Our District Head Nurse Jodie M. Boucher, RN and the nursing team would like to provide families with the following important and timely information as we begin to see an increase in illnesses:
It can be hard to know when to send children to school if they tell you that they do not feel well. Usually, the best place for them is in school, but there are some times when keeping them home to rest or call for an appointment with your health care provider is recommended.
Please keep your child home and/or contact your child’s doctor for:
- Fever greater than 100.4° (taken by mouth)
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea within the last 24 hours
- Impetigo – Honey-crusted sores around the nose or mouth or rash on other body parts
- Large amounts of mucous (liquid) from their nose, with face pain or headache
- Severe ear pain or fluid coming from the ear
- Severe headache, especially with fever
- Influenza like symptoms – Children must be fever free and not using fever reducing medication (Tylenol, Advil, Motrin) for a full 24 hours before returning to school and symptoms must be resolving.
- Sore throat – Severe sore throat along with fever and feeling ill for more than 48 hours, or after exposure to Strep throat infection. Is positive for strep throat must be taking an antibiotic for a full 24 hours before returning to school with MD note to return.
- Head lice – no live lice, nits are okay. Must be treated and then may return to school
- Eyes – crusty, runny or sticky drainage along with redness to the eye, your child may have “pink eye”. Will need a doctor’s note allowing student to return to school.
- COVID-19 -If positive, please reach out to the Health Office and isolate the child as recommended by the CDC.
Please keep children home for 24 hours after the fever ends or they have completed 24 hours of medication if prescribed by your healthcare provider.
If your child has a fever, it is not a good idea to give them medicine like Tylenol or Advil and send them to school because as soon as the medicine wears off, the fever may return and you will be called to come and pick up your child.
If you find your child is frequently asking to stay home from school, if they are falling behind or appear anxious about school, or if there does not appear to be any physical symptoms, contact your school and your health care provider to discuss your concerns.
Remind children to throw away used tissues, cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze, keep their hands away from their face, and to wash hands often with soap and warm.
Please call your child’s Health Office with any questions or concerns.
KC Health Office 518.681.4501 (Fax 518.681.4530)
PS Health Office 518.681.4451 (Fax 518.747.3502)
IS Health Office 518.681.4401 (Fax 518.747.2774)
MS Health Office 518.681.4301 (Fax 518.681.4340)
HS Health Office 518.681.4201 (Fax 518.746.9033)