Category Archives: From the School Nurse

Flu Report – Feb 2

Posted on February 2, 2018 by brownpto in From City of Newton, From the School Nurse, Web

Dear Brown Families,

We are writing for the second time this week to update you about the flu in our school.  Brown Middle School has had a higher than usual number of students absent this week.  Many of the students have influenza-like-illness.

Please read this message and consult the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Flu Symptom Check List mentioned below.

The latest statewide flu report (Jan. 26, Massachusetts Department of Public Health) indicates flu activity is widespread in the state, which is not unexpected for this time of year. However, the rate of influenza-like illness (ILI), is higher than the past two flu seasons. ILI, which is a fever of 100 degrees or more and cough or sore throat, is how disease trackers measure the flu nationwide.

The Newton school nurses continue to monitor illness in the schools and are available for any questions or concerns.

It remains important for families to keep sick kids at home, in accordance with school policy. Students cannot return to school until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours, without medication like Tylenol, Advil or Motrin. The checklist below can help families determine when to stay home and when to return.

https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/07/xb/flu-symptom-check-list.pdf

 

Flu vaccination for all people age 6 months and older continues to be recommended. It’s not too late get a flu shot. Call 617-796-1420 to make a vaccination appointment with the public health nurse in City Hall.

Newton Health and Human Services Department

Back to School Message From the Nurse

Posted on August 24, 2017 by brownpto in For 6th Grade, For 7th Grade, For 8th Grade, From the School Nurse

Welcome to Brown Middle School. I’m Lucy Boyer, the School Nurse here at Brown. I’m writing to let you know what to expect from School Health Services in the Newton Public Schools.

Each of Newton’s public schools has a dedicated professional school nurse who administers mandated services and assumes an expanded role. Health services include immunization surveillance, medication administration, and population based screening programs including hearing, vision, postural, growth and substance use prevention. The role of the school nurse also includes care for illness and injury, wellness, teaching/training, student advocacy, and school-based team collaboration.

The Director of School Health Services, Ruth Hoshino, RN, oversees the program which rests in the Health and Human Services Department. Our goal is to facilitate children staying in school so they can learn. However, sometimes that’s not possible. Please be available in the event your child is ill and needs to be dismissed. This should include a backup person in case you are not able to get to school in a reasonable amount of time.

I invite you to contact me regarding your child’s individual health concerns, particularly if s/he needs medication during the school day, has food allergies, diabetes, asthma or other health conditions. The Newton Health and Human Services website, www.newtonma.gov/health includes forms & policies you may need such as medication permission (needed for both prescription and over-the-counter medications).
I can be reached by phone at 617-559-6906, by email at lucy_boyer@newton.k12.ma.us, by fax at 617-552-5541. Please keep in mind that telephone is always best for time sensitive needs.

I look forward to working with you to meet your child’s health needs during the school day.

Brown Health Room, Important Dates for 2017-2018
• Weds 8/30 and Thurs 8/31 Back to School – drop in after 10:00am to meet the nurse, deliver medication, or discuss your child’s health needs

• 7th Grade Immunizations: if your child has not completed the required immunizations, please deliver documentation of their current immunizations to the health office during the first week of school

• Tues 9/5 – first day of school

• September: Fall Sports – If your child is trying out for a sport, they will need to have an
updated physical exam dated within 13 months of the start of the sports season

• Flu Clinic: October 26, 2017. Forms will be available in October, and due on October 24.

• Winter 2018 –Health Screenings. Dates to be determined:
6th – 8th grade: Postural Screening
7th grade: Hearing and Vision
7th grade: Height/Weight (BMI)
8th grade: Substance Use Screening – SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention and
Referral to Treatment) is an evidenced based structured conversation between a trained screener and students as a means of substance use prevention. Detailed information will be sent in advance of the scheduled screening.

To opt out of screenings, please contact me.

• March/April 2018: Spring Sports. If your child is trying out for a sport, they will need to have an updated physical exam dated within 13 months of the start of the sports season

• June: Medication Pickup – as school winds down, plan to pick up all medications from the health room. Students are not allowed to transport their medications to/from school.
Medication Policy

• The school nurse is responsible for administering all medications (over the counter as well as prescription) at school. If your child needs to have a medication at school:

  1. Bring the medication to the health office in the pharmacy labeled container
  2. Sign the parent permission form
  3. Provide physician consent
  4. There are no exceptions to this policy.

The Medication Permission form is available at: http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/health/school_health/default.asp

Reminder: Brown Flu Clinic – Tuesday, November 10 

Posted on November 5, 2015 by brownpto in From the School Nurse

The Health and Human Services Department is pleased to offer the influenza vaccine to all Newton students in grades K-12.  Both the flu shot and the flu nasal spray vaccine will be administered at Brown Middle School during the school day on Tuesday, November 10 at no charge to families.  (An alternate date will be provided for students on the Maroon Team as they will be on the Grade 8 Field Trip to Outward Bound on Thompson Island.) The flu vaccination program is free this year because the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is providing the flu vaccine for students, but insurance information will be requested to help recoup costs to administer the vaccine.

All forms are due to the health room on Friday, November 6.  Click here to download the forms.

Message from the School Nurse

Posted on June 17, 2015 by brownpto in From the School Nurse

Dear Parent & Guardians,

  • If your child has a medication (epi pen, inhaler, over the counter or prescription) at school, the medication must be picked up from the nurse’s office by parent/guardian on or before 3:00PM on 6/24/15. After this point medications will be discarded.

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Notice From the School Nurse for 6th Grade Parents

Posted on February 26, 2015 by brownpto in From the School Nurse

Our recent Postural Screening Program that included 6th grade students is not yet complete as a result of the recent snow days in Newton. Screening will continue in the first week of March. Please contact the School Nurse if you have any questions.

Your child may need additional immunizations to begin 7th grade.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health mandates compliance with school immunization requirements. The Newton Public Schools supports a no-entry policy for students who do not meet these requirements. Students whose immunizations are not up-to-date will be excluded when school begins in September. This requirement will be strictly enforced.

THE FOLLOWING IMMUNIZATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR GRADE SEVEN:
• 2 doses of MMR
• A single dose of Tdap vaccine if it has been more than five years since the last dose of a DTaP, DT, or Td
• 2 doses of varicella vaccine

If your child has received these immunizations, please provide documentation to Nurse Lucy Boyer in the health office. If you have questions about your child’s immunization status, please call the health office. The phone number is: 617-559-6906 and email is: lucy_boyer@newton.k12.ma.us.