Deciding whether to keep a child home from school is not an easy decision. Children need to be in school. But when a child is sick, it is important to keep them home in the care of an adult to get better and to prevent spreading the illness to others.

It is always important to keep your conract information up-to-date in the case of a health emergency. Your child’s medical and health records on file should always reflect the latest information. These documents can be updated through PowerSchool.

Below is a list of situations in which the school recommends keeping your child home. This is not a conclusive list and, as always, we strongly recommend that you contact your child’s healthcare provider to seek out their medical advice for any of the symptoms below or other presenting symptoms.

If your child has any of the following, (s)he should stay at home:

• Fever above 100 degrees Fahrenheit/37.8 degrees Celsius
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Rash, especially when accompanied by a fever
• Moderate to severe flu-like symptoms
• Severe cough
• A severe sore throat or white spots on the back of the throat
• Chickenpox
• Conjunctivitis
• Signs or symptoms of acute illness
• Serious accident/injury
• Asthma symptoms that do not respond to medication or there is no medication prescribed to treat symptoms
• Lice (live and crawling lice)
• Any other communicable illness

It is highly recommended that your child be symptom-free for at least 24 hours before returning to school.

The school may decide to send a student home if it is determined that staying in the classroom is counterproductive to the student’s education, or poses a risk to the safety and wellness of others.