Health Services and Protocols

Health services provided by the School Nurse include injury and illness treatment as well as preventive care.  Periodic health screening may include height, weight, dental, and vision/hearing. A Student Health and Emergency Information form is completed by the parent/guardian and is updated annually.  

Please be aware of any allergies or health issues within your classroom and grade level.  This information is available on Infinite Campus and the Nurse distributes an “alert list” periodically.  Students’ EpiPens & inhalers are maintained in the Nurse’s Office and are brought along on field trips. If a child requires prescribed medication during school hours, a parent/guardian must bring the medication and physician order to school, then complete paperwork.  The Nurse must receive the medication in its original, labeled container. A child may not carry or self-administer medication.

Please, do not send cough drops in to the Elementary Schools (as they are a choking hazard).

School Nurse and Health Services

Portsmouth School Health Services strive to provide a safe and healthy school environment along with a caring and respectful atmosphere within Little Harbour School.  School Nurses assist you and the entire educational team to enhance your child’s school experience.

School Nurses provide injury and illness care, preventive services and health education.  A computerized daily record of all students seen in the Health Office is maintained in accordance with HIPAA regulations.  When warranted, the nurse will contact parents/guardians regarding students’ visits to the Office.  If it is deemed necessary that a child be sent home, parents (or their designee) will be contacted to pick up their child from school.  In event of an emergency when the parent/guardian/designee is not available, the nurse will review the situation with the Principal.  

Please contact the school’s Main Office with any changes of phone number, email address or emergency contact information.  When there are changes in your child's health such as illness or injury, medication taken at home or at school, or any new health issue, please inform your child's school nurse.  A note written to the teacher and nurse is helpful, or you may call or email.  

Sick Days and School Absences

One of the most common dilemmas facing parents of children in school is when to keep them home due to illness.  Often the first sign of illness is a change in behavior such as loss of appetite, irritability or lethargy. Resting and recovering at home will often allow a child to improve more quickly.  

Generally speaking, if a child has any of the following symptoms they are advised to remain home:

• Vomiting or diarrhea that’s occurred more than once in the past 24 hours

• Severe cold symptoms (cough, congestion and nasal drainage that are constant & cannot   be maintained)

• Persistent and severe cough - especially if accompanied by a fever

• Fever - temperature should be below 100℉ for 24 hours before returning to school,   without the aid of fever-reducing medications (i.e., acetaminophen or ibuprofen)

• Earache, sore throat or headache - especially if accompanied by a fever

• Discharge from eyes

• Rash that is new and not yet identified by a Provider and found to NOT be contagious

• Lice that has not yet been treated at home and checked by the school nurse

If a child is seen in the Nurse’s office and found to be too sick to remain at school, the parent is called and is responsible for dismissing as soon as possible. 

Generally speaking, if a child has any of the following symptoms they should be

 kept at home to rest and recover:

• Not feeling well enough to participate in school activities

• Vomiting, diarrhea or persistent stomach ache (no vomiting for 24 hours before returning to school)

• Fever-- temperature should be normal (w/o medications) for 24 hours before returning to school

• Red or watery eyes/discharge from eyes

• Persistent earache, sore throat, headache

• Severe cold symptoms (sneezing, congestion, nasal drainage)

• Persistent and severe cough

• Fussiness or lethargy 

If these symptoms persist or are severe you should check with your child's health care provider. It is important that sick children receive proper care and that their classmates are protected from contagious diseases. When a child becomes ill at school, the parent (or their designee) is responsible for taking the child home as soon as possible. Our concern is for the comfort and protection of your child.  If you have questions regarding the advisability of sending your child to school please feel free to contact the school nurse or your health care provider. If your child is absent because of illness but is able to do some schoolwork, requests for homework should be made when notifying the school of his/her absence in order to allow time for the assignments to be prepared.  Teachers are unable to speak with you during the school day because that time belongs to the whole class.

Medication at School

If a child is prescribed medication and the dose is ordered during school hours the following procedure must be followed:

• Parent must bring medication and the physician order to school.  Both prescription and nonprescription medication must be in the original container.  Please do not send medication to school - even cough drops (choking hazard) - in a baggie or in lunch boxes 

• The parent must sign a medication administration form.

• A child may not self- administer medication in school.  

Inhalers or EpiPens in School

Students diagnosed with asthma or severe allergies may require use of an inhaler or an EpiPen. For student health and safety, these will be stored in the Health Office and they are taken along on school field trips when indicated.  An older student may carry an inhaler and/or an EpiPen with written permission from their parent and Health Care Provider.  Please obtain an Allergy Action Plan packet from your School Nurse.

Health Screenings and Education

At the elementary level, classroom teachers integrate health and safety education into the curriculum. The nurse routinely administers vision and hearing screens and may include confidential heights, weights, BMI and blood pressure screens.  Children are also offered dental screenings and education provided by the Seacoast Healthy Grins Dental screening program (parents may choose to have their children participate or not).

Immunizations and a physical examination are required before a child may enter school.  This is a mandatory requirement from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.  Physical examinations are recommended at least every two years, and more often if medically indicated.  

Nutrition and Personal Care

Please pack a bottle of water and a snack for your child daily.  We discourage sugary snacks and drinks in the classroom and encourage drinking water during the school day. 

You may want to consider packing a change of clothes in a zip-lock bag to be stored in the bottom of a younger child’s backpack or cubby.  There is an assortment of gently used clothing in the Health Office, but it is limited.  

Please don’t hesitate to call our school nurse, Nicole Clayton, if you have any questions regarding the health of your child!