Illness
Colds, flu and other contagious diseases are a serious issue in a school environment because they can spread so rapidly. Parents are asked to keep children home when they show symptoms of illness. If the child is ill, please call the school before 3pm to report the absence. If your child exhibits any active symptoms of illness, he/she will not be admitted to the school, both for the child’s own comfort and to minimize the spread of illness to other children in the school.

The following tips are to help you decide if your child should be kept home from school:

How does your child feel? Variations from normal behavior are the best indicators of illness. You know your child best; trust your instincts.

Fever
If your child has a fever at night, he/she must not attend school the next morning. Temperatures are lower in the morning and a fever may occur again in the afternoon. If your child has a fever of 100.0° F [37.8° C] or greater using an oral thermometer, they should not come to school. They can return to school when they've been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine.

Upset stomach
If your child vomits during the night, do not send him/her to school the next day. You are required to wait 24 hours after a child vomits before sending your child back to school.

Diarrhea
Loose and frequent stools have many causes. Do not send a child to school until bowel movements are normal.

Cold
Be sure a child knows how to handle tissues for coughing, sneezing and nose blowing, and practice good hand washing techniques. They should be able to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash hands.

Your child may go to school as long as he or she does not have a fever or discomfort. But if symptoms are severe (e.g., persistent cough or severe runny nose or sore throat), please keep your child at home so he/she may rest and recover.

Earache
Never ignore an earache. Contact your physician and keep your child at home.

Strep Throat
A strep infection requires a doctor’s visit and medication. Strep can lead to a more serious illness if not properly treated. The child must be on medication at least 24 hours before returning to school.

Illness or Injury at School 
If a child becomes ill at school, a parent/guardian will be contacted and will be expected to pick up the child as soon as possible. If a child is injured at school, first aid will be administered if the injury is minor. An accident report will be filed for injuries which require medical attention, including first aid. Parents will be asked to sign the accident report when they pick up their child and will be notified immediately if there are any questions concerning the severity of the injury. The student’s emergency contacts and physicians will be called if the parents are unavailable.