Nurse's Page

Letter from the BSD School Nurses

The following are general guidelines to facilitate communication between parents and school health professionals relating to health issues.

Nurses will use clinical judgment to decide how to respond to symptoms in line with the district illness policy (e.g., students who have fevers, vomiting, ect. will be sent home).

If your child has a temperature greater than 100 degrees, please keep your child at home. They may return to school after 24 hours being fever free without fever reducing medication.

If your child vomits or has diarrhea during the night or the morning of school, please keep him/her at home. They may return to school after 24 hours of no vomiting/diarrhea episodes.

If your child has an injury, please forward a note from the health care provider indicating any activity restrictions or use of assistive devices such as crutches. If your child cannot participate in physical education (per medical note) he/she will need a clearance note from the health care provider in order to return to physical education/sports activity. Please do not send your child to school with crutches unless directed by a health care provider with a physician note.

Please inform your school nurse: Of any new allergies, surgeries, accidents or new health problems or diagnoses that have occurred during the summer months that school may need to be aware of.

If your child is hospitalized for an illness (psychiatric or medical), a confidential summary from the discharging health care professional would be appreciated. Recommendations for your child might be made by the discharging professional in the summary. These recommendations will help us determine the accommodations for his/her academic, emotional, and physical needs your child may require upon his/her return.

For a student to receive Over the Counter Medication, such as; Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen or Tums, the Over The Counter Medication Administration form must be provided to the health office every school year. Over the Counter Medication Form

If your child, by order of a physician, must receive medications in school, state laws requires both parent and physician signature prior to administering medication. Please be sure to provide a doctor’s note (name of medication, dose, route, approximate time, and frequency) along with the medication in its original container. All orders expire each year and must be updated yearly. Please be advised that morning doses of any medications are the responsibility of the parent. BSD Medication Form
If your child needs emergency medication on standby such as an epipen or an inhaler your child is allowed to self-carry but must provide the health office with a prescriber’s written order and have written parent authorization, indicating permission to self carry. A doctor’s order identifying the child requiring the medication must be filed in the health office whether it is kept in the health office or self-carried.BSD Allergy/Anaphylaxis Health Care

IF YOUR CHILD WILL BE OUT OF SCHOOL FOR 3 DAYS OR MORE, PLEASE CONTACT THE MAIN/GUIDANCE OFFICE. IT IS BEST TO CALL MAIN/GUIDANCE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING TO REQUEST HOMEWORK.

Here is each school's Health Services website. This is where you will find medical information and medical forms that need to be updated on an annual basis:

A.T. Levy Steere Farm Elementary William L. Callahan Elementary BMS BHS

Covid Guidelines 2022-2023

All students who develop COVID symptoms should stay home and get tested and/or contact your primary care provider for further guidance.

Students who develop symptoms while at school will be evaluated in the nurse's office, and may be sent home per current Illness policy/CDC/RIDOH guidelines. Testing may be recommended (rapid tests are acceptable).

There are many ways to get a COVID-19 test. Find the most convenient way for you at covid.ri.gov/testing.

A healthcare provider, primary care provider, pediatrician, school nurse/Covid Coordinator when available
Respiratory Clinics or Urgent Care Centers;
Retail Pharmacies (e.g., CVS, Walgreens);
16 yr olds & over can self consent; otherwise, verbal or written consent from a guardian is needed.

If a student tests positive for COVID please follow the chart below.

For information on preventing COVID-19 please visit: https://covid.ri.gov/#prevent

Rhode Island Department of Health Requirements for 7^th-12^th Grade Students

Children entering 7th grade- A child who is entering 7th grade must have met the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten immunization requirements, plus:

1 dose of HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine
1 dose of Meningococcal Conjugate (MCV4) vaccine
1 dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine
A second general health examination and health clearance will be required upon entry to the 7^th grade. It maybe performed while in 6th grade but no later than 6 months after the student enters 7th grade.

Children entering 8th grade- A child who is entering 8th grade must have met the 7th grade immunization requirements, plus:

2 doses of HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine

Children entering 9th grade - A child who is entering 9th grade must have met the 8th grade immunization requirements, plus:

3 doses of HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine
*Note: Per current ACIP recommendations, 2 doses of HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine (if series is started at age 14 or younger)

Children entering 12th grade- A child who is entering 12th grade must have met the 9th grade immunization requirements, plus:

1 dose of Meningococcal Conjugate (MCV4) vaccine - All students entering grade 12, who had their first dose at age fifteen years or younger, are required to have a booster dose given on or after 16 years of age.
A third general health examination and health clearance will be required upon entry to the 12^th grade. This general health examination shall be performed after the student turns 16 years of age, and no later than 6 months after the student enters 12^th grade

HPV vaccination

For fall 2017, 1 dose will be required for 7th graders, 2 doses will be required for 8th graders, and 3 doses will be required for 9th graders. *2 doses of HPV (if series is started at age 14 or younger)

Note: No student should be excluded from school if he/she is not vaccinated against HPV.

Rhode Island Department of Health Immunization Requirements for PK-12

RIDOH Immunization Requirement