Dear Spartan Families,
As we enter cold and flu season, I wanted to give you a few tips on things you can do at home to help prevent illness and keep everyone feeling healthy.
- Wash your hands. Yes, it is simple…but, still the best defense against spreading germs.
- Get plenty of rest. School age children should get 9-11 hours of sleep each night. Grownups should try to get 8 hours.
- Drink lots of fluids and eat a balanced diet. This helps to prevent a lot of headaches and stomach aches.
- When cold weather comes, dress appropriately for the temperature outside. Please help your child choose warm, comfortable clothing for school each day, including socks. Make sure they are wearing a coat and you may want to consider a hat and gloves as well. Even in cool weather they need the exercise and fresh air during recess.
Unfortunately, even with the best care, a virus can make us sick. Cold symptoms are best relieved with rest and fluids and may last as long as 10 days. If symptoms persist longer than this, the child should see a physician.
When deciding if your child should stay home or come to school, please keep in mind the following guidelines…
- If your student has a fever of 100 degrees or higher, they must stay home from school until they are fever free without fever reducing medication for a minimum of 24 hours before returning to school.
- If your student has 2 or more episodes of diarrhea in a 24 hour period, they should remain home until they have not had diarrhea for 24 hours.
- If your student has had 2 or more episodes of vomiting in a 24 hour period, they should remain at home until 24 hours post their last episode of vomiting.
- If your student is diagnosed with strep throat, they must be on an antibiotic for a minimum of 24 hours before they return to school. Of course, they also need to be fever free and feel better.
- If your student is diagnosed with Covid-19, they must stay home until they are fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication and they are feeling better. There are no quarantine or masking guidelines. You do not need to report Covid-19 cases to school staff/school nurse.
- If your student is diagnosed with pink eye, they must remain home until treated with antibiotics for at least 24 hours and symptoms resolve, or a note from the child’s physician to return to school.
***For any absence of 3 days or more, you are required to have a doctor’s note to excuse the absence.***
Have a Healthy School Year!
Hillary Alexander, BSN, RN, CSN