• Child Sickness Guidelines

    The following illness guidelines promote the health, well-being and safety of everyone.

    GUIDELINES: 

    Parents/caregivers are strongly encouraged to monitor their children for signs of illness every day. Students who are sick should not attend school. Children should not be sent to school with signs or symptoms of illness (see below) or if they are not able to participate in normal daily routine activities within a school day. 

    In the event a child becomes ill during the school day and needs to be picked up, the parent/guardian will be contacted to pick up the child as soon as possible. If the parent/guardian cannot be reached, the emergency contact person will be called. 

    Please enter your child's absence in Genesis, including the reason/estimated duration. Descriptions such as fever, cough, stuffy nose, strep, etc. enable the Health Office to track illness trends. 

    Any change to your child’s health should be reported to the school nurse in a timely fashion (i.e. surgery, hospitalization, significant medication changes, new medical diagnosis).

     

    WHEN TO KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME:

     

    • CHILLS/FEVER: Temperature of 100.0 Fahrenheit or more. Lethargy, malaise, fatigue, body aches.

                   To return to school: Children must be FEVER-FREE for 24 hours WITHOUT the use of fever-reducing medicine. 

    • VOMITING: Any nausea or vomiting. Must be free of nausea/vomiting for 24 hours before returning. 

                   NOTE: Please keep your child home if he/she vomited during the night or in the morning. 

    • DIARRHEA: abdominal cramps, behavioral changes, looks/acts ill. 

    • RESPIRATORY: difficulty breathing/wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath. 

    • THROAT: sore throat, painful to swallow, swollen glands. If diagnosed with strep throat: child must complete 24 hours of antibiotics and be       fever-free to attend school.

    • CONJUNCTIVITIS (Pink eye): eye must be free of discharge and if bacterial, must complete 24 hours of antibiotic treatment

    • COLD SYMPTOMS: congestion, headache, fever, behavior change, difficulty breathing, and inability to manage nasal and oral secretions. 

    • RASH: undiagnosed or unknown rash (a rash that has not been seen or treated by your MD). 

      • IMPETIGO/MRSA/STAPH - May return 24 hours after treatment begins - wound must be fully covered on all 4 sides. 

      • RINGWORM: may return after treatment begins. The wound must be covered for the first 48 hours of treatment. 

    • COVID-19: A positive COVID-19 test or COVID-like illness (cough, fever, sore throat, fatigue)  

    • If antibiotic treatment is needed, your child must remain home for the first full 24 hours of medication. (e.g. if your child has 3 doses ordered per day, then 3 doses must be administered prior to returning to school).

     

    WHEN IS A MEDICAL NOTE NEEDED?

    • Absent for three (3) or more consecutive days

    • Has had surgery or a procedure that requires special care or reduced activity at school

    • Requires a cast, boot, crutches, wheelchair and/or elevator use at school

    • Is returning after a hospitalization

    • Has been under a doctor’s care for a significant illness or injury

    • Is returning after being excluded because of a communicable disease

    • In order for a medical absence to be considered “excused”

    • To return to full PE/sports/recess participation after being limited by a medical provider or after a suspected concussion

    • When medication will be required at school (complete the Medication Administration Form)