Taylor Families:
Welcome back to our returning students and families and Welcome to our new
students and their families! We are having a great start to the 2011-2011
school year!
BMI letters for students in grades 1 and 4 will be sent home via "snail mail"
in May. Also being sent via "snail mail" will be the letter reminding
parents of grade 3 students that an updated physical form is needed for your
child entering grade 4. As with any notice, if you have any questions or
concerns please do not hesitate to call the school nurse.
As usual, I have some ground rules I need to remind everyone.
If your child is new to the district or in grade 4, an updated physical exam
form from the MD is now due. Immunizations, lead screening, and MA
vision protocols are required for all kindergarteners. A complete record of
immunizations is required for all students, per MA DPH. If your child does
not have all the required medical information at this time, he/she could be
excluded from school. These mandates are from the State; they are for the
health and safety of all students and adults in the school.
If your child has no health insurance, contact the school nurse and she can
assist you in the process of obtaining health insurance.
Vision screenings are completed. Hearing screenings are just about
completed. If your child fails either screen after two tries you will
receive a letter at home through "snailmail." It is very important to follow
through with your physician if a failure has occured. Many times early
detection for the need for glasses or hearing loss due ear infections, fluid,
or some other medical reason will help resolve a learning issue.
If during the school year you think your child needs a vision or hearing
screen, please call the nurse to discuss your concern and a screening can be
done at that time.
Heights and weights will be done for students in all grades, with BMI done
for grades 1 and 4 per DPH recommendation, after the winter recess. Although
the State requires school nurses to perform this screening, if you choose not
to have your child screened and your child has had this screening with the
pediatrician, then your child will be excused. Please make your wishes known
to the school nurse. Students in grades 1 and 4 will receive a letter home
in the mail with their BMI information. Please call the nurse for any
questions, or if your child is in another grade, the nurse can provide you
with the information.
If your child requires medication during the school day there is a protocol
in place to ensure safe transport, storage, and administration. You must
notify the nurse if your child will need medication during school.
Medication includes EpiPens, inhalers, short-term antibiotics, scheduled
medications for various illnesses, and ANY OVER THE COUNTER MEDICINE.
Tylenol, Advil, ointments, eye drops, ear drops, nose drops, Tums, Lactaid,
cough syrup, or any other medication MUST be ordered by the physician. An
ADULT must transport the medication to the nurse or another adult staff
member. A written doctor's order and written parent's permission form must
be on file in the nurse's office. The nurse will keep the medication in a
locked medication cabinet or in a locked box in the refrigerator if needed.
NO STUDENT IN GRADES K - 4 IS ALLOWED TO CARRY ANY MEDICATION EXCEPT AN
EPIPEN. Any student who is seen with medicine of any kind will be asked to
bring it to the nurse, the parent will be notified, and the medication will
not be administered unless it is in the original medication bottle. For the
health and safety of all our students and staff members this medication
protocol will be adhered to in the strictist manner.
If your child is not feeling well, please err on the side of caution and have
your child stay home. If your child has a fever of 100 degrees or greater
within the past 24 hours, has had Tylenol or any fever reducing medication
within 24 hours, or has vomiting or diarrhea, these are reasons to keep your
child home. Also, conjunctivitis must be treated for 24 hours before return
to school. Any unidentified rashes must be seen by a doctor before your
child may return to school.
If your child has seen the doctor for any orthopedic injuries and is to be
excused from wellness/recess, a note is needed stating the injury and
duration of the restriction. If a student comes to school with an appliance
applied by parents, friends, of him/her self, a phone call will be made to
the parent; wellness and recess will be excused until a medical note is
received. This is for the safety and well-being of the student.
The children play outside for recess every day except in the extremes: heat,
very cold, or rain. Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately -
sneakers and jackets in the fall and spring, and boots, mittens, snowpants,
and scarves in the winter.
For safety sake, please have your child wear sneakers for wellness class.
In order for your child to learn and play, good nutrition plays an important
role in your chld's overall school experience. Be sure to have your child
eat a nutrious breakfast and provide a nourishing snack for mid-morning. The
students are allowed to keep a well-sealed water bottle on their desk
throughout the day to provide hydration.
There are several peanut/tree nut/egg/seeds/melons/peach safe rooms at the
Taylor School this school year. If your child is in one of these rooms
please remember that no peanut, tree nut, egg, seeds containing food stuffs
can be brought as snacks. The administration and I ask you to respect the
needs of all our students. Please refer to the Foxborough School District
policy for Life Threatening Allergies in the school. One major bullet to the
policy is no homemade food is to be brought into the school. If your child
brings homemade goodies in, they will be sent home later in the day. Any food
for holiday parties is to be cleared with the nurse.
Strep is always in the air. Please keep your child home if he/she complains
of a sore throat, has a fever of 100 degrees or higher, or has a positive
Strep test. When your child is fever free and has been on antibiotics for at
least 24 hours, he/she may return to school. I know I wrote this twice but
it is that important to me to keep the students and staff healthy at the
Taylor School. Thank you for your cooperation.
If at any time during the school year you have any concerns or questions
regarding your child's health or safety issues, please do not hesitate to
call the nurse and she will assist you as best she can.
Thank you for helping me keep your children safe and healthy!
