The School Nurse is a registered nurse (RN) who provides health supervision for the students enrolled at COMPASS. The nurse acts as a resource for counselors and teachers regarding overall school health and safety, health curriculum content, health related field trips, medication training, and in services during orientation and throughout the year.
Welcome to the school nurse’s page!
Hi everyone! I’m Attracta Britton, RN, the COMPASS School Nurse. My goal is for every student to be healthy, safe, and ready to learn.
Please help the school nurse care for your child by informing the nurse if your child has:
- any chronic or acute illnesses
- a new medication or change in medication dosage
- been exposed to a communicable disease such as a strep throat infection, chicken pox, or conjunctivitis
- a life-threatening or new allergy
- a serious injury requiring hospitalization, or a diagnosed head concussion
- an injury requiring casting, sutures, a splint, or mobility assistance of crutches or a wheelchair
- vision or hearing difficulties
The School Nurse will work with the child’s physician, parent, and other school personnel to meet special health needs in school so that the child may benefit from their educational program. A child must provide a note from the doctor for activity restriction due to an injury or illness. A note written by a parent is not acceptable.
Please keep your child home when the following symptoms are present:
- Temperature of 100 degrees F or greater within the past 24 hours
- Vomiting or diarrhea occurring within the past 24 hours
- Strep infections of any kind, untreated ringworm, conjunctivitis, or impetigo. These are all contagious infections and must be treated with medication for at least 24
- hours before returning to school
- Rash of unknown origin – this may indicate many different things and should be checked by your pediatrician
- Untreated lice infestation
Please also provide a yearly up-to-date physical and immunization record from your primary care, this is required. See the side tab for more information.
The School Nurse also carries out vision, hearing, postural screening, and weight and height screenings each year. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
See you around the School!
Physical & Immunization Requirements
SBIRT in Schools
Covid-19 Protocol
State Mandated Health Screenings
Schools are required by Massachusetts General Law (M.G.L. Chapter 71, Section 57 and 105 CMR 200.000) to provide vision, hearing, body mass index (BMI), postural, and Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) health screenings to all students. Parents/guardians will be notified if a referral is necessary. Students entering Kindergarten are required by Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 71 and Section 57, to have had a vision screening by a physician.
- Vision: Annually in grades 1 through 5, once in grades 6 through 8, and once in grades 9 through 12
- Hearing: Kindergarten through grade 3 and once in grades 6 through 8 and once in grades 9 through 12
- Heights and Weights: Heights and weights are measured and body mass index (BMI) is calculated on children in grades 1, 4, 7, and 10.
- Postural Screening: The state of Massachusetts mandates that all students in grades 5 through 9 be screened for scoliosis. Parents will be notified if a referral is needed.
- SBIRT: Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment is done in grades 7 and 10. The screening uses the CRAFFT tool as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Substance Abuse. Student screening sessions will be brief and conducted confidentially in a private, one-on-one session.
Mental health and domestic abuse resources:
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National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
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Nacional de Prevención del Suicido: 1-888-628-9454
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Boston Emergency Services Team (BEST team): 1-800-981-4357
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Parent Stress Line (Multiple languages available): 1-800-632-8188
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Call 911 if you feel that you or your child is at imminent risk
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Child-at-Risk Hotline (Call to report child abuse and neglect): 800-792-5200
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National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
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William James Interface Referral Service (Mental health and wellness referral hotline): 888-244-6843
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is removing the requirement for flu vaccination for attendance in childcare/preschool, primary, secondary and postsecondary education. Preliminary data show that this has been a mild flu season to date, presumably as people have received their seasonal flu vaccine and have been adhering to mask-wearing and social distancing due to COVID-19. Given the intensive Commonwealth-wide efforts regarding COVID-19 vaccination, DPH wants to alleviate the burden to obtain flu vaccination and focus on continuing our COVID -19 vaccination efforts.
School Contacts
Terry Belli
Clinical Director
Email Terry
(857) 220-2333, x339
Keir Araujo
Director of Admissions & Family Engagement
Email Keir
(617) 388-3102