Guidelines & Information for a Healthy School Year
The goal of the school nurse is to maximize your child’s potential to learn and grow by providing a climate of health and well being. Your nurse is always willing to listen to any concerns regarding your child’s health. Please do not hesitate to call us with questions or concerns.
When to Keep Your Child Home From School
A child who feels very ill is too uncomfortable to learn.
Your child cannot attend school when experiencing the following:
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A fever, 100 degrees or higher, within 24 hours of school. Do not give your child medication in the morning for an elevated temperature and then send them to school. A fever signifies illness and should be treated as such with rest, fluids and Tylenol.
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Vomiting or loose stools within 24 hours of school.
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A cough that keeps your child awake, is painful or excessive and uncontrolled.
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A sore throat for 24 hours, especially with swollen glands or fever. If your child has been diagnosed with strep throat, they must remain home for at least 24 hours after they start antibiotic treatment.
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A suspicious rash or eye drainage should be evaluated by your child’s doctor before coming to school.
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Lice needs to be successfully treated before returning to school.
To allow for surveillance of contagious illnesses, notify your school nurse if your child has been diagnosed with the following: Covid-19, Strep Throat, Pertussis (“Whooping Cough”), Conjunctivitis, Impetigo, Scabies, MRSA (Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus), Lice, Fifth Disease, Influenza (the flu), or other contagious illnesses.
Absences
If your child is absent, it is important that you call the main office each day and provide a reason for their absence.
COVID-19 Update
If your child has tested positive for Covid-19 they must stay home and isolate for 5 days. On day 6 they may return to school with a mask through day 10. If they are unable to wear a mask please use a home test and if negative on day 6 they may return to school.
Immunizations
All students PK-12 must be fully immunized. Failure to do so will result in exclusion from school. Please provide the school nurse with updated paperwork and an immunization record each time your child has a Physical Exam.
Physicals
Physical exams are mandated for any student entering our school system.
State law requires current physical exams (within the last 12 months) for students entering Pre-K, K, 4th, 7th, and 10th grades.
An annual physical exam is also required to participate in sports. An M.I.A.A. health history form must be filled out by parents. Since only one exam per year is required for sports participation, any student suffering an injury during a sport must have a special release signed by their PCP, before returning to that sport or entering another sport. No one can participate in sports or even practice without a completed physical exam on file.
Allergies
Life-threatening allergies are a major concern for schools. Children with such allergies can be put in harm’s way if they come in contact with and/or consume certain foods such as: peanuts, eggs, nuts and milk. Allergic reac-tions can vary with each child and can be life threatening. QPS has guidelines based on the health needs of their students and parents are asked to comply.
Parents are asked not to send in food for their child’s classroom.
Healthier Generation
Quincy Public Schools has partnered with an Alliance for a Healthier Generation—a federally funded program focused on encouraging healthy choices among children. Through healthier food options in the cafeteria and an array of sports and healthy activities, QPS encourages students to make healthy choices. During the school year activities such as organized walks or sporting events take place throughout the city. Visit www.quincypublicschools.com throughout the year to see what events and activities are taking place within your school and throughout the city.
Medications During the School Day
Students requiring medication while in school must have a signed doctor’s order from his/her physician for each new school year along with docu-mented parental consent. The medication must be brought to school by an adult in the original prescription bottle. If the decision is made to stop ad-ministration in school, a letter from the doctor and parent is required.
Short-term medications (antibiotics, allergy-relief, etc.) can and should be given at home. Physicians can prescribe a convenient schedule to conform to this ruling. If this is not possible, the above rules apply.
The following over-the-counter medications have been prescribed as a “Standing Order” by the QPS doctor : acetaminophen (up to 650 mg), Tums (up to two tabs), and ibuprofen (up to 400 mg). These medications can be administered by your child’s nurse with signed parental consent (an option on the Student Health Information Update Form, which is distributed year-ly).
Elementary students should never carry medications of any kind to school in their pocket, backpacks or lunch boxes. This could be very harmful to your child if the incorrect dose is taken and, if lost, dangerous to other students who may ingest the lost medicine.
Middle and High school students may carry certain medications with parent permission. Please speak with your nurse for proper paperwork.
Please make plans with your school nurse to pick up any medication you supplied at the end of each school year.
Screenings
The following screenings are state-mandated and are done as part of the regular school health program:
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Vision: Grades PK through Gr. 5, Gr.7, and 9
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Hearing: Grades PK through Gr. 3, Gr. 6, and 10
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Height and weight (BMI): Grades 1, 4, 7, and 10
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Scoliosis: Grades 5 through 9
The schedule for screenings varies from school-to-school. Unless a written document has been submitted that school year by a parent, all students will be screened. Screenings are done respectfully and discreetly. Parents will be notified if their child deviates from the normal. These screenings are important since they can reveal an issue that was overlooked in the past.
Concussions/Injuries
Nurses must be informed of any concussion diagnosis, even if it happened outside of school. A written document from a medical provider must be provided with information on any physical or educational modifications required.
QPS may use a student’s history of head injury or concussion as a factor to determine whether to allow the student to participate in an extracurricular athletic activity or whether to allow such participation under specific condi-tions or modifications.
If your child requires crutches or another assistive device, please call the nurse as soon as possible so that a plan can be created to insure they are safe throughout the day.
Documentation from a doctor is needed in order to miss physical education classes and a clearance letter is needed before returning to all sports and exercise.