Bowman Elementary Health Room

Bowman School Health Room

Important Flu Information from LPS

Life Threatening Allergies/Policy Reminder

Friendly Reminder From The Health Room

This is the time of the year when many viruses and strep germs are prevalent. Keeping your ill child at home is an important way to limit the spread of germs at school. Sometimes knowing when to keep your child at home is a difficult decision for parents. Unnecessary absences interfere with learning, time off from work can be a problem and childcare issues can be inconvenient, however little learning takes place for the child when sent to school sick. Illnesses can be spread quickly in a classroom; classmates and staff are at risk for illness when a sick child is sent to school.

Here are some guidelines that are meant to be helpful when making the decision about sending your child to school:

Children must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school, (Fever is defined as 100.0F or higher)
Children awaiting results from a throat culture must remain at home until a negative result is known or
Children with a positive strep culture must be treated with prescribed antibiotics for 24 hours before returning to school
Children that have been vomiting or have had diarrhea must remain home until the vomiting or diarrhea has stopped for 24 hours
Children recovering from an illness who are still too ill too participate in typical school activities, such as gym or recess, must remain home until able to resume school activities

Medication Policy

The policy for administration of medications, whether prescribed or over-the-counter, (such as Tylenol® or cough syrup), during school hours is as follows:

A medication permission form signed by both the physician and parent must accompany all medication. To access form click this link: Medication Permission Form
Medication must be supplied in the original pharmacy container by a parent. For short-term medication, such as antibiotics, please ask your pharmacist to provide a second container and send only the amount of medication needed to school.

Some suggestions for good health promotion in children include their:

Getting enough sleep
Many children are staying up too late and not getting the rest they need. They are coming to school too tired to learn.
Keeping hydrated, this is important even in the winter
Eating a healthy diet
Using lotions and lip balm for skin that is red, chapped and cracked
Getting regular exercise

Health promotion and illness prevention are important, especially at this time of the year. If you have any questions about either when to send your child to school or the medication policy please contact me.

Lynn Taber, RN-Bowman School Nurse

Life Threatening Allergies/Policy Reminder

Bowman School has several students with life threatening allergies (LTA) in every grade. Parents and teachers can help keep these children safe by being aware of the Lexington Public Schools policy regarding LTA.

If you are not familiar with the new Life Threatening Allergy Policy that was unanimously approved by the school committee in June, 2005 please contact the school nurse for a copy.

All schools at the elementary level require that any parties and celebrations during the school day be food free at the elementary school level. The use of food as a reward in any classroom will be eliminated. No bake sales will be permitted at the elementary and middle school level during school day.

The responsibility to monitor a student’s food intake at any event outside the school day, for example an after-school dinner or cultural event, rests with the student’s parent(s) or guardian(s).

Thank you for your cooperation in the efforts to promote the health of all children at Bowman School.

If you have any questions, please contact the school nurse.

Lynn Taber, RN, at 781-861-2500.