I hope that everyone is enjoying the beautiful fall weather and staying healthy!
We will be conducting Vision Screenings here at Blocks in December. Please refer to the information in this newsletter for more information and to find out how to opt your child out if you chose to.
Please join in on the November Healthy Habits Challenge if you wish to have your child participate. Teachers have been given the calendar to distribute to families. This is a fun, effective way to help to stay healthy!
As we head into the cooler months it is important to try to practice healthy habits. Along with the joy of the upcoming holidays comes the risk of colds, flu and other illnesses.
Remember the essentials of good health are good nutrition, plentiful fluids (always send it water bottle), regular exercise, plenty of rest, and proper hand washing. It is a good idea to get your Flu, COVID and other vaccines. If your son/daughter develops a communicable disease or condition, (e.g. COVID, chicken pox, strep-throat, scarlet fever, fifth's disease, confirmed flu) please notify the school nurse. This will enable us to monitor your child's progress and other student/staff exposure.
A sick child cannot learn effectively and is unable to participate in classes in a meaningful way. Keeping a sick child home prevents the spread of illness in the school community and allows the child opportunity to rest and recover.
Guidelines for Keeping Children Home from School
Often the way a child looks and acts can make the decision an obvious one. The following guidelines should be considered when making the decision:
· Fever/chills/shaking chills: The child should remain at home with a fever of 100 degrees or greater. The child can return to school after he/she has been fever free for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medicine such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen or cough and cold medications with fever reducers).
· Diarrhea/Vomiting/Nausea: A child with diarrhea and/or vomiting should stay at home and return to school only after being symptom-free for 24 hours.
· Conjunctivitis: Following a diagnosis of conjunctivitis, the child may return to school in 24 hours.
· Rashes: Common infectious diseases with rashes are most contagious in the early stages. A child with a suspicious rash should return to school only after a healthcare provider has made a diagnosis and authorized the child’s return to school.
· Colds: Consider keeping your child at home if he/she is experiencing discomfort from cold symptoms, such as nasal congestion and cough. A continuous green discharge from the nose may be a sign of infection. Consider having the child seen by your healthcare provider.
· Cough: A cough that keeps a child awake at night, worsens with increased activity, or is combined with other symptoms.
· Sore Throat: A persistent red, sore throat, especially with a headache, stomachache, and enlarged tonsils. Students who are diagnosed with strep throat should remain out of school until they are on antibiotics for 24 hours.
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue/Child seems “off”
Muscle or Body Aches
Headache
New loss of Taste or Smell
Congestion or Continuous Runny Nose
If these symptoms occur your child should stay home and it is recommended to do a COVID test. Children will need to be fever/symptom free with no fever/pain reducing medications for 24 hours before returning to school.
If your child becomes sick at school, it is a parent/caregiver’s responsibility to pick up students in a timely manner. They may not remain at school and they cannot take the bus home. Please make sure to keep your cell phone on and have a plan to pick up your sick child in case of illness or emergency.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope that everyone has a good holiday break later this month!- Nurse Jenn
