Can My Child Go To School Today?

SICK DAY/RETURN TO SCHOOL GUIDELINES

Does your student currently have (or has had over the past 10 days) one or more of these new or worsening symptoms?

 • A temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 F
• Feels feverish or has chills
• Cough
• Loss of taste and smell
• Fatigue/Feeling of tiredness
• Sore throat
• Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Muscle pain or body aches
• Headaches
• Nasal congestion/runny nose
 

If the answer is yes to any of the above symptoms, then the student cannot go to school and must be assessed by their Health care provider (HCP). If your HCP provides a diagnosis of a known chronic condition with unchanged symptoms, or a confirmed acute illness ( example: laboratory-confirmed influenza, strep throat), then a note signed by your HCP explaining the alternate diagnosis is required before you are allowed to return to school. You may return to school according to the usual guidelines for that diagnosis.

 If your student does not need to be seen by their HCP, AND your child has been symptom free for 24 hours without the use of medication; a parent's note must be submitted for the student to have an excused absence.

 Example: If a child has a fever, an episode of vomiting or diarrhea on a Monday, they cannot come to school the next day. They may return to school on Wednesday if they have had 24 hours without symptoms without the use of medication.

 These guidelines have been given to us by the NY state department of health in addition to the school district.

 When your child is diagnosed with any communicable (contagious) disease, please report this to the Health Office as soon as possible.

 Some of the common communicable diseases among school-age children include: Strep Throat, Scarlet Fever, Pneumonia, Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye), Pediculosis Capitis (Head Lice), Impetigo, Ringworm, and the Flu.