ABSENCES AND ILLNESS
When students are absent or going to be absent from school, we ask that a parent/guardian notify the school with the reason for absence before 9:00AM. Both the High School and Elementary school buildings have voicemail on during non-school hours.
When a student will be late to school because of an appointment, missed bus, oversleeping, etc., we ask that you contact the office as soon as possible to let us know if or when the student is expected to arrive at school. When a student is marked absent from class and the office has not been notified, we will make an attempt to contact the student’s parent/guardian to ensure that the student is safe and accounted for.
Should My Child Stay Home from School?
Parents and students frequently have questions about when it is appropriate to stay home from school because of illness. Follow these guidelines to help with your decision:
FEVER – Children with a temp 100 degrees or higher should stay at home for 24 hours after the temperature returns to normal (98.6) without Tylenol/ibuprofen.
VOMITTING AND/OR DIARRHEA – Your child should remain at home until 24 hours after the last episode.
STREP THROAT – Children may return to school 24 hours after antibiotic treatment has been started.
RASH – Check with your family physician before sending your child to school with a rash in which you do not know the cause. Children may return to school if the rash has been diagnosed as non-contagious or once the recommended treatment for the rash has been received.
CHICKEN POX OR SHINGLES – Please notify the school health office of any diagnosed case of chicken pox or shingles. Your child should remain at home until all blisters have dried to scabs (about 6-10 days).
HEAD LICE – Your child may return to school once they have been treated with medicated shampoo or oil treatment and/or no live lice are found.
COUGH – Coughing that interferes with or limits your child’s activity or play may need to be evaluated by his/her health care provider.
PINK EYE – Pink eye is an eye infection that causes redness and discharge from the eye, sometimes with pain or itching. Children should stay home for the first 24 hours after treatment has been started or until eye drainage has resolved.
NASAL DRAINAGE – Thick, colored drainage from the nose may need to be evaluated by your child’s health care provider.
COMMON COLD – Symptoms: sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, not feeling well. Your child may attend school unless he/she is not feeling well enough to participate in their usual activities.Please contact your school’s health office if you have any questions.
Contacting Parent/Guardian
If your child/adolescent becomes ill at school and needs to go home, Health Service staff will attempt to contact a parent/guardian listed on the Emergency Information form.
The emergency contact on the Emergency Information form will be contacted if we feel your child needs to go home and we are unable to reach a parent/guardian.
Your child will NOT be allowed to leave school without contacting an adult.
911 will be called in the event of a medical emergency. The school will then attempt to make contact with the parent/guardian listed on the Emergency Information form.
If your child has been diagnosed with a health condition, please contact the school's health office to discuss when your child will be able to return to school.