School Health Offices

The nurse promotes the health and well being of every student in the Mashpee school district. The nurse advocates for the health and safety of students and staff with the primary goal being to support student learning. We strive to positively influence both the health and education of your children by providing high-quality nursing care in each school.

Services Provided

Full-time registered nurse assigned to each school building
Illness and injury assessment
First aid
Medication administration during the school day
Chronic condition management
Annual hearing/vision/postural/Body Mass Index screening and referral
Cumulative School Health Record maintenance including immunizations
Nursing collaboration for students with IEP/504
Health/wellness education
Collaboration with local, regional, and statewide health agencies and initiatives
Assistance with health insurance for children and families
Referral and assistance in accessing health/dental care
Crisis team participation
Management of communicable diseases

Health Resources

MPS Forms

Wellness Policy

Immunization

Simply Cape Services right here in Mashpee. They can help families by providing a certified translation of their immunizations. The family can call for an appointment and they can provide this service.

https://simplycape-services.business.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral

Crafft

Athletics

EEE - Mosquito

West Nile - Mosquito

SEPT. 11, 2024

The Town of Mashpee has been elevated from MODERATE to HIGH RISK by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) for West Nile virus (WNV).

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced three additional human cases of West Nile virus (WNV). All three individuals are in their 60s. One is a woman who was exposed in southern Bristol County. The second is a man in his 60s who was exposed in Suffolk County in an area already at high risk. The third is a man who was exposed in Barnstable County. This brings the total number of WNV cases this year to 10 in Massachusetts.

WNV risk levels in the following communities are being raised to high: Barnstable, Mashpee, Sandwich, and Yarmouth in Barnstable County; and Acushnet, Dartmouth, and New Bedford in Bristol County.

"West Nile virus does not always raise as much concern as EEE, but it remains a potentially very serious disease, especially for those over the age of 60 or with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, or an organ transplant," said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. "I encourage everyone to take measures to protect themselves: use mosquito repellent with an EPA-registered active ingredient when outdoors, wear long sleeves and pants, and be aware of peak mosquito hours."

There have been 302 WNV-positive mosquito samples so far this year detected from Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester counties. There were six human cases of WNV and no animal cases in 2023. No animal cases of WNV have been detected so far this year.

People have an important role to play in protecting themselves and their loved ones from illnesses caused by mosquitoes.

Avoid Mosquito Bites

Apply Insect Repellent when Outdoors. Use a repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient, such as DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), or oil of lemon eucalyptus (p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) or IR3535) according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30 percent or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.

Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning in areas of high risk.

Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Bites. Wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.

Mosquito-Proof Your Home

Drain Standing Water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by draining or discarding items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty unused flowerpots and wading pools and change the water in birdbaths frequently.

Install or Repair Screens. Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly fitting screens on all windows and doors.

Protect Your Animals

Animal owners should reduce potential mosquito breeding sites on their property by eliminating standing water from containers such as buckets, tires, and wading pools – especially after heavy rains. Water troughs provide excellent mosquito breeding habitats and should be flushed out to reduce mosquitoes near paddock areas. Horse owners should keep horses in indoor stalls at night to reduce their risk of exposure to mosquitoes. Owners should also speak with their veterinarian about mosquito repellents approved for use in animals and vaccinations to prevent West Nile virus (WNV) and EEE. If an animal is suspected of having WNV or EEE, owners are required to report to the Department of Agricultural Resources, Division of Animal Health by calling 617-626-1795, and to the Department of Public Health by calling 617-983-6800.

More information, including all WNV and EEE positive results, can be found on the Arbovirus Surveillance Information web page at Mosquito-borne Diseases | Mass.gov, which is updated daily, or by calling the DPH Division of Epidemiology at 617-983-6800.

Vaping 101

Parents, please use the following tip sheets below to help you talk to your child about vaping!

Below are the winning posters in our anti-vaping poster contest--a contest sponsored by the Mashpee Substance Use Task Force, the Kiwanis of Mashpee, and the Mashpee Public Schools. There were 165 entries.

Vaping Campaign Winners

Flu

Latex

Whooping Cough

TB Screening

COVID RESOURCES

Current Year Guidance

Latest updates

Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Cases Rising in Barnstable County

December 17, 2024 (Barnstable, MA) – Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment is urging residents to take precautions as cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, continue to rise locally, statewide, and nationally. Find the advisory here: Pertussis Advisory

COVID 19 & Respiratory Viruses

As of 3/25/24 DPH has updated its recommendations for the general public to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, accessible here: Staying home to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses | Mass.gov

Please continue to email your child's school attendance email if they test positive for flu, covid, strep, conjunctivitis, mono or other communicable diseases diagnosed by a physician.

Vaccinations

Masks

State Resources

Department of Transitional Assistance Online Portal
Emergency Childcare Site
Instructions for Receiving COVID-19 Testing
Massachusetts COVID-19 Web Page
Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency
MASS211: or #Call2Talk or Dial 211 24/7 for information and referrals to local resources, including public’s questions on COVID-19 – multi-lingual, confidential and free.

Vaping

Vaping and COVID-19

Prevention and Quitting Tools for Youth Nicotine & Vaping resources and information:

Massachusetts Department of Public Health

www.mass.gov/get-outraged

www.mass.gov/vaping

www.mass.gov/quitting

https://www.mass.gov/tool-kit/get-outraged-toolkit

Centers for Disease Control: Electronic Cigarettes

www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/index.htm

Surgeon General

www.e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/default.htm

The Truth Initiative

www.truthinitiative.org

The 84 Movement

www.the84.org

INDEPTH: An Alternative to Teen Nicotine Suspension or Citation

https://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/helping-teens-quit/indepth.html

N-O-T: Not on Tobacco – Proven Teen Smoking and Vaping Cessation Program

https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/helping-teens-quit/not-on-tobacco

My Life, My Quit

www.mylifemyquit.com

Massachusetts Health Promotion Clearinghouse

https://massclearinghouse.ehs.state.ma.us/

Social Distancing

Coping with COVID

MBH

COVID-19 INFO

Health Advisory Committee Meetings:

24-25 Health Advisory Meeting dates: 10/16/24, 1/22/25, 3/19/25, 5/21/25

All meetings are held via Zoom for the 24-25 school year. Email Stacey Schakel,MPS District Nurse Coordinator for the link.

The Mashpee Public Schools Health Advisory Council is a forum where school personnel, school committee members, community representatives, and parents are able to support and advocate for the health, wellness, and safety of students and staff. This committee meets four times a year and is currently led by MPS COVID Health Coordinator Stacey Schakel.