Illness Guidelines
Provincetown IB Schools
There are times when a student should remain at home for his/her own wellbeing and for the protection of other students.
The following criteria can be used to determine when a child should remain at home:
Has a cold in the contagious stage (first few days)
Sore throat and swollen neck glands accompanied by a fever
Undiagnosed rash or skin eruptions
Earache, red eyes or drainage from eyes
Any communicable disease (see paragraph below)
Fever of 100 degrees or higher during the past 24 hours
Vomiting or diarrhea within the past 24 hours
Preventing the Spread of Communicable Diseases
If your student develops a communicable disease, e.g., COVID, chicken pox, strep throat, scarlet fever or fifth disease, please notify the school nurse. This will enable us to monitor your child's progress and other students' exposure. Students should remain at home a minimum of one day following the resolution of an acute illness. Please check your child’s temperature; a child should be "fever free" for twenty-four hours without taking a fever-reducing medication such as Tylenol or Advil before returning to school. Remember that the essentials of good health are good nutrition, plentiful fluids, regular exercise and plenty of rest.
This is a partial list highlighting the most common reasons children should be kept home. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccinations.htm
The school nurse should be notified by the parent/guardian/caregiver of any:
Serious injury, illness, or hospitalization
Planned surgery
Communicable diseases: COVID, chicken pox, strep throat, scarlet fever or fifth disease
New diagnosis or change in your child’s health status
Fracture, sprain, stitches, cast, or crutches (A Physician note is required for crutches and/or a wheelchair to be used on the school premises.)
New medication and/or dosing change.
Need to be excused from Physical Education.
Head Lice, scabies or other parasite conditions
Some key points of the illness guidelines about when to keep your child at home include the following:
Child has had a fever greater than 100 within the last 24 hours (fever should be under 100 for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications before returning to school)
Child has experienced vomiting/diarrhea within the last 24 hours
Child has a communicable disease
Child has an upper respiratory illness with significant coughing and/or nasal discharge
Child has pain that requires the use of narcotic medications
ATTENDANCE LINE: 508-487-5020 Ext. 150
Health Office 508-487-5216 (In school EXT. 216)
mmaloney@provincetownschools.com astagakis@provincetownschools.com