Student Illness
When To Keep Your Child Home From School
We encourage students to remain at home when they are sick, however students do need to attend school consistently to be successful in the classroom. The patterns that children develop regarding health and illness will often time carryover into future school years as well as into their adulthood and the working world. Our goal is to work with students, parents, and staff to promote optimal health thus creating the best environment for learning.
Following are guidelines to assist you in making the correct decision until your doctor can be contacted. This information is not intended to be used as medical advice.
- A fever 100o F or higher. Your child should be fever-free for 24 48 hours without the use of medication to reduce fever.
- White or yellow drainage from the eye, crusty eyes, and/or redness of the eyelid or skin surrounding the eye.
- Productive coughing, sneezing, and excessive runny nose
- A sore throat, especially with fever or swollen glands. A minor sore throat is usually not a problem, but a severe sore throat could be caused by an infection and needs to be treated with antibiotics.
- Shortness of breath or excessive coughing associated with asthma or breathing problems
- A child that appears ill- unusually tired, pale, difficult to wake, headache, body aches, irritable, and/or a lack of appetite.
- A rash that is associated with a fever or severe itching.
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea within the last 24 hours. Your child should be free from vomiting or severe diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school. If your child has two episodes of diarrhea or one bloody diarrhea episode at school your child will be sent home.
- Any infectious or contagious disease that can infect other children such as chickenpox, influenza, whooping cough, or gastroenteritis.
If you have any concerns about any of the above symptoms please contact your health care provider.
HOW DO GERMS SPREAD?
Germs spread through different routes. They can be spread by sneezing, coughing, touching contaminated surfaces. For you to become infected, you may touch the surface and then rub your eyes, scratch your nose or eat, allowing the germs to enter your body.
HOW DO I PREVENT THE SPREAD OF GERMS?
Preventing the spread of germs comes down to the basics. Wash your hands, wash you hands, wash your hands. Covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing will prevent the spread of germs. If your child is ill, stay at home. If you are ill, stay at home.