Beebe Health Office

“Building A Healthy School environment One Child At a Time” 

Regina Pacor, BS, RN

Lisa Hansen, Medical Assistant 

Phone: 781-388-0627

Fax: 781-388-0623

School Health Services

What We do:

Provide consultation on school health issues, both clinical and management, to parents, students, school administrators, school nurses, school physicians, local boards of health, health educators, teachers, counselors, municipal agents, health care providers, etc.

Conduct Screenings: Vision, Hearing, Postural Screenings, Heights & Weights on all students annually, BMI’s (Body Mass Index) on grades 1,4 & 7. BMI letters are mailed directly to parents.

A Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a measure that is used to show a person’s “weight for height for age.” It is calculated using an individual’s height and weight. Just like a blood pressure reading or an eye screening test, a BMI can be a useful tool in identifying possible health risks.

The purpose of the BMI Screening Program is to give you information about your child’s weight status and ideas for living a healthy life. In [Beebe School we address our children’s health and wellness with a comprehensive approach that includes health screenings. Massachusetts schools have taken heights and weights of students each year since the 1950’s.

If you prefer that your child does not required a certain screening because your doctor has done it, please let the health office know. Please provide documentation from your doctor if your child has already had a screening completed.

Please see link for Mass DPH for BMI Requirements:

The Beebe School is a theme based school promoting health and environment into it curriculum. In keeping with the theme the health office supported the following programs.

Special Projects:

This school year the health office had Tufts School Based Mobile dental program come to the Beebe School in February. Over 120 students were seen for dental exams, cleanings, x-rays, and fillings if needed.

This is the third year we have offered in-house dental services for Beebe Students.

Students should be seen by their dentist every 6 months to maintain good dental health & hygiene.

For the second year in a row the Beebe School has had a poster chosen from the 17th Annual Mass. Medical Society’s Anti-Tobacco Poster contest. We encourage both students and parents to say to no tobacco use!

New England Eye-On Site Mobile vision van came to the Beebe School on April 10th. 16 students were screened, 11 received glasses. program provided necessary vision exams and glasses for students.

Immunization& Physical Requirements:

According to rules and regulations by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, students entering kindergarten need:

• 3 doses of Hepatitis B,
• 5 doses of DtaP/DTP,
• 4 doses of Polio,
• 2 dose of MMR
• 1 dose of Varicella,
• A physical exam (done within past six months),
• lead test (not a state requirement, but a city requirement)
• Tb test and results or documentation of low risk (not a state requirement, but a city requirement)
• Vision: Stereopsis and distance vision upon entry into kindergarten
• Hearing: upon entry into kindergarten

Students entering grades 1-6 need:

• 3 doses of Hepatitis B,
• at least 4 doses of DtaP/DTP or at least 3 doses of Td,
• at least 3 doses of Polio,
• 2 dose of MMR
• 2 doses of Varicella,
•  physical exam on file and 5th grades need updated physical (done within six months),
• Tb test and results or documentation of low risk (not a state requirement, but a city requirement)
• Vision: Stereopsis,distance vision done upon entry
• Hearing

Students entering grades 7th & 8th grades need:

• 3 doss of Hepatitis B,
• at least 4 doses of DtaP/DTP or at least 3 doses of Td plus 1 TD booster,
• at least 3 doses of Polio,
• 2 doses of MMR
• 2 doses of Varicella for those 13 and older and 1 dose for those who are under 13 years of age,
• at least one physical exam on file (done within six months),
• Tb test and results or documentation of low risk (not a state requirement, but a city requirement)

Head Lice:

Occasionally students get headlice, please inform the school nurse directly. We will check your child, siblings & family. Your child should receive a headlice treatment please check with your docotr or local pharmacist. We will do our very best to get your child back to school. You must be cleared by the school nurse before returning.

Medications:

All medications must be brought in by a parent or designated adult, this includes: prescription and over-the counter medications. Please double-check that medications are in the original container and not expired.

If your child is taking an over-the-counter medication please see school nurse to fill-out necessary forms.

All prescription medication requires both parent permission and a doctor’s form. Forms need to be obtained from the school nurse

Illness/Injury:

Students with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or height should not return to school the following day. If your child is ill we recommend that you keep your child home. In general students who miss too many days of school can have learning problems.

Students who have a fever, vomiting, chronic coughing, significant injury or contagious illness should not attend school.

If a child has a minor cold virus with runny or stuffy nose it is ok to attend school.

Please report any contagious illness, strep throat, chicken pox,shingles, mononucleosis,etc to school nurse directly.

If you have any questions please feel free to call us at: 781-388-0627

Injury:

Crutches: If your child returns to school on crutches, please inform the school nurse directly, please submit a doctor’s note to the health office.

All students who use the elevator need to have a doctor’s note to use the elevator. Please see school nurse.

Field trips:

If your child requires a medication, inhaler or epi-pen in school, please inform school nurse in advance of the field trip. If you do not feel that your child requires their inhaler or other medication on the field trip, please let the school nurse know.

Links:

American Academy of Pediatrics

Healthy Child Healthy World

Wellness Policy:

Malden Public Schools has developed a Wellness Policy in conjuction with Federal Goverment and DPH. Due to and increase in food allergies and obesity rates in children the following guidelines have been created.

Parents cannot bring in baked goods or other prepared food to share with other classmates

Students cannot bring fast foods, junk food into school if purchased outside of school during the school day.

The only food allowed form the outside into classrooms is food provided from home for a child’s snack or lunch.

Students should not share food with other students due to food allergies. Students should be encouraged to wash their hands before and after eating if possible.

Food is no longer used as a food reward in classrooms.

Fundraisers that provide candy bars, cookies, etc. are not allowed during the school day, 30 minutes before school starts or 30 minutes after school ends.

Fundraisers that sell food items that are ordered may take place.

Here are guidelines for healthy food choices:

www.cdcgov/healthyyouth/nutrition/pdf/summary.pdf

www.nasbe.org/HealthySchools

www.teamnutrition.usda.gov

Spring tips:

Spring allergies are here and will be more prevalent due to a warm winter and trees and flowers early.

If your child suffers from allergies, please give them their necessary allergy medicine prior to coming to school. For example, allergy eye drops, nasal sprays or inhalers if needed. Please check with the school nurse if you would like to have the school nurse give a certain medication a parent or adult must bring it in and a parental form signed. Students may not carry the above medications on their person.

For more information:

Asthma and Allegery: Tips, Treatment and medication

Sun screen, please apply sunscreen to your child on warmer days before school to help your child to be protected from the suns rays. This would be recommended on field trips if your child is out in the open for several hours.

Please encourage your child to hydrate and drink water during the day if possible. Most students do not drink enough water. A student who is not well hydrated can become dizzy light-headed and not perform as well during their school day.

Children should be careful when wearing flip-flops,or sandals, they look pretty, but going up and down the stairs, playing, running outside or on gym, this type of footwear leaves your child vulnerable to an injury.