Health Services
General Information
In September, your child received a green form entitled "Student Health and Emergency Information", if you have not done so, it is very important that you complete both sides and return to your child's school as soon as possible. Please note that in an emergency every attempt will be made to contact parent(s)/guardian(s) first, but if we are unable to reach parent(s)/guardian(s) we will attempt to reach the other contacts listed on the form. This form contains important health information and emergency contacts for your child. It is important to remember that part of this form also includes permission for Tylenol administration, allowing your child to receive Tylenol during the school day after an assessment from the nurse. The form is available on line, click here.
FAMILY FLU CLINICWe have completed our flu clinics for this school year. If you would like information on how to obtain a flu vaccine, please call the Board of Health @ 508-647-6460.
Ways to Stay Healthy
1. Hand washing, Hand washing, Hand washing
2. Avoid close contact with sick people (respect personal space)
3. Avoid touching your face (eyes, nose and mouth) If you do wash your hands before and after touching
4. Keep sick children home
5. Eat a well balanced diet, be physically active, get enough sleep, stay well hydrated and try and reduce your stress
Attendance Calls
Please call the absent line at your child's school (listed below) if you child is going to be absent from school. Please clearly state your name, your child's name, your child's grade and the reason for the absence.
Vision and Hearing Screening
Vision and Hearing is mandated by Massachusetts State Laws in grades K thru 3, 7 and 10. Vision screening is conducted in grades 4 and 5. The elementary and middle school screenings were conducted in November, NHS will conduct screenings on 10th grade students on February 16th and 17th. If your child does not pass this basic screening you will receive a letter in the mail asking you to follow-up with the child's physician and/or appropriate specialist. If you do receive a letter it is imperative that you return the letter with the follow-up, so this important information can be kept in your child's medical record. If you would like to have your child exempt from the screenings, you need to send a written note, one for each screening you do not want your child to participate in, and it will be kept in your child's health file. Please send the written correspondence to the nurse at your child's school.
Height and Weight/BMI Screening
Schools in Massachusetts are now mandated by Massachusetts General Laws to obtain heights and weights on students in grades 1, 4, 7 and 10. Heights/weights/BMI screenings will be done at the elementary and middle schools this fall and the high school will be done on February 16 and 17th. After obtaining your child's height and weight, your child's BMI (Body Mass Index) will be calculated and you will be notified of the results in a confidential manner. If you would like your child to be exempt from the Massachusetts mandated screenings, you should provide the nurse at your child's school a written request to exempt your child.
Postural Screening
Public Schools in the state of Massachusetts are required annually to screen students in grades 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 for postural screening. It is advisable that female students wear a bathing suit top and/or halter top on the date they will be screened to allow for visualization of the entire spine. Postural Screening @ NHS will take place for all 9th grade students (who are taking PE Class), on Monday February 6, 2012 during PE class. Postural Screening has taken place at Kennedy Middle School and Wilson Middle during January 2012. If you would like your child to be exempt from the Massachusetts mandated screenings, you should provide the nurse at your child's school a written request to exempt your child.
Mosquito Transmitted Illnesses
As you may be aware, there was a random mosquito sample taken from a Natick neighborhood last week (August 31, 2010) that was tested by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Arbovirus Division and tested positive for the West Nile Virus. The area has been sprayed and will be sprayed again Friday night (September 10, 2010). Listed below are some precautions recommended from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to help you minimize your risk of contracting a mosquito transmitted illness:
1. Schedule outdoor events to avoid the hours between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
2. When you are outdoors, wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and socks. This may be difficult to do when the weather is hot, but it will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
3. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), IR3535 (3-[N-butyl-N-acetyl]-aminopropionic acid) or oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-menthane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] according to the instructions on the product label.
a. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children.
b. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.
c. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied to skin.
d. More information on choosing and using repellents safely is included in the MDPH Fact Sheet on Mosquito Repellents which can be viewed on-line at www.mass.gov/dph. If you can't go on-line, contact the MDPH at (617) 983-6800 for a hard copy.
4. Keep mosquitoes out of your house by repairing any holes in your screens and making sure they are tightly attached to all your doors and windows.
5. Remove areas of standing water around your home (rain gutters, drains, buckets, toys, bird baths, pool covers)
The Natick Board of Health is working closely with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and other agencies, such as the Central Mass Mosquito Project , to apply appropriate larvicides and provide education to the community.
Massachusetts Department of Public Health Fact Sheet on West Nile Virus
Massachusetts Department of Public Health Fact Sheet on Mosquito Repellents
Massachusetts Department of Public Health Fact Sheet on EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitits)
Head Lice update
Checklist on How to treat Your Child
Department of Public Health notice
Natick Public Schools Head Lice Policy
Natick High School
15 West Street
Clinic 508-647-6604
Absentee Line 508-647-6601
Clinic Fax 508-651-7167
Kennedy Middle School
165 Mill Street
Clinic 508-647-6652
Absentee Line 508-647-6651
Fax 508-651-6658
Wilson Middle School
22 Rutledge Road
Clinic 508-647-6672
Absentee Line 508-647-6671
Clinic Fax 508-647-6678
Bennett-Hemenway School
22 East Evergreen Road
Clinic 508-647-6582
Absentee Line 508-647-6581
Fax 508-652-9951
Brown School
One Jean Burke Drive
Clinic 508-647-6662
Absentee Line 508-647-6661
Fax 508-647-6668
Johnson School
99 South Main Street
Clinic 508-647-6682
Absentee Line 508-647-6681
Fax 508-647-6688
Lilja School
41 Bacon Street
Clinic 508-647-6571
Absentee Line 508-647-6571
Fax 508-651-6572
Memorial School
107 Eliot Street
Clinic 508-647-6592
Absentee Line 508-647-6591
Fax 508-651-6598 | 
