General Information

  • Emergency Contact : Parents/Guardians are required to list alternate names of persons to be contacted if the parent is not available. The student, if necessary, may be released to the emergency contact person if the parent/guardian is not reachable/unavailable.

    Students may be excused from physical education classes for medical reasons only. Students that will be excused from P.E. for the day will need to bring a written excuse from home. A limited number of excuses are allowed each term, after which a physician's note will be required.

    A physical exam is required for all 7th grade students as well as new students entering the district. This may be done by the student's own healthcare provider.  Kindly forward a copy of the updated immunizations and/or physical exams to the Health Office.  Annual physicals are required for students participating in interscholastic and intramural sports.

    Medications  Administration of Medication in School [Prescribed and Over the Counter]
     
    The purpose of the regulations that have been put in place is to provide a safe, consistent and reasonable approach to the taking of medication by children during school hours and to follow the state law. Generally, medications should be given at home. When necessary and with a healthcare provider's written order, medication may be taken at school under the following procedures:

    Our school district requires that the following forms (provided by school health services) must be on file in your child's health record before we begin to give any medicine at school:
          1. Signed consent by the parent or guardian to give the medicine.
          2. Signed physician order. 
          3. Signed administration plans.

    School Policy Regarding Medications:
    1. Medicines should be delivered by the parent or guardian to the school health office.
    2. You may designate another responsible adult to deliver the medication provided you notify the nurse in advance of the arrangement and the quantity of medication being delivered.
    3. The pharmacy or manufacturer label must be attached to the container or inhaler. Please ask your pharmacy to provide separate bottles for school and home.
    4. No more than a 4-week/20 day supply of the medicine should be delivered to the school.
    5. All students taking medication will be monitored for response if deemed appropriate by the nurse.
    6. Over the counter medications including antacids, , may be administered to students in grades 6-12 with a signed consent form by the parent or guardian. Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen may be administered to students with a signed consent by the parent/guardian each school year. The above are administered at the discretion of the school nurse(s).
    Thank you for your attention.

    School Responsibility
    1. If the nurse or principal questions the advisability of dispensing a medication in school, the school physician is to be consulted.
    2. All medication shall be stored and secured in the Health Office with the exception of inhalers and Epipens, and those medications with specific healthcare provider orders.
    3. All medication will be taken in the presence of and under the supervision of the nurse or nurse's designee unless the student has physician and parent consent to self administer.
    4. School nurses will maintain an electronic medical record in the individual student health file for all medicines received and dispensed.

    Yearly Health Screenings
     
    The Barnstable Public Schools conduct the following health screenings as mandated by Massachusetts General Law and the Department of Public Health (DPH). Parents/ guardians will be notified of the screenings and can request in writing that their child not participate.

    Vision will be screened in grades K-5, 7, and 10.
    Hearing will be screened in grades K- 3, 7, and 10.
    Height and Weight will be measured in grades 1, 4, 7, and grade 10.
    Postural screening will be conducted in grades 5-9.

    Documentation of a recent physical exam is required when registering to enter the Barnstable Public Schools and in grades K, 3, 7, and 10.
     
    A yearly physical exam is also required for students participating in interscholastic sports.
    Parents will be notified by the health office if their child fails a vision, hearing, or postural screening. If you have any questions about this information, please do not hesitate to contact the school’s health office. Also, to learn more information about health and wellness for your child, visit the district’s health website: www.barnstable.k12.ma.us/health/index/htm.
     
    Immunizations needed for 7th Graders are: all that have been required in addition to a TDaP booster, Varicella #2 [Chicken Pox]. Seventh graders will need the appropriate medical documentation of these immunizations to begin school in the fall. 
     
    Latex Safety
     
    In an effort to protect staff and students who are allergic to latex, balloons made with latex and latex gloves are not allowed in the building. The use of rubber bands is discouraged.

    Smoking
     
    Smoking is not permitted in school buildings or on school grounds in the town of Barnstable. This restriction applies to staff, students, and all guests attending school functions.