Student Health Guidelines

In order to provide as healthy a school environment as possible for all students and staff, the following guidelines have been prepared to assist you with decisions relating to your child’s health and school attendance.

If your child is not feeling well or displays any of the following symptoms-  fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, fatigue, muscle and body aches, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea please  keep your child home. If your child should display any of these symptoms while at school, it will result in your child being sent home.  

Upon making the decision to keep your child home, please notify the school that the student will be absent and include a detailed account of the nature of the illness including any COVID symptoms or possible exposure to COVID.  Please call the absentee line for the appropriate school.

Gym excuses: Parents can write a note excusing their child from physical education for one day. If your child requires additional days, a note from a medical doctor is required.

Colds - Student should remain home if she/he exhibits cold symptoms such as cough, runny nose, green nasal discharge, fever over 100 or is too uncomfortable to function in school.  Display of this symptom in school will result in being sent home.

Chicken Pox - INFORM THE SCHOOL NURSE. The student must be excluded from school for 5-7 days until all vesicles are dried and crusted over. See rash guideline.

Coxsackie Virus - Also known as Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease. A student can attend school unless fever or weeping lesions are present, or child is unable to participate in school activities. See rash guideline.

Diarrhea - Student must remain at home if diarrhea occurs 2 times in a day, or if accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or fatigue.  Display of this symptom in school will result in being sent home.

Ear Infections - Student should be evaluated by M.D. if he/she complains of ear pain. Early treatment can prevent possible hearing complications.

Eye Infections - Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) needs to be diagnosed and treated by a medical doctor. A student may return after 24 hours if symptom-free and/or has a doctor’s note.

Fever - A Student must remain home if their temperature is 100 degrees or above, and may return after being fever free without the use of medication for 24 hours.  If the student has been sent home from school with a fever of 100 or greater, IDPH guidance must be followed for their return to school. 

Fifth Disease - The student is no longer contagious once the rash (slapped cheek) appears. Notify the nurse and anyone who might be pregnant who came in contact with the student before the rash appeared. See rash guideline.

Fractures and Surgeries - Parents need to contact the Nurse to determine modifications of physical activity and mode of travel throughout the building. Written information from a medical doctor is essential, including clearance to return to physical education.

Impetigo - This is a contagious skin infection characterized by sores covered with a brownish/yellowish crust. The student must remain home and may return 24 hours after treatment with a note from his/her medical doctor. See rash guideline.

Nosebleeds - Parents will be called to pick up their child if the nosebleed lasts for more than 10 minutes.

School Injuries - All minor injuries will be assessed and treated by the supervising adult outside the nurse’s office.  A list of specific situations that SHOULD be assessed by the nurse will be provided to all staff members.  If necessary or in the case of a more significant injury, a nurse will assess the injury and administer first aid and the parent will be notified.

Rashes - Webster's medical definition of a rash: An eruption on the body typically with little or no elevation above the surface. Many rashes can be contagious in nature and be a sign of a more serious illness. If a rash is found at home, the student is to remain at home with any undiagnosed skin rash unless a doctor's note stating the rash is not contagious is presented. If a rash is found at school, the area will be cleaned and/or cold compress applied. If the rash persists for 30 minutes, and/or is accompanied by any other symptoms, the student will be sent home. The student will not be able to return to school unless an M.D. note is presented to the health office stating the rash is not contagious and/or the symptoms have resolved. The student must be checked by the nurse and be rash free before returning to class unless an M.D. note is presented.

Ringworm - This is a superficial skin infection also known as tinea. It is characterized by a red ring of small blisters or a red ring of scaly skin that grows outward as the infection spreads. Ringworm is contagious through direct contact. Students may return to school with a medical doctor's release as long as the infected site remains covered. See rash guideline.

Strep Throat - Student may return 24 hours after antibiotics started if they are able to participate in class and is fever free.

Vomiting - The student must remain at home if he/she vomited within the past 24 hours.  If a doctor verifies in writing that the vomiting is due to another illness, such as the flu or strep throat, the student may return after following the expected course of treatment for that illness.  Display of this symptom in school will result in being sent home with the expectation to follow IDPH guidance for return to school.

For the safety of our staff and students, the school district reserves the right to request a medical doctor's note for re-admittance to school. The district works closely with the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Cook County Department of Public Health to implement standards of care. If necessary, the Nurse will report cases and cooperate with the Principal to initiate data collection.