As a school nurse, you hold one of the most important positions in a young girl’s period journey. You’re often the first person she turns to when her period arrives unexpectedly, when cramps are making it hard to focus in math class, or when she’s feeling scared and overwhelmed by changes in her body. This role is both a tremendous responsibility and an incredible privilege.
I still remember my own experience starting my period in fifth grade. I was terrified and unprepared, but I was lucky enough to have a teacher, Ms. Roberts, who not only understood what I was going through but had created period kits specifically for moments like mine. That teacher’s calm, supportive response changed everything for me. She didn’t just hand me supplies and send me back to class. She took the time to make sure I felt safe, informed, and cared for during a moment that could have been traumatic.
That teacher was Dana Roberts, who later became the co-founder of what is now Scarlet by RedDrop. Her classroom experience supporting young girls through their first periods inspired the creation of our entire company. Today, we want to help you be that same kind of supportive, prepared adult for the students in your school.
Why School Nurses Are Period Game Changers
You see students during their most vulnerable moments. When a girl comes to your office with period concerns, she’s trusting you with something deeply personal and often embarrassing for her. How you respond in those moments can shape her entire relationship with her body and her periods for years to come.
You Have the Medical Knowledge
Unlike teachers or administrators, you understand the health aspects of menstruation. You can distinguish between normal period experiences and symptoms that might need medical attention. This expertise makes you uniquely qualified to provide both immediate support and long-term health guidance.
You Provide a Safe Space
Your office is often the one place in school where students feel they can be honest about what’s happening with their bodies. Creating a period-positive environment in your space sends the message that periods are normal health experiences worthy of professional care and attention.
You Bridge the Gap Between Home and School
Sometimes parents are unprepared for their daughter’s first period, or cultural factors make period conversations difficult at home. You can provide education and support that complements what students are learning at home or fills in gaps when home support isn’t available.
Understanding Scarlet by RedDrop Products for Your School
Our Code Red Kit: Perfect for Nurse’s Office Emergencies This kit was literally designed based on what Dana Roberts provided to her fifth-grade students. It contains everything a student needs for an unexpected period:
- 2 EveryDay pads (Size 1) for lighter flow days
- 1 FlowNight pad (Size 3) for heavier flow or longer school days
- 2 flushable feminine hygiene wipes for feeling fresh and clean
- A discreet pouch that students can take with them
The beauty of the Code Red Kit is that it’s age-appropriate. Many school health offices stock adult-sized products that are too large for tween and teen bodies. Our products are specifically designed for the students you’re serving.
Individual Product Options We also offer individual products that you can stock based on your student population’s needs:
- EveryDay Pads: Our smallest option, perfect for first periods and lighter days
- FlowDay and FlowNight Pads: Medium and heavy protection options
- Period Underwear: Great for students who are active in sports or prefer backup protection
- Tampons and Menstrual Cups: For older students ready for internal products
Why Size Matters for Your Students Adult period products don’t fit developing bodies properly. When you stock appropriately sized products, you’re ensuring that students can participate fully in their school day without discomfort or worry about leaks. This isn’t just about comfort. It’s about keeping girls in classrooms and activities rather than missing school due to period concerns.
Educational Resources to Support Your Students and Families
Period Prep Class 101: Virtual Education for Your School Community Our virtual educational series covers everything students and families need to know about periods and puberty. As a school nurse, you can recommend this resource to parents who seem unprepared or request these sessions for students who need more comprehensive education.
The classes cover topics like:
- Understanding the menstrual cycle and what’s normal
- How to use different period products safely
- Managing period symptoms and when to seek help
- Building confidence around period health
Interactive Puberty Workbook: Hands-On Learning This workbook allows students to engage with period education in a structured, age-appropriate way. You can use it during one-on-one conversations with students or recommend it to parents who want to continue education at home.
Growing Up Powerful Book: Reframing the Period Narrative This resource helps students see their periods as signs of strength and healthy development rather than something to endure or hide. When students feel empowered rather than embarrassed about their periods, they’re more likely to seek help when they need it and take better care of their health.
Being a Resource for Parents and Families
Supporting Unprepared Parents Sometimes you’ll encounter parents who seem as surprised by their daughter’s period as the student herself. Our educational resources can help bridge this gap. You can provide parents with information about our educational classes or recommend our books as ways to continue important conversations at home.
Helping with Product Selection Parents often ask school nurses for advice about period products. Having knowledge about age-appropriate options like Scarlet by RedDrop products allows you to make informed recommendations that actually work for teen bodies.
