Health Services

ISB makes every effort to provide a safe and healthy environment for all students. Students are adequately supervised at all times. The School complies with all local and state health and safety regulations. A full-time nurse is on duty on each campus, and the faculty and staff have been instructed in the handling of emergencies. Some members of the school staff have completed the National Safety Council’s First Aid Course. In addition, certain administrative personnel and teachers have received CPR/AED training.

Required Forms

The following documents are required for all students enrolled at ISB. The requisite documents must be on file prior to the opening of school. Without these documents no child will be allowed to begin school.

Student and parent information card:

Basic information about each student and his/her parent or guardian must be on file at all times. Any changes should be reported to the main office immediately.

Field trip and activity permission; photo permission card:

Field trips are an important component of the School program. No student may leave the campus without written trip authorization being on file.
Teachers take photographs of class activities, and occasionally the School permits or requests a photographer to document some aspect of the School. It is important that we know which students' photographs may be used for internal publication, and those students who should not be photographed per parent/guardian request.

Health forms:

Health card. All students attending ISB (new and returning) must have a completed Health Office Information Card on file.
Physical exam. All new students entering ISB must submit a copy of a recent physical exam. Additionally, students entering grades Pre-K, Mid-K, K, 4, 7, and 10 must have a new physical exam. The School must have on file either a Massachusetts School Health Record Form or a copy of a current French Carnet de Santé.
Immunization. Students entering grades K and 7 (new and returning) must present a new certificate of immunization, using either the Massachusetts form or a current copy of the Carnet de Santé. All new students must also submit an up to date immunization record. European parents, please take special note of the fact that Massachusetts requires vaccination for Hepatitis B and this vaccination is therefore required for entrance to ISB, as to any other school in the state. The varicella immunization is also required.
Allergy policy, Allergy Form. Complete and return this form if applicable.

All immigrants and refugee students whom are entering ISB must comply with MDPH physical/immunization requirements. Should there be any changes in your child's medical needs, your doctors, or your preferred hospital, you must report these changes immediately to the School Nurse for your child's campus.

Health Regulations:

The following regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Health will be strictly enforced:

A student who has a temperature of 100.4 degrees F (38 C) or higher must stay home, and they will be sent home from School if they develop a fever at this level during the school day. Students must remain at home for 24 hours after their fever has subsided after having exceeded 100.4 (38) degrees (without receiving fever medication). Fevers are generally signs of infection. The objective of our strict adherence to these regulations is that it significantly reduces the spread of illness among students.

Students may not keep any type of medications with them (including throat lozenges).

All medications must be given to the School Nurse by parents and administered by the School Nurse. Medication should not be transported to school by students.

Illness:

If your child becomes ill while at School you will be notified immediately. We request that all ill children be taken home as soon as possible. Until a parent or other emergency contact can be located, the child will remain in the Health Office.

If your child does not feel well in the morning we strongly urge that you keep him/her at home in order to ensure that he/she receives appropriate treatment and rest, and to help to prevent spreading infection.

If your child has had a contagious disease or condition or has been out of school for more than three days you must notify the School to this effect as soon as possible so that parents of others students can be informed. When your child returns he/she must bring a note from your doctor indicating that it is appropriate to return to class.

Medication:

The School Nurses keep Tylenol, Motrin, Ibuprofen and Benadryl, which they may administer to students whose parents have given their consent on the medical information card.

While we prefer that all medications be given at home and under the direct supervision of the child’s parent(s) we know that some medications must be given during the school day.

All such medications sent from home must be in a prescription labeled container from your child’s physician with a detailed note from your doctor giving the time at which the medication must be administered and the amount of medication to be given. Medications must be taken directly to the receptionist, division office or the School Nurse. Parent must notify the child’s teacher directly of the appropriate time to send your child to the Health Office for medication. Refrigeration is available, if needed.

Accidents:

If a minor accident occurs, the School Nurse or other School personnel will administer the necessary first aid and notify the parent(s) or other authorized person so that they can take the child home or to a physician.

In the case of a serious emergency, 9-1-1 will be called immediately and the student will be transported to the hospital designated by the parent, if medically possible, or to the nearest hospital. Every effort will be made to notify the parent of the situation immediately. A member of the School staff will accompany the child to the hospital and will remain with the child until a parent or guardian has arrived. The staff member will bring the necessary forms to the hospital with the child.

Accommodation of Injured and Disabled Students:

In accordance with U.S. law, the School will make reasonable accommodations for students who are injured or become disabled, provided that the student’s doctor indicates in writing that, from a medical point of view, the student is able to attend school.

Head Lice:

Head lice are prevalent among school children, especially younger ones. Although this condition is most virulent in the fall, outbreaks are likely to occur at any time during the school year. This is a highly contagious condition. If you suspect that your child has head lice you should contact your doctor immediately in order to begin appropriate treatment. You only need to keep your child at home if adult lice are present; if only nits are present, the child may return to school after treatment. The treatment is lengthy and time consuming, but if followed strictly there is less likelihood of re-infection. The School Nurse will check your child’s head to make sure that he/she is free of adult lice before he/she will be allowed to return to class. The Nurse will also monitor the situation in the child’s class to ensure that other children are not infected.

Health Screenings:

Please note that ISB does not conduct or require the health examinations that the state of Massachusetts requires for all public school students. We recommend that you consult with your health care provider, your local school committee or your local board of health for information about these examinations and to ensure these exams are carried out for your children.

Department of Social Services (DSS):

In the United States, there are strict laws in place to protect children. The Department of Social Services is a government agency dedicated to the protection of children from physical abuse and / or neglect. Anyone can pass information on to this agency if they have reasonable cause to believe a child is suffering physical or emotional injury resulting from abuse. However, some people are obligated to report information of this kind. School employees fall into this category of mandatory reporting.