A minor sore throat is usually not a problem, but a severe sore throat could be strep throat even without a fever. Other symptoms of strep throat in children are headache and stomach upset. Contact your pediatrician as your child will need a special test to determine if it is strep throat.

Keep your child home until (s)he is fever free for 24 hours without medication. Colds can be contagious for at least 48 hours. Returning to school too soon may slow the recovery process and expose others unnecessarily to illness.

Does my child have the flu?
The flu is serious! Call your pediatrician at the first sign of flu symptoms, which typically come on suddenly, including:

If you're not sure about the best way to treat your child's cold or flu, ask your school nurse, doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider.

How do I help make my child feel better?

Uma dor de garganta pequena geralmente não é um problema, mas uma dor de garganta grave pode ser causada por estreptococos, mesmo se não tiver febre. Outros sintomas de dor de garganta causada por estreptococos em crianças são dor de cabeça e dor de estômago. Entre em contato com o pediatra do seu filho, uma vez que ele precisará fazer um teste especial para determinar se trata-se de uma infecção da garganta causada por estreptococos.

Mantenha seu filho em casa até que não tenha mais febre por um período de 24 horas sem medicamentos; resfriados podem ser contagiosos por no mínimo 48 horas. O retorno à escola antes do prazo pode retardar o processo de recuperação e expor desnecessariamente outras pessoas a enfermidades.

Meu filho tem gripe?
A gripe é uma doença séria! Entre em contato com o pediatra aos primeiros sinais de sintomas de gripe, que geralmente acontecem rápido, tais como

Caso você não saiba qual a melhor maneira de tratar do resfriado ou da gripe do seu filho, fale com a enfermeira da escola, médico, farmacêutico ou outro profissional de saúde.

Como posso ajudar o meu filho a sentir-se melhor?

Any student who is ill should report to the nurse's office. If it is considered necessary for the student to be dismissed, school personnel will contact parents. Students are not to telephone home or leave school without the consent of the school and the parent. A card listing persons to contact if parents cannot be reached in cases of illness or emergency is on file for each student.

All students receive annual screenings of hearing and vision and height, weight, and blood pressure. Students in grades 5 through 8 have a yearly postural screening to detect any abnormal curvature of the spine. Parents will be notified of any abnormal findings and teachers will be informed of vision and hearing results.

A physician's physical examination is required for students entering kindergarten and in grades 4 and 8, students who participate in competitive athletics, and students who transfer from another school system, unless the school records indicate that the student has had a physical examination in the school year of transfer.

Massachusetts now requires children to be immunized against chicken pox before entry into school and as a result it is a reportable disease and quarantines are required. If a student or staff member becomes exposed to chicken pox and has neither been immunized nor has had the disease, (s)he is considered potentially infectious from the 10th to the 21st day after exposure. These individuals will be excluded from school during that period. If an individual receives the vaccine within 3 days of exposure, (s)he may return to school immediately unless high risk situations exist such as a susceptible pregnant or an immunocompromised person in school.

Sports Screenings

All students in grades 6-8 who plan on playing after school intramural or interscholastic sports must have a doctor's physical exam done. Physical exams are required each year for participation in the sports programs. The "sports screening" previously done in school will no longer be offered. The school nurse must have a copy of the physical on file before the start of the sport season. Permission to play sports is found on the back of the school emergency card.

Medications

If at all possible, medications should be taken at times other than school hours. If it becomes necessary for your child to take prescription medication during the school day, the medication must be brought to the school nurse by the parent and a form filled out. A form completed by the prescribing physician is also required for medications to be taken for more than 10 days.

All medicines must be in the original container and be clearly labeled with the child's name, date of the prescription, name of the medication, dosage, and times to be administered. During school hours, including on the school bus and on the playground, students should not carry any medication, including Tylenol and other over-the-counter medicines on his or her person.

Physical Education (Gym) Excuses

The school nurse may excuse a student from PE for medical reasons. Any injury or illness which requires a student to be excused from PE, requires a letter to the nurse from the child's physician with the dates your child is to be excused and the date he or she may return to PE classes. Students wth a cast/splint will not be permitted to take part in PE or recess for the child's own safety & for the safety of others.

Elevator Use

The elevator is to be used by students only with permission from a staff member. In the event of an injury, which requires a student to use crutches or otherwise limits his/her ambulation; the nurse asks that the parent and student report to her on the morning of the student's arrival in school. The nurse will evaluate the injury and give instructions in the proper and safe use of the elevator.

Accidents/Insurance

Any accident that occurs in the school building, on the school grounds, or on the way to or from school must be reported to the Main Office. Any accident during school time, which requires medical attention, is covered by school insurance only if you have no personal health insurance or if your health insurance is not applicable to the situation. Also, if your insurance policy only partially covers the cost of treatment the school insurance will cover the difference.

In the event of such an accident, an insurance form is available from the school nurse who will give you instructions in filing the claim. It will be the responsibility of the parent to complete the form and mail it within 90 days of the injury.

DARE Program

The Tisbury School runs an extensive alcohol/drug awareness and prevention program. In the sixth grade we have the DARE Program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), which is funded by the Dukes County Sheriff's Office.

Health/Human Development

Health education is a core curriculum area as defined by the Educational Reform Act. Health encompasses a broad range of topics including but not limited to growth and development, domestic violence, nutrition and exercise, drug, alcohol and tobacco education, peer relationships, human sexuality and decision-making.

The Manter Fund is available to help children in need. Please send a letter to the principal. All requests are confidential.

For information about health insurance, including Masshealth, please call Vineyard Health Care Aceess Program 508-693-0020.

ILLNESS Parents are reminded that children should be kept home when they have fevers, vomiting and/or diarrhea the night before or the morning of a school day. This will help prevent illness among the students and staff. THANK YOU.