If your child is going to be absent or tardy from school due to illness, medical/dental appointment, or any other reason, please call the school office as soon as possible. We need to account for every child.

Reduce students’ health-related absenteeism.

Eliminate or minimize health problems that impair learning.

Reduce or prevent health problems through education.

Educate the community as to the health concerns of school-aged children.

Help students to achieve the highest degree of independent functioning.

Assist with referrals to community providers.

Screening for hearing or vision difficulties that may impair student learning.

Each student must return a completed emergency form and health history form every school year. These forms are vital in providing up-to-date medical information on your student and phone numbers to use in case of an emergency.

Major illness, injury or surgical procedure:

Please notify the school nurse so we can assist you with appropriate care for your child on return to school. A note from the health care provider outlining care and restrictions will be required.

Schedule a meeting with the nurse to discuss special situations that may warrant a plan of care for your child.

New Hampshire state law requires the following:

1. Proper immunization in accordance with RSA141-C:20. Proof of immunization is a letter, statement or record from a health provider or former school showing each dose and the date administered.
2. Current physical examination in accordance with ED311.03. Proof of physical examination is a signed, dated summary of findings of a completed physical examination performed by a licensed health care provider.

All entering students or students transferring to Greenland Central School must have received a physical examination and the required immunizations prior to school entry in accordance to ED311.03 and RSA 141-C:20.

A student who is unable to provide documentation of a physical examination and proof of acceptable immunization for conditional enrollment shall not be admitted to school unless the student presents a certificate of religious or medical exemption.

A thirty (30) day exclusion notice may be issued by the school nurse for completion of these requirements or documentation of an appointment for a physical examination with a licensed healthcare provider.

Whether or not to keep a child home from school isn't always an easy decision. It is obvious that actively ill children should not be in school. Your child should be kept home if he/she exhibits any of the following signs and symptoms:

• Fever 100 degrees or higher- Your child should be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school.
• Vomiting/diarrhea
• Severe cold symptoms such as congestion, sneezing, nasal drainage, or severe cough.
• Not feeling well enough to participate in school activities such as a painful injury, urinary tract infection, nagging cough, etc.

Any child who has a fever of 100 degrees or above should not be in school and will be sent home if he/she exhibits symptoms at school.

Occasionally, during the school year, your child might need medication during school hours. This medication can be administered by the School Nurse provided certain regulations are followed:

1. Medication should be hand delivered to the school nurse only by the parent or the other responsible adult in the original pharmacy container appropriately labeled by the pharmacy. Pills in home containers or plastic baggies are not accepted.
2. A consent form must be signed by the parent/guardian for the administration of the medication in school.
3. A Physician's signature is required for any prescription medication to be given by the school nurse.
4. No student is allowed to have medication on his/her person. Exception: Inhalers and/or Epi-pens are allowed to be carried by the student only if there is documentation from the physician and parent. If your child needs an asthma inhaler, it should be kept in the health office unless a note is received from the physician that states the child is able to carry it with him/her.
5. Authorization forms for medication administration are available in the health office.
6. In the absence of the school nurse, the principal or designee may administer medications.
7. Medication not picked up at the end of the school year will be discarded.
8. Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, and cough drops, and Tums are available during school hours if permission is given by parent/guardian.

Feminine health products are also available in the health office

Health physicals should be updated every two years and are required for any sports participation. Parents are urged to have this completed before the start of the school year

NH State laws require school nurses to keep an accurate and updated immunization record on each student. Please send to school documentation of any updated immunizations your child has received and any changes in your child's health status as they occur. Immunization schedules are available upon request. I review all student health records and will notify the parent/guardian is a child due for any immunizations.

Please go to the NH Department of Health and Human Services for the updated 2025-26 immunization requirements for more information.

Do not send your child to school if you think he/she has a communicable disease. Please schedule an appointment with your child's physician.

You should report any communicable illness to the school nurse. It is important that sick children receive proper health care and that the remainder of the school community is protected from any contagious disease. Some communicable diseases/conditions are:

• Strep Throat
• Influenza
• Conjunctivitis
• Strep throat
• Impetigo
• Ringworm
• Fifth Disease
• COVID-19
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B

Hand-washing is the most important thing a person can do to prevent the spread of germs according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Encourage your child to wash hands often especially during school hours and use tissues to cover sneezes and coughs.

We have all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Studies show that children who eat breakfast perform better in school than those who skip breakfast. Breakfast eaters show greater concentration, more energy, and better muscle coordination in the morning. They score higher on tests and are less likely to act out in the classroom. Morning hunger may affect children at the worst time of the school day. In many classrooms, basic skills such as reading, writing and math are taught during the morning hours. Testing is often done in the morning as well. Breakfasts that are high in sugar will burn off quickly leaving the child feeling tired and irritable for hours before lunch. Encouraging your child to eat a well-balanced, nutritious breakfast will help them achieve optimum performance at school.

Good attendance is one of the best predictors of school success.

When a student is tardy, they have difficulty catching up and it disrupts the learning of others in the class. Please, please get your child to school on time and ready to learn!

Children need adequate sleep every night. The amount of the depends on the child's age, activity level, and health status. The school age child should average 9.5 hours of sleep per night.

NH Department of Health and Human Services

www.dhhs.state.nh.us

Center for Disease Control

www.cdc.org

Food and Drug Administration

www.fda.gov

Poison Control Center

www.nnepc.org

Kid’s Health

www.kidshealth.org

Harvard School of Public Health - Head Lice Info

www.hsph.harvard.edu/headlice.html

Food Allergy Network & Anaphylaxis

www.foodallergy.org

Asthma Link

www.lungusa.org

American Diabetes Association

www.diabetes.org

Sunburn/Skin Safety

http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/actionsteps.html

Anti Drug

www.drugfree.org

National Dairy Council

www.nationaldairycouncil.org

American Academy of Pediatrics

www.aap.org

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

www.aaaai.org

National Institute of Health

http://health.nih.gov

National Pediculosis Association

www.headlice.org