LEWISTON — A student who looked tired and pale came into the Lewiston Middle School health center.

School nurse Wendy Bourgoin welcomed the girl and took her temperature, pulse, blood pressure and respiration. “She’s running a temperature. Have a seat,” the nurse said.

That kind of discovery is followed by a visit with the nurse practitioner, who’s in the next room and can write prescriptions. When a student comes in with a sore throat, a strep test is done right there.

If a student is sick, calls are made to the parents and the student’s primary care doctor.

After the girl with the temperature was seen, four more students walked in during the next half-hour.

No money, checks or credit cards were involved. Co-payments were waived.

“We take all insurance and serve people regardless of ability to pay,” said Jim Lysen, executive director of St. Mary’s Health System’s Community Clinical Services, which provides medical professionals to some Lewiston-Auburn schools.

Lewiston and Auburn middle schools, Lewiston High School and Edward Little High School have health centers.

Before receiving services, the students must be enrolled by their parents.  Enrollment at Lewiston Middle School is 29 percent; Lewiston High School, 26 percent; Edward Little High School, 26 percent; and Auburn Middle School, 39 percent.

“We need to do a better job getting the word out of the positive services they provide for students, that will help families,” Lewiston Middle School Principal Shawn Chabot said.

If a parent has signed the permission slip, the student can be seen by a health professional without the parent taking the student to a doctor, and without the student missing school.

“It’s convenient, and it’s cheaper,” Chabot said. “I don’t think people realize everything it has to offer. It’s a full-service clinic.”

On Saturday, health professionals will try to get the word out. Information about school health centers, along with tips on how to eat right and be physically active, will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 5 at the “5-2-1-0 de Mayo!” celebration at Lewiston Middle School.

Lysen listed several reasons more parents should enroll their students.

“We’re like a doctor’s office and then some,” Lysen said. “We have mental health services right on site, dental hygiene.” A new grant allows the nurse to give fluoride varnishes, which could stop a tooth cavity from growing, he said.

Assessments for students at risk in their overall health, diet or behavior are offered. “Their primary care doctor may not have the time to do that,” he said.

Counselor Claire Burns said she treats students who have typical problems such as difficulty adjusting to school, or more serious problems such as depression, anxiety and thoughts of suicide.

Bullying is another problem, counselor Carly Mercer said. “I worked with a kid a few weeks ago who was targeted in the cafeteria. He felt it was an unsafe place to be.” The student was bullied verbally and physically, she said.

The student ate lunch with the counselor while receiving therapy.

Victims “don’t feel like they have a voice, the confidence or skills to deal with it,” Mercer said. “It can help just to know someone has their back. They know someone cares.”

Money to pay for the school clinics comes from a variety of sources, Lysen said.

The annual budget for the Lewiston-Auburn school clinics last year was $823,000. Funding sources were third party insurance reimbursements, including MaineCare, 35 percent; state grants, 24 percent; federal grants, 17 percent; in-kind support from schools such as space and electricity, 22 percent; and private grants, 2 percent.

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Go and Do

What: “5-2-1-0 de Mayo!” health and fun activity celebration

When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 5

Where: Lewiston Middle School gym

For whom: Everyone in the community

What’s offered: Tips and  on how to eat right and be physically fit, and information on services provided by Lewiston-Auburn school health centers. Lots of booths, fun demonstrations and activities, including Zumba, karate demonstration, punk rope, piñata games, performance by Tree Street Youth Dancers and Hip Kids; cardio kickboxing.