School Entrance Requirements
To maintain protection from communicable diseases, identify your child’s health needs and promote health safety in school, a school nurse will review your child’s health information for clearance into school.
The following is a list of health requirements required by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for entry of students into public school. Please provide documentation from your primary care physician when you register your student(s).
​
Harrington Hospital and the Southbridge Local Board of Health have colloborate together to offers school vaccines. annual school base influenza vaccinations, and assistance with insurance. Please call 508-765-8196 to schedule an appointment today!
Pre-school:
– Physical Exam: completed within the last 12 months
– Lead Screening with results
​
Immunizations:
-
Hepatitis B: 3 doses (last dose after 6 months of age)
-
DTAP(Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis): 4 doses
-
Polio: 3 doses
-
HIB (H influenza bacteria): >3 doses
-
MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella): 1 dose
-
Varicella (Chickenpox): 1 dose
​
Kindergarten
– Physical Exam: completed within the last 12 months
– Lead Screening with results
– Vision Screening with stereopsis exam
​
Immunizations:
-
Hepatitis B: 3 doses (last dose after 6 months of age)
-
DTAP(Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis): 5 doses
-
Polio: 4 doses
-
MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella): 2 doses
-
Varicella (Chickenpox): 2 doses
​
Grades 1-6
​
Immunizations:
-
DTaP 5 doses; 4 doses are acceptable if the 4th dose is given on or after the 4th birthday. DT is only acceptable with a letter stating a medical contraindication to DTaP.
-
Polio 4 doses; 4th dose must be given on or after the 4th birthday and ≥6 months after the previous dose, or a 5th dose is required. 3 doses are acceptable if the 3rd dose is given on or after the 4th birthday and ≥6 months after the previous dose. In a mixed OPV/IPV schedule at least 4 doses are required, regardless of age.
-
Hepatitis B 3 doses; laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable
-
MMR 2 doses; first dose must be given on or after the 1st birthday and the 2nd dose must be given ≥28 days after dose 1; laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable
-
Varicella 2 doses; first dose must be given on or after the 1st birthday and 2nd dose must be given ≥28 days after dose 1; a reliable history of chickenpox* or laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable
​
Grades 7-12
​
Immunizations:
-
Tdap 1 dose; and history of DTaP primary series or age appropriate catch-up vaccination. Tdap given at ≥7 years may be counted, but a dose at age 11-12 is recommended if Tdap was given earlier as part of a catch-up schedule. Td should be given if it has been ≥10 years since Tdap.
-
Polio 4 doses; 4th dose must be given on or after the 4th birthday and ≥6 months after the previous dose, or a 5th dose is required. 3 doses are acceptable if the 3rd dose is given on or after the 4th birthday and ≥6 months after the previous dose. In a mixed OPV/IPV schedule at least 4 doses are required, regardless of age.
-
Hepatitis B 3 doses; laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable
-
MMR 2 doses; first dose must be given on or after the 1st birthday and the 2nd dose must be given ≥28 days after dose 1; laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable
-
Varicella 2 doses; first dose must be given on or after the 1st birthday and 2nd dose must be given ≥28 days after dose 1; a reliable history of chickenpox* or laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable
-
Meningococcal 1 dose
​
Don’t Wait, Vaccinate!
The school nurses help maintain safety of our environment through careful monitoring of student immunizations. Vaccines work to safeguard children from illnesses and death caused by communicable diseases. They protect children by helping prepare their bodies to fight often serious, and potentially, deadly diseases. Should there be an outbreak of a communicable disease, students who have not been immunized will be excluded from school during the infectious period in accordance with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations.
​
Did You Know???
Viral outbreaks occur more frequently than one expects. From December 2014-January 2015, a multi-state measles outbreak started in California and spread to additional states. Measles is a serious respiratory illness that is highly contagious and may cause severe complications such as pneumonia, brain inflammation and death.
​
Pertussis, also known as Whooping Cough, is another serious respiratory illness that starts as a mild upper respiratory infection and progresses into severe episodes of coughing lasting 2-6 weeks. The most recent Pertussis outbreak in Massachusetts occurred between 2006-2008 and affected adolescents and adults.
​
Before the HIB vaccine, H. influenza bacteria was the leading cause of meningitis in children less than 5 years old. HIB meningitis can cause hearing loss, deafness, seizures, and brain damage and can be deadly.
​
Polio is a virus affecting the spinal cord which can cause respiratory failure, muscle weakness and paralysis leading to disability and even death. Some survivors of polio required leg braces, crutches or wheelchairs.
Physical Exams
Southbridge Public Schools requires a physical exam for all students new to the school system and students in Grades Kindergarten, and
subsequently third (3rd) , sixth (6th) and ninth (9th) grades.
​
. Student athletes are required to provide a yearly physical exam to meet the requirements of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA).
​
Medications
It may be necessary for your child to receive medication during the school day. Our school district requires that the following forms must be on file in your child’s health record before we begin to give any medicine at school:
​
1. Signed consent by the parent or guardian to give the medicine. Please complete the enclosed consent form and give it to your school nurse, which can be found under HEALTH FORMS.
2. Signed medication order. The written medication order form should be taken to your child’s licensed prescriber (your child’s physician, nurse practitioner, etc.) for completion and returned to the school nurse. This order must be renewed as needed and at the beginning of each academic year, which can be found under HEALTH FORMS.
​
Medicines must be delivered to the school in a pharmacy or manufacturer-labeled container by you or a responsible adult whom you designate. Please ask your pharmacy to provide separate bottles for school and home. No more than a thirty-day supply of the medicine should be delivered to the school.
When your child needs a medicine to be given during the school day, please act quickly to follow these policies so we may begin to give the medicine as soon as possible.
​
Health Screenings
Health screenings are conducted throughout the school year as required by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Massachusetts General Laws. The following chart illustrated the purpose and required grade level for each screening. Parents may opt out of screenings for their child with written permission, provided they provide documentation that their child has been examined by their primary care provider. All information is confidential and parents are notified whenever there is a finding after screening.
​
Vision: To ensure that students can see adequately to function within the school setting.
-
Grades K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, one middle school grade, 9.
Hearing: To ensure that students can hear adequately to function within the school setting.
-
Grades K, 1, 2, 3, one middle school grade, 9.
Height/Weights/BMI: To monitor growth and development. Research shows that overweight and underweight children are at risk for other health problems. Privacy is maintained during screening.
-
Grades 1, 4, 7, 10.
Postural Screening: To monitor growth of the spine and promote early detection of spinal curvature (Scoliosis).
-
Grades 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
-
If you wish to have your student opt out please provide a note in writing to your school nurse.
SBIRT: To identify students who are at risk of substance abuse
-
Starting School Year 2016-2017: Grade 9
-
Starting School Year 2017-2018: Grade 7
-
If you wish to have your student opt out please provide a note in writing to your school nurse.
​
Use of Crutches and Orthopedic Appliances
Any student who requires the use of crutches or orthopedic appliances in school must provide written notice from his/her physician that he/she is capable of handling the crutches or appliances in the school environment.
​
​