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Illnesses

When Students & Staff Should Stay Home for Illness

It is difficult for a child who is not feeling well to learn. It's best for them to stay home until they are well enough to have a positive, productive and healthy school experience. The same is true for staff. There are many reasons why an individual may not be feeling well, including:

  • Common Cold

  • Strep Throat

  • Influenza

  • RSV

  • COVID-19

  • Stomach Flu/Norovirus

  • Conjunctivitis

  • Bronchitis/Pneumonia

  • Hand Foot and Mouth Disease 

Staff and students should stay home if they have:

  • Fever 

  • Vomiting

  • Diarrhea

  • Undiagnosed rash

  • Communicable diseases (such as strep throat, influenza, chicken pox, measles, etc.)

  • Pink eye (conjunctivitis)

Before a student or staff member may return to school, they must be free of fever, vomiting and/or diarrhea (without fever-reducing medication) for 24 hours. If an individual has been prescribed antibiotic medication for a rash, communicable diseases and/or pink eye they may return to school after completing 24 hours of prescribed medication.

When the above noted symptoms occur during school, parents will be contacted to pick the child up from school within the hour. An ill or injured student who is sent home may only be released to the parent/guardian or emergency contact provided by the parent/guardian. In the event of a serious or life-threatening injury or illness, EMS services/911 will be called to provide care. It is important that the school has accurate parent phone numbers and emergency contacts. Please keep the school office up to date with current contact information.

Attending after-school events should be avoided when your child does not attend school due to illness symptoms or is sent home from school with illness symptoms. Best health practices recommends children remain home, in recovery, until they are no longer contagious and free from symptoms for 24 hours.

It is required that parents/guardians call school to report their child’s absence. To prevent the spread of illness in the classroom, parents/guardians are encouraged to report symptoms and the student’s diagnosis to the school.

We encourage you to have your child evaluated by a health care provider to determine the cause of their illness. 

Activity Restrictions

If your child is unable to participate in recess or PE due to an injury or illness, a parent or guardian must provide written notice to both the health office and PE teacher. That note is valid for a maximum of 2 days. A student who is unable to participate in outdoor recess or physical education classes for a period of more than two days must provide the school with an activity order from a health care provider licensed under the IL Medical Practice Act (MD, DO, PA or NP).  

 

A student who arrives at school with a new cast, splint or orthopedic brace due to a recent injury must provide the school with an activity order from their healthcare provider. 

 

It is also recommended that an activity order from a healthcare provider be provided for students returning to school after surgery or a hospitalization. Activity orders should specify the student's injury or medical diagnosis, the dates the student may not participate and a date to resume activity. Students with an activity restriction are restricted from similar extracurricular and/ or interscholastic activities during the activity restriction time period. 

 

Students may not resume activities until a release from the healthcare provider is provided to the school.