JLC-P1 - Identification and Treatment of Students with Head Lice

Consistent with the Prairie Spirit School Division’s policy on Commmunicable Diseases (JLC), the Board believes that the task of identifying and controlling head lice is the responsibility of the parents.

The Prairie Spirit School Division encourages parents and students to be aware of the methods and procedures used to effectively treat and control head lice. Information is to be made available to parents and students annually, and at other times when it is deemed necessary by the Principal of the school. The School Division believes that education is an effective method to control and treat head lice and supports the distribution of pamphlets, newsletters, and articles as a method of educating the parents and students.

The following procedures shall be utilized upon suspicion of head lice in the school:

1. Upon detection of live head lice or nits, the student(s) shall be excluded from the class as soon as is practically possible. The school shall do this in a manner that respects the student’s right to privacy, and causes minimal embarrassment.

2. The parents of excluded students are to be notified immediately by the Principal, to make arrangements for the student(s) to return home.

3. The school shall send a letter and the information pamphlets to the parents of all students in the classroom where head lice have been identified. The letter and pamphlet serve the purpose of advising parents of the situation and what they can do to help prevent the further spread of the lice.

4. The student(s) identified as having head lice will be readmitted to school when the student(s) has been successfully treated.

5. The Principal should contact the Public Health Nurse for assistance when treatment and control of the head lice becomes an unmanageable problem within the school.