Winn Brook's nurse is on duty for 6 hours per day, starting at 8:30 AM. Her primary focus is on medical issues that arise during the school day. Injuries which occur outside of school should be evaluated by the child's pediatrician. Please call the school nurse (617) 993-5706 if your child is absent due to head lice or a communicable disease. In such cases, a call to the office or school nurse is important. In any case, a note of explanation is required when a child returns from school after being absent.

Students who are under the care of a doctor for treatment for surgery, crutches, or casts, or situations requiring special consideration in terms of participation in school activities, are required to have written permission from the doctor before resuming physical education classes.

Medication in School

Students are not to carry any medication to or from school. In the case of prescribed medicines that must be administered during the school day, there must be a written medication order from a licensed prescriber and a consent form (available from the school nurse or website listed below) signed by parent or guardian. The pharmacy should be asked to provide separate labeled containers for school and home. For short-term prescriptions (such as antibiotics), the pharmacy label may be used in lieu of a licensed prescriber's order. Please contact the school nurse for clarification on dispensing of medication in school if you have any questions.

Emergency Forms

At the start of each school year, each student brings home an "emergency form" for completion by parent or guardian. It is essential that these be completed thoroughly and be kept updated with information on who can be reached in person (not just by voice mail) in case of an emergency (illness, accident, etc.)

Immunizations/physicals

Massachusetts State Law requires documentation of proper immunization in order for children to enter school. Besides DPT, polio, measles, mumps, rubella (German measles), and varicella (chicken pox) regulations as of 1996 require hepatitis B vaccination, as well as TB test results and evidence of lead poisoning screening. A child without proof of immunization (including dates of immunization) must be excluded from school after the first 15 days. Contact the school nurse if you have any questions about this requirement. Also, the state requires that students in grades K, 1, and 4 submit evidence of a physical examination within the previous 12 months.

Vision and Hearing Screening

Every child receives an annual hearing and vision screening from the school nurse. In the event that special hearing or vision concerns are detected, notices are sent to parents.

For more information visit Department of Health and Nursing Services web site