Health Services

Health care services are provided by registered nurses in each of our seven schools. Every school has a registered nurse available to provide health care services whenever school is in session. With over 68,000 office visits recorded every school year, our primary mission is to provide exceptional health services to support every student’s academic success. A nurse leader supervises district-wide health office activities and assures compliance with regulatory standards set by the Massachusetts Departments of Public Health (MDPH) and Elementary and Secondary Education. A school physician serves as an advisor to the nurses.

Please help the school nurse care for your child by

  • Informing the nurse if your child has any chronic or acute illnesses
  • Communicating with the nurse directly if medication or health needs change or if they have been exposed to a communicable disease such as a strep infection or chicken pox
  • Updating the phone numbers on your child’s emergency card so the nurse can always reach you
  • Sharing with the nurse if there is an event at home or in the family that may impact your child at school such as serious illness or death of a family member, death of a beloved pet.

Please keep your child home when the following symptoms are present

  • Temperature of 100 degrees F or greater within the past 24 hours
  • Student must be temperature free for 24 hours without use of med (tylenol/motrin, etc.)
  • Vomiting or diarrhea occurring within the past 24 hours
  • Strep infections of any kind, ringworm, conjunctivitis, or impetigo. These are all contagious infections and must be treated with medication for at least 24 hours before returning to school
  • Rash of unknown origin-this may indicate many different things and should be checked by your pediatrician
  • Pain should be taken seriously, especially in young children. Earaches, toothaches, and headaches should be evaluated
  • Untreated lice (pediculosis) infestation

School Health Screenings

As mandated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, School Health Unit, Malden Public Schools performs the following health screenings on students:

Hearing – grades K-3, grade 7, grade 10.

Vision – grades K-5, grade 7, and grade 10.

Height and weight- BMI –  grades 1, 4, 7, and 10.

Postural screenings on all students grade 5-9.

If your child fails the Vision, Hearing, or Postural screening—you will be notified by letter for follow up with your own physician.

BMI result letters will not be sent home; if you are interested in knowing your child’s BMI, you need to call the school nurse.

 

Immunization/Physical requirements K-12

All immunizations must meet Massachusetts minimum requirements and must be certified in writing by a licensed physician before a child is admitted to school.

Massachusetts State law requires the following immunizations:

*Kindergarten entrance requirements:

  • DPT (Diptheria, Petussin, Tetanus) – 5 doses—- the last dose must be after the age of 4.
  • Polio – 4 doses—-the last dose must be after age 4.
  • MMR – 2 doses—-the first dose is after the age of 1
  • Hepatitis B – 3 doses
  • Varicella – 2 doses or documented disease history from MD
  • TB test and results or risk assessment from MD
  • Physical Exam – within the previous 12 months of school entrance date
  • Lead screening – most recent
  • Stereopsis  Screening, Vision and Hearing screenings

*Grade 5 & 9 entrance requirements:

  • Physical Exam – completed within one  year of entrance
  • All of the previous immunizations for Kindergarten entrance

*Grades 7 additional entrance requirements:

  • Tdap – booster

 

ALL NEW STUDENTS TO MALDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS:

  • Massachusetts State law immunization grade level requirements
  • MUST have a current physical exam done within 1 year of entrance to school
  • MUST have a current TB test with results

* Physicians must document any medical or religious exemptions

Parents are encouraged to send in a copy of their student’s yearly physical exam so the school health record can be updated.

Click here for Healthy Snack List

*The Early Learning Center does not permit any peanut/nut products to be brought in to school.

School Nurse Info

Malden Public Schools
Karen Reynolds MSN/MBA, BSN, RN
Nursing Supervisor/Program Manager
Office: 781-397-6106
FAX: 781-397-1547
Cell: 781-738-8945
Email: kreynolds@maldenps.org
Salemwood School
529 Salem Street
Malden, MA 02148

Beebe
Victoria MacDonald RN
Office: 781-388-0627
FAX:  781-388-0619/623
Email:vmacdonald@maldenps.org

ELC
Lori Barrasso RN
Office: 781-397-7031
FAX:  781-321-3495
Email: lbarrasso@maldenps.org

Ferryway
Karen Swartwout RN
Office: 781-388-0667
FAX: 781-321-1053
Email: kswartout@maldenps.org

Forestdale
Kristina Diggin, RN
Office: 781-397-1508
FAX: 781-388-0898
Email:rpacor@maldenps.org

Linden
Patti Tramondozzi RN
Office: 781-397-1511
FAX: 781-397-1512
Email:ptramondozzi@maldenps.org

MHS
Maureen Vona RN, Kathy Donohue RN
Office: 781-397-6003/6004
FAX: 781-397-7261
Email: mvona@maldenps.org   kdonahue@maldenps.org

Salemwood
Debbie Spadafora RN, Cathy Donoghue RN
Office: 781-388-0606/0652
Fax: 781-324-4263
email: dspadafora@maldenps.org cdonoghue@maldenps.org