Wantagh High School is filled with great classes and activities to participate in. However, it’s more common than most people think for something to go wrong during the school day. That’s when our fantastic nurse Laurie Combs steps in! Mrs. Combs is the nurse at Wantagh High School famously known for giving out water and pretzels. She is in her 8th year working at the High School. Previously she worked at South Oaks where she was a charge nurse on the child and psychiatric units. She describes her time there as a good time. She enjoyed working with children and people and felt that everyone was family there. Her Wantagh district journey did not start at the high school. Wantagh Elementary school is where Mrs. Combs came into the district as a nurse. She continued working with kids and got to watch them grow up as she switched to the high school in 2016. A day in the life of the school nurse can be hectic. She explains it as “a mixture of seeing students for various reasons, doing screenings, physicals, sports clearance, and getting to have great conversations with staff and students.” It is very important to Mrs. Combs not to only help kids physically but to be there for them if they need anything. Many kids visit the nurse just for a chat or if they need to talk to someone. Mrs. Combs loves when students visit and she enjoys building relationships with everyone. Mrs. Combs has two daughters currently attending Wantagh High School. Amanda who is in her senior year and Holly who is in sophmore year. Her eldest daughter, Arielle, graduated last year and is now in college. When Mrs. Combs is not in the work environment, she enjoys riding her bike and watching movies and shows with her family. Make sure you stop in and say hello next time you pass by the Nurse’s office in Wantagh High School!