The HPS nurses would like to inform parents/guardians of the following topics:

COVID-19

On March 26, 2024, the state Department of Public Health reviewed the recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding isolation strategies for respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. The Department of Public Health has updated its recommendations for the general public to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses in alignment with this guidance, and DPH’s recommendations are available here: Staying home to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses | Mass.gov. There is a specific section on schools and childcare settings.

This means that students and staff members do not need to self isolate at home if they test positive for COVID-19. Please ensure you/your student has not had a fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicines and other symptoms are improving before returning to school. If you have additional questions, please contact your school nurse.

Pink Eye

We have seen an increase in conjunctivitis (pink eye) cases. Common symptoms include redness or swelling of the white of the eye. Please see the Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) Page from the CDC. If your student has been diagnosed with conjunctivitis, the health office needs to know. Keep your student home until the student has been on antibiotics for at least 24 hours if prescribed.

Strep Throat

We have seen an increase in strep throat cases. Symptoms of strep throat can vary from student to student. Common symptoms include fever and throat pain. Less common symptoms can be stomach pain, with or without vomiting, and headache. Please see the Strep Throat Information Page from the CDC. If your student has been diagnosed with strep throat, the health office needs to know. Keep your student home until the student is fever free without the use of fever reducing medication and has been on antibiotics for 24 hours.

Head Lice

As is common every year in school settings, there have been a small number of cases of head lice reported to the school nurses. This is typical and should not alarm families. We would like to remind parents/guardians that for many years the following practices have been discontinued (per advocacy of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC):

• whole classroom screening
• notification to others except for parents/guardians of students with head lice infestations

The National Association of School Nurses Head Lice in Schools Management Position Statement and resources are available on our website. Additionally, our Health Office Newsletter sent out earlier this week contained information to help parents/guardians identify, treat, and prevent the spread of lice.

As a reminder, please frequently review our HPS Health Office website for current Student Health information and guidance!

It is the policy of the Holliston Public Schools not to discriminate on the basis of race, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, color, homelessness, sexual orientation, age or disability in its educational programs, services, activities, or employment practices.