Sick Child

MORNING HEALTH CHECKS - 01/2026

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

As we enter the peak of the cold and flu season, our priority is keeping our school community healthy and ensuring our classrooms remain a safe environment for learning.  We are asking for your partnership in managing the spread of illness by monitoring your child’s health closely each morning.  

Morning Health Checks 

We understand that it can be difficult to balance work schedules with a child’s health, but we strongly encourage you to assess your child before they leave the house.  If your child mentions they aren’t feeling well, please keep them home to monitor their symptoms. I often hear students say, “My parents told me to come to school and go to the nurse if I don’t feel better later.” Unfortunately, by the time a student reaches the nurse’s office with a fever, or flu symptoms, they have already spent significant time in close contact with their classmates and teachers, potentially spreading a virus.  If your child does in fact feel better as the morning progresses it is acceptable to bring them in late.  

Common Flu Symptoms 

The flu can come on suddenly.  Please keep your child home if they are experiencing: 

• Fever or chills (A temperature of 100℉ or higher). 

• Cough or sore throat

• Muscle or body aches

• Headache and fatigue

• Vomiting or diarrhea

When to Return to School 

Per school policy, students should remain home until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication (such as Tylenol or Motrin). This helps ensure they have fully recovered and are no longer contagious.  Students should also NOT have had an episode of vomiting or diarrhea for at least 24 hours prior to returning to school. 

By catching these symptoms early at home, you help us keep our teachers and students healthy and in the classroom.  Thank you for your continued support and cooperation in keeping our community healthy. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. 

Thank you,  

Nurse Sarah 

shughes@longmeadow.k12.ma.us 

PROTOCOL FOR SICK STUDENTS - SY 25/26

Dear Families,       

Cold and flu season is upon us and the schools are already seeing an increase in many contagious illnesses. We would like to take this opportunity to remind families of some important steps that can be taken to limit the spread of illness within our schools. As always, our staff will work with the students to limit the spread of germs within the school by encouraging the following:

• Frequent and diligent hand washing

• Avoiding touching of eyes, nose, and mouth

• Covering coughs and sneezes with the inside of the elbow

• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick

Students exhibiting any signs of illness will be referred to the health office for evaluation. 

We additionally ask families to help us limit the spread of illness by adhering to the following guidelines:

Children with one (or more) of the following symptoms are highly encouraged to stay home until  symptom-free for 24 hours:

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

*****Students with fevers (100 degrees or higher) cannot return to school until they have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication to reduce fever.

• If prescribed antibiotics, children who are fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication and symptoms have improved, may return to school .  

• Students who are diagnosed with strep throat, who are fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication,  may return 24  hours after appropriate antimicrobial therapy.

• Children diagnosed with skin infections may return 24 hours after appropriate antimicrobial therapy, as long as they have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication.

• NOTE:  Children diagnosed with skin infections may return in less than 24 hours after antibiotics started but must be able to keep the lesions covered and be fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication..

As a precaution, please consider keeping your child home for:

• Excessive stuffy nose or nasal drainage

• Excessive or persistent cough

• Lethargy or general malaise

• Low-grade fever

• Nausea

We will no longer require students and staff to isolate for five days if they test positive for COVID.

At this time, the following is the current COVID guidance for students of Longmeadow Public Schools.  

• Your student should stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after both:

1.  Symptoms are getting better overall

2. Has not had a fever for 24 hours without the use of Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen

• Over the next 5 days, it is recommended to use prevention measures, such as mask wearing

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to your building nurse. 

Thank you for partnering with us to create the healthiest possible environment for our students. Please reach out to your School Nurse with any questions or concerns.          

Reviewed and Revised 9/2025 with Longmeadow Public Schools physician