School Nurse Brochure

School Health Brochure 
Information about school health services in the Franklin Public Schools.

Welcome to the Parmenter School Nurse Website

My name is Kerry Richardson, RN, MSN, and I am the Parmenter Elementary School Nurse. 


Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns that you might have at 508-541-5280 X2242. 


If you are trying to reach the Nurse and there is no answer, please leave a message and your call will be returned as soon as possible.


The main office number for the Parmenter Elementary School is 508-541-5281.


Please scroll down for information on:

• When to notify the nurse
• When to keep your child home from school
• Medication Policy
• Food Allergies
• Emergency Contact Information
• Mandatory Health Screenings
• Accessing community based resources

Resources for those in need

Franklin Food Pantry
43 West Street
Franklin,MA 02038
508-528-3115
www.franklinfoodpantry.blogspot.com

St. Vincent DePaul Society
St. Mary's Church
Church Square
Franklin, MA 02038
The society provides assistance without regard to religious or other individual differences.
508-528-0020 (Rectory)
www.stmarysfranklin.org

Massachusetts 2-1-1
United Way
One call links you to help in your community.
Dial 2-1-1 or 1-877-211-6277
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
www.mass211help.org

Low cost, quality child care assistance
Department of Early Education and Care
1-617-988-6600
-or-
Child Care Resource and Referral Network
1-800-345-0131
www.mass.gov/eec

MassHealth healthcare services and insurance
1-800-841-2900
www.mass.gov/masshealth

Fuel Assistance Community Action Program
Heatline at 1-800-632-8175
www.mass.gov/dhcd/

Breakfast at Parmenter

Breakfast is now being served!

A Grab and Go Breakfast is now available to all students every weekday morning. There are many different breakfast items for students to choose from. Students can either pick up a breakfast in the cafeteria or just inside the main lobby, and take it to the classroom to eat. Not only do the students get a well-balanced breakfast, but they get to enjoy a morning meal with their friends!

Cost: $1.80 for breakfast; $.30 for a reduced price breakfast; free for students who qualify. (Students who are eligible for free and reduced priced lunches are also eligible for free and reduced priced breakfasts.) Students may use their current pre-loaded lunch cards, give their name, or pay with cash.

Your child can eat breakfast at school everyday or only occasionally. There is no need to sign up in advance.

All breakfast foods are nut free.

The menu and additional nutritional information is located on the main Franklin Public Schools Website.

When to notify the nurse

Please notify the Parmenter School Nurse at 508-541-5280  ext. 2242, if your child has:

• Any chronic or acute illnesses.
• Medications or health needs that will need to be addressed in school.
• A communicable disease such as a strep infection, conjunctivitis, impetigo, ringworm, or chicken pox.
• Any illness or injury that might impact the student's ability to participate in physical education or active recess.
• Been recently hospitalized or evaluated in an urgent care or emergency room setting.
• Experienced a stressor at home that might impact the student at school, such as a family member with a serious illness, or changes in the make up of the family unit (divorce, new baby, loss of pet, etc.)

When to keep your child home from school

Please keep your child home from school when your child

• Has a temperature of over 100 degrees by mouth within the past 24 hours without the assistance of medication to reduce the fever.
• Has experienced vomiting or diarrhea in the past 24 hours.
• Has "pink eye" (conjunctivitis).  The eye is generally red with some burning or itchiness and there may be some sticky or crusty discharge. Please call your child's health care provider.  The student may return to school 24 hours after initiating treatment for bacterial conjunctivitis. 
• Has a skin infection or unexplained/suspicious rash.  This would include skin lesions, sores, or rashes accompanied by a fever. 
• Has been diagnosed with a communicable disease.  If prescribed antibiotics, the child must take the medications for at least 24 hours before returning to school (ex. Strep infection).
• Reminder that the signs and symptoms of a strep throat include sore throat, headache, stomachache/vomiting, swollen and tender neck glands.
• Has an intense headache, sore throat, body aches, earache, chills, or persistent productive cough, and does not feel well enough to actively participate in class.
• Has a thick or constant nasal discharge.  Very few young children can effectively blow their noses and wash their hands afterwards.  A child with these symptoms will quickly spread the illness to others.
• A student suspected of having head lice may not be excluded from school, however, parents/guardians are expected to provide appropriate treatment for their child after consultation with the child's primary health care provider.  The school nurse can be a resource in addressing parent/guardian/student concerns. 

