Debbie Blanchette is Pine Grove's school nurse. She is available at school during the school day. She administers vision and hearing tests to all students annually and make referrals in cases of deficiency. She also schedules clinics, maintain health records, and administers first aid to injured or ill children. In case of an accident or illness, after first aid is administered, the parent is notified and further care is given if necessary.
School policy calls for a physical examination of each pupil entering kindergarten and at the fourth grade level. The family pediatrician or the school physician may do fourth grade examinations. Parents will be contacted relative to which option they wish to exercise.
Illnesses…The following guidelines are intended to give parents some understanding as to when their child may be ready to return to school after illness:
- Temperature normal for 24 hours
- Three days elapsed since the onset of a cold (may return if they have no temperature, sore throat or severe cough)
- Child is ready to participate in all activities, including gym and outdoor play
- Isolation periods of common communicable diseases:
- Chicken Pox – one week from appearance of eruptions
- Strep infections – a child who is awaiting laboratory results for a strep infection should not return to school until a negative culture is confirmed OR one week without drug therapy (penicillin or like) or 24 hours of antibiotic therapy, provided therapy is continued for 10 days
Medication…If a child must take medication at school, a physician shall provide written orders and the parent shall provide a written request. Medications must be brought to school by an adult in a container labeled by the pharmacist or the physician and will be stored in a locked cabinet in the Health Room. All medication, whether prescription or over-the-counter, must be held and administered by the School Nurse.
School Entry/Immunization Requirements…A child must be a resident of Newbury, Rowley, or Salisbury to be enrolled as a student in the school of that town. When a child transfers to the school system, the grade placement of the previous school system will be honored. No child shall be admitted to Kindergarten through sixth grade without a physician’s certificate or copy of an immunization record from a school in the Commonwealth. All requests for school choice must be made through the Triton Regional School District’s central office.
