It can be difficult for a parent to decide whether to send children to school when they do not feel well. Usually, the best place for them is in school, but there are some situations when it’s best to plan on keeping your child home for a day to rest or to arrange for an appointment with your healthcare provider.
Please keep your child home and consider contacting your child’s healthcare provider for the following:
Fever greater than 100.4°
Persistent nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea related to an illness or food poisoning within the last
Sore throat that is severe along with fever and feeling ill for over 48 hours, or sooner if exposed to strep throat
A new-onset rash, especially if accompanied by other symptoms of illness
Honey-crusted lesions around the nose/mouth, or boils occurring on any part of the body.
Large amounts of mucus coming from the nose, accompanied by facial pain or headache
Severe ear pain or drainage from the ear
Severe headache, especially if accompanied by fever
Any condition that you think may be serious or contagious to others.
Students with a fever should remain home for at least 24 hours after the fever ends, or if they have completed 24 hours of prescribed medications (antiviral/antibiotic) from their primary care provider. Submit any excused absence slips to the nursing office.
We do not advise masking a fever with anti-fever medication like Tylenol or Motrin before sending a student to school. When the medicine wears off, the fever may return and you will be called to come and pick up your child.
If you find your child is frequently asking to stay home from school, if they are falling behind or appear anxious about school, or if there does not appear to be any physical symptoms, contact your school nurse and your health care provider to discuss your concerns.
In an effort to further prevent the spread of illness, please remind your child to:
throw away used tissues
cough or sneeze into their elbow
keep their hands away from their face
avoid sharing personal items or food with other classmates
wash hands often with soap and warm water