School Nurse

Saint Agnes School

Quality Catholic Education for Grades K to 8

Health Office
(781) 641-6047
stagnesnurse@hotmail.com

For those who are unfamiliar with the school, my name is Amy Connell RN. I am the school nurse and can be found in the Health Office Monday through Friday from 9AM to 2PM. In addition to my work in the Health Office, I teach a number of topics in the classrooms. Some of these include: smoking, dental hygiene, nutrition and exercise, sports safety, Handwashing/germs, bullying and sun safety.

I have been reviewing each child's school health file. Should your child's file be missing information you will receive a note home. Please obtain and forward the requested information to the Health Office as soon as possible. Massachusetts state law requires all students attending school be properly immunized; if there were an outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease in school your child would be unable to attend school if he/she were lacking proper vaccine documentation. Religious and medical exemptions are allowed and need to be documented on a yearly basis. Please forward the exemption if needed. (Click here for information about required immunizations.)

Food Allergies

I would like to remind everyone that we do have several severe food allergies in our school. I would request that parents remind children not to share snacks or lunches. Please alert the homeroom teacher prior to bringing in a snack or treat for the class. When possible if parents and students could find alternatives to peanuts or peanut based products during the school day this would also be helpful. Our goal is to provide a safe and healthy environment for all our students. Thank you for your cooperation.

This is NOT a peanut free school. Children eat their snacks in their classrooms. Allergies should be listed on medical forms and emergency contact sheets. If your child has a moderate to severe allergy requiring medication, please follow these steps.

	Give yearly updated medical orders to the Health Office indicating the allergy and treatment
	Give the medication and dosage amount and route to the Health Office signed by the MD
	Any additional instructions should be given to the Health Office in writing
	If an epi-pen is required, the school requests that you send 2 pens, one for the Health Office and one for the classroom
	If your child carries an epi-pen, a note indicating this must be sent to the Health Office
	If your child has a food allergy, please indicate if he is not able to be near (smell) that particular food.

Illness

Please remember that if your child will be out ill you need to call the school office 781-643-9031. In cases of illness please tell the office staff what the symptoms of the illness are. (For example, cough, sore throat, stomachache, cold, vomiting, fever, etc.) This information allows me to see patterns of illness within the school.

In order to keep everyone healthy I ask that children who are returning to school after being ill be symptom free for at least 24 hours prior to returning. (For example no fever for 24 hours, no further GI upset for 24 hours.) Please be aware a child who requires Tylenol for fever or flu-like symptoms is NOT symptom free and should remain home. A child started on a medication for an illness should be on that medication for at least 24 hours prior to returning to school. These simple guidelines will not only help decrease the risk of spreading illness to classmates and teachers but also keep your child from getting sicker. Remember a child with an illness already has a weakened immune system and as a result less ability to fight other diseases.

Please notify the Health Office anytime your child has a communicable disease, highly contagious disease and/or skin rashes. (For example, head lice, Chicken Pox, Fifth's Disease, Impetigo, Meningitis, Conjunctivitis and Strep Throat, to name a few.) Should you be unsure always feel free to speak with me. This information will allow the nurse and teachers to be alert for similar symptoms in other students and staff.

Emergency Contacts

Please list all phone numbers to contact parents and indicate which number to try first. Please have two emergency contacts, in addition to parents, with all necessary phone numbers.

Links to additional information

Should my child be at school with this illness?

Prescription Medication Information

Over the counter Medication Information

New student information

Immunizations

Flu Facts

Sports Nutrition Information

Sledding Safety

Winter Safety Tips

Headlice information