Updates From The School Health Office - 11/20/20

  • Posted November 20, 2020
Updates From The School Health Office - 11/20/20

Please remember to call the attendance line 978-952-2555, x4500 or #3 to report a student absence, including virtual absences. The nurse will reach out to families who report absences related to an illness to help provide guidance should there be any questions or concerns. If your student will learn remotely rather than in person, please mention whether or not they are sick in the message you leave on the attendance line.

Reminders about COVID:

If you travel to a “red” state, please make sure that all family members get a PCR COVID test even for children under 10. Per our local board of health, if children under 10 do not get tested, they must quarantine at home for 14 days.

If you need testing for COVID, make sure to ask for a PCR test as the test results are more reliable than rapid antigen tests.To find a COVID test site:

· contact your PCP 

· Emerson Urgent Care 978-287-8990

· Circle Health Urgent Care Westford 978-323-0302

· go to https://www.mass.gov/covid-19-testing

· There are also Stop the Spread tests sites in certain towns that provide free PCR   COVID testing to all MA residents, even if you do not have any symptoms.

The vast majority of COVID-19 clusters in MA are associated with households. If someone in your household has COVID-like symptoms, please take precautions even when in the home including:
·         self-isolate immediately in the home whenever feasible

·         everyone should wear masks within shared spaces in the household

·         wash hands frequently

·         avoid sharing utensils

·         regularly clean and disinfect surfaces
 

Flu vaccines due by December 31, 2020!

The seasonal flu vaccine is required by the state for all students by December 31, 2020, regardless of which learning plan they are participating in. Please make an appointment with their PCP, at Urgent Care Centers, or at CVS MinuteClinic for the flu shot. Local pharmacies such as CVS (ages 3+) and Walgreens (ages 4+) can also provide them. Please submit documentation of the flu shot to the school nurse.

**Save the date! Flu clinic for LPS students on 12/3/20 from 3-5pm at LMS. More details regarding how to schedule an appointment to follow next week.

Several Student Emergency Health Information Sheets are still missing!

The school nurse needs one for every student regardless of whether your child is in the hybrid or fully remote plan. Kindly print  the sheet at the bottom of this page and send the completed form to the school nurse.

Family-friendly Help with Mental Health for Children

HandholdMA.org is a family-friendly website designed for Massachusetts parents who are worried about their school-aged children’s mental health. This site is designed to help families figure if their child’s behavior is something to worry about and if so, what next steps can they take. Is available in five other languages: Spanish, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Haitian Creole, and Vietnamese.

FROM THE MDPH DIVISION OF CHILDREN & YOUTH WITH SPECIAL HEALTH NEEDS

With COVID-19 cases on the rise again in Massachusetts, the pandemic has raised important reasons for families to have an emergency care plan in place for their loved ones in case of medical and weather-related emergencies, especially for families who have children with special health needs and medical complexity. Should a parent or other primary caregiver become ill and unable to care for their medically complex child, having a solid backup plan with a named substitute caregiver in place may be essential.
mass.gov public health campaign “Stay Aware. Be Prepared.” is a combined effort between the DPH Office of Preparedness & Emergency Management, the DPH Office of Communications and the Division for Children with Special Health Needs (DCYSHN).  DCYSHN also has emergency care planning web pages unique to the needs and interests of our special population:

 

LPS Student Emergency Health Information Form