TLC Health Services

Information for Families:

Your child is required to have on file an annual physical exam, updated immunizations, dental visit information and vision screening that have been reviewed by the nurse.

Families are strongly encouraged to communicate any student health concerns to the school nurse. If your child has asthma, allergies, diabetes, seizures, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or any other medical and/or mental health issue requiring specified health services or the use of medical devices.
 

Please contact the nurses any time you have concerns and specifically for the following reasons:

• A new medical diagnosis or change in your child's health status;
• A newly prescribed medication;
• A change in current medication;
• A serious illness, injury or hospitalization;
• A contagious disease such as chicken pox, COVID, flu, strep throat, whooping cough, ringworm, scabies, impetigo, conjunctivitis, or MRSA infection;
• If your child is absent for an extended period of time.

When to Stay Home:

We want students to have good attendance, but there may be times when you are too ill to come to school. These guidelines are suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics. When a child is ill, the following steps should be taken:

• Notify the school nurse;
• Keep the student home;
• Reach out to their healthcare provider.

We ask that if the student is experiencing these symptoms, stay home for 24-hours after any of these symptoms of illness resolve:

• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Respiratory Illness
• Persistent Coughing
• Fatigue
• Strep Throat or Bacterial Conjunctivits (Pink Eye)

Download our PDF for helpful information about when to keep your child home.

Extended illness of 3 or more days will require a note from a healthcare provider for the absence to be excused.

Surgeries, Hospitalizations, Casts, Splints, Boots, and Crutches

Students with post-injuries or casts, splints, boot or any other medically approved device must provide a doctor's note clearing them for school. The letter should include information about restrictions if any. This information is needed for us to excuse them from PE and make safe determinations about other activities.

Screenings

Vision/BMI/Posture Screenings are required by Massachusetts law. Your school nurse will notify you of the dates of the screenings. The nurse will also notify you with any concerns or abnormal findings and refer your child to a vision care specialist for further evaluation, if warranted. You may waive your child’s screening with a religious exemption described in writing to the school nurse annually but you will need to provide proof that screening has been done by a healthcare provider within the last 12 months.

All screenings are done in a confidential manner.

Students are prohibited from possessing either prescription or over-the-counter medicines while in school or while participating in school sponsored events or activities. The exception would be in cases where a physician completes the required documentation stating that it is medically indicated that the student carries an inhaler or EpiPen with them. In such cases, the Nurse reviews the request and assesses the self-care plan for the medication. The student’s medication is kept on the student’s body at all times.