http://www.mass.gov/dph/boards/rn) and certified by Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (http://www.doe.mass.edu/educators/e_license.html).
School Attendance Guidelines
School attendance is key to your child’s success in school. Children should be in school if they are rested, eating well, feeling good and are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. There are certain circumstances, however, when your child should stay home from school. Communication with your child’s school nurse about illness is very important so that nurses can track illnesses in the school and community, maximize the health and safety of all students and staff, and provide you with updated information. The following information should give you direction when making the decision to send your child to school or keep them home. Remember - your school nurse is an excellent resource if you need any guidance or direction when making this decision. Never hesitate to consult with your school nurse.
Illness Guidelines
Please review the following information as guidelines for attending school:
- Fever and/or Flu - If your student has been diagnosed with influenza, the health office needs to know. Keep your student home until the student is fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication.
- Vomiting and/or Diarrhea - Keep your student home until the student has a resolution of symptoms for 24 hours.
- Conjunctivitis / Pink Eye - Keep your student home until the student is on medication for at least 24 hours.
- Strep Throat - If your student has been diagnosed with strep throat, the health office needs to know. Keep your student home until the student is fever free without the use of fever reducing medication and has been on antibiotics for 24 hours.
- Chicken Pox - If a student has chicken pox, the health office needs to know. Keep your student home until all the student's blisters are crusted over.
- Contagious Skin Disorders (such as Impetigo) - Keep your student home until the student has been on medication for 24 hours and the lesions are dried or able to be covered.
- Rash - If your child develops a rash please consult with the school nurse. Rashes are very difficult to diagnose and many are viral in origin and should not prevent your child from attending school. There are cases of breakthrough chickenpox disease and a few other diseases that would certainly influence your child’s attendance in school and impact other students who may be medically compromised, so consultation with your school nurse is important.
Non-illness Related Guidelines
- Injury - Any student who has sustained an injury that has been treated by a physician or in an emergency room and will have restricted activity for a limited period of time (cast, stitches, sprains, fractures, concussions, etc.), must bring a note from the physician stating the nature of the restrictions and when the student can resume participation in Physical Education class, recess, and sports in the upper grades. The student will not be allowed to return to Physical Education class, recess, and sports activities until this note is received. If your child sustains an injury, or you feel your child should limit their activity for 1 – 2 days, or that will affect their school performance, you will need to send a note to the nurse.
Dismissal Due to Illness or Injury
Students requiring dismissal due to an illness/injury will be dismissed to a parent/guardian or their designee from the nursing office. The student will not be allowed to walk home alone or drive home themselves, except High School students after consultation with the school nurse and the student’s parents. It is the expectation that a sick or injured student will be picked up as soon as possible.
School Absence
Please notify the school when your child will be absent and whether it is due to illness or injury. By leaving information about your child’s absence allows for the school nurse to track and trend illness in the school and begin interventions.
Emergency Information
Please keep the emergency information on your child current to facilitate contacting you if your child is ill or injured. Work numbers, home telephone and cell phone numbers change throughout the school year and the school needs to be informed of these changes so that you or your designee can be contacted quickly in the case of an emergency.
Immunizations/Physical Examinations
Massachusetts state law requires that students be fully immunized against DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus), Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Hepatitis B and Varicella in order to attend school. Students MUST meet all the immunization requirements before beginning school. The statute does include exemptions from this law for medical and religious reasons. These exemptions must be updated annually in accordance with the statute and submitted to your school nurse. Your school nurse can answer any questions regarding your child’s immunization status.
Examinations by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant are required for all students entering Kindergarten and any new student entering the district regardless of age or grade. These examinations must be within one year prior to entering school or within 30 days after school entry. Examinations are also required for all students in grades 4, 7 and 10.
In order to participate in any interscholastic sport, documentation of a physical examination within the last 13 months by the student’s primary health care provider must be on file with the school nurse prior to tryouts.
Screenings
Vision and Hearing Screenings are conducted according to guidelines provided by MDPH (http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/). A referral letter is sent home when the student does not meet the screening parameters recommending evaluation by your physician.
- Vision screening is performed in grades PK, K-5, once in grades 6-8, once in grades 9-12.
- Hearing screening is performed in grades K-3, once in grades 6-8, once in grades 9-12.
Postural screening is conducted annually for students in grades 5 through 9. A report from the student’s doctor is required in order to be excused from the school screening. A referral letter is sent home when the student does not meet the screening parameters so that further evaluation can be done.
Heights and weights are done on students in grades 1,4, 7, and 10. Body Mass Index (BMI) and corresponding percentile is calculated and recorded following guidelines from the MDPH for each student. The results will be recorded in the student’s cumulative health record at school. Parents are welcome to call the school nurse to discuss the findings.
SBIRT Screening (Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral for Treatment) will be conducted for all grade 7 and 9 students. SBIRT is a comprehensive, integrated, public health approach to prevent and/or delay substance use and to identify early the small percentage of students thought to be at risk for substance abuse.
Annual Screening Exemptions
A student may be exempt from scoliosis screening, vision, hearing, and BMI screenings upon written request from the parent/ guardian. Immunization exemption and communicable diseases is addressed in Massachusetts General Law ( M.G.L. c.71, s.57) http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/. The law in Massachusetts does not allow philosophical exemptions. There are only two situations in which children who are not fully immunized may be admitted to school.
- Medical exemptions are allowed if a physician submits documentation stating that an immunization is medically contraindicated for the child.
- Religious exemptions are allowed if a parent/ guardian submits a written statement that immunizations conflict with their sincere religious beliefs.
Medication Administration
Does your child need medication administered at school by the nurse or themselves?
You will need to provide the following:
1. PHYSICIAN ORDER
All Medications need an order from you child's provider. Order dates
should go through the entire schoolyear whenever possible.
Care plans are also acceptable if the specific medication and dosage is
indicated.
2. PARENT/GUARDIAN PERMISSION
Please complete all sections of the Medication Authorization Form.
Including the self-carry / self-administration sections on page 2.
MEDICATION
Please check the expiration dates of the medication and make note of
that date. Nurses can only accept a 30 day supply (when applicable to the medication)
PHARMACY LABEL MEDICATION
ADDITIONAL FORMS
Some medications will require additional forms
- Inhalers Massachusetts Asthma Action Plan
- Epipens Allergy Emergency Care Plan
Forms
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
- Head Lice Information
- Healthy Eating / Nutrition
- Lyme Disease
- Massachusetts Department Of Public Health
- Sun Safety
Mental Health Resources
Featured News
School nursing, a specialized practice of public health nursing, protects and promotes student health, facilitates normal development, and advances academic success. School nurses, grounded in ethical and evidence-based practice, are the leaders that bridge health care and education, provide care coordination, advocate for quality student-centered care, and collaborate to design systems that allow individuals and communities to develop their full potentials.