School Health Services promote the health of students through prevention, case-finding, early intervention and remediation of specific problems, provision of direct services for students with special needs, and provision of health counseling to promote an optimal level of wellness for students and staff.
School Nursing Services
A bachelor's level registered nurse, certified by the American Nurses Association, is available full-time at the Morris School to provide the following services: Care of students/staff when they are ill or injured; mandatory screenings which include vision and hearing, height and weight, and postural screening (5th grade); periodic all-school head lice screenings, conducted as needed; communicable disease control; immunization control; maintenance of health records; physical assessment and physical examinations; medication administration; health counseling; collaboration regarding pertinent health issues with faculty, staff and other health professionals; environmental health; health agency referrals; specialized health care plans for children with special health care needs.
Physical Examinations and Immunizations
According to Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations as outlined in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts General Law, physical examinations and immunization records are required upon entering preschool, kindergarten and all new admissions. Physical examinations are also required in grade 4. Parents have the option of having their child’s Pre-Kindergarten or Grade 4 physicals done at the school by our school physician.
Before admission, all students must submit proof of immunization to be reviewed by the school nurse who will authorize admission. Except as specifically provided for by law, children, not successfully immunized, are to be excluded from school in accordance with Chapter 76, Section 15 of the Massachusetts General Laws. The school nurse will make recommendations for exclusion to the Elementary Principal.
Communicable Disease Control
Children who have indications of communicable disease should remain at home until fully recovered. The family physician should issue a note stating that the child may return to school. To keep health records up-to-date, it is important that the nature of the illness be stated.
Accident and Illness Policy
School is for students who are well. Please do not send your child to school if he or she has any sign of illness.
Every member of the school staff is expected to institute emergency care in case of an accident. No member of the staff, however, is expected to provide treatment for an ill child.
In case of illness, the school makes necessary arrangements for the sick child to return home. Normally, the school cannot provide transportation for students who are ill or injured. Please identify on the Emergency Information Card the person(s) who will call for your child if he/she is ill or has had an accident. We require the emergency information cards so that we have on file the directions you want followed in the event your child has to return home due to illness or accident during the school day.
Please let the school nurse know if your child is ill. If possible, also include information about the diagnosis and expected period of absence from school.
Administration of Medications
The Authorization for Medications To Be Taken During School Hours is required in order for students to receive medications at school. This applies to non-prescription as well as prescription medications. Both a parent's signature and the prescribing physician's signature are required. Please contact the School Nurse if your child needs medications.
The medication must be sent in a prescription bottle and should not be sent to school with the child. It should be brought personally by the parent to the School Nurse.
Dress
One of the best ways to keep a child healthy is to make sure he or she dresses appropriately for school depending on the weather and the temperature. During the winter months it is common to see students bringing a pair of sneakers and leaving them at school in their locker. This allows them to slip their boots off and on with ease and still provide them with comfortable and suitable footwear for the time they spend indoors.
Medical Notes
When a child has been ill or injured and has returned to school, we expect the child to participate fully in school activities both in and out of the classroom. Exceptions to this policy may only be made with a specific dated medical note giving the reason why the child should not take part and giving the specific length of time the note should be in effect. All notes should be written by the parent, guardian, or physician. We expect children to go out for all recesses unless excused by a specific medical note.