It’s hard sometimes to decide whether to send your child to school when he or she doesn’t feel well. It is very seldom a convenient situation when your child is sick. Often, you have to consider work schedules, childcare arrangements, transportation and other family matters in that decision, and of course, you want what is best for your child’s health.
We feel very strongly at Lacordaire Academy that good attendance is extremely important to your child’s success at school! They must be here to learn. There are also important health reasons for keeping your child home from school, so here are some important guidelines to consider when you hear those words, “I feel sick; I don’t want to go to school today.”
Children who have the following symptoms should stay home and not come to school until these symptoms have been gone for at least 24 hours without the help of medication, or until your doctor sends a note that states the condition is not contagious and it is OK for your child to come back to school.
- Fever of 100F or more. Keep child home at least 24 hours after temperature returns to normal (without the use of Tylenol or other fever reducer).
- Diarrhea or vomiting in the last 12 hours. Children should remain home until normal eating/bowel patterns have resumed.
- Rashes – that cannot be identified, or that have not been diagnosed and/or treated by a physician. A physician’s statement is required to return to school.
- Pinkeye – Conjunctivitis can be very contagious. If the white of your child’s eye is red and has any type of drainage you should keep your child at home. You should contact your child’s physician.
- Bad cough/cold symptoms – Children with bad coughs need to stay home, and possibly see a doctor. It could be a severe cold or possibly bronchitis, flu, or pneumonia.
- Excessive nasal discharge – green or yellow in color.
- Earache – with or without fever. You should contact your child’s physician.
- Chicken pox – first symptoms appear 2-3 weeks after exposure to the disease: slight fever, headache, loss of appetite and a rash that appears as small reddish spots over nearly all the body. These spots become filled with fluid and after a few days, dry up, turn dark, and form scabs. Exclusion from school is at least 7 days from the first eruption and until all eruptions have scabs.
If a child is diagnosed with strep throat or pinkeye, he/she must be on antibiotics a minimum of 24 hours before returning to school. A letter of medical clearance from a physician is required before returning to school.
Kids who are truly sick will heal better and faster when they have proper rest at home, with lots of fluid for hydration and healthy nutrition. Your school nurse is available for assistance during school hours if you have questions at 973-744-1156 ext.18.