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Health

Children must learn to be healthy & be healthy to learn! The Prospect Hill Academy Health Services Staff believes in this mantra and are dedicated to working with families to ensure that all children at school are sufficiently healthy to effectively participate in the school day and learn.

Prospect Hill Academy is proud to have three devoted school nurses, one at each of its campuses. The role of the nurse is to promote optimal wellness for students by:

  • Bridging education and health to remove any health related barriers to learning.
  • Referring student and families to primary care providers and appropriate community health agencies.
  • Providing acute, episodic and emergency care.
  • Providing health education and counseling to prevent disease and promote healthy lifestyle.
  • Conducting mandated vision, hearing and postural screenings, and providing follow-up and referral.
  • Managing care of children with special health care needs.
  • Managing and administering medications as per school policy.
  • Maintaining confidential, computerized health records for all students.
  • Conducting data collection and preparing for Department of Public Health Reports.
  • Counseling the Prospect Hill Academy community with regard to health related issues.
  • Providing programs and classroom presentations on health and developmental matters.
  • Ensuring compliance with state mandated immunization policies for entry into school. 
  • Participating in Crisis Management planning.
  • Maintaining school wellness policies.
  • Participating in School Health Advisory Committee matters.

PHA Sick Child Policy

Children MUST remain home if:

  • They do not have all of the immunizations required by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health documented and on file in the school health office before their first day of school attendance at PHA..
  • They have a contagious illness such as flu, strep throat, or a fever over 100° within the past 24 hours.  They may return to school:
    • AFTER antibiotic treatment for 24 hours if determined necessary by their PCP
    • AFTER they are symptom free for 24 hours
    • AFTER they are without fever for 24 hours WTIHOUT the use of Tylenol or other medications used to decrease fever.
  • In the unlikely event that a child develops Chicken Pox (Varicella) that child may not return to school until the rash is completely dry and crusted over.
  • They suffer vomiting &/or diarrhea. They may return to school if it has been 10-12 hours since their last incident.

Please note: Short term antibiotics must be administered at home. They will not be given in school.

Medication & Emergencies

Emergency medication, such as Epi-Pens and Rescue Inhalers must be brought to the School Health Office on or before the first day of school each year and will remain in the school health office for the academic year. Please refill these medications just prior to the first day of school each year, and check the expiration date to insure that the medication will not expire during the academic year. The pharmacy label must remain intact and attached to / included with the packaging.

Please note that if your child attends Out of School-time Programming (“OST”) you must provide them with their own medication supply and permission forms (see the OST Program Director for details)
  • All medication which must be given at school requires written parent and doctor permission.
  • Non-Emergency medication must be scheduled to be administered at home when possible.
  • No child may carry medication to and from school. Medication must be brought to the School Health office by an adult.

If a child becomes ill at school and the nurse deems that dismissal is warranted, the nurse will call a parent/guardian first.  If unable to reach a parent/guardian, then the listed emergency contact will be called to make arrangements for dismissal.  Students should not call parents/guardians directly asking to be dismissed due to illness.  If a parent/guardian or emergency contact cannot be reached, and the situation is determined to be urgent, an ambulance will be called to take the child to the nearest emergency room. The parent will be notified as soon as possible.

State Mandates

Health screenings and immunizations required by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for children to attend school include:

Physical Examinations
Physical exams are required upon entrance to grades K, 4, 7 & 10. Physical Exams are also required for all new entrants to PHA regardless of grade.  The physical exam must have been performed within 12 months of the time it is required.

Kindergarten

TDaP/DT/DT&P  5 doses (unless 4th dose was given after 4th birthday, then only 4 doses)
Polio 4 doses (unless 3rd dose was given after 4th birthday, then only 3 doses)
Hepatitis B 3 doses
MMR 2 doses
Varicella 2 doses
Vision Screening  Before entry to Kindergarten
TB Screening  Before entry to Kindergarten
Lead Screening  Before entry to Kindergarten


Grade 7

Tdap Booster  1 dose


Mandated In-School Screenings

Vision & Hearing  Annually in grades K-3, Once in grades 4-7, Once in grades 8-12
Postural Screening  Once in grades 5-9
Height & Weight  Grade 1, Once in grades 4-7, Once in grades 8-12


Parents/guardians are advised to always keep the original copy of their child’s annual physical exam report and immunization record at home to provide whenever it is required.  The school Health Office cannot provide copies even for other PHA programs.

Please remember that school nurses need the most up to date and complete health information to best support your child’s learning and well-being. Although the state only requires that schools have physical exam reports at certain intervals, it is best if you provide them every year. It is also important to keep the school nurse informed of any changes or concerns that are related to their health and overall well-being throughout their K-12 years. Together parents and school health personnel can truly support students in being their best!