Guidelines for Parents
Deciding when a child is too sick to go to school can be a difficult decision for parents to make. When trying to decide, use the guidelines I have provided.
FEVER: If your child has a temperature of 100.2 he/she must stay at home. Your child can’t return to school until fever free for 24 hours. Example: 11:00 am child’s temp 101, may return the following day to school at 11:00 am.
COLDS: Your child must stay home if he/she has a thick, colored discharge from the nose or has a wheezing, croupy cough. For more severe symptoms, your child must remain at home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone and the appetite returns to normal.
CONJUNCTIVITIS (Pink Eye): When the white of the eye is clear, which is at least 24 hours after the child begins using antibiotic eye drops, he/she is no longer contagious and can return to school.
STREP THROAT: Your child may return to school when the temperature is normal for at least 24 hours and the child has taken antibiotics for at least 24 hours.
RASH: Your child should stay home and be evaluated by a health care provider for any unknown rashes.
VOMITING: Your child may not return to school until there is no fever or vomiting for at least 24 hours and has a tolerated at least two normal meals.
MD DIAGNOSIS: If an MD gives you a diagnosis, please notify the schools nurse so that she can be informed if there are any questions that come up by faculty or other student parents.
LICE: Child can return to school after completion of the shampooing treatment recommended by your physician. For more info see:
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/common/lice.html
In the event that your child does not have a fever, if they are exhibiting negative changes in behavior, temperament, or classroom performance due to various health concerns (fatigue, colds, virus allergies) you will be called to pick up your child.
Please consider the health of your child and the other children in the class and follow these guidelines before sending your child to school. If guidelines are not met, you will be called by the school nurse to come pick up your child.
Remember if a child is running a fever in the early morning, it has a greater potential of getting higher by the afternoon. Giving your child medication for this will only mask it for a couple of hours.
In most cases the decision of whether or not to send a sick child to school will not be clear. Just remember, it is always better to err on the side of caution and have the child stay home from school.
Thank you and God Bless.
