Guidelines for Keeping your Sick Child Home from School

The effect on a family with a sick child can be significant. Home, work and school lives are all impacted, and often at the least convenient times. It can be difficult deciding when to keep a child home and when to send them to school.

In order to reduce the spread of germs which cause flu, colds, etc. in the classroom as well as in the building, we ask that you please use the following as a guideline for keeping your child home:

-          If your child has a fever of 100F or greater, they should remain at home and not return to school until they have been without a fever for 24 hours without the use of any fever – reducing medication.

* Please take note that your child will need to be dismissed if they present with a fever of 100F during the school day.

-          If your child vomits/throws-up within the past 24hours, they should stay home until they have NOT thrown up for 24 hours.

-          If your child appears fatigued, lethargic (without energy) or displays excessive tiredness with lack of appetite.

-          If your child has had persistent watery stools within the past 24 hours.

-          If your child is complaining of an intense headache, sore throat, body aches, chills or earache.

-          If your child presents with yellow/green mucous in corner of eyes, especially first thing in the morning, they should be seen by their doctor to either diagnose or rule-out conjunctivitis.

-          If your child has a cold and has difficulty breathing due to a severely stuffy nose, or a consistently running nose - keep them home for a day. A common cold is not necessarily a reason to stay home; however, please use your best judgment.

-          If your child has a croupy (barking) cough, is coughing up excessive mucous, or has trouble breathing, they should be seen by their doctor.

-          Any child who has been prescribed an antibiotic should have been on their medication for at least 24 hours prior to returning to school.

Masking a fever with medication prior to school may relieve a fever for several hours, yet does not diminish the spread of an illness. We ask that if your child needs a fever reducer prior to school – please refrain from sending them.

When a child is truly sick, it is more challenging for them to learn if they are in school and may spread the illness to other children. We need to work together to have our children be healthy and able to learn.

Thank you

&

Stay Happy and Healthy!