Listed below are some guidelines you can use to decide whether or not you should keep your child home from school. The school staff/school nurse will use these guidelines when determining whether your child should be sent home from school. If you are unsure, please contact your child’s healthcare provider or you may contact our HealthPoint Clinic to have your child seen by a physician. If you would like information on our HealthPoint Clinic then you may reach out to your campus nurse. 

FEVER

Fever greater than 100 F must stay home. Students MUST be FEVER FREE FOR 24HRS WITHOUT ANY FEVER REDUCERS BEFORE RETURNING TO SCHOOL.

VOMITING

Your child should be FREE of vomiting for 24 hrs before coming to school. If your child has a diagnosis of GERD/Acid Reflux, or anxiety-induced related symptoms then please provide a written note from the child's physician stating diagnosis. 

DIARRHEA

If your child is having loose stools and having to go to the bathroom more frequently then the child should stay home as vomiting and diarrheal illnesses are contagious. Be sure to have your child wash their hands with soap and water after toileting and before eating. Your child should be FREE from diarrheal episodes for 24hrs before returning to school. If your child has > 3 episodes of diarrhea at school, parents will be notified and student will need to go home. 

SORE THROAT

Most sore throats occur due to a mild viral illness and will self-resolve. If your child has no fever and does not feel ill then they may attend school. If the sore throat is accompanied with a fever, rash, stomachache, and/or headache, then he/she should stay home and see their healthcare provider or schedule an appointment with our HealthPoint Clinic located at our Intermediate and High School Campus as they are able to perform a rapid strep test.

STREP THROAT

Strep throat is a bacterial infection of the tonsils and throat. Strep is diagnosed by a physician using a throat swab. If your child is diagnosed with strep throat, he/she should stay home until he/she is fever free for 24hrs and has taken antibiotics for at least 12-24hrs. 

RUNNY NOSE OR COUGH

Most runny noses and coughs are due to mild viral illnesses which will self resolve. If the child has no fever and does not feel ill then he/she may attend school. If your child starts to run a fever or wants to sleep more than usual then he/she should stay home. 

CONJUNCTIVITIS

Bacterial conjunctivitis “Pink Eye” is highly contagious. Symptoms include redness of the white of the eye (which is called sclera), discharge which is typically yellow/green in color, and possibly some swelling of the eyelid. If your child wakes up with their eyelids “glued together” with discharge, keep your child home, and contact your child’s physician. Be sure your child does not touch his/her eyes and performs good hand hygiene as this is very important in preventing spread to others or even the other eye that may not be affected. If your child is diagnosed with “Pink Eye” he/she MUST be on prescription eye drops for 24hrs before returning to school. Your child will be sent home if there is suspicion the child could have pink eye. 

LICE

Children who have the presence of head lice/nits may not be excluded from school. Although they MUST HAVE TREATMENT BEFORE RETURNING back to school. The child will need to be rechecked by the campus nurse and MUST be FREE of active lice before returning to school. 

RASHES

IMPETIGO is a highly contagious superficial skin infection that is caused by Group A Strep or Staphylococcus Aureus. It usually appears as reddish sores on the face characterized by a yellow/honey colored crust over the sores. It is often seen around the nostrils and lips. Your child will need to be seen by their physician as there is no OTC medication for it. You will need to contact your child’s physician and they will prescribe an antibiotic ointment to be applied. If impetigo is suspected, your child will need to stay home or he/she will be sent home from school. 

When can student return?

• Students may return to school once antibiotic ointment has been used for 24 hours, unless blisters and drainage cannot be contained and maintained in a clean dry bandage.

• Doctor’s note stating prescribed treatment has been initiated at home.

SCABIES is an infestation of mites that is characterized by small red bumps and intense itching. This is highly contagious and spreads from person to person while they are sleeping together in the same bed or have close contact with one another. Scabies is treatable and usually all family members are treated at the same time. You will need to contact your doctor if you suspect your child may have scabies. If diagnosed with scabies, a note from the attending physician must be provided to the campus nurse with proof of treatment. May return 24 hrs after first treatment. 

STAPH INFECTION/MRSA is a contagious skin infection commonly seen in school-aged children. Staphylococcus Aureus is a type of bacteria. MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) is staph that cannot be killed by common staph antibiotics. MRSA is usually limited to the skin but can become life threatening if left untreated and enters the bloodstream. Staph infection is usually characterized by a painful red bump that may look like a spider bite, pimple, or boil. The bump may feel warm/hot to the touch, have redness, and become firm/painful. Your child’s healthcare provider will need to see your child if you suspect a staph infection. You will need to provide proof of treatment from your physician and lesions must be covered. 

FIFTH’S DISEASE  is a viral rash that is common in ages 5-15yrs. It is characterized by a distinctive red rash on the face of the child that makes them appear to have a “slapped cheek” appearance. A few days later the rash will move down to the trunk, arms, & legs. It usually lasts 1-3 weeks. Symptoms include headache, fever, & cold like symptoms. Fifth Disease is contagious and because the rash is due to an immune response after the infection has passed, the child is most contagious before the rash appears. Kids usually don't spread the infection once they have the rash, therefore once the child develops the rash, they may attend school. 

RINGWORM is a contagious fungal skin infection that is characterized by red scaly patchy spots that are itchy and grow in a circular pattern. Ringworm is treated with antifungals. If your child has Ringworm, then he/she may return to school once treatment has been initiated and it must be covered at school. 

FEVER BLISTERS are sores around the mouth caused by Herpes simplex Virus-1. This virus is contagious and children are encouraged to wash hands frequently and should be taught to not share food/drink  items or drink from the water fountain. Student should bring his/her own water bottle to school during an outbreak. Child should not be excluded from school. 

HAND, FOOT, & MOUTH DISEASE (HFMD) is a virus that is highly contagious. It is spread by person to person contact, respiratory droplets, and contact with contaminated surfaces/objects. This virus is characterized by mouth sores, skin rash on palms of hands and soles of the feet, fever, sore throat and flu like symptoms. Most children will feel better in about 7-10 days. Child may return to school once he/she no longer has a fever (24hrs fever free) and blisters have dried up. 

***POST SURGICAL STUDENTS,  STUDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN HOSPITALIZED, OR BEEN TO THE ER MAY RETURN UPON WRITTEN NOTE FROM ATTENDING PHYSICIAN, OTHERWISE STUDENT WILL BE SENT HOME***