Dear Parents and Guardians,
ILLNESS
Sick visits and reports of illness are finally decreasing with the onset of Spring! This past week the number of reports of Influenza, covid, strep throat, Gastrointestinal virus, and other viral illnesses received was much more typical for this time of year.
If your child is ill, kindly review the TPS General Illness Protocols for school attendance guidance and the link to the current Massachusetts guidance for symptoms of any respiratory illness, like flu, COVID-19, and RSV. Please contact your medical provider for return to school guidance if your child is diagnosed with communicable disease.
As always, please notify the school nurse of any changes in your child’s health status to include illness, injury (fracture, sprain, concussion, etc.), surgery, chronic medical condition, medication, mental health issues, etc. Supporting documentation from their medical provider is extremely helpful. It is also helpful to submit a copy of your child’s Physical Exam as soon after it occurs as possible. An important part of meeting a student’s health care needs is to make sure the Health Office has up to date information in your child’s School Health Record to enable us to best provide care for them.
GRADE 10 STUDENTS
Grade 10 students must submit documentation of Meningococcal conjugate vaccine, MenACWY (brand names Menveo, Menactra, MenQuadfi) once they have turned 16.
THIS DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED PRIOR TO ENTERING GRADE 11.
The booster dose of MenACWY must be received on or after the students 16th birthday. Students who are not yet 16 when they enter Grade 11 will need to provide documentation of booster dose within two weeks after turning 16. Please click this hyperlink for more information regarding Massachusetts Immunization Requirements 2024-2025.
Under the guidelines of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Department of Education, it is the policy of the Tyngsborough Public School District that students must submit a current Physical Examination report to have on file in the nurse’s office PRIOR TO ENTRY INTO GRADE 11. Examination must be signed by a licensed medical provider and be dated within the previous twelve months to be considered current. A Certificate of Immunization or Immunization History must be included. It is best practice to send in a copy of your child’s current Physical Exam after each well visit or immunization. Please click this hyperlink for more information regarding 105 CMR 200.00: Physical examination of school children | Mass.gov
MANDATED SCREENING
Screenings are conducted in Tyngsborough Public Schools annually in accordance with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Regulations (refer to following guidelines). Screening tests are not diagnostic in nature. They are designed simply to indicate students who may need further attention in a specific area. Screenings are already underway and are performed at THS throughout the school year as the student’s schedule allows.
Grade 9 - students will receive postural screening for scoliosis. Complete privacy is afforded the students during this examination. If your child is currently under the care of a physician for scoliosis please submit documentation to me for their health record.
Grade 10- students will be screened for vision, hearing, and growth (height, weight and Body Mass Index “BMI”). Parents will be notified of any findings that necessitate medical follow-up and a referral form given. The referral form is to be completed by the examining medical provider and returned to the school nurse as soon as possible.
If a parent/guardian does not wish to have a screening or screenings done at school they must send me:
1. A written request to exclude their child from participating in school screenings AND
2. Written documentation from their licensed health care provider documenting their results of the
Screening.
Grade 9 - Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) will be performed for all Grade 9 students. The Tyngsborough Public Schools utilizes the Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) protocol. For more information about SBIRT please click here. As with any school based screening, you have the option to opt your child out of this process. Additionally, students may also opt out of the process at any time. If you do not want your child to participate in Substance Use Preventive Screening, please send me a written request to exclude your child from participating in SBIRT screening.
STUDENTS REQUIRING MEDICATION DURING SCHOOL OR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
School policy prohibits students from carrying medication (except life-saving medication such as an EpiPen or rescue inhaler once the required medical order is on file with the school nurse each school year). Prescription AND (OTC) Over-The-Counter medication requires submission of a Student Medication Administration Order. It must include the signature of a licensed health care provider AND parent. The medication (No more than a one month supply) must be submitted in person by a parent or guardian in a pharmacy labeled container or the original manufacturer’s container. Please contact me to arrange a time for submission of medication.
The Health Office has standing medication orders from the school physician for a limited list of over-the-counter medications. The list includes Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, TUMS, Diphenhydramine, Caladryl Clear, topical antibiotic ointment and Aquaphor Healing Ointment. If you would like to authorize your child to receive any of these medications, your permission is required each school year. Permission is to be granted for each medication you choose via the Student Information Form. This form can be found in the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
Thank you for your attention to these very important health concerns. It is my hope that we can work together to provide a safe and healthy environment to support your child’s success. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Debbie Donohoe BSN, RN, NCSN
36 Norris Road, Tyngsborough, MA 01879
Email: debbie.donohoe@tyngsboroughps.org
Phone: (978) 649-7571 Option 2 (only monitored during regular scheduled school hours)
Fax: (978) 649-1877
TPS Health Services Website
