What will you do if my child becomes ill at school?

If your child becomes ill at school, you will be contacted and expected to come for the student as soon as possible. Each parent/guardian is asked to provide the nurse/school with emergency contact information, including the name of an alternate person to be notified in the event you cannot be reached. Please notify the school's (main office) immediately when your emergency contact information changes.

When should I keep my child home because of illness?

Often, the way a child looks and acts can make the decision to keep your child home an obvious one. The following guidelines should be considered when making the decision:

If your child has:
Fever: The child should remain at home with a fever greater than 100.  The child can return to school after he/she has been fever free for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medicine such as Tylenol or Motrin).

Diarrhea/Vomiting: A child with diarrhea and/or vomiting should stay at home and return to school only after being symptom-free for 24 hours.

Conjunctivitis: Following a diagnosis of conjunctivitis, the child may return to school 24 hours after the first dose of prescribed medication.

Rashes: Common infectious diseases with rashes are most contagious in the early stages.  A child with a suspicious rash should return to school only after a healthcare provider has made a diagnosis and authorized the child's return to school.

COVID-19: If you have COVID-19, you can spread the virus to others. Students with 1 severe symptom (fever, severe cough, fatigue..) or 3 or more mild symptoms combined should remain home until well enough to attend school. Must be fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication (Tylenol, Motrin, cough/cold medication) and have significant symptom improvement. 

Colds: Consider keeping your child at home if he or she is experiencing significant discomfort from cold symptoms, such as nasal congestion and coughing.  A continuous green discharge from the nose may be a sign of infection.  Consider having the child seen by your healthcare provider.

Why should I keep my child home because of illness?

A sick child cannot learn effectively and is unable to participate in classes in a meaningful way.  In addition, keeping a sick child home prevents the spread of illness in the school community and gives the child the opportunity to rest and recover. Remember that the essentials of good health are good nutrition, plentiful fluids, regular exercise, and plenty of rest.  If your child develops a communicable disease or condition (e.g., chicken pox, strep throat, scarlet fever, fifth's disease, or head lice), please notify your school nurse. This will enable us to monitor your child's progress and other student or staff exposure.