Please contact the school nurse with any questions or concerns.

Medication Policy

The policy of the Franklin Public Schools as mandated by 71 M.G.L. 54 B and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health 105 CMR, 210.001 for dispensing of medication in school is as follows:

• A written order from a licensed physician AND written parent/guardian consent must be provided for any medication to be dispensed at school.  This includes prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and medicinal supplements.  Required orders and consents must be renewed as necessary and at the beginning of each academic year.
• All medications must be in the original container, properly labeled and delivered to the school nurse by a responsible adult (parent/guardian or designee).  Do not send in medications with your child.
• Not more than a thirty day supply of medication will be accepted at one time.
• All medications will be stored in a locked cabinet or when required, in a locked box in a refrigerator in the nurse's office. 
• Medication may be retrieved by the parent/guardian at any time.  All medication will be destroyed if not picked up at the end of the school year.
• For students with asthma or other respiratory disease - please submit a copy of the student's Asthma Action Plan.
• For students with a potential life threatening allergy -please submit an Allergy Action Plan.
• Forms can be found at Medical Forms Directory for Franklin Public Schools .

  

Food Allergies

An increasing number of children have potentially life threatening food allergies.




If your child has a food or other potentially life threatening allergy, please discuss this directly with the school nurse at 508-541-5280 X2242.




Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening medical condition occurring in food allergic individuals after exposure to their specific food allergen.  The most dangerous symptoms of anaphylaxis are difficulty breathing and a drop in blood pressure, which can be fatal.






Foods that most commonly produce allergic reactions include

• Peanuts
• Tree nuts (examples: walnuts, almonds, hazelnut, cashew, pistachio and Brazil nuts)
• Shellfish/fish
• Eggs
• Soy
• Milk
• Wheat

Reactions can occur with

• Ingestion - when a child eats or drinks food containing the allergen
• Inhalation - some children have a reaction when they smell the food
• Touch - some children react even a small amount of the food touches the skin

Prevention of an allergic reaction

•   Avoidance of the food(s) that may trigger the allergy is the most important step.

Safety measures for the student with a potentially life threatening allergy

• Cafeteria
• Separate "nut free" tables have been established in the cafeteria as needed.  Other "specific food free" tables can be established as needed.
• Any student who does not have nut products in his/her lunch may also sit at the "nut free" table along with the students who are allergic to nuts.  
• Please read product ingredient labels to identify possible food allergens.  A good resource is the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) at http;//www.foodallergy.org 
• The Franklin Public Schools' Lunch Program website contains menus and food allergen information for parents at http://www.franklin.ma.us/auto/schools/FPS/lunchprogram/
• Classroom
• When a class has a student with a potentially life threatening allergy from touching or smelling certain foods, the class will be asked not to bring in snacks containing these foods.  These foods may be consumed in the cafeteria during lunch. 
• Whenever a class has a student with severe food allergies, the parents will be sent a letter requesting that certain foods not be sent in for class consumption.
• School wide
• Please refer to the Parmenter Elementary School Handbook for additional information at http://franklindistrict.vt-s.net/pages/FranklinDistrict_webdocs/handbooks/index

Emergency Contact Information

Parents/Guardians are expected to keep emergency contact information up to date.  Should any of the contact information change, please notify the nurse at 508-541-5280 X2242.

Mandatory Health Screenings

Vision screenings will be done on all students in grades K - 5. 
Hearing screenings are done on students in grades K - 3.
Vision and Hearing screening begins yearly in the Fall.  
Parents/Guardians will be notified if their child does not pass the vision and/or hearing screen at school and requires additional assessment by their usual healthcare provider or specialist. 


If you have any concerns about your child's vision or hearing, please contact the school nurse. 


Postural screening is done in grade 5. Postural Screening is usually done in March. 
Parents/Guardians will be notified in advance of the date for postural screening.
Postural Screening is done to identify early signs of problems with the spine.  Most of these problems can be easily treated if detected early. 
Parents/Guardians will be notified of any suspicious findings requiring further assessment by a physician.


Growth screening, specifically height and weight, will be obtained for students in the 1st and 4th grades. Growth screening is done throughout the school year.  

Evidence of a physical exam is required for all students upon entry into the school and in 4th grade.
   


Information about mandatory screenings in schools can be found in the  Massachusetts General law, Chapter 71, section 57.