Notes from the Nurse

COVID-19 is most commonly spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person talks, coughs, sneezes or sings. As a school community we ask for your support to take the following precaution to prevent the spread of the disease:

• Keep sick children home and report their illness to the school nurse if your child has a fever or is not feeling well.

• Know the symptoms of the COVID-19:

  • Fever (measured as a temperature at or above 100.4F), or feeling feverish;

  • Respiratory symptoms such as runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, or shortness of breath;

  • General body symptoms such as muscle aches, chills, and severe fatigue;

  • Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, and

  • Changes in a person’s sense of taste or smell

• Prior to arriving to school, please screen your student for:

  • Any new or unexplained symptoms of COVID-19 (listed above); this includes even mild symptoms.

  • Close contact with someone who has been confirmed to have COVID-19 in the prior 14 days.

  • Travel outside of NH, VT, ME, MA, RI and CT in the past 14 days.

• Any student with new or unexplained symptoms of COVID-19 will be excluded from school, and instructed to isolate at home and contact their doctor or health care provider for COVID-19 testing. Symptomatic students or staff can be allowed to return to school when one of the following three conditions is met:

  • Your child is seen by a health care provider who determines that the symptoms are not related to COVID-19. The health care provider must provide a letter that explains the reason for your child’s illness.

  • Your child receives an approved COVID-19 test that is negative, AND your child’s symptoms are improving AND they are fever-free for at least 24 hours off any fever-reducing medications. Approved tests include:

    • A PCR-based molecular test

    • Quidel Sofia antigen testing is conducted within 5 days of symptom onset

  • Your child has met CDC criteria for ending of home isolation, which is typically at last 10 days out of school AND fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications AND improvement in symptoms. This option is not advised. All ill students are encouraged to see a health care provider and/or get a COVID-19 test.

• If a student has close contact with someone confirmed to have COVID-19 in the prior 14 days or has travelled outside of New England in the past 14 days,, they are required to complete self-quarantine at home for 14 days from the last known exposure.

When a child becomes ill during the school day, parents must be available to pick up their sick child within thirty (30) minutes of notification from the school. Parents may designate an alternate person to pick up their child in advance in order to meet this requirement. Identification may be required.

Failure to abide by these important safety measures will result in a child being switched to the fully remote educational option for the 2020-2021 school year. Children with disabilities will be provided instruction on safety precautions, and will be provided with reasonable accommodations to maintain the safety of all students and staff when necessary, as determined by their special education or 504 team.

Together, with you, we will teach and promote all students to:

• Wash their hands regularly, especially after using the restroom and before consuming food. Washing with soap and hot water wash for about 20 seconds or hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, is the best way to reduce the spread of germs.

• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or their elbow. And to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer once they discard of the tissue.

• Not to share personal items such as drinks, food or water bottles.

• Practice social distancing by staying at least 6 feet away from people who do not live with them.

• Properly wear a cloth face covering that covers their mouth and nose to protect others when in public areas.

• Avoid touching their eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.