Staying Home Sick

When Should I keep my child home from school?

Many parents are concerned about when to keep children home or send them to school.

Every day in school is very important for your child’s educational progress. However, children who are ill don’t learn well, and may pass the illness on to others.

To maintain a safe and healthy learning environment for all, the following guidelines are suggested to help families determine if your child is well enough to attend school.

Communicable Diseases:

Fever/Vomiting: Please keep your child home if he/she is vomiting or has a fever of 100 or more. If your child has a fever we request that he/she does not return to school until they have been symptom free of a fever for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication. If your child has vomited we request that he/she does not return to school until nausea and vomiting have been absent for 18 hours.

Sore throat: Illnesses such as tonsillitis are usually self-limiting, but serious complications can occur. These include rheumatic fever, ear infections, and strep throat.  These conditions often produce fevers and require further medical care. 

Skin/Eye infections: A child with a skin infection such as impetigo or ringworm or with an eye infection such as pink eye should receive treatment and have written permission from his/her family doctor before returning to school as these infections are very contagious.

Head Lice: If you suspect your child may have head lice, please call the school nurse. She will instruct you on the proper procedures to insure their removal. If head lice are discovered at school, the parent will be asked to pick up their child and be given information on how to treat all of the live Lice before returning their child to school.

If your child has started an antibiotic treatment for a contagious disease please allow 24 hours of treatment before returning your child to school to prevent the spread of the contagious disease.

When calling the school to report that your child will be absent due to illness, please list your child’s symptoms and diagnosis.  If you are questioning whether your child may return to school please contact the school nurse.  If your doctor recommends keeping your child out of school for several days please provide a doctor’s note.

Mrs. Shannon Wolske, School Nurse