Parent Resources / Nurses' Office

Your nurse is Marie -Yacinthe Nowicki, AKA Nurse Marie, or Ms. Nowicki.
She is our school nurse.

Her office hour is 9:00AM-2:00PM during the school time.

Google Phone: 781-365-8471 (Call or text)
Email: m nowicki@bostonpublicschools.org

***Please provide your student's first name and last name when reaching out to her.

Sick Days

Guidelines for sick days

When should I keep my child home?

We want children to be in school! But there are times when it really is better for children to stay home, both for their own health and the health of other children who may be exposed to the germs. The following are general guidelines . Please call me if you have any questions or concerns.

Exclusion:

Fever

An elevation of body temperature above normal ( oral 100). Behavior changes, i.e. stiff neck, difficulty breathing, rash, sore throat, and/or other signs or symptoms of illness are best addressed by the the child’s primary care provider. Students should not return until they have spent 24 hours free of fever without the aid of fever reducing medications.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is defined as an increased number of stools compared with a child's normal pattern, along with decreased stool form and/or stools that are watery, bloody, or contain mucus. Exclude until 24 hours after diarrhea stops or follow specific disease exclusion if the pathogen is known (norovirus, salmonella, etc); or until a medical exam indicates that it is not due to a communicable disease.

Vomiting

Child has vomited two or more times in the previous 24 hours. Exclude for 24 hours after last episode of vomiting, unless it is determined to be caused by a non infectious condition and the child is able to eat and drink without vomiting.

Respiratory

Respiratory infections are common. If the child does not have fever, does not appear to have decreased activity or other symptoms, it is not necessary for the child to stay home. Respiratory Hygiene (coughing into sleeve) and good hand washing help keep germs under control.

Rash of unknown origin. If your child develops a rash, your child should be excluded from school until assessed by a doctor and cleared to return to school with a doctor's note.

Please make sure to notify your child's teachers about their sick day absence by calling school at 617-635-8365.
Medications at School
Prescription Medications
A doctor's order is required if a child is taking medicine in school . Massachusetts state regulations allow only a nurse to dispense medication, with the exception of field trips and Epi pens.

The parent is responsible for delivering to the nurse medications in a pharmacy labeled container along with a physician’s order and permission for the nurse to give the medication in school.

In some cases, such as with asthma inhalers, medications may be self-administered; self-administration is determined by the nurse and the family and requires a process of monitoring student use.

Parents should also pick up any unused medication at the end of the school year. Any unused medication will be destroyed.

School nurses are responsible for students' health during regular school hours; before and after school programs are responsible for working with parents should there be a medical need, such as medication.

Over The Counter Medication

The BPS school physician provides a standing order for over-the counter medications (Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl) which allows the school nurse to dispense them with parental permission. Parents should fill out the form and return it to the nurse as soon as possible.

Please see the forms section for these medication authorization forms as you need them.
What kind of Immunization & Physical Requirement do we need to attend Boston Public Schools?

Immunizations

According to state law, students must be vaccinated for certain diseases before they may enter school. The Boston Public Schools requires that students must have immunizations that are up-to- date for school entry at the time they register for school. Please be sure to provide the school nurse with a copy of your child’s immunization and physical exam. Provide a copy of the documentation each time your child has a physical and/or immunization update.

Physical Exams

Please provide the nurse with a copy of your child's Updated Physical every year or every 2 years (if your insurance only allows for physicals every 2 years).
Important Medical Forms
Here are important medical forms that you need to submit to nurses before the school year starts.
- BPS Parent/Guardian Authorization for Medication Administration Form (ENGLISH)
  
  This form allows the school nurse to administer medications prescribed for daily administration or only as needed (such as emergency Inhalers and Epipens) at school.
- Formulario de autorización de los padres/tutores para la administración de medicamentos de BPS
  
  Este formulario permite a la enfermera de la escuela administrar los medicamentos prescritos para la administración diaria o sólo cuando sea necesario (como los inhaladores de emergencia y Epipens) en la escuela.
- BPS - Consent for Administration of Approved Over the Counter Medications (ENGLISH)
  
  Allows the school nurse to administer over the counter medications as needed (Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl).
- BPS - Consentimiento para la administración de medicamentos de venta libre aprobados
  
  Permite que la enfermera de la escuela administre medicamentos sin receta según sea necesario (Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl).
- BPS - HIPAA- Compliant Authorization for Exchange of Health & Education Information (ENGLISH)
  
  This form allows the school nurse to communicate with student's health care providers when necessary concerning student health issues.
- BPS - Autorización para el Intercambio de Información de Salud y Educación que cumple con HIPAA
  
  Este formulario permite que la enfermera de la escuela se comunique con los proveedores de atención médica del estudiante cuando sea necesario en relación con los problemas de salud del estudiante.

Sick Days

Medications at School

What kind of Immunization & Physical Requirement do we need to attend Boston Public Schools?

Important Medical Forms