School Health Services Updates
Department of Health and Wellness
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Welcome Back!
Welcome back to the new school year! We have been planning all summer for your safe return! While we are currently providing remote learning, we look forward to the day when we will once again be in person in our schools. The district has put a number of important interventions and strategies into place to make our schools as safe as possible. Everyone of us has an important role to play in supporting a safe, healthy, and trusting return to the classrooms. The information in this newsletter describes some of the things we are doing to keep everyone safe and healthy and how you can help prepare your child to return to school in person later this fall.
Here are ten things you can to do help prepare your child for return to hybrid and in-person learning. Click on the button below for videos about mask wearing and other resources that will help you prepare.
FPS Interventions and Strategies for a Safe Return to School
No one strategy alone can limit the spread of COVID-19. So, we are approaching the return of our students with a layered defense where many small interventions and strategies are combined. Those include:
- Upgrades to air quality and placement of air purifiers in classrooms
- Wearing of mask/face coverings by everyone in the schools throughout the day
- Frequent hand washing (or hand sanitizing)
- Frequent cleaning and disinfecting of schools, and
- Enforcing physical distancing
Additional steps you can take include:
- Monitoring your own and your children's symptoms daily and
- Keep them home if they have symptoms and are not feeling well
You can read about all the strategies the district is taking to keep your children safe on the Return to Learn 2020 page on our website (link below).
Handwashing
- Hand sanitizer dispensers have been placed in every classroom and common areas throughout each school.
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is now considered a medication. If you do not want your child to use alcohol-based hand sanitizer, please provide your school nurse with a letter that states your wishes. You can find your school nurse's contact information below.
Masks/Face coverings
- Time will be built into the day for regular mask breaks.
- Please make sure your child's mask is made of 2-3 layers of fabric.
- Gaiters, bandanas, and masks with valves do not provide adequate protection and will not be permitted.
- If you need masks for your children, you can request them from the City of Framingham here.
Physical Distancing
Massachusetts (MA) Immunization Requirements
- You are required to provide documentation of your child's immunizations just as in the past.
- If your child is is need of immunizations, please contact your health care provider as soon as possible to schedule an appointment to get the vaccines. Please provide your school nurse with documentation of your child's immunizations.
- Your school nurse can also help you find a health care provider for your child if you need one and can assist with helping you to sign up for insurance. You can find your school nurse's contact information below.
- You can read about MA immunization requirements here.
MA Physical Examination Requirements During COVID-19
- Upon entry to school (dated within one year)
- Entering kindergarten, 4th, 7th, and 10th grade
- Each year for all students who participate in high school sports
- Please schedule an appointment with your health care provider for your child's physical examination as soon as possible.
- You can read about MA physical examination requirements during COVID-19 here.
Flu Vaccine Requirements for All Students
- Getting a flu shot is always important to reduce the risk of getting sick with flu, reduce the severity of disease if you or your child get sick with flu, as well as preventing the spread of flu to others. It is especially important this year!
- Please call your healthcare provider to schedule a time to get the flu vaccine for your child.
- If you need help in getting flu vaccine for your child and to provide documentation, contact your school nurse.
- You can read about the new flu vaccine requirement here.
Emergency Contact Information
- Students will need to be picked up from school within one hour after you are contacted to get them.
- Please update your emergency contact information as soon as it changes.
Children with Special Health Care Needs
Resources
Department of Health & Wellness
Judith Styer, BSN, BA, RN, NCSN
Director of Health and Wellness
Stacey Cugini, MS, LCSW, CAGS
Assistant Director of Health and Wellness
Website: https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/Domain/78
Location: 31 Flagg Drive, Framingham, MA, USA
Phone: 508-626-9197