How Sick is too Sick for School?

When your child says "I don't feel well," it can cause some concern and can certainly throw a wrench into your plans for the day. Although we are no longer monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms, many of those same symptoms are still good reasons to keep your child home from school. We have always asked that students with a fever (temperature of 100.0+ degrees), vomiting or diarrhea in the past 24 hours remain at home until they are symptom-free for 24 full hours without the use of medication to alleviate the symptoms. Any unknown rashes are also a reason to stay home and consult your physician.

But what about sniffles, or a cough or sore throat? You know your child best, so use your judgment. Please be aware that giving your child acetaminophen or cold medication and sending them to school is generally not in the best interest of your child or those around them. Such students often end up visiting the school nurse when that medication wanes. We recommend that you keep your child home for a day to see if the symptoms improve or become worse. If they worsen, it's a good time to call their primary health care provider for advice. If by mid-morning they are acting fine and feeling well without the use of medication, please consider bringing them to school, if you'd like!

Please keep your child home—and staff members, stay home—if you have any of the following:

• fever
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• persistent cough
• body aches
• generally feeling unwell
• severe sore throat

The best way for us all to remain well is for those who are ill to remain at home, and by practicing frequent and thorough handwashing. We appreciate your partnership in doing all we can to keep our staff and students safe and healthy.