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Health Services

The school nurse is available in each school to assist in promoting good health and in maintaining a healthy and safe environment for staff and students.

Please feel free to contact your child’s school nurse with any health concerns or questions you may have.

Health Office Contact Information

Chickering Elementary: Katherine Pollender  (508)785-0480

Pine Hill Elementary: Aimee Versaw  (508)655-1730

Dover-Sherborn Middle School: Margaret Parsons  (508)785-8149 

Dover-Sherborn High School: Janet Chandler  (508)785-1730

Lead Nurse: Aimee Versaw

Floating Nurse: Arlene Driscoll


School Physician: Dr. Richard Garber

An image of the Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice as outlined by the National Association of School Nurses (NASN).

The Nurses of the Dover Sherborn Public Schools are proud to adopt the Framework for 21st Century School Nursing, as outlined by NASN (National Association of School Nurses).

NASN’s Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice (the Framework) provides structure and focus for the key principles and components of current day, evidence-based school nursing practice. It is aligned with the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model that calls for a collaborative approach to learning and health (ASCD & CDC, 2014). Central to the Framework is student-centered nursing care that occurs within the context of the students’ family and school community. Surrounding the students, family, and school community are the non-hierarchical, overlapping key principles of Care Coordination, Leadership, Quality Improvement, and Community/Public Health. These principles are surrounded by the fifth principle, Standards of Practice, which is foundational for evidence-based, clinically competent, quality care. School nurses daily use the skills outlined in the practice components of each principle to help students be healthy, safe, and ready to learn.

Note: Images and supporting text are being used with permission granted by NASN.

Medication Administration Requirements

  1. All students requiring medications during the school day must have a current physician’s order on file in the health office that includes:

  • Student Name
  • Medication name, dose and frequency
  • Reason for medication

  1. For short term medications (i.e. medications given for 10 days or less), a pharmacy labeled container can be used in lieu of a physician’s order.

  2. Allergy Action Plan (updated each school year) required for all epipens.

  3. Asthma Action Plan (updated each school year) required for all inhalers.

  4. School Medication Plan/log required for all other medications.

  5. A new physician’s order is required at the beginning of every school year and is good for 1 school year.

  6. Medications should be dropped off at the health office by a responsible adult, medications should not be sent in students backpacks.

  7. Only a 30 day supply of medication can be accepted in the health office.

  8. All medications, including epipens and inhalers, must be in a pharmacy labeled container/box.

  9. Over the counter medications other than those listed on the emergency health form must have a doctor’s order and be brought to the health office in the original store bought container by an adult.

  10. Students are not allowed to keep or carry medications of any kind on their person or in a backpack, desk, locker, etc. If you wish for your student to self carry an epipen or inhaler please reach out to your school nurse for further discussion.  This will be assessed on a case by case basis.

  11. At the end of the year, all medications must be picked up by a parent or responsible adult.

Physical Exam and Immunization Requirements

In compliance with regulations from Massachusetts Department of Public Health, students entering the Dover Sherborn Public School will need a physical exam which includes a vision screening, TB risk assessment and immunization record.

A physical examination is needed
    -1 year prior or 30 days after entry to Dover Sherborn Public School
    -Entering grade Preschool, Kindergarten, 4th grade, 7th grade and 10th grade
    -Annually prior to participating in school sponsored athletics

Here are the Massachusetts Immunization requirements.. Another useful link is here.

Communicable Diseases/Conditions

If a student is diagnosed with a communicable disease such as COVID-19,  mono, strep throat, chicken pox or conjunctivitis, contact the school nurse. This information is vital to help protect the students and staff who may be medically at risk from exposure to these diseases. Students need to stay home until they are no longer contagious. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Health Office. 

Covid-19

If you are experiencing respiratory virus symptoms, please reference the Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidelines for respiratory viruses, including flu, covid-19, RSV, and the common cold. As always, reach out to your school nurse for questions.

Concussion

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells. 
Here are some resources: 

CDC Heads Up

Concussion Awareness Training Tool

American Academy of Pediatrics: Concussion