Cultural Sensitivity and Support In some families, cultural factors make period conversations challenging. As a neutral healthcare professional, you can provide education and support that respects cultural values while ensuring students get the health information they need.
Supporting Guardians and Extended Family Not every student lives with parents who are prepared for period conversations. Grandparents, older siblings, or other guardians might be the primary caregivers. Our educational resources are designed to help any caring adult support a young person through their period journey.
Getting Scarlet by RedDrop Products in Your School System
Working with School Health Distributors We partner with major school health distributors like School Health and School Nurse Supply. This means you can order our products through the same channels you use for other health supplies, making the process simple and familiar.
Direct Wholesale Options For larger orders or specific needs, we offer direct wholesale purchasing. This can be particularly helpful if you want to ensure consistent stock of appropriately sized products for your student population.
Grants and Funding Support Many schools struggle with funding for period products. We can help you identify potential grant opportunities or funding sources that support menstrual equity in schools. Some districts have found success incorporating period product costs into their health and wellness budgets.
Pilot Programs If your school or district wants to try our products before making a larger commitment, we can work with you to create pilot programs that allow you to test our products with your student population.
Creating a Period-Positive Nurse’s Office
Stock Appropriately Keep a variety of our properly sized products available. Students’ needs change as they develop, and having options shows that you understand and care about their individual situations.
Normalize Period Conversations Use matter-of-fact language about periods. When students see that you treat periods as normal health experiences, they’re more likely to come to you with concerns or questions.
Provide Comfort Care Keep heating pads, appropriate pain relief, and comfortable spaces available for students dealing with period symptoms. Sometimes just having a place to rest for a few minutes can make the difference between staying in school and going home.
Maintain Privacy and Dignity Ensure that students can access period supplies and discuss period concerns privately. Your office should feel like a safe space where they don’t have to worry about other students overhearing or seeing them get period products.
Supporting Students Through Different Period Experiences
First Period Emergencies When a student experiences her first period at school, your response sets the tone for how she’ll think about periods going forward. Having our Code Red Kits available means you can provide everything she needs in one discreet package while you help her contact family and process this important milestone.
Ongoing Period Support Regular students who come to you for period-related needs benefit from consistency and understanding. Keep track of students who experience severe symptoms and maintain communication with their families about any concerning patterns.
Period Poverty Awareness Some students don’t have access to period products at home. Having supplies available and knowing how to discretely provide ongoing support for these students can literally keep them in school and learning.
Supporting Diverse Student Needs Every student’s period experience is different. Some have heavy flows that require frequent product changes. Others deal with severe cramping that affects their ability to concentrate. Your individualized care helps each student succeed despite their period challenges.
Building School-Wide Period Support
Educating Other Staff Share your knowledge about periods and appropriate responses with teachers and other staff. When everyone in the building understands that period needs are legitimate health needs, students feel more supported across all their classes and activities.
Advocating for Policy Changes Work with administration to ensure that school policies support students’ period needs. This might include flexible bathroom policies, allowing heating pads in classrooms, or ensuring that period emergencies are handled with sensitivity.
Creating Student Advocates Older students who have positive period experiences can become informal peer supporters. When students see their peers talking confidently about periods and seeking appropriate help, it normalizes the experience for everyone.
The Ripple Effect of Your Support
When you provide comprehensive, caring period support, the impact extends far beyond the immediate moment. Students who feel supported during their periods are more likely to:
- Attend school regularly rather than missing days due to period concerns
- Develop healthy relationships with their bodies and healthcare
- Seek appropriate medical care when needed
- Support other students who are struggling with period challenges
- Become adults who are comfortable advocating for their health needs
Your role as a school nurse puts you in a unique position to be a period game changer for every student you serve. Just like my teacher Ms. Roberts changed my entire period experience with her preparation and caring response, you have the opportunity to create positive, empowering period experiences for the students in your school.
Moving Forward Together
At Scarlet by RedDrop, we’re committed to supporting school nurses who are committed to supporting their students. Whether you need appropriately sized products, educational resources for families, or guidance on creating period-positive school environments, we’re here as your partner in this important work.
Your dedication to student health and wellbeing makes you one of the most important adults in young people’s lives. The support you provide during vulnerable period moments creates lasting positive impacts that students carry with them long after they leave your school.
Thank you for being the caring, informed adult that every student deserves during their period journey. Together, we can ensure that no student has to face period challenges alone or unprepared.
Every student who walks into your office with period concerns is trusting you with something deeply personal. What an incredible privilege that is. And what an amazing opportunity you have to help shape positive, confident relationships with periods that will last a lifetime.
Photo credit: Hưng Nguyễn on Unsplash
