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Health – When to Keep Your Child Home

School is a place for healthy children. Home is the best place for children that are ill. From our experience children seldom, if ever, gain anything by attending school. They are much better off at home where they are most likely to get the necessary care for recovery and achieve an early return to school. Keeping ill children at home protects other children, their family, and the school staff from infection.  “Ask yourself, would I want my child near someone with these symptoms?”

 

A child must be kept at home at least 24 hours after a fever drops to 98.6 or

below and 24 hours after starting antibiotics.

 

Here is a handy guideline to follow that is in compliance with the Dept. of Health regulations.

 

SYMPTOM

 

KEEP YOUR CHILDREN HOME IF

 

 

FEVER

 

They have a morning temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher or if their temperature is below 100 but they are achy, pale or tired.

 

 

STOMACH ACHE

 

They have had one episode of vomiting in the last 24 hours or one episode of diarrhea and are feeling tired or ill.

 

 

SNEEZING or RUNNY NOSE

 

They are sneezing a lot and their nose is runny or their nose is runny with a yellow or green discharge.

 

 

SORE THROAT

 

They have tender, swollen glands and a fever of 100 or higher.

 

 

COUGH

 

They cough frequently, coughs up phlegm or their cough sounds like a bark or is accompanied by a sore throat or wheezing.

 

 

EARACHE

 

Their pain is constant or severe.

 

 

RASH

 

The rash blisters, develops pus, or is uncomfortable, which could signal chicken pox or impetigo.

 

 

Call the school office if your child will be absent due to illness.

 

Contagious disease: It is important that you inform the school office as soon as possible of any contagious diseases so that we can notify other parents of the incident and the steps they should follow. We will not disclose your child’s name to the other parents.  Should the school notice that your child may have contracted chicken pox, ukus, scabies, impetigo, ring worm or any other contagious ailment you will be notified immediately to pick them up and asked that your child remain out of school until the disease is treated and no longer contagious. For the health and safety of all, we ask the cooperation of all families in this matter. Upon recovery from a contagious disease, a doctor's written release is required prior to a child’s return to school.

 

The Toddler teacher will provide families the “Medical Requirements and Health” information specific to the toddler classroom environment at the beginning of the school year.