Illness
When should I keep my child home from school:
- Vomiting, and/or diarrhea within the past 24 hours
- Fever of 100 degrees or higher within the past 24 hours (should be fever free without medication for 24 hours)
- Undiagnosed rash
- Persistent cough
- Sore throat
- Antibiotics for an infection (should be home the first 24 hours on medication)
COVID
On May 5, 2023, the World Health Organization declared an end to the global Public Health Emergency and Pandemic for COVID-19. Because of this, school districts are no longer required or permitted to investigate individual cases or mandate specific treatment protocols. If a parent, student, or employee self-reports a positive COVID test/diagnosis and asks for guidance, please relay the following information:
-Individuals are encouraged to contact their medical provider for specific guidance regarding recommended treatments and time away from school or work.
-School districts have not received updated guidance since the pandemic officially ended in the spring of 2023. The last guidance issued by Iowa Public Health in September of 2022 recommends that anyone who tested positive for COVID-19 stay home for 5 days from the onset of symptoms, or the date of the positive test if no symptoms were present, and wear a mask through day 10. As a District, we can only pass along this recommendation, we cannot mandate absences or mask-wearing.
-General illness guidelines regarding when to keep your child home from school continue to be in place and are available on our website.
SEASONAL INFLUENZA
The flu (influenza) season is upon us. The symptoms for influenza include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, chills, muscle aches and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting. Remember that seasonal flu is a VIRUSES, not bacteria and therefore, antibiotics are not helpful in treating. Antiviral medications may be helpful in treating influenza and you might ask your physician about these medications (they are most helpful if started within the first 2 days of getting sick). Seasonal flu is spread by direct and droplet contact including coughing and sneezing.
Fighting the Flu includes the 3C's:
1. Cover your cough. Use a tissue or your sleeve/elbow.
2. Clean your hands-rubbing 20 seconds with a soapy lather or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
3. Contain germs. Stay home when sick with the above symptoms.
It is also important to have family members immunized with the seasonal influenza vaccination.
Please observe your child closely for these symptoms. If your child is experiencing these symptoms, please check their temperature-it is important this flu season. Students complaining of these symptoms and/or that have an oral temperature of 100 degrees or higher, need to be kept at home and not sent to school. Students need to be fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medications, such as Ibuprofen and Tylenol.