Heather Whittaker    |    School Nurse

Health Guidance for Going to School

Showing up to school every day is critical for children’s well-being, engagement, and learning. 

Make sure to send your child to school if they are:

• Generally healthy and well.

• Participating in usual day-to-day activities. 

• Children can even go to school if they:

-Have a mild cold, which may include a runny nose and/or cough. 

-Have eye drainage without fever, eye pain, or eyelid redness.

-Have a mild stomachache. 

-Have a mild rash with no other symptoms. 

-Have head lice. Though they are annoying and should be treated, lice are not a reason to exclude a child from school.

-Haven’t had a fever (100.0 F or above) in the past 24 hours and they have not taken fever-reducing medicine during that time. 

Avoid keeping children at home unless they are too sick to participate.  

Reasons to keep me home from school and what needs to happen before I can return

• I have a fever: I must stay home until I am fever-free (with no fever-reducing medication) for 24 hours.

• I have had vomiting and/or diarrhea: I must stay home until I have not vomited in 24 hours and can keep liquids down. If my diarrhea has improved, I may return to school.

• I have a rash (that is oozing and includes a fever): I can return to school when my doctor allows. 

• I have been diagnosed with the flu:  I can only return to school when my doctor allows. 

• I have been diagnosed with Covid: I can return when my doctor allows. If positive on a home test, please see the rules above if a fever is present and parent notes will be required for absences.