When to Keep Your Child Home

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye): Redness and significant discharge from the eye may indicate “pink eye.” If your child is diagnosed with bacterial conjunctivitis, he or she may return to school after your child has received medication (eye drops) for 24 hours.

Cough/Cold Symptoms: If your child has a significant cough that makes him or her feel uncomfortable or disrupts the class, it is important to keep them home to recover and possibly be evaluated by your pediatrician. Coughs can be symptoms of mild colds or more significant illnesses including bronchitis, flu, or pneumonia.

Diarrhea or Vomiting: Your child needs to be kept home for 24 hours after the last episode of diarrhea and/or vomiting (without medication).

Fever: If your child has a temperature higher than 100.3° he or she must stay at home. Your child must be fever-free for 24 hours (without medication) before returning to school.

Fifth Disease: Fifth Disease is a very contagious viral illness spread by coughing and sneezing. The initial symptoms are usually mild and may include fever, runny nose, and headache. After several days, the child may develop a red rash on the face that resembles slapped cheeks. This illness is most contagious prior to the rash presentation. Once the rash develops, it is fine to return to school if there is no fever for 24 hours and no other significant symptoms. While Fifth Disease is a relatively mild illness, it can cause serious complications to people with weakened immunity and during pregnancy. Therefore, it is very important that you contact the health office if your child has been diagnosed with this illness.

Lice: If your child is diagnosed with lice, please contact the nurse’s office. It is advised that your child be treated as soon as possible to avoid further spread to other children in the class. Any child with symptoms of head lice may have a “Healthy Head Check” by the nurse to see if your child has evidence of head lice.

As always, all of your child’s information remains confidential.

Rash: If your child develops a skin rash it is important to consult with your doctor. Some skin rashes can indicate infectious illness and other rashes may require antibiotic treatment. Some rashes that should be checked before sending your child to school include:

• Honey-crusted sores which may indicate impetigo
• Rash in various stages including boils, sores, and bumps that may indicate chicken pox
• Significant rash accompanied by other symptoms of illness such as fever

Sore Throat: A sore throat that is severe, accompanied by a fever that persists for longer than 48 hours, or after known exposure to a confirmed case of Strep Throat should be evaluated. Other symptoms of Strep Throat can include headache and stomach upset. If your child is diagnosed with Strep Throat, he or she can return to school 24 hours after antibiotic treatment was initiated AND after your child is fever-free for 24 hours.

Other Important Policies

Absence Reporting: If your child is going to be absent or late, please report this as soon as possible. If your child has been diagnosed with a contagious illness please let us know so that we can identify other cases as soon as symptoms appear. If a child is absent for 5 or more days, a note from your child’s physician is required.

Medications: Any children who receive any medication at school must have a medical order from a health care provider AND parental permission on file. Each new school year, a new physician order and parental permission must be submitted. Medications listed on the physician’s physical are not sufficient. All medications must be handed to the nurse by the child’s parent or guardian.

Physicals: Grades K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 and new students must have an updated physical by a health care provider in NYS. If you have not submitted an updated physical, please send one in as soon as possible.

Questions: If you have any questions regarding your child’s health or are unsure whether you should send your child to school, please do not hesitate to contact us your child’s school nurse. We welcome your communication and look forward to assisting you in your child’s healthcare needs.

Required & Recommended Health Forms

Please complete, print, sign, and return all required forms to the main office or nurse’s office at your child’s school.

Health Examination – Required For:

• New entrants to the district
• Students in grades K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11
• Students participating in interscholastic athletics
• Students requesting working papers
• Students as required by the Committee on Special Education (CSE) or Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE)
• New York State Health Examination Form (Required Physicals must be documented on this form by a Practitioner licensed in the State of NY)

Health History Form – Required for All Students

The Health History Form must be completed by a parent or guardian at the beginning of each school year.

• Health History Form

Dental Health Certificate – Recommended

New York State recommends that a Dental Health Certificate be submitted at the same time a Health Examination is required.

• Dental Health Certificate

Additional Forms (If Applicable)

• Authorization for Administration of Medication
• Permission for Independent Carry and Use (BRS only)
• Permission for Independent Carry and Use (Middle School only)
• Permission for Independent Carry and Use (High School only)
• Student Asthma Action Card
• Treatment of Severe Allergic Reaction

Illness Guidelines & Health Resources

To help keep our school community healthy, students may return to school after an illness once they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and when symptoms are improving. This includes being symptom-free for at least 24 hours without diarrhea or vomiting.

• Superintendent’s Health Letter
• CDC Updated Respiratory Virus Guidance
• Comprehensive Student Attendance Policy
• Concussion Fact Sheet for Parents
• Flu Guide for Parents
• Immunization Requirements

Covid-19 Information

Effective Thursday, March 14, 2024, the district is adjusting its COVID-19 protocol in accordance with the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). In short, COVID-19 is being treated like other respiratory illnesses, such as the flu and RSV.

Students and staff may return to school when, for at least 24 hours, both of the following are true:

• Symptoms are getting better overall, and
• They no longer have a fever without the use of fever-reducing medication.

The district requirement to return to school after any illness includes being fever-free without fever-reducing medication for 24 hours and with symptoms improving, including 24 hours without diarrhea or vomiting.

• Key Facts about Influenza (Flu)
• Parents Fight Flu: English / Spanish

Head Lice Information

If your child is diagnosed with lice, please contact the nurse’s office. It is advised that your child be treated as soon as possible to avoid further spread to other children in the class.

When a case of head lice is reported to us, a note will be sent to the class through ParentSquare to make you aware. No names will be given in this letter.

If a child presents with symptoms of head lice, your child will have a “Healthy Head Check” by the nurse to see if there is evidence of head lice.

If the nurse diagnoses your child with head lice you will be notified as soon as possible. At that time we will strongly encourage you to pick up your child to begin treatment.

As always, all of your child’s information remains confidential.

• American Academy of Pediatrics – Head Lice
• Head Lice Fact Sheet — No. 1 
• Head Lice Fact Sheet — No. 2 
• Head Lice Fact Sheet — No. 3

Use of Crutches and/or Orthopedic Devices at School

Students requiring temporary use of crutches and/or orthopedic devices in school should report to the school nurse following injury and/or upon returning to school following a surgical procedure. A note from the prescribing doctor is required before the student returns to school stating the following information:

• Diagnosis of injury and reason student may need crutches or another device (if applicable)
• Statement that the child needs to use the elevator during the school day (if applicable)
• Statement of how long the student will need to use crutches, another device and/or elevator (if applicable)
• Confirmation that the student was properly instructed in using crutches or another device
• Any specific restrictions from PE, recess, sports, etc.
• Statement of length of time student will not be participating in PE, recess, sports, etc.
• Physician’s signature and contact information

There is a potential risk to a student or others if this equipment is not used properly or if steps are not taken to ensure safe use while on campus. Wheelchairs in the Nurse’s Office are for emergency use only. The schools do not provide assistive devices for daily use.