Guidelines for Keeping Children Home

Here are a few important reminders to help you determine if your child should come to school or stay home.  Keep this in a handy spot for a quick reference.

Fever last night or this morning - Keep them home at least 24 hours fever free without Tylenol or Motrin before returning to school. A temperature of 100*F or above is considered a fever.

Vomitted last night or this morning (but feels okay) - Keep them home, again, for at least 24 hours without vomitting.

Diarrhea last night or this morning  (but feels okay) - Keep them home 24 hours without diarrhea before returning to school.

Persistent cough that could be disturbing to the rest of the class, runny green/brown colored discharge from nose, discharge from the eyes - Keep them home.

Sore throat accompanied with one of the following: fever, stomachache or headache - Keep them home until seen by doctor and throat culture is done to rule out "strep throat".

Rash of undetermined origin or a rash with fever and/or behavior changes - Keep them home until rash is seen by the doctor and a note is sent in that the rash is not contagious.

Red eyes and/or white or yellow discharge and/or matted down eyelashes - Keep them home until seen by doctor and conjunctivitis/"pink eye" is ruled out.  If “pink eye” is confirmed, then 24 hours after treatment has started and there is no more white or yellow discharge.

If the doctor puts your child on an antibiotic - Keep them home for at least 24-48 hours after starting the antibiotic.

DO NOT bring your child in for half of the day saying he/she feels better after being ill all morning.

Remember, if your child is well enough to come to school, then he/she is well enough to participate in all school activities.  This includes physical education as well as going outside at recess. So many children insist on coming to school even though as parents we know they shouldn’t.  It is unfair to the children around them as well as the sick child.

Please remember to call the school at 767-5200 if your child is going to be absent. Please be sure and call each and every day that your child is out. You must report any contagious illness (i.e. – strep throat, pink eye, head lice, impetigo, fifth’s disease, coxsackie virus, etc.) so a note can be sent home to the class. You also need to follow up with a note when your child returns to school explaining their illness (i.e. - strep throat, pink eye, stomachache, cough, etc.) to have an excused absence.  If your child is out sick more than three days consecutively a doctor’s note is requested to be sent in when your child returns to school.