HMMS Health Services

It is cold and flu season and with rising concerns about the Coronavirus, it is important to stay healthy and informed!  Please use the following links to the CDC and Vermont Department of Health for further information on Coronavirus.

CDC:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Vermont DOH:  https://www.healthvermont.gov/response/infectious-disease/2019-novel-coronavirus

The best thing people can do to prevent infection is to practice good hand washing techniques.  Please see this video for more information on hand hygiene.

More information about the Coronavirus can be found in these fact sheets:

• Symptoms of Coronavirus Disease 2019
• What to do if you are sick with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• What you need to know about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Stop the spread of germs

REMINDER:  If your child becomes sick and has a fever, they should not return to school until their temperature is less than 100F for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications (Tylenol/Ibuprofen/Motrin/ Advil).

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school nurse or your healthcare provider. 

School Health & Attendance Policy

We want to be sure our students are as healthy as possible!  While we certainly want each student to attend school regularly and keep absences to the bare minimum, there are times when it is in everyone's best interest for a student to remain at home.  A person with symptoms of a potentially infectious illness puts everyone at risk for becoming ill.

A student SHOULD NOT come to school with any of the following symptoms and will be sent home if exhibiting these:

• Fever:  temperature of 100F or greater.  Note:  A student MUST be fever-free for 24 hours without medication (i.e. ibuprofen, acetaminophen, Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, etc.) before he/she can return to school.
• Sore Throat:  with fever and/or swollen glands in the neck (this should be evaluated by the student's health care provider).  NOTE:  if a student is diagnosed with strep throat, he/she MUST be on antibiotics for a full 24 hours before returning to school.
• Eyes:  thick mucus/pus draining from one or both eyes or "pink eye" (symptoms include white or yellow discharge, eyelids thickly matted together after sleep, eye discomfort, and/or redness).  Note:  if diagnosed with pink eye, a student MUST be on antibiotic eye drops for a full 24 hours before returning to school.
• Vomiting:  2 or more times at home within the last 24 hour period.  NOTE:  A student may be sent home from school after a single episode of vomiting if the nurse deems it in the best interest of the student and/or the rest of the school population.
• Diarrhea:  3 or more watery stools in a 24 hour period.
• Rash:  significant body rash accompanied by itching and/or fever
• Head lice or scabies:  MUST be treated prior to returning to school.

A student CAN BE SENT to school with the following symptoms:

• Runny/stuffy nose and/or mild cough WITHOUT a fever
• Vague complaints of aches, pains, or fatigue WITHOUT a fever
• Single episode of vomiting or diarrhea the night before and NO fever
• Ear infections WITHOUT a fever
• Sore throat with hoarse voice and/or cough/cold symptoms WITHOUT a fever

Immunization Requirements

The State of Vermont requires that all student attending public school must be vaccinated.  Immunizations protect both individuals and the community.  Current Vermont law is as follows:

Students entering kindergarten must provide documentation of the following:

• 5 doses of DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) vaccine
• 4 doses of polio vaccine
• 2 doses of MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine
• 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine
• 2 doses of chickenpox (varicella) vaccine.  Note:  If the student has previously had the chickenpox disease, no vaccine is needed.  Parents may submit documentation of sign a Health Department form.

Student entering the 7th grade must provide documentation (by the first day of 7th grade) of the following:

• All of the immunizations listed above and
• One dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) vaccine 

PLEASE NOTE:  These requirements also apply to students in any grade entering a new school outside their previous supervisory union, so 6th and 8th graders who are transferring into the Hartford School District from another school district must be compliant with the regulations as well.

Per state law, an official immunization record must be presented to the school upon admission.  If a student does not meet the vaccine requirements, he or she may be admitted provisionally only after the school nurse approves a compliance plan for the child.  Failure to meet requirements may result in exclusion from public school attendance until such time as the immunization requirements are met and written documentation is provided to the school nurse. 

If your child has had recent immunizations, please have his or her physician fax or mail a copy of the immunizations to the school nurse.  Please note that if your child has had the chickenpox disease, you can print out the chickenpox documentation letter (see the box on the left of the page for the link to the form), complete and sign the form, and return it to the school nurse.  You do NOT need to have a physician sign the form.  However, all other proof of immunization must be on official documents from the student's physician.

If your child does not have a medical provider in the area, the immunizations can be given free of charge at the local health department.  You can call 295-8820 for information concerning appointments.  Your child must receive any missing vaccinations (and written documentation of vaccines must be given to the school) within 30 days of enrolling in school (unless other arrangements have been made with the school nurse).

If you have any questions, please call me at the nurse's office.  Additionally, information about immunizations and required forms may be found at:

http://healthvermont.gov/hc/imm/schoolentry.aspx