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Illness guidance

When your child is not feeling well

We are asking for your cooperation to help ensure the health of the entire school community. The following guidelines are meant to control the spread of communicable disease in the classroom.  Please consider the health of your child and that of the entire school as you make your decision to send your child to school. One sick child can expose an entire classroom of students to infection.

Fever - Any student with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher will be excluded from school and must not return to school until they are fever free for 24  hours without the aid of fever reducing medication. (Tylenol, Ibuprofen)

Cough - Students that are coughing continuously should remain at home if the cough interferes with the child’s ability or the ability of other students to concentrate on their schoolwork.

Vomiting - Any student who vomits will be excluded from school and should not return to school until they are free from vomiting for at least 24 hours and can tolerate normal meals.

Strep Throat (streptococcal infections) - Please notify the school nurse if your child has been diagnosed with strep throat. Students must be on antibiotics and fever free (below 100.4) for 24 hours before returning to school.

Pink Eye (bacterial conjunctivitis) - Students must be on an antibiotic for 24 hours and have no purulent discharge from the eye.

Please consider the following symptoms as indications of illness:

● A fever of 100.4 degrees or higher 

● A prolonged colored nasal discharge accompanied by other symptoms

● Persistent cough

● Upset stomach

● Diarrhea

● Headache and/or irritability

● Nausea and vomiting

Please contact the nurse if your student is diagnosed with an illness not listed here, for specific guidance from the New Jersey Department of Health.

 

Please follow the guidelines below to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses like the flu:

  1. Remind your family to cover all coughs and sneezes with a tissue 
  2. Have your child practice sneezing and coughing into their elbow, not their hands
  3. Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth
  4. Wash hands for at least 20 seconds, especially after coughing or sneezing.  Use alcohol-based sanitizer only if soap and water are not available. 
  5. Have you or your child stay home if they are sick, especially with a fever. 
  6. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects.
  7. Allow for ventilation by opening windows whenever possible.