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Health Office
Our mission is to provide health services that support the academic success of ARHS students and promote an exceptional educational experience in a safe environment. We assist students in maintaining optimal mental and physical well-being while in school, and collaborate with parents, medical providers, and other school personnel to meet health needs.
To report a students' absence, dismissal or tardy arrival, please input it directly into PowerSchool. Simply log-in and click on the menu item on the left that says, "Attendance Monitor" and choose "Report Attendance". For detailed directions, click here.
One of the key mitigation strategies to keep our school buildings healthy is the commitment of all of our students and staff to stay home if they are sick and consult with the school nurse. It is sometimes hard to know when you should keep your children home from school. Here are a few Guidelines to help. Also check out these recommendations for respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, which were released by the CDC on March 1, 2024.
Health Office Contact
Health and Wellness Links
Immunizations and Physical Requirements
All students are required to provide proof of up-to-date immunizations in accordance with Massachusetts law. No unimmunized student shall be admitted to, or be allowed to remain in, school unless they can satisfy these requirements:
1. A medical exemption is allowed if a health care provider submits documentation to school that an immunization is medically contraindicated; or
2. A religious exemption is allowed if a parent/guardian submits a signed statement to school stating that a vaccine is against sincerely held religious beliefs.
Medical exemptions MUST be renewed annually and religious exemptions should be renewed annually at the start of the school year
The school is required to have proof of a physical exam every three to four years and for all new students. High school students need to have a copy of a physical examination (completed after their 16th birthday) on file at the school. A current physical is required to try out for any sport.
NEW – Meningococcal Requirements
2 doses; second dose MenACWY (formerly MCV4) must be given on or after the 16th birthday and ≥ 8 weeks after the previous dose. 1 dose is acceptable if it was given on or after the 16th birthday. Meningococcal B vaccine is not required and does not meet this requirement. The updated table of immunization requirements for the upcoming school year can be found at this link.
Influenza Recommendation
1 dose; seasonal influenza vaccine for the current flu season is recommended to be received annually.
“Every year, thousands of people of all ages are affected by influenza, leading to many hospitalizations and deaths,” said Dr. Larry Madoff, Medical Director, DPH’s Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences. “It is more important now than ever to get a flu vaccine because flu symptoms are very similar to those of COVID-19 and preventing the flu will save lives and preserve healthcare resources.”
DPH strongly recommends that everyone age six months and older receive their seasonal flu vaccine each ye
Screenings
State mandated requirements
Massachusetts mandates the following screenings be completed:
Grade 9 – Scoliosis
Grade 10 – Hearing, Vision, and Growth (height and weight) screenings
When hearing, vision, and scoliosis screenings are complete, the parent/guardian will be notified if a referral is necessary.
The parent/guardian may request in writing that a student be excused from screening. A separate request is required for each screening.
Tick Facts and Information
Read about tick bite prevention and Lyme Disease
Two tick species, the deer tick and the American dog tick, are found throughout Massachusetts. Being bitten by either species may result in contracting a tick-borne disease. The most common being Lyme Disease, which is transmitted when bitten by a deer tick. Treatment is available for tick-borne diseases. For more information regarding the prevention of tick bites, the removal of a tick if bitten, and recommendations if bitten, visit the website listed below.