Nurse's Office

School Absence Due to Illness

When your child is absent from school, you will receive a phone call from the School Nurse to verify his/her absence.  This not only ensures the school that your child is safe with you, but also allows us to receive information on the types of illness the children are having so we can provide other parents with the same information.

You are asked to send a note to school after each absence, even if you have spoken with the School Nurse.

Other school guidelines for illness are:

  1. Children with a temperature of 100 or above must be sent home.  A child needs 24 hours fever-free without taking Tylenol or Motrin, before returning to school.

  2. Children who appear acutely ill must go home.  Examples are vomiting, diarrhea, uncontrollable coughing, sneezing, runny nose, severe headache or stomachache.

  3. Children with conditions, such as ringworm, impetigo and pink eye, may attend school as long as they are being treated.  Feel free to contact the School Nurse to be sure.  Children are frequently checked for head lice.  If your child is found to have head lice, he/she must go home and be treated with a special shampoo before returning to school.

  4. Any time your child receives a head injury, large burn or facial scratch, you will receive a message from the School Nurse informing you of the treatment that your child received.

  5. If your child has a suspected injury that could require doctor attention, such as a possible broken are, you are called.  You are responsible for the follow-up care your child receives.  The School Nurse may recommend an x-ray, but the decision is yours.  If your child cannot walk out of the nurse's office and be comfortable in the classroom, you will also be called to make the decision on his/her care.

  6. Any medication your child needs to take during school hours may be given if it is in the original prescription bottle or non-prescription bottle and there is a note from you giving me permission to administer the medicine, with dose and time.  If not in the labeled container, the medicine will not be given and you will be notified.  All medicine must be kept in the nurse's office.  This is documented in our drug policy listed on your school calendar.  There are special situations when a medication, such as an asthma inhaler, can be kept with the child, if he know how to care for it.

  7. The School Nurse does stock Children's Tylenol at school for headaches not relieved by rest.  It can only be given to your child with your permission.  The School Nurse does not stock cough medication or cough drops.

  8. If for any reason your child needs a change of clothes or to borrow a sweater or jacket, the School Nurse has a clothes closet.  Please make every effort to return the items you borrow so they are available for other students' needs.

 
Our School Nurse makes every effort to keep the nurse's office a safe place for your child when you are not around.  It is very important to keep a good communication line with you so we can provide the best care for your child.  Always feel free to call the School Nurse if you have questions.  The nurse is at the school from 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. The school's phone number is 302-645-6288.