Nurse

• All 6th graders must get immunized for Tdap and Menactra as mandated by New Jersey State Law. See Immunizations Requirements for more information.  
• Eye injuries account for over 85% of sports-related injuries. 
• All Students interested in Sports must complete all Athletics Evaluations and Forms annually. 

Absentees

Notify the school when your child is absent. Include name, class, and reason. This will help us to disinfect classrooms properly and track the incidence of illness. 

All absences must be reported. You have three options for contacting the district to report your child's absence/lateness: 

1. Call our main number (732) 747-0882, press 8 and then press 1 to leave your message
2. Email SBS via the SPTG App found on the SPTG website, or
3. Email SBS directly at absent@sbs-nj.org

Be sure to keep your contact information current in the Parent Portal (ie: change of cell #, change of job #)

Communicable Illnesses

If your child had been diagnosed with strep throat, pink eye (conjunctivitis), bronchitis, Fifth's Disease, Coxsackie, ringworm, pin worm, mononucleosis or other "catchy" illness, please call or email the nurse. Your child will need a note from your health care provider to return to school.

Fever: Keep your child home until he is fever free for 24 hours without medication 

Vomiting or Diarrhea: Keep your child home for 24 hours after the last time he/she vomited or had diarrhea 

Antibiotics: Keep your child home for 24 hours after the first dose of antibiotics for an infection (ie: strep throat) 

If you are not sure if your child should stay home from school, talk to your pediatrician or school nurse. 

24 Hour Rule

Fever: Keep your child home until he is fever free for 24 hours without medication 

Vomiting or Diarrhea: Keep your child home for 24 hours after the last time he/she vomited or had diarrhea 

Antibiotics: Keep your child home for 24 hours after the first dose of antibiotics for an infection (ie: strep throat) 

If you are not sure if your child should stay home from school, talk to your pediatrician or school nurse. 

When to Keep a Child Home from School 

Deciding whether to keep a sick child home from school is a hard decision, especially if it means missing work or paying for childcare. Here are some guidelines to follow as you consider whether your child is sick enough to stay home: 

• A fever of 100 degrees or higher is a signal that your child should stay home. The child should be fever free (without the aid of Motrin, Tylenol, etc) for 24 hours before they return to school. The child should also be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to school. 
• Has been vomiting or has diarrhea 
• Has symptoms that keep your child from participating in school, such as:
  • Very tired or lack of appetite 
  • Cough that he/she cannot control 
  • Body aches/Earaches 
  • Sore throat, especially with a headache or stomach ache
• Is his/her illness contagious to others? If so, keep them home. It is not reasonable to bring germs to school. 

I Need to Stay Home If...

School Immunization Requirements

Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap)

• You are entering the 6th grade
• You are between the ages of 10-12
• You are under the age of 64, never received Tdap before, and are due for your next Tetanus & Diphtheria (TD) booster (needed roughly every 10 years)
• You are under the age of 64 and are in close contact with infants under the age of 12 months (new mothers, fathers, daycare worker, grandparents, babysitters etc.)
• You got a severe cut or burn, protection after a wound

Meningococcal Vaccine

• You are entering the 6th grade
• You are between the ages of 11-12
• You are entering college for the first time and did not receive the vaccine earlier
• You are going back to college and will be living on campus and never got the vaccine previously
• You are traveling to a part of the world where the disease is common
• You were exposed to a Meningitis outbreak

Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV)

• Males and females between the age of 9-26, regardless of whether they are sexually active or not, prevent cervical cancer and other types of cancer as well as prevent the most common sexually transmitted virus
• The recommended age for females is 11 or 12 years of age
• The vaccine is a 3 dose series 

Immunization Information Updated September 15th, 2020

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has received inquiries regarding the status of the immunization of pupils in school regulations (N.J.A.C. 8:57-4). The value of immunizations is even more evident during this pandemic: therefore, NJDOH will not waive the vaccine requirements nor will there be any extensions for the upcoming school year. Students will be expected to comply with all vaccine requirements prior to attending virtually or in-person at a New Jersey child care/preschool and school. New Jersey still allows for medical and religious exemptions when applicable.

The potential for the spread of infectious diseases is increased whenever individuals are brought into group settings. New Jersey has minimum vaccine requirements for school attendance. Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) recommended immunization is encouraged to provide optimal protection from vaccine-preventable diseases. Ensuring that vaccines are up-to-date can help protect schools and communities from vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information please visit the New Jersey Immunization Requirements and the New Jersey Immunization Frequently Asked Questions websites.

Please be reminded that the State of New Jersey mandates certain immunization requirements for school attendance. Noncompliance will result in exclusion from attending school. 

An immunization guidance grid is available on-line at: www.nj.gov/health/forms/imm-7.pdf . 

Your child's School Health Record remains with them through Grade 12. Therefore, should you child receive an inoculation at any time during the year, including the summer months, please provide the type of vaccine with the date administered to your school nurse. 

***********Special Notice Regarding All Sixth Graders : New Jersey requires additional vaccinations for students Entering Sixth Grade to help protect preteens and teens against two serious diseases: Meningococcal Disease (Meningitis) and Pertussis (Whooping Cough). These are required for attendance as a student in Shrewsbury Borough School. Failure to comply with the immunization regulation is cause for exclusion from school. Thank You for your Cooperation. 

For further information with regards to immunization requirements, as well as resources, and frequently asked questions: 

http://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/imm.shtml 

My Mental Health: Do I Need Help?

Do I have mild symptoms that have lasted for less than 2 weeks?

• Feeling a little down
• Feeling down, but still able to do job, schoolwork, or housework
• Some trouble sleeping
• Feeling down, but still able to take care of yourself or take care of others

If so, here are some self-care activities that can help:

• Exercising (e.g., aerobics, yoga)
• Engaging in social contact (virtual or in person)
• Getting adequate sleep on a regular schedule
• Eating healthy
• Talking to a trusted friend or family member
• Practicing meditation, relaxation, and mindfulness

If the symptoms above do not improve or seem to be worsening despite self-care efforts, talk to your health care provider.

Do I have severe symptoms that have lasted 2 weeks or more?

• Difficulty sleeping
• Appetite changes that result in unwanted weight changes
• Struggling to get out of bed in the morning because of mood
• Difficulty concentrating
• Loss of interest in things you usually find enjoyable
• Unable to perform usual daily functions and responsibilities
• Thoughts of death or self-harm

Seek professional help:

• Psychotherapy (talk therapy)—virtual or in person; individual, group, or family
• Medications
• Brain stimulation therapies

For help finding treatment, visit the NIMH Help for Mental Illnesses webpage.

If you are in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741).

Food Allergies

Food allergies are a growing food safety and public health concern that affect an estimated 4%–6% of children in the United States. Protecting a student from exposure to offending allergens is the most important way to prevent life-threatening anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can affect almost any part of the body and can cause various symptoms. The most dangerous symptoms include breathing difficulties and a drop in blood pressure or shock, which are potentially fatal. Treatment of anaphylaxis, which involves Epinephrine and antihistamines, is centered on treating the rapidly progressing effects of the histamine release in the body with epinephrine. The allergen should also be removed immediately. The prevalence of food allergies among children has increased and allergic reactions to foods have become the most common cause of anaphylaxis in community health settings. Studies show that 16%–18% of children with food allergies have had a reaction from accidentally eating food allergens while at school.

We have compiled the following list of safe snacks that each parent can purchase in order for all students to enjoy while keeping our students safe during parties and events. Please pick an item from the list below and take note of our students who live with food allergies and sensitivities. Please find below some options for items that are considered safe for parties and special snacks, and some additional recommendations:

• Enjoy Life Halloween Chocolate Minis
• Wise Potato Chips: Original, Honey BBQ, Onion & Garlic, Salt & Vinegar, Sour Cream & Onion
• Pringles: Original, BBQ
• Skinny Pop Popcorn
• Pirates Booty
• Goldfish
• Chips Ahoy: Choc. Chip, Chunky, Chewy, White Fudge, Minis
• Oreo’s
• Surf Sweet Fruity Bears, Hearts, Worms, and Jelly Beans
• Tootsie Rolls or Pops
• Starburst
• Skittles
• Jelly Belly Candy Canes

Baked goods from home should come with the ingredients listed & attached.

Fight the Bite, NJ!

When infected blood-sucking insects (such as mosquitoes and ticks) bite a person, they can spread vector-borne illnesses such as West Nile Virus and Lyme disease. There are many types of vector-borne illness. The best defense against them is to take steps to avoid being bitten by infected insects.

The Communicable Disease Service has staff dedicated to the monitoring, control and prevention of vector-borne diseases.

Specific activities performed by vector-borne illness staff include:

• Surveillance of vector-borne diseases
• Identifying risk factors
• Monitoring geographic trends
• Providing technical assistance and training
• Educating the public

Find more information and resources in the New Jersey School-Based Tick-borne Disease Education Toolkit.

As we begin a new school year, it is a good opportunity to remind people of all ages about the importance of the identification, prevention, and treatment of Lyme disease and other tickborne diseases. In New Jersey, there are many tick-borne